Page 7 - Natural Disasters

Typhoon Kong-rey hits Taiwan: 2 dead, 500 injured amid widespread damage

The Ministry of National Defence said that it had mobilised to support regional recovery from Typhoon Kong-rey

Asia needs to spend more to adapt to climate change, limit damage: Study

Countries in Asia will suffer worse damage from the climate crisis than other regions and are falling far behind in spending on improvements to limit the damage and adapt to changing weather patterns and natural disasters, the Asian Development Bank said in a report released Thursday. The report said financing needs in developing Asian countries to cope with climate change range from USD 102 billion to USD 431 billion a year. That far exceeds the USD 34 billion committed to those purposes in 2021-2022, the Manila, Philippines-based regional development bank said. Developing Asia accounted for nearly half of all global emissions in 2021, the latest year for comprehensive data, with China accounting for two-thirds of that and South Asia nearly 20 per cent, the report said. That's because even though emissions per person remain far lower than in Europe, Japan and North America, it is the world's most populous region, home to about 70 per cent of all human kind. Most countries in the ..

2.37 lakh young volunteers to be trained as first responders to disaster

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has launched a special scheme to train 2.37 lakh young volunteers in 315 districts across the country as the first responders to disaster preparedness and response. The 'Yuva Apada Mitra Scheme' was launched at the 20th formation day function of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) here on Monday, an official release said. According to the plan, under the 'Yuva Apada Mitra Scheme', 2,37,326 young volunteers from the youth organisations such as National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Bharat Scouts & Guides (BS&G) and National Service Scheme (NSS) will be trained in 315 districts of 28 states as a first respondents to disaster preparedness and response. Besides, 1,300 trainers will also be prepared under the up-scaling of 'Aapda Mitra Scheme' with an estimated total cost of Rs 469.53 crore. The theme of the formation day event was 'Empowering Communities for Disaster Risk Reduction through Awareness for ...

At least 115 dead, missing in massive flooding, landslides in Philippines

The number of dead and missing in massive flooding and landslides wrought by Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines has exceeded 100 and the president said Saturday that many areas remained isolated with people in need of rescue. Trami blew away from the northwestern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 81 people dead and 34 others missing in one of the Southeast Asian archipelago's deadliest and most destructive storms so far this year, the government's disaster-response agency said. The death toll was expected to rise as reports come in from previously isolated areas. Dozens of police, firefighters and other emergency personnel, backed by three backhoes and sniffer dogs, dug up one of the last two missing villagers in the lakeside town of Talisay in Batangas province Saturday. A father, who was waiting for word on his missing 14-year-old daughter, wept as rescuers placed the remains in a black body bag. Distraught, he followed police officers, who carried the body bag down a .

Cyclone Dana: Zero casualty claims by BJP after storm not true, says BJD

The opposition BJD in Odisha on Saturday alleged that the ruling BJP's claims of zero casualty' after severe cyclonic storm Dana struck the eastern state were false, and it failed to handle the natural calamity in a proper manner. BJD spokesperson Lekhashree Samantsinghar also claimed that four people died in the state due to the cyclone, which struck the eastern coast early Friday, triggering torrential rain and high-speed winds. The regional party, headed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, demanded a white paper from the BJP, mentioning the actual evacuation figure, and the number of people shifted to cyclone shelters. The Odisha government's zero casualty' claims are false. We have information regarding the death of four people one in CM Mohan Majhi's assembly segment in Keonjhar district and three others at Rajnagar in Kendrapara district, Samantsinghar told a press conference here. Majhi had Friday said the state had achieved its zero casualty' mission, with no reports

Odisha safe now, no casualties reported: CM Majhi on Cyclone Dana situation

CM Majhi said eight lakh people have been evacuated so far and restoration of electric wires is underway

Around 10 districts likely to be affected by Cyclone Dana: Odisha minister

Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Singh asserted that everything is under control as of now

Ports ministry takes precautionary measures as Cyclone Dana approaches

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) on Thursday said it has initiated comprehensive safety measures to safeguard ports, vessels, and personnel in response to cyclone Dana. Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur, chaired a detailed review meeting to assess the preparedness of the Ministry, the Directorate General of Shipping, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Thakur praised the proactive measures taken by the concerned agencies and urged them to stay vigilant in monitoring the situation as the cyclone intensifies, according to an official statement. The cyclone, currently centered over the East-central Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify and make landfall between Odisha and West Bengal on the night of October 24, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. The ministry has directed that all dredgers, barges, and support crafts in Paradip Port be secured for heavy weather. According to the statement, ...

Telcos activate intra-circle roaming as Cyclone Dana set to hit Odisha

Telecom service providers in Odisha have activated intra-circle roaming in seven districts of the state which were put under red-warning' for cyclone Dana, a minister said on Thursday. State Electronic and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the intra-circle roaming allows telecom operators to use each other's network and such an arrangement has been activated in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Cuttack districts since 8 am. As per a circular issued by the Department of Telecommunication, the intra-circle roaming facility has been activated among all four service providersBSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone, he said. "With the activation of the facility, telecom users can avail uninterrupted service in the seven districts," he said. DG sets have been made available at all telecom towers to manage the situation if there is an electricity failure, the minister said. The telecom service providers have also kept their technical teams ready to repair any da

Tropical storm battering Philippines leaves 23 dead in flooding, landslides

Widespread flooding and landslides set off by a tropical storm in the northeastern Philippines on Thursday left at least 23 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers, some on roofs. The government shut down schools and offices except those urgently needed for disaster response for the second day on the entire main island of Luzon to protect millions of people after Tropical Storm Trami slammed into the country's northeastern province of Isabela after midnight. The storm was blowing over Aguinaldo town in the mountain province of Ifugao after dawn with sustained winds up to 95 kph and gusts up to 160 kph. It was blowing westward and was forecast to enter the South China Sea later on Thursday, according to state forecasters. At least 23 people died, mostly due to drowning in the hard-hit Bicol region and nearby Quezon province but the toll was expected to rise as towns and villages isolated by flooding and roads ...

