Page 17 - Floods

Floods likely to worsen in Brazil's South, where many who remain are poor

More heavy rain is forecast for Brazil's already flooded Rio Grande do Sul state, where many of those remaining are poor people with limited ability to move to less dangerous areas. More than 15 cm (nearly 6 inches) of rain could fall over the weekend and will probably worsen flooding, according to the Friday afternoon bulletin from Brazil's national meteorology institute. It said there is also a high likelihood that winds will intensify and water levels rise in the Patos lagoon next to the state capital, Porto Alegre, and the surrounding area. As of Saturday morning, heavy rains were falling in northern Rio Grande do Sul, while Porto Alegre and the southern part of the state were receiving drizzle. Carlos Sampaio, 62, lives in a low-income community next to soccer club Gremio's stadium in Porto Alegre. His two-story home doubles as a sports bar. Even though the first floor is flooded, he said he won't leave, partly out of fear of looters in his high-crime neighbourhood, where poli

Over 300 killed as flash floods, heavy rains wreak havoc in Afghanistan: UN

The UN food agency says more than 300 Afghans have died in flash floods that also destroyed more than 1,000 houses in the northern province of Baghlan. The World Food Agency said Saturday it was distributing fortified biscuits to the survivors of one of the many floods that hit Afghanistan over the last few weeks following unusually heavy rainfall.

Brazil reels from massive flooding as it faces risk from new storms

Authorities in southern Brazil rushed on Wednesday to rescue survivors of massive flooding that has killed at least 100 people, but some residents refused to leave belongings behind while others returned to evacuated homes despite the risk of new storms. Heavy rains and flooding in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left 128 people missing, authorities said. More than 230,000 have been displaced, and much of the region has been isolated by the floodwaters. More storms are expected in the state, with lightning strikes and wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in the south, according to Ctia Valente, the meteorologist in the state's situation room. Staffers of the state's civil defense agency told The Associated Press they have been struggling to persuade residents of the city of Eldorado do Sul, one of the hardest hit by the floods, to leave their homes. It is located beside Porto Alegre, near the center of the state's coastline. At

Brazil floods death toll rises to 90, dozens still stranded: Report

The flooding has hampered rescue efforts, with dozens of people still waiting to be evacuated by boat or helicopter from stricken homes

Floods in Southern Brazil kill at least 75 over 7 days, 103 people missing

Massive floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 88,000 people from their homes. Approximately 16,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. The floods left a wake of devastation, including landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges across the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. More than 800,000 people are without a water supply, according to the civil defence agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan. A rescue team pulled an elderly man in serious medical condition into a helicopter from a remote area in the Bento Gonalves municipality, according to footage from military firefighters. Torrents of brown water poured over a nearby dam. On Saturday evening, residents in the town of Canoas stood up

What caused the deadly Brazil floods

Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul has been reeling under record downpours since April 29. This has forced around 70,000 people out of their homes due to landslides, washed-out roads

Heavy rains ease around Houston, flooding remains after hundreds rescued

Floodwaters closed some Texas schools on Monday after days of heavy rains pummelled the Houston area and led to hundreds of rescues including people who were stranded on rooftops. A 5-year-old boy died after riding in a car that was swept away in fast waters, authorities said. Although forecasters expected storms to begin tapering off in southeastern Texas, high waters continued to close some roads and left residents facing lengthy cleanups in neighbourhoods where rising river levels led to weekend evacuation orders. Houston is one of the most flood-prone metro areas in the country. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dumped historic rainfall that flooded thousands of homes and resulted in more than 60,000 rescues. In one soggy area of Houston, school officials in Channelview cancelled classes and said a survey of their employees found many of them had experienced circumstances that would prevent them from coming to work. These folks have suffered much, people," Trinity County Sheriff Woody

Floods in southern Brazil kill at least 60, with above 100 people missing

Massive floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state killed at least 60 people and another 101 were reported missing, according to Sunday's toll from local authorities. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 80,000 people from their homes. Approximately 15,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. The floods left a wake of devastation, including landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges across the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. More than 800,000 people are without a water supply, according to the civil defence agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan. On Saturday evening, residents in the town of Canoas stood up to their shoulders in muddy water and formed a human chain to pull boats carrying people to safety, according to video footage shared by local UOL news network. The Guaiba river reached a record level of 5.33 metres (17.5 feet) on Sunday morning at

