Page 904 - Disaster Accident
Cabinet approves Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
The approval entails Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury along with flexibility for continued use of mercury-based products and processes involving mercury compound up to 2025.
Fukushima operator ordered to pay $10 million in new damages
A Tokyo court has ordered the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to pay $10 million in fresh damages to residents who fled their homes after the disaster, the plaintiffs' attorney said today. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) was instructed to pay a total of 1.1 billion yen to 318 former residents of the Odaka district in Fukushima, around 20 kilometres from the plant. The sum is a tenth of what the plaintiffs had demanded, citing the financial hardship and psychological impact they suffered after the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima that was triggered by a deadly earthquake and tsunami. TEPCO had already agreed to pay each of the plaintiffs 8.5 million yen, but the ruling requires it to pay an additional 3.3 million yen to each of those affected, according to Isamu Oki, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs. Residents are technically free to return to Odaka, which the government has certified as decontaminated, but only a few dozen have gone home ...
Seven injured in Australian hot air balloon landing
Seven people were injured after a hot air balloon made an emergency landing in Australia's Victoria state on Thursday morning.
Harley-Davidson recalls 175,000 bikes on brake safety fears
Iconic US motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is recalling nearly 175,000 bikes in the United States due to fears the brakes could fail, a government regulator has announced. If brake fluid on the motorcycles is not replaced for a "prolonged period" beyond the recommended two-year schedule, deposits may form on internal components "reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement. NHTSA began investigating the problem in July 2016 after receiving complaints about sudden brake loss, and said the recall covers 31 models from the 2008 to 2011 model years. The agency told the company last month that a safety recall was necessary, and rejected Harley's proposal to instead launch a campaign to educate riders about the safety matter and the importance of regularly changing brake fluids. The company will notify owners that dealers will offer a free brake fluid flush beginning February 12.
1.46 lakh people killed in road accidents in 2017: Gadkari
As many as 1.46 lakh people lost their lives in 4.60 lakh road accidents across the country in 2017, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said today. Gadkari said in the Lok Sabha that a majority of the road accidents involved two-wheelers where the victims were not wearing helmets. There were 4.80 road accidents in the country in 2016 in which 1.50 lakh people lost their lives, and in 2015, there were 5.01 lakh road accidents in which 1.46 lakh people were killed, he said during Question Hour. The minister said the detailed age profile of road accidents victims in 2016 reveals that the age group of 18-45 years accounted for a share of 68.6 per cent (1,03,409 persons) in road accident fatalities. Gadkari said the ministry of road transport and highways has taken a number of steps to prevent such road accidents, which include approval of a national road safety policy. This policy outlines various measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety ...
8 killed in China road collapse
At least eight people died and nine others were injured after a road collapsed in downtown Foshan city in China's Guangdong Province, government authorities said on Thursday.According to the transport authorities, the accident took place at around 8:40 pm on Wednesday at a road section, which was a subway construction site. Eight people died on the spot and three others went missing, the Xinhua reported.The injured have been hospitalised and are now in stable conditions.The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
Freight first as jetmakers study single-pilot airplanes
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Once there were three on the flight deck.
Taiwan earthquake death toll rises to 9
The death toll from Taiwan's massive earthquake has risen to nine, officials say, as rescuers race against the clock to reach trapped survivors.According to the rescue authorities, 265 people are injured and 62 remain missing so far, reported Xinhua.Among the deceased, three were from mainland China, while the rest were Taiwanese.Two bodies were pulled out from the damaged Yun Men Tusi Ti building in the early hours of Thursday.A female tourist from Fujian Province in China, who was rescued from the same building, was declared brought dead when authorities shifted her to a local hospital.The quake hit the island nation 11:50 pm (local time) (3.50pm GMT) on Tuesday, around 21 kilometres, northeast of the port city of Hualien, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).It was the most severe earthquake to hit Hualien in the last five decades, according to Fu Kun-Chi, the head of Hualien County. More than 200 aftershocks have been reported ever since.Another strong ...
2 injured as fire breaks out at MHADA, Mumbai
Two people were injured after a fire broke out in MHADA building situated in Mumbai's Malad area on Thursday.The injured people have been admitted to the hospital.The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Fire in Mumbai building; two injured
A fire broke out in a building in suburban Malad this morning, leaving two residents injured, civic officials said. "Our fire control room got a call about flames emanating from flat No 601 in Sai Sadan building in Malad (West) at 6.44 am. Fire brigade personnel were immediately sent to the spot," said an official from the disaster management unit of the BMC. "Our personnel reached the spot and doused the flames. They found that two residents of the building were injured and shifted them to a nearby hospital in Malwani," he added. The injured, Nilofer Sheikh (32) and Ikra (6), are in a stable condition, the official said, adding the cause of the blaze was not yet known. The building was developed by the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (Mhada), a state-run body.
