Page 666 - Disaster Accident
Japan torrential rains leave over 60 dead
At least 60 people died and scores are missing as torrential rains in parts of Japan unleashed flooding and landslides.Heavy downpour continues to hammer certain areas of the South Asian country for a third day on Sunday."We've never experienced this kind of rain before. This is a situation of extreme danger," Afghan's TOLO News quoted an official at the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), as saying while addressing a news conference.About 48,000 emergency responders from the police, fire department and defense forces are participating in the search-and-rescue operations, as per media reports."There are still many people missing and others in need of help, we are working against time," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.Residents are being evacuated from areas of stricken Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, in south-western Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency sent a high-level alert in large areas of western Japan, while it has lifted the warning in other regions.According to the report ...
'I don't know where to start': Rains devastate Japan town
Masanori Hiramoto stood before his traditional home in the Japanese town of Mihara, speechless at the destruction caused by record rains that have killed dozens of people. "I have lived here all my life. I have never seen anything like this," he said, standing in shock before the house in where he and his wife raised their three daughters, all now adults. Hiramoto was one of around 60 evacuees from Hongo district in southern Hiroshima prefecture, who ventured back to their homes today, two days after fleeing when authorities issued evacuation orders. More than two million people across parts of central and western Japan have been issued similar orders, but they are not mandatory and many of those who defied the instructions have found themselves caught up in flash floods and landslides. Japan's government said today that at least 48 people had been killed in days of record rains, but the toll was expected to rise further, with local media saying more than 60 people were dead and ...
Medium intensity quake jolts Jaipur
An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale hit Rajasthan's Jaipur region on Sunday.According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the quake struck the region at 9:43 am. More details are awaited.No casualties or loss of property has been reported so far. Local officials and the police force deployed in the Pink city have been directed to stay on standby alert.Notably, an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on Richter scale jolted Himachal Pradesh's Chamba region on May 21, 2018.
Mild intensity earthquake hits Rajasthan
A mild intensity earthquake jolted Jaipur and nearby area today though no loss of life was reported. The epicenter of the earthquake measuring 4.3 at richter scale was Jaipur and the tremors were felt at 0943 hours, according to the MeT department. Police control room said that there was no report of loss of life.
Rescue efforts in Japan following heavy rains, floods
Rescue and search operations continued in Japan on Sunday to locate over 40 people who were reported missing after floods and landslides caused by torrential rains hit the country which have also left at least 65 people dead.
Wildfires rage through California amid heat rage
Firefighters toiled in stifling heat on the lines of destructive wildfires across the US West, making progress against some blazes while struggling to tame others that have forced evacuations of hundreds of homes. In heat-stricken Southern California, powerful winds that sent an overnight inferno hopscotching through the Santa Barbara County community of Goleta vanished in the morning, allowing firefighters to extinguish smoldering ruins of an estimated 20 structures, including homes. Authorities announced that mandatory evacuation orders were being greatly reduced and many of the 2,500 people who fled Friday night would be able to return home by late afternoon. County Fire Chief Eric Peterson thanked residents for heeding the call to evacuate, allowing firefighters to focus on fire suppression rather than rescues. "There very likely would have been fatalities last night had those evacuations not occurred," Peterson said. The fire's spread was stopped at about 100 acres (40.5 ...
Mission to rescue boys from Thai cave underway
A perilous mission to evacuate 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach trapped deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand was underway on Sunday, according to authorities.
Death toll climbs to 76 as heavy rains hammer southern Japan
Heavy rainfall hammered southern Japan for the third day, prompting new disaster warnings on Kyushu and Shikoku islands today, as the government put the death toll at 48 with 28 others presumed dead. Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the whereabouts of 92 people are unknown, mostly in the southern area of Hiroshima prefecture. More than 100 reports of casualties had been received, such as cars being swept away, he said. Some 40 helicopters were out on rescue missions. "Rescue efforts are a battle with time," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. "The rescue teams are doing their utmost." The Japan Meteorological Agency said three hours of rainfall in one area in Kochi prefecture reached an accumulated 26.3 centimeters (10.4 inches), the highest since such records started in 1976. The assessment of casualties has been difficult because of the widespread area affected by the rainfall, flooding and landslides. Authorities warned landslides could strike even after ...
