Page 318 - Disaster Accident
Rat-hole mining rampant in Meghalaya despite NGT ban
There seems to be no hope at the end of the tunnel for the 15 labourers trapped in a coal mine a fortnight ago, as search operations have been suspended by the Meghalaya government for want of high-powered pumps to flush out water from the pit. Four years after the National Green Tribunal ordered a ban on coal mining in Meghalaya, illegal practices continue unabated in the state, putting lives at risk every day. A top police officer told PTI that it took them long to locate the quarry as local people were scared to divulge information, fearing a backlash from mine owners. Sylvester Nongtynger, the East Jaintia Hills superintendent of police, said he came to know about the accident from Rajabala MLA Azad Aman. "It took the police hours to locate the mine as the villagers feigned ignorance about the accident. They are afraid that mine owners might cause them harm. Some who consider mining to be their only means of livelihood fear police action may add to their woes," he said. A month ...
Mexican governor, senator killed in helicopter crash
The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla and her husband, a senator and former governor, were killed on Monday in a helicopter crash, the country's president said. "My deepest condolences to the relatives of Senator Rafael Moreno Valle and his wife, governor of Puebla Martha Erika Alonso," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. "I assume the commitment to investigate the causes" and "tell the truth about what happened," Lopez Obrador wrote. The helicopter's two pilots and an assistant to the senator also died in the crash. The aircraft went down 10 minutes after taking off in the Santa Maria Coronango area of Puebla, and the cause of the crash is still unknown. Alonso was sworn in as governor on December 14 after an electoral tribunal certified her victory in July polls. She was the first woman to occupy the position in Puebla, where her husband was governor from 2011 to 2017. According to the local constitution, the state legislature will have to appoint an ...
Four dead as vehicle falls into gorge in Shimla
Four persons died and two were injured after their vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Theog tehsil in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh Tuesday, a police official said. Rescue teams reached the spot after the accident around 7.30 am, he said. Bodies are being retrieved and injured are being sent to nearby hospital for treatment, the official added. More details are awaited.
Somber Christmas, prayers in tsunami-hit Indonesian region
The Christmas holiday was somber with prayers for tsunami victims in the Indonesian region hit by waves that struck without warning Saturday night. Markus Taekz said his Rahmat Pentecostal Church in the hard-hit area of Carita did not celebrate with joyous music. Instead, he said only about 100 people showed up for the Christmas Eve service, usually attended by double that number, because many people had left the area for the capital, Jakarta, or other areas away from the disaster zone. "This is an unusual situation because we have a very bad disaster that killed hundreds of our sisters and brothers in Banten," he said, referring to the Javanese province. "So our celebration is full of grief." Church leaders called on Christians across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, to pray for victims of the tsunami. The death toll had climbed to 373 late Monday with more than 1,400 people injured and at least 128 missing after the tsunami slammed into western Java and southern ..
Thane: 18 bikes gutted in fire, probe initiated
As many as 18 motorcycles parked in Hanuman Nagar of Thane's Panchpakhadi were gutted in a fire in the early hours of Tuesday.One nearby shop was also damaged as the flame from the burning bikes spread in the area.The incident took place around 3 am when two-wheelers parked near 'A' wing of Hanuman society caught fire.A fire tender reached the spot immediately but could only manage to save one bike.No casualty has been reported so far. Personnel from Regional Disaster Management Cell rushed to the site to ascertain the cause of the fire.A case has been registered and the investigation is underway.
Indonesia tsunami: Rain hinders search for survivors
Days of heavy rain on Indonesia's Java coast was making it difficult on Tuesday for search and rescue teams looking for survivors of the Sunda Strait tsunami.
Mexico: Helicopter crash claims Puebla governor, ex-governor
A husband-and-wife political power couple who were the current and ex-governors of the central state of Puebla died Christmas Eve in a helicopter crash, Mexican officials reported. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his "deepest condolences" via Twitter to the family of Gov. Martha Erika Alonso and ex-Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle on Monday evening. He added that authorities would investigate the cause of the crash. Marko Cortes, president of the couple's National Action Party, tweeted that he deeply lamented the fatal accident. Alonso took office as governor less than two weeks ago. Moreno Valle governed the central state from 2011 to 2017 and was currently a federal senator. The Reforma newspaper reported that the helicopter took off from Puebla's eponymous capital city and crashed in Huejotzingo, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. The result of the July vote in which Alonso won office was disputed by Lopez Obrador's Morena party, which alleged that it was marred by ...
Possible death of Mexican governor in helicopter crash: Report
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday reported the possible death of the governor of the state of Puebla, Martha Erika Alonso, and her husband and ex-Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle, in a helicopter crash.
