Page 910 - Disaster Accident

Assistance rolled out for flood-hit Australian island

Recovery and relief efforts are being rolled out for residents of a small Torres Strait island in Australia's Queensland state after severe wind, rain and tides damaged the remote area, officials said on Monday.

Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at furniture factory

A fire broke out during the early hours of Monday at a furniture factory in Akola, Maharashtra.Three fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.Fire Officer Ramesh Thackeray told ANI, "Three of our vehicles have made 15 to 20 trips and the fire is in control now."Thackeray informed that the loss of property is estimated to be in crores as some expensive electrical appliances were housed in the factory.

Schools in Rajouri closed after ceasefire violation

Following the ceasefire violation in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, all schools in the district have been closed as a precautionary measure.The District Collector of Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary told ANI on Sunday, "In wake of ceasefire violation, we have closed all 84 schools as a precautionary measure and have pressed into action our emergency evacuation teams."Chaudhary informed that relief camps have also been established to shift people there in case of an emergency.On Sunday night, Pakistan initiated unprovoked firing along the LOC in Rajouri district that claimed lived of four soldiers -one officer, three jawans- while another was injured.

Goods train derails in Chhattisgarh

A goods train carrying iron has derailed in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.The train derailed between Bhansi and Bacheli on Sunday.No casualty was reported to have taken place.

Car gutted in fire in south Delhi

A moving car gutted in fire in south Delhi's Moti Bagh today, an official from the Delhi Fire Services said. No one was injured in the incident, he said. A call was received at 7.45 pm about a car catching fire on the Moti Bagh flyover, the official said. Two firetenders were rushed to the spot and the flames were doused within half an hour, he said. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official added.

Toll from Nigeria's Lassa fever outbreak rises to 30

The death toll from a Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 30 since January 2018, according to official figures.

Accident insurance for self-help group members in West Bengal

West Bengal will provide personal accident insurance coverage for every member of self-help groups, a senior state government official said. The coverage would be extended through the West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd (WBSCL). According to the official of the Self-Help Group and Self-Employment Department, the state government has selected IRDA-registered insurance companies through a transparent bidding process for the arrangement, which falls under the 'Samaj Sathi' Scheme. "The accident insurance package includes insurance benefits for accident-related medical expenses and hospital stay as well as wage loss compensation," he said. The insurance scheme shall apply to all the districts of the state.

1 dead, five injured as heavy snowfall batters Moscow

One person died and five were injured as heavy snowfall hit Moscow for the second day in a row, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Sunday.

2 Amtrak workers killed, 116 hurt in South Carolina crash

An Amtrak passenger train slammed into a freight train parked on a side track in South Carolina early today, killing two Amtrak employees and injuring more than 110 people, authorities said. It was the third deadly wreck involving Amtrak in less than two months. Amtrak's Silver Star was on its way from New York to Miami with eight crew members and about 140 passengers around 2:45 AM when it plowed into the CSX train at an estimated 59 mph, Governor Henry McMaster said. The wreck took place around a switchyard about 16 kilometers south of Columbia. The governor said investigators have yet to determine how the Amtrak train ended up on that stretch of track. "The CSX was on the track it was supposed to be on," McMaster said. The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators. McMaster said 116 people were taken to four hospitals. The main trauma hospital in the area had three patients in critical or serious condition, with the rest treated for minor injuries such ..

2 dead, more than 100 hurt in South Carolina train collision

Two Amtrak employees were killed and more than 100 others injured today when a passenger train carrying 147 people hit a freight train in the US state of South Carolina, authorities said. Amtrak train 91 -- traveling between New York and Miami -- derailed in Cayce, outside the state capital Columbia, when it collided with the CSX freight train at around 2:30 AM (1300 IST). It was the third deadly incident involving an Amtrak train since December, raising questions about the safety of the national railway service. Amtrak said in a statement that the lead engine derailed along with some passenger cars. Eight crew members and 139 passengers were on board. A total of 116 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, many with "minor injuries," Governor Henry McMaster told reporters. US media reported injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones. He identified the dead as Amtrak personnel and said the freight train, which was stationary, appeared to be ...

