Page 302 - Disaster Accident
Russian apartment collapse death toll rises to 37
The death toll from the collapse of a Russian apartment building has risen to 37 after more bodies were discovered by crews searching the huge pile of concrete rubble. State news agency Tass cited an emergencies ministry official on Thursday as saying four people who lived in the collapsed section of the building in Magnitogorsk remain unaccounted for. The collapse on Monday followed an explosion that officials say likely was caused by a gas leak. An 11-month-old boy was extracted from the wreckage alive on Tuesday and was flown to Moscow for treatment of injuries including frostbite. Nighttime temperatures in the city 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow have fallen to about minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit).
Worker killed in factory wall collapse; kin seek compensation
A worker was killed when a factory wall collapsed on him in Palghar district of Maharashtra, a police official said Thursday. The incident took place at a private company's gypsum factory site at Nare village in Wada taluka on Wednesday after a JCB machine deployed there accidentally hit the wall, he said. The debris of the collapsed wall fell on Santosh Patil, 38, who was working in the premises, killing him on the spot, he said. Later, Patil's relatives and other villagers blocked the Bhiwandi-Wada road. They refused to take the body and demanded that the company management be booked for negligence and pay compensation for the worker's death, he said. They also ransacked the company's office and damaged the security guard's cabin, the official said. After the Wada police intervened, the company management agreed to pay the compensation, he said. The police later registered a case of accidental death, he added.
0disha boat tragedy: Death toll mounts to 9, one missing
The death toll in the boat capsize incident in the Mahanadi river mounted to nine on Thursday as eight more bodies were recovered in Odisha's Kendrapara district, officials said. While the body of a woman was found shortly after the incident took place Wednesday evening, eight bodies were recovered during a search operation in the early hours of Thursday, they said. "Altogether nine bodies have been recovered, while one person is still missing," said Kendrapara district Collector Dasarathy Satpathy. Expressing deep grief, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, an official in his office said. Patnaik had on Wednesday night instructed the administration and a search team to expedite rescue operations. The deceased included two women aged between 40 and 45 years and seven children (7 to 10 years), Satpathy said. The victims were residents of Hasina village in Kujang area of Jagatsinghpur district. The incident ...
6 dead in Denmark train mishap
A crowded passenger train and a truck trailer that apparently fell from a freight train collided on the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark, claiming six lives and wounding 16 others, authorities said.The mishap took place at around 7:30 am (local time) on Wednesday on the bridge connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen, amidst high-speed winds.Danish Accident Investigation Board official Bo Haaning confirmed that the trailer had fallen off from the goods train and hit the incoming commuter train, but added that it was to be ascertained whether that caused the accident or not, CNN reported.The freight train was carrying large quantities of Carlsberg beer, which has its headquarters in Copenhagen, said the spokesperson of the brewing company, Kasper Elbjorn.Meanwhile, the police said that an investigation into the accident will be initiated soon, adding that strong winds were hindering the rescue operations."We still do not know exactly what happened. There was a freight train with goods ..
One killed, 10 missing in shipwreck in China
At least one person died and 10 remained missing after a Taiwan cargo ship sank off the coast of Zhejiang province on the Chinese mainland early Wednesday, local maritime rescue authorities. The cargo ship, with 15 people on board, sank at around 4:30 am (2030 GMT) Wednesday around 90 nautical miles (167 kilometres) off the coast of Yuhuan of Zhejiang's Taizhou city, according to the provincial maritime search and rescue centre. Five people have been rescued so far, with one dead, state run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. The 80-meter-long ship named "London" departed from the city of Kaohsiung with 14 Myanmar crew members and one from Taiwan. The local emergency response centre has sent ships to search for the missing.
US trying to rescue 24 fishing crew on remote Pacific atoll
The US Coast Guard says a large fishing boat has run aground on a remote Pacific atoll and it's trying to rescue the 24 crew members who made it to shore in a lifeboat. The Coast Guard says the 308-foot Chinese-flagged vessel Ou Ya Leng No. 6 reportedly grounded Wednesday on uninhabited Taka Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The Coast Guard says it's sending the crew of a HC-130 Hercules plane and is working with three nearby fishing boats and the government of the Marshall Islands. The Coast Guard says it doesn't yet know what caused the accident, the crew's nationalities, or the status of the boat's cargo and fuel. Brendon Ritz, from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Honolulu, says the first concern is the crew's safety.