Italy: Mount Etna erupts
Europe's highest and most active volcano, Mount Etna erupted on Monday (local time), causing an earthquake of 3.3. magnitude of the Richter scale.Sicily's Catania airport has been shut due to the volcanic eruption, reported CNN.Catani airport tweeted, "Due to the eruption of #Etna from today 2pm (December 24th) #Catania airspace is closed."According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etna's eruptions have been relatively frequent and there has been a gradual increase in activity on the volcano over the last month.
Nearly 40 hurt in new DR Congo plane accident
Thirty eight people, mostly Congolese soldiers, were hurt on Monday when an Antonov transport plane missed its landing at Beni in eastern DR Congo, military officials said. The plane was carrying 68 passengers and four crew, they said. There were no fatalities. "There are 38 injured, including the four crew, and 26 Congolese soldiers with another 8 soldiers in serious condition," said Lieutenant Somwe Mulimbi, in charge of security at Beni airport. A regional spokesman for the army, Captain Make Hazukai, said the plane "missed its landing" but did not give further details about the accident. The Soviet-Russian Antonov is routinely used for troop transport and freight in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last Thursday an Antonov 26 chartered by the national electoral commission to deliver election material crashed near Kinshasa. The plane, operated by the company Gomair, was about to land after flying to the central city of Tshikapa. Five crew and one passenger died, according to an ...
India number one in tsunami early warning system: Minister
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said India ranks number one in the world in tsunami early warning system, and is assisting several countries in signalling the natural disaster in advance. On Saturday night, a powerful tsunami hit Indonesia, known for its thousands of islands stretching from the Andaman Sea to Indian Ocean and South China Sea, killing at least 373 people and injuring thousands. The Union Minister of Earth Sciences and Environment was at Titagarh near here before the formal launch of the coastal research vessel 'CRV Sagar Tara', built by Titagarh Wagons Ltd for the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). "I can say with full confidence that for tsunami early warning, today we are number one in the world. We never give false warning and are helping all countries across rim of ocean to give them warning signals," he told reporters. India should be among the top three scientific nations by 2030, the minister said. Talking about 'CRV Sagar Tara', to be ...
Russia: Hole drilled from inside Int'l Space Station capsule
A Russian cosmonaut who explored a mysterious hole in a capsule docked to the International Space Station said Monday that the opening was drilled from inside the spacecraft and Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating what caused it. Sergei Prokopyev said investigators were looking at samples he and crewmate Oleg Kononenko collected during a December 12 spacewalk. Prokopyev and two other astronauts returned to Earth last week from a 197-day space station mission. The hole in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station was spotted on August 30. The crew discovered a leak that was creating a slight loss of pressure and plugged the hole with epoxy and gauze. Prokopyev said at a news conference the cavity started from the capsule's interior and "it's up to the investigative organs to judge when that hole was made." The astronauts' quick identification and repair of the hole demonstrated "the crew was ready for any developments," he said. The hole didn't pose a danger ..
Bus mows down 3 to death in Gujarat, 1 injured
Three people were killed and one was injured after they were run over by a state transport bus here on Monday.The incident occurred inside the district bus depot when the bus was being deployed at its platform to ferry the passengers.Malfunctioning of the brakes is said to be reasons behind the accident.Sharing details, BS Mori, Deputy SP, Navsari, said, "Two women and one man were killed and one to two people was injured. We have admitted the injured in the hospital.""The incident occurred when the state transport bus was coming to its platform. We have filed a complaint and further action will be taken," said Mori.The driver and the conductor of the bus fled from the spot after the mishap.
15 soldiers hurt in new DR Congo plane accident
Fifteen soldiers were seriously hurt Monday when an Antonov transport plane had an accident on landing at Beni in eastern DR Congo, military officials said. The plane was carrying 68 passengers and four crew, they said. "There were no fatalities, (but) 15 (were) seriously hurt, all of them FARDC members," said Lieutenant Somwe Mulimbi, in charge of security at Beni airport, using the acronym of the armed forces. A regional spokesman for the army, Captain Make Hazukai, said the plane "missed its landing." The Soviet-Russian Antonov is routinely used for troop transport and freight in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last Thursday an Antonov 26 chartered by the national electoral commission to deliver election material crashed near Kinshasa. The plane, operated by the company Gomair, was about to land after flying to the central city of Tshikapa. Five crew and one passenger died, according to an air-traffic control official. Russia said three of its citizens, who were crew members, ...