'Damaged temple Mandapam to be restored to original splendour'

Tamil Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today assured that the mandapam at the famous Meenakshi temple here, which was damaged in the recent fire, would be renovated and restored to its original splendour. "All efforts will be taken to restore the mandapam to its original level", he told reporters after inspecting the 7,000 square foot Vasantharayar Mandapam. Panneerselvam also said that shops in the temple would be vacated after government received a report about the fire. Various Hindu outfits had staged a protest yesterday, demanding relocation of the shops from the temple premises. Earlier, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Sevoor Ramachandran said that a special committee, comprising experts, the District Collector, Hr&CE officials and temple trustees, would inspect the damage. They would also give a report as to whether the shops in the temple should be vacated, he said. The committee would decide about the renovation of the mandapam and .

6.1 earthquake jolts Taiwan

A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale struck off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan, on Sunday.According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck about 14 km northeast of Hualien city at 9:56 p.m. The quake hit at a depth of around 7.8 km.Local media reported that people in Taipei felt the tremors in their homes.However, no casualties or loss of properties has been reported so far.On February 6, 2016, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck 28 km northeast of Pingtung city in southern Taiwan, killing 117 people and injuring more than 550 people.The earthquake had struck at a depth of around 23 km. Many buildings were destroyed in the affected city.Taiwan is located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, which is vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

6.4-magnitude quake hits Taiwan

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted the waters near Hualien County in Taiwan late on Sunday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. No casualties were reported.

Fire in Kolkata slum, no injuries

A fire broke out in a slum here on Sunday afternoon but was soon doused, a fire services official said. No injuries were reported.

Shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake hits off Taiwan: USGS

A shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the eastern coast of Taiwan late today, the United States Geological Survey said. The quake's epicentre was around 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of the port city of Hualien at a depth of around eight kilometres, the USGS added. There were no immediate reports of any destruction caused by the tremors, and the USGS said there is "low likelihood of casualties and damage". It was the second earthquake to strike off Taiwan's eastern coast today, following a weaker 5.3-magnitude quake in the same area.

2 killed, several injured in train derailment in South Carolina

At least two people were killed and 50 others injured after a passenger train collided with a freight train in South Carolina on Sunday morning.The CNN quoted authorities said the collision occurred near Charleston Highway and Pine Ridge Road.Amtrak in a statement said, the accident happened due to the derailment of the lead engine and some passenger cars.The train was operating between New York and Miami, and had 139 passengers and eight crew members on board, it added.The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical assistance.

At least 2 killed in South Carolina train collision: US police

At least two people were killed and 70 others injured today when a train carrying 147 people and a freight train collided in the eastern US state of South Carolina, authorities said. The Amtrak train -- Train 91 -- traveling between New York and Miami derailed in Cayce, outside the state capital Columbia, in the collision with the CSX freight train, which took place at around 2:30 AM (1300 IST). Amtrak, the national US railway service, said in a statement that the lead engine derailed along with some passenger cars. Eight crew members and 139 passengers were on board. US media reported injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones. The Lexington County Sheriff's Department confirmed all passengers had been evacuated. The local Red Cross opened a shelter in a school to help passengers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was investigating the incident. Officials added that although 5,000 gallons of fuel spilled following the crash, there was no

One dies in cracker unit fire, two injured

A fire broke out in a cracker manufacturing factory in the district today, killing one person and seriously injuring two others, police said. The mishap occurred when some crackers stored in the factory at Vembakottai suddenly exploded, triggering a fire. Though Manimaran who was injured was admitted to a hospital, he died without responding to treatment, police said. Sundarapandi and Sundararajan were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, police said, adding the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained.

Two killed in Italian avalanche: emergency services

Two people were killed in an avalanche as they were skiing off-piste at a resort in central Italy, emergency services said today. They said a third person was slightly injured and taken to hospital by helicopter following the accident in the resort of Campo Felice, 120 kms east of Rome. Campo Felice is a small resort popular with Rome residents in the Apennine Mountains.

Fire in Kolkata building, no casualty

A fire broke out at a three- storey building in the eastern part of the city today. There was no casualty as the residents of the building could be evacuated, a fire department officer said. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was extinguished within 45 minutes. The cause of the fire was not known, the officer said. The building is located on Gas Street in Raja Bazar area and the fire was reported at around 4.30 PM.