Hundreds of people rescued from flooding as water rises in Houston, Texas

High waters flooded neighbourhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing more than 400 people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water. Others prepared to evacuate their property. Floodwaters inundated a wide region Saturday, from Houston to rural East Texas, where game wardens rode airboats through waist-high waters rescuing both people and pets who did not evacuate in time. One crew brought a family and three dogs aboard as rising waters surrounded their cars and home. A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night to the soaked region and the likelihood of major flooding. Aron Brown, 45, and his wife Jamie Brown, 41, were two of the many residents who drove or walked to watch the rising waters near a flooded intersection close to the San Jacinto River in the northeast Houston neighborhood of Kingwood. The floodwaters had risen several feet a

Torrential rain, flood and landslide hit Indonesian island, 14 dead

A flood and a landslide hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing 14 people, officials said Saturday. Torrential rain pounding the area since Thursday triggered a landslide in Luwu district in South Sulawesi province, said local rescue chief Mexianus Bekabel. Floods up to 3 meters (10 feet) have affected 13 sub-districts as water and mud covered the area. More than 1,000 houses were affected, with 42 of them swept off their foundations. A search and rescue team worked to evacuate residents using rubber boats and other vehicles. More than 100 residents have been moved to mosques or relatives' houses outside the affected area, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said Saturday. Seasonal downpours cause frequent landslides and floods in Indonesia, a chain of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or in fertile floodplains. Torrential rains in April triggered landslides and killed 20 people in Tana Toraja district of South Sulawesi ..

Flights cancelled, offices and beaches closed: Heavy rains lash Dubai again

Dubai's MeT department has issued an orange alert for Friday; educational institutions asked to shift to online classes, while companies directed to allow work from home for their employees

At least 70 killed by flooding in Kenya; more rain expected during weekend

Flooding and heavy rains in Kenya have killed at least 70 people since mid-March, a government spokesperson said Friday, twice as many as were reported earlier this week. The East African country has seen weeks of heavy rains and severe flooding in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, as well as in the country's western and central regions. Kenya's government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura on Friday refuted claims that hundreds of people have died in the ongoing flooding and said the official tally now stands at 70. Five bodies were retrieved Friday from a river in Makueni county, east of the country, after a lorry they were traveling in was swept off a submerged bridge, local station Citizen TV reported. Another 11 were rescued. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday at a news briefing that the government had set aside 4 billion Kenya shillings ($29 million) for emergency relief efforts, but did not provide further details. More than 130,000 people are currently affected with thousands of

Not cloud seeding, climate change to blame for Dubai floods: Scientists

UAE got 254 mm of rainfall over 24 hours last week, more than it typically receives in an entire year

Asia world's most 'disaster hit' region with rising climate crisis: Report

WMO climate report reveals record high temperatures in Asian countries with flooding and heat waves are major issues in India

Pak province issues flood alert, warns of heavy loss due to glacial melting

A Pakistani province has issued a flood alert due to glacial melting and warned of heavy loss of life, officials said Saturday. The country has witnessed days of extreme weather, killing scores of people and destroying property and farmland. Experts say Pakistan is experiencing heavier rains than normal in April because of climate change. In the mountainous northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has been hit particularly hard by the deluges, authorities issued a flood alert because of the melting of glaciers in several districts. They said the flood could worsen and that people should move to safer locations ahead of any danger. If timely safety measures are not taken, there is a possibility of heavy loss of life and property due to the expected flood situation, said Muhammad Qaiser Khan, from the local disaster management authority. Latest figures from the province said that 46 people, including 25 children, have died in the past five days due to rain-related incidents.

Heavy rains, flood in Dubai expose weaknesses to a rapidly changing climate

The flooding washed away homes and caused dozens of fatalities

Dubai floods: IndiGo issues travel advisory amid unprecedented rainfall

As heavy rain lashes the Gulf nation, the Indian Embassy in Dubai emphasised on Thursday that they are in constant touch with UAE authorities and airlines

Dubai rainfall explained: Cloud seeding to drainage management system

UAE began experimenting with cloud seeding around 1982, developing its own seeding agent, known as nano material

Dubai gets over a year's worth of rainfall in 24hrs: Here's what happened

Hit by unprecedented rainfall, Dubai International Airport warns people not come to airport unless 'absolutely necessary'

Water level in Russia's Kurgan region crosses 'dangerous level' mark

More than 660 residential houses were flooded in the region by Wednesday morning, RIA cited emergency ministry as saying