Greece makes 3 migrants citizens for their wildfire rescues
Three migrant fishermen received Greek citizenship Wednesday for helping rescue dozens of people who were forced into the sea by flames from a summer wildfire that caused 100 deaths. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos hosted a ceremony for Gani Xheka, 35, from Albania and Egyptians Emad El Khaimi, 50, and Mahmoud Ibrahim Musa, 46, both to honour them and for "sending a message to Europe" to counter anti-immigrant sentiment. The three men pulled people from the water who had fled the out-of-control wildfire at the seaside resort of Mati, east of Athens, by swimming out to sea while having difficulty breathing because of heavy smoke. The trio also guided survivors to a nearby port after the July 23 blaze reached the shore and gutted hundreds of homes. "In a situation like that, when you are talking about people's lives, there's no religion, no black people, no white people. You just have to help people who are in danger," El Khaimi said after the ceremony. The death toll from Greece's
Odisha: 1 dead after boat capsizes, CM announces ex-gratia
One woman lost her life while nine people are missing after a boat capsized in a river in Kendrapara district on Wednesday.Taking cognizance of the same, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of deceased and free treatment for the injured.As per a tweet posted on the Chief Minister's official account, the boat which capsized in Bhitarkanika region contained picnickers.Officials from Odisha's Special Relief Organisation and fire services have been directed to step up search and rescue operations.Further details are awaited.
Over 600 cases of Ebola detected in Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of Health revealed that over 600 cases of Ebola virus have been detected in the region since the outbreak of the disease in August last year.According to an official statement, the cumulative number of cases since the beginning of the outbreak is 608, of which 560 are confirmed and 48 are probable cases of Ebola. In total, there were 368 deaths (320 confirmed and 48 probable) and 207 people cured, while 29 suspected cases are under investigation.Furthermore, the Health Ministry said 6 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday- 2 in Butembo, 2 in Katwa and 2 in Beni.On average, Ebola kills about half of those infected. Symptoms of the disease include fever, severe headache and hemorrhaging, in select cases.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the outbreak is the second-deadliest and second-largest in history.
Two dead, 30 missing after boat capsizes near Guinea capital
At least two people died and another 30 are missing after a boat carrying New Year's revellers capsized off the coast of Guinea's capital Conakry, local authorities said on Wednesday. Maritime officials said at least 40 people were onboard the boat which was meant for fishing trips and not for transporting multiple passengers, some of whom were drunk. Nine people were rescued, but at least 30 were still missing, one maritime police source said. Local maritime agency Anam said that after the New Year's eve festivities the boat illegally made the trip to a group of islands near Conakry, a favoured destination for tourists and residents of the capital. The Anam agency cited witnesses saying some of the passengers were drunk and their movements on the boat may have caused it to capsize.
Metro services hit in twin trouble, one dead
Metro services in Kolkata were hit by two incidents on Wednesday in which one person was killed after jumping in front of a moving train, officials said. The 58-year-old man, Tarak Acharya, jumped in front of the train at Dum Dum station. The driver stopped the train and Acharya was taken to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the officials said. Train service was suspended in the down line for around an hour between Dum Dum and Shovabazar stations, inconveniencing commuters during morning office hours. In another incident, the services were also affected for a brief period on morning after doors of a Dum Dum-bound AC rake malfunctioned at Kavi Nazrul station, The situation was brought under control within few minutes after technicians opened the doors and the passengers disembarked safely from the train. The incident happened during peak office hours. "We are looking into the technical glitches," said a metro official. The metro services were also suspended
One dead, 7 missing as boat capsizes in Odisha
A woman died and seven others of a picnic party were missing as a boat capsized in river Mahanadi in Odisha's Kendrapara district Wednesday, official sources said. The incident took place when the mechanised boat carrying 10 persons capsized in the Mahanadi river Wednesday evening, said Kendrapara collector Dasarathy Satpathy. "One body has been recovered and seven others (are) missing. The fire brigade personnel and members of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have rushed to the spot for rescue operation," Satpathy added. The deceased was identified as Prabati Swaim, who along with the other victims-- hailing from Kujang area in Jagatsinghpur district-- were returning after a picnic at the Light House at Hukitola on the occasion of New Year. The official further said that the rescue operation may be affected due to darkness and intense cold in the area.