Odisha govt announces 2 districts as pest attacked & 3 as
The Odisha government Monday announced an area of 10,456.64 hectares land in two districts as pest attacked and some places in three districts as drought hit. As many as 1,567 villages in two districts of Bolangir and Deogarh have been infested by pests. Bolangir was identified as worst-affected due to pest attack. The places which were declared as drought hit had been located in Kalahandi, Nuapada and Sambalpur districts. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in a release said that the state government has declared an area of 10,456.64 hectares in 1,567 villages under 319 GPs of 15 Blocks and 15 wards of 4 ULBs in 2 districts - Bolangir and Deogarh, as affected by pest attack having suffered crop loss of 33 per cent and above. The release said that 9,008 hectares and 154.64 hectares of the sown area suffered damages between 33 per cent and 50 per cent to crops in Bolangir and Deogarh districts respectively, while 1,294 hectares of the sown area in Bolangir witnessed ...
Mount Etna eruption causes airspace closure
The Mount Etna volcano erupted on Monday, spewing ash as several minor earthquakes hit the region, and prompting a partial closure of the Sicilian airspace around the mountain. Italy's national institute for geophysics and vulcanology (INGV) counted more than 130 seismic shocks in the zone, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.0. "The eruption occurred on the side of Etna," Boris Behncke, a vulcanologist at INGV, told AFP. "It's the first lateral eruption in more than 10 years, but it doesn't seem to be dangerous." Due to bad visibility because of the ash authorities restricted local airspace, allowing only four landings per hour Monday afternoon at the eastern Sicilian airport of Catania. Visibility was still too poor to determine whether the eruption was accompanied by lava, Behncke said. At any rate, both the seismic activity and ash production appeared to be diminishing in the afternoon, he said. Mount Etna, 3,300 metres high, is the biggest active volcano in Europe, with .
Thousands evacuated after 'loud crack' in Sydney tower AUS-BUILDING-LD EVACUATION
Australian police evacuated thousands of people in west Sydney late Christmas Eve, after residents reported hearing a "loud crack" from a 38-storey building. About 3,000 people from inside the tower and in nearby buildings were told to leave late Monday, with engineers investigating after the apartment complex moved "one or two millimetres". "Police received a call to a loud crack on level 10 of the building located behind us," New South Wales Fire and Rescue acting superintendent Greg Wright said from outside the Opal Tower complex. Police "identified there was a crack in the building", he added, alerting emergency services. An AFP photographer at the scene said following an inspection of Opal Tower by engineers and firefighters, police were allowing residents of the surrounding buildings to return to their homes. Some residents of Opal Tower were also allowed to return, although not those living in the section of the building where the crack had been found. It was unclear when ...
Indonesia tsunami: Death toll mounts to 373
At least 373 people lost their lives in the devastating tsunami that struck Sunda Strait, an official from Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (NDMA) said on Monday.The Agency also noted that 1,459 people were injured and 128 are reported to be missing due to the natural disaster caused by a combination of underwater landslides and volcanic eruption."Tsunami victims in the Sunda Strait are increasing. The joint SAR team continues to operate. Temporary data up to 24/12/2018 at 17.00 WIB, recorded 373 people died, 1,459 people were injured, 128 people were missing, and 5,665 people were displaced. It is estimated that victims are still increasing," tweeted Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the head of public relations at NDMA.Nugroho further said that 11,687 people were displaced and 611 houses, 69 hotel-villas, 60 and 420 boats were damaged.The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as rescue efforts are underway.
IndiGo engine smoke incident: Govt says AAIB pursuing the
The government Monday said the aircraft accident investigation wing AAIB is pursuing with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney (P&W) the incident of IndiGo plane emitting smoke mid-air with amid allegations that the probe is going slow. On December 10, IndiGo's A320 neo plane made an emergency landing in Kolkata after smoke filled the plane's cabin. The pilots issued a MayDay call and the passengers were evacuated using emergency chutes. The IndiGo incident involving an A320 neo aircraft, was the first instance globally of smoke detected from a P&W engine a senior DGCA official said last week. The incident is being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau(AAIB). "There is no question of any probe being hushed up. On the contrary, the AAIB is pursuing the matter with Airbus and P&W for assessing the reasons and recommending remedial measures," civil aviation secretary RN Choubey told PTI. He was responding to a query about allegations that the probe was .
373 dead in Indonesia amid fear of more tsunamis
The death toll in a devastating tsunami that hit the coast of Indonesia after a volcanic eruption reached 373 on Monday, as rescuers continued digging through the rubble with bare hands and heavy machinery to find survivors amid warnings of more deadly waves in the coming days.