'Race against time' to rescue Japan flood victims: PM
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned today of a "race against time" to rescue flood victims as authorities issued new alerts over record rains that have killed at least 48 people. The torrential downpours have caused flash flooding and landslides across central and western parts of the country, prompting evacuation orders for over two million people. "Rescues, saving lives and evacuations are a race against time," Abe said as he met with a government crisis cell set up to respond to the disaster. "There are still many people whose safety has yet to be confirmed," he added. Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the death toll in days of record rains now stood at 48, but the toll is expected to rise further, with local media saying over 50 people were dead and dozens more missing. The rain has completely blanketed some villages, forcing desperate residents to take shelter on their rooftops with flood water swirling below as they wait for rescue. Over two million people have ..
Thai cave rescue site cleared to 'help victims': officials
Thai authorities told media today to leave a site near the entrance to a cave where 12 boys and their football coach have been trapped for more than two weeks, as they need the space for the rescue operation. "Everyone who is not involved with the operations has to get out of the area immediately," police announced via loudspeaker at the muddy encampment, setting off a frenzy of moving and packing. "From the situation assessment, we need to use the area to help victims," police said.
44 dead as record rains devastate parts of Japan
The toll in record rains that have devastated parts of Japan rose today to at least 44, officials said, with authorities issuing new warnings as torrential downpours continued. Local media put the toll at 50, with dozens more missing and the number of fatalities expected to rise further. The official toll includes one person killed last week, when the typhoon system that brought the heavy rains first made landfall in Japan, but most of the deaths have been reported in the last few days. The rain, which has been worst in western parts of the country, has completely blanketed some villages, forcing desperate residents to take shelter on their rooftops with flood water swirling below as they waited for rescue . The torrential downpours have caused flash flooding and landslides, and prompted authorities to order the evacuation of two million people. Hundreds have been injured and dozens of homes have been completely destroyed in the disastrous downpours. "We are carrying out rescue ...
8 dead, dozens missing in Japan flood, heavy rain
At least eight people were killed and two million were forced to flee their homes due to massive flood and heavy rain in large areas of south-western Japan.As per CNN, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Japan informed that at least 51 people were injured and another 25 people are missing.Residents are being evacuated from areas of stricken Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, in south-western Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency sent a high-level alert in large areas of western Japan, while it has lifted the warning in other regions.Heavy downpour is expected to continue through Sunday in the west and the east.
Mumbai rains: Safety measures beefed up near all beaches
As incessant rains continue to lash Mumbai and adjoining areas, lifeguard chairs have been arranged at all the six beaches here for better visibility, along with a manual siren, public address system, ring boys and life jackets.This came after two boys died and two feared drowned off Juhu beach here earlier this week.A statement from the Mumbai Fire Brigade read, "Despite warnings, people venture into the sea and endanger life. My appeal to public at large is to be aware of the danger and take all warnings issued seriously."The onset of monsoon has disrupted routine life in pockets of Maharashtra.Earlier in the day, streets at Thane district's Bhiwandi were waterlogged as rain continued to lash the region.Train services were also halted between Badlapur and Kalyan due to water-logging.According to Regional Metrological Centre, Mumbai, heavy rains are expected in districts of Thane, Palghar and Mumbai till July 11, which may lead to adverse weather and traffic conditions.Meanwhile, ...
Woman injured in Andheri bridge collapse dies
A 36-year-old woman, who was severely injured when the pathway of a bridge collapsed over the railway tracks at Andheri station, died today at RN Cooper Hospital, a civic official said. A section of the bridge, in the southern end of Andheri railway station, collapsed on July 3, and Asmita Katkar had suffered severe injuries to her head and limbs, an official said. She was on ventilator support since being admitted to the hospital, situated in Mumbai's Juhu area, immediately after the bridge collapse, the official added. He said that Katkar was declared dead by Cooper hospital authorities at around 6:50pm today.