One dead, 10 missing after cargo ship sinks off China
At least one person died and 10 others were missing after a freighter sank off China's eastern coast on Wednesday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The cargo ship had 15 people on board when it sank at around 4:30 am (2030 GMT Tuesday), 90 nautical miles (167 kilometres) east of Taizhou City in Zhejiang province, Xinhua said, citing local maritime authorities. The 80-metre long freighter departed the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung with 14 crew members from Myanmar and one Taiwanese national. Four people have been rescued so far, Xinhua said. Taiwan's national rescue centre said in a statement that the authorities had dispatched coastguard vessels and aircraft to help with search and recovery operations for the Palau-registered ship. An investigation is under way to determine the causes of the accident, Xinhua said.
14-year-old boy arrested on murder charge after fatal crash
A 14-year-old boy who authorities say was driving an SUV that caused a fatal car accident has been arrested on a murder charge. The Harris County Sheriff's Office says the SUV was filled with teens who were throwing eggs at other cars Tuesday afternoon when another driver began chasing them. The department says the 14-year-old driver then ran a red light and crashed into a pickup truck, killing 45-year-old Silvia Zavala. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says Zavala had just been shopping and was "totally innocent." Gonzalez said Wednesday the 14-year-old was booked in a juvenile detention centre on a murder charge. He says police will interview the driver of the car that chased the teens.
3 of a family killed in truck- 2 wheeler collision
Three members of a family were killed early on Wednesday as their two-wheeler collided with a truck on NH-41 in East Midnapore district, police said. The accident took place in Bhabanipur police station area here when the three were returning home to Tamluk from a function at this port town. The victims are identified as Sk Samsur Zaman (42), Sk Noor Mohammad (27) and Sk Saidur Rahaman (22), all residents of Ranichak village under Tamluk police station in the same district, the police said. The bodies were handed over to the family after conducting post-mortem examination. Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured the affected family of all help and cooperation from the state government.
Meghalaya illegal mining: Draining out of water goes on in mines
The divers from the Indian Navy and the NDRF on Wednesday could not go down the 370 foot-deep mine, in which 15 miners are trapped for nearly three weeks, even as draining out of a nearby abandoned mine they believe may be connected to it continued, officials said. A high-powered submersible pump from Coal India Ltd will be put into operation Thursday in the abandoned mine, while more pumps from Odissa Fire and Disaster service are to be pressed into services in more abandoned mines, they said. The divers from the Indian navy and the NDRF did not go down the main shaft to rescue the trapped miners because 'de-watering' was going on in the nearby mines and there was no significant decrease in water level there, operation spokesperson R Susngi told PTI, giving details of the operation on the 21st day of the disaster. At about 5.30 pm, the water level at the nearby abandoned mine went down by 16 inches, he said. On Tuesday, water level in this mine had lowered down by six inches. The ...
Authorities issue avalanche warning in Kashmir, Ladakh
Authorities in Kashmir Wednesday issued an avalanche warning in several districts of the valley and the Ladakh region in view of fresh snowfall in the higher reaches. "As per the communication of the divisional commissioner of Kashmir, there is a danger of avalanches from 5 pm on January2 to 5 pm on January 3 in avalanche-prone areas of Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Leh and Kargil districts of Kashmir Division," an official spokesman said. The official said the deputy commissioners of the districts concerned have been asked to advise people in the avalanche-prone areas to not venture out during the period. "Besides, the deputy commissioners have also been asked to take precautionary measures and to keep the SDRF, police and para-medical staff, along with ambulances, on alert to avert any untoward incident," he added.
Death toll in Russia building explosion reaches 21
The death toll from the collapse of an apartment building wrecked by a New Year's Eve gas explosion in Russian city of Magnitogorsk rose to 21 on Wednesday, officials said.
Families of trapped miners lose hope, rescuers struggle dewatering coalpit in Meghalaya
The families of the trapped miners inside a flooded coal pit for 21 days now in Meghalaya on Wednesday said they are giving up on them being alive even as rescuers struggle to dewater the pit.
Punjab approves one-time settlement of 'non-compoundable' building violations
The Punjab cabinet on Wednesday approved one-time settlement of "non-compoundable" violations related to unauthorised construction up to June 30 last year as long as this did not compromise fire and structural safety standards, an official spokesperson said. "Non compoundable" violations related to unauthorised constructions are relatively serious contravention of the building bylaws in the municipal area, to the less serious "compoundable" violations. The cabinet approved the promulgation of the Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Violations of the Buildings Ordinance, 2018, for all the buildings constructed in violation of the building bylaws in the municipal areas as per the cut-off date, the spokesperson said. The move is aimed at ensuring the existing unauthorised buildings are aligned to the parking, fire and safety standards across the state as it is no longer feasible for the government to demolish such buildings, he said. The ordinance provides that any ...