Seven injured in Australia hot air balloon crash
Seven people were taken to hospital today with back injuries and fractures after a hot air balloon crashed in high winds during a dawn tour in Australia, officials said. Multiple ambulances were called to Dixons Creek, some 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, where the basket of the balloon was found on its side. "Seven people have been treated and transported to hospital by Ambulance Victoria paramedics after a hot air balloon landed heavily in Dixons Creek this morning," ambulance officials said. "Paramedics were called to the scene just after 7am and assessed a total of 16 people." The injured, many in their 60s, were all in a stable condition. No details of their nationalities were made public, although local media said they were a mix of domestic and international tourists. The Herald Sun newspaper said they were thrown from the basket as the balloon attempted an emergency landing after being buffeted by strong winds. Senior Sergeant Carolyn Sunderland said the pilot .
Rescuers brave aftershocks as bodies pulled from teetering
Taiwanese rescuers today braved aftershocks coursing through a dangerously leaning apartment block that was partially toppled by a deadly earthquake as their search for survivors uncovered two more bodies. At least nine people were killed and dozens remained missing after a 6.4-magnitude quake hit the popular eastern tourist city of Hualien late Tuesday, according to a revised toll from the national fire agency. The powerful tremor left a handful of buildings badly damaged -- some of them leaning at precarious angles -- as well as roads torn up and hundreds forced to shelter in local schools and a stadium. The major focus for emergency responders remained the Yun Tsui apartment block where six of the deaths occurred and dozens are still missing. The lower floors of the 12-storey tower -- which also housed a hotel -- pancaked, leaving the structure leaning at a fifty-degree angle and sparking fears of an imminent collapse. Despite those risks rescuers kept going into the ..
Aftershocks hamper rescue efforts in Taiwan
A series of strong aftershocks have hindered search and rescue efforts on Thursday for victims and survivors of a magnitude-6.4 earthquake in Taiwan that left nine people dead and 226 others injured.
Lively will resume shooting for 'The Rhythm Section' in June
Actor Blake Lively, who had suffered an injury during the shooting of spy thriller "The Rhythm Section", is expected to resume filming in June. "The Age of Adaline" had suffered an injury on her hand while filming an action sequence in Dublin, reported Variety. Lively's injury had forced the Paramount, Global Road, and producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, to temporarily suspend shooting of the film. The film is being helmed by "The Handmaid's Tale" director Reed Morano and also stars Jude Law. It is an adaptation of British author Mark Burnell's "Stephanie Patrick" novels and follows the story of a woman (Lively) who seeks to uncover the truth behind a plane crash that killed her family.
Eight killed in road collapse in China
At least eight persons were killed and three went missing in a road collapse in China's Guangdong Province, officials said today. Nine others were injured in the incident. The accident took place last night at a cross-section, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Eight people were killed on the spot and three others went missing, the report said. Nine persons who were injured in the accident have been hospitalised and are in a stable condition, the report said.
India-Myanmar border sealed
The Indo-Myanmar border was sealed on Thursday after a major fire broke out late last night just across the international gate in Myanmar.
Eight killed in China road collapse
At least eight people were killed and nine others injured when a road in China's Guangdong province collapsed, authorities said on Thursday.
Rescuers brave aftershocks as Taiwan quake toll rises to nine
Taiwanese rescuers braved powerful aftershocks to search for survivors in a dangerously leaning apartment block that was partially toppled by a quake, locating two more bodies early today to bring the death toll to nine as dozens remain missing. A 6.4-magnitude quake hit the popular eastern tourist city of Hualien late Tuesday, leaving a handful of buildings badly damaged -- some of them leaning at terrifying angles -- as well as roads torn up and hundreds sheltering in local schools and a stadium. The major focus for emergency responders remained the Yun Tsui apartment block where the majority of the deaths occurred and dozens are still missing. The lower floors of the 12-storey tower -- which also housed a hotel -- pancaked, leaving the structure leaning at a fifty-degree angle and sparking fears of an imminent collapse. Despite those risks rescuers kept going into the building throughout last night morning in a desperate search for survivors. Strong aftershocks ...
Pak tribesmen set ablaze good Taliban's office
Reacting to the killing of a young man from the Wazir tribe last month, local Pashtuns stormed the offices of 'good Taliban', a so-called peace committee and set it on fire.Good Taliban are those who are allegedly supported by the Pakistani authorities.According to the Dawn, the family members of the deceased, Idrees Wazir, alleged that he had a tussle with a militant commander belonging to the Mehsud tribe after a road accident that took place two days ago.The family claimed that militants, who had "offices" in the city, killed Idrees on February 4.After Idrees was killed, the tribesmen of Ahmadzai Wazir residing in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan cities held a protest and set up a camp.The killing of Idrees sparked anger among his fellow tribesmen in Wana and other parts of South Waziristan Agency.Other tribesmen from Wana, the administrative headquarters of South Waziristan Agency, joined the protest at Dera Ismail Khan as well.The militants who killed Idrees were allegedly the members ..
World Bank launches $1.4 billion catastrophe bond for Latam earthquakes: Aon
LONDON (Reuters) - The World Bank has launched a $1.4 billion catastrophe bond covering Latin American earthquakes, the largest earthquake catastrophe bond on record, Aon Securities said on Wednesday.