Fighter jet crashes in Romania, killing pilot
A Romanian Air Force pilot died today after his fighter jet crashed during an airshow in the south east of the country, the Romanian Defence Ministry said. Lieutenant Florin Rotaru, 36, was flying the MiG21 Lancer during a display in the town of Fetesti, 90km (56 miles) from the Black Sea coast, where thousands of spectators gathered. No one else was hurt. "Words are too little to describe the pain felt by the Romanian Army afer this loss", Defence Minister Mihai Fifor wrote on Facebook. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, with Fifor saying that Romania's fighter jets are functioning "perfectly". Prosecutors opened an investigation regarding the fatal crash. The Soviet-era MiGs are primary jets for the Romanian Air Force which has been using them for the last five decades and still relies on them for missions of air policing. Last time a MiG crashed in Romania was in 2017, near Mihail Kogalniceau airbase, where American troops are stationed. The pilot survived after
1 dead, over 100 rescued from Chinchoti waterfall near Mumbai
A picnicker today died and a rescue operation was on for 12 others stranded at Chinchoti waterfall in Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district, police said. About 100 others had been rescued by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Fire Brigade and local police who were currently engaged in rescue operations, an official said. The waterfall, a popular destination among tourists during the monsoon, is situated in Tungareshwar forest, over 70 kilometres from here. "The area is witnessing continuous rainfall since morning which led to these people getting stranded and it is also hampering rescue operations," the official informed. He said that a team of the 5 Battalion of the NDRF, stationed at Andheri in Mumbai, was provided a "green corridor" by the traffic police to get to the site of operations near Vasai quickly.
2 die in wall collapse; more rains predicted
Two persons died in a wall collapse at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district as heavy rains continued to lash the district and neighbouring places for the second day today, police said. Sixtyfive-year-old Parvathi and her 11-year-old grandson Dhanush died after the wall in their house collapsed last night, they said. Low-lying areas in the city were inundated, throwing public life out of gear, they added. Sources in the Meteorological Department have predicted rainfall in the next three days Heavy rains hit Mulki, Madanthyar, Padubidri, Punjalkatte, Venur, Bantwal, Suratkal, Subramanya, Kadaba, Karkala, Puttur, Uppinangadi, Belthangady and Guruvayanakere in the district. In Udupi, the showers affected Hebri, Bajegoli, Kundapura, Brahmavar, Kaup and Shirva. Many schools declared a holiday. Schools in Moodbidri, Sullia and Beltangady taluks too announced a holiday owing to the rains.
Toll from deadly Thai tourist boat sinking rises to 41
Recovery divers have pulled 41 bodies from the sea off the Thai holiday island of Phuket, officials said today, 48 hours after a boat capsized in rough waters killing dozens of Chinese passengers. Many of the dead were found drifting in the sea, still wearing life jackets, several kilometres from where the Phoenix went down after being hit by five-metre (15-foot) high waves in a storm on Thursday evening. It is one of the worst boat disasters in the recent history of Thailand, a nation with a poor health and safety track record despite being heavily dependent on tourism. The death toll rose to 41 today, with 15 still missing, according to the Phuket province public relations department. Seventeen Chinese divers joined the operation today to recover bodies as conflicting figures emerged about the number of dead. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong had earlier said that five bodies were found today, in addition to 37 bodies recovered yesterday. The triple decked Phoenix was carrying 105
IndiGo, GoAir conduct visual inspections of 50 PW engines post FAA directive, find no abnormalities
IndiGo and GoAir have carried out "visual inspections" of a total of 50 Pratt & Whitney engines powering their A320 neo aircraft in the last fortnight but no abnormalities were detected, a senior official said today. The visual inspections were done after US regulator FAA issued an airworthiness directive on June 26 to check for possible engine fan hub damage of certain P&W engines. IndiGo and GoAir, operating A320 neo fleet with P&W engines, have been facing engine issues in these aircraft that even forced grounding of many planes. A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said no abnormalities were found during visual inspection of a total of 50 affected P&W engines. "In compliance with AD (Airworthiness Directive), IndiGo has carried out one time inspection of 34 affected engines and GoAir carried out inspection on 16 affected engines. "No abnormality has been observed with these engines fitted on A320 neos being operated by Indigo and ...
One killed as heavy rains lash coastal, western Maharashtra
One person was killed and normal life disrupted in many areas on Saturday as, for the second time this week, torrential rains lashed the Mumbai suburbs, and adjoining districts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar, officials said.