NDRF deploys 56 teams across five states as Cyclone Dana approaches

The NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in five states, including Odisha and West Bengal, in view of cyclone 'Dana', which is expected to make landfall along the Odisha coast between October 24 and 25. Mohsen Shahedi, deputy inspector general (operations) of the NDRF, told PTI that the teams are equipped with pole and tree cutters, inflatable boats, basic first-aid tools and other flood rescue equipment. "The focus areas for us, and as informed by the IMD and other agencies, are the states of Odisha and West Bengal," the officer of the federal disaster contingency force said. A senior officer added that a total of 45 teams were sought by the states in view of the cyclone. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked a total of 56 teams, out of which 45 are on active deployment right now. Those in reserve will be positioned on active duty as the situation develops, he said. There are 20 teams in Odisha, out of which one is in reserve, while of the 17 in West Bengal,

China's Q3 economic losses from natural calamities surge to $32.3 billion

In September, the financial hub of Shanghai was brought to a standstill by Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly hit the city in 70 years. Earlier that month, Super Typhoon

Circulation over Andaman Sea may intensify into low-pressure area: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that a cyclonic circulation has formed over Andaman Sea and it is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area by Monday. It may have an impact on coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh next week. In a bulletin, IMD said, "The cyclonic circulation is formed over central Andaman Sea. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea around October 21. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further into a depression around October 23." Amid speculations on the formation of a cyclone this month as forecast by certain international models, IMD Director General Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra said that a clearer picture will emerge only after formation of the low-pressure area. "The IMD has made no prediction on whether the system will develop into a cyclonic storm. October is known as the month of cyclones and some weather models are

Flood situation in Bihar grim with most rivers flowing above danger mark

The flood situation in Bihar remained grim on Saturday as many rivers were still flowing above the danger mark, officials said. In its bulletin, the Water Resources Department (WRD) said Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, and Ganga were flowing above the danger mark. It said that personnel were on alert and flood protection works were being carried out at vulnerable sites. Over 40 lakh people have been affected by the flood, which has hit 30 of the state's 38 districts since last month, officials said. Among the worst-affected districts were East and West Champaran, Araria, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Supaul, Madhepura and Muzaffarpur, they said. The Disaster Management Department (DMD) said that in the third week of September, 28.34 lakh people were affected by the flood caused by the rise in the water level of the Ganga. "And in the second phase, a total of 16.68 lakh people were affected by the flood caused by the heavy discharge of water in the Gandak, Kosi,

Taiwan clears up, slowly re-opens after devastation from Typhoon Krathon

Typhoons almost always hit Taiwan's mountainous and sparsely populated east coast which faces the Pacific Ocean

Weakened but still strong Typhoon Krathon hits Taiwan, two people dead

An approaching typhoon bringing strong winds and torrential rainfall to Taiwan killed two people and injured more than 100 people over the past few days while forcing thousands to evacuate from low-lying or mountainous areas. At least 102 people were injured and two people died due to weather conditions attributed to Typhoon Krathon, Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Center said on Wednesday. One elderly man died after falling off a ladder while pruning tree branches in the eastern city of Hualien. Another man died after crashing into fallen rocks while driving in Taitung county. Two others were missing. The typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 173 kilometres per hour and gusts of 209 kilometres per hour, was expected to make landfall early on Thursday on Taiwan's densely populated west coast, according to the Central Weather Administration. The strongest winds are expected on the island's southwest portion. Typhoons rarely hit Taiwan's west coast, affecting instead the .

Days after Hurricane Helene, powerless mess remains in US Southeast

Sherry Brown has gotten nearly the entire miserable Hurricane Helene experience at her home. She's out of power and water. There is a tree on her roof and her SUV. She is converting power from the alternator in her car to keep just enough juice for her refrigerator so she can keep some food. Brown is far from alone. Helene was a tree and power pole wrecking ball as it blew inland across Georgia, South Carolina and into North Carolina on Friday. Five days later, more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in the three states don't have power, according to poweroutage.us. It's muggy, pitch black at night and sometimes dangerous with chainsaws buzzing, tensioned power lines ready to snap and carbon monoxide silently suffocating people who don't use generators properly. While there are fewer water outages than electric issues, plenty of towns and cities have lost their water systems too, at least temporarily. Brown said she is surviving in Augusta, Georgia, by taking "bird baths" with ..

Intensifying Typhoon Krathon forecast to hit Taiwan's populated west coast

The typhoon is expected to further intensify into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, packing powerful winds

Flood and landslides claim around 200 lives, 30 still missing in Nepal

The death toll from rain-triggered floods and landslides across Nepal climbed to 170 with 42 people missing on Sunday, officials said. Large swathes of eastern and central Nepal have been inundated since Friday, with flash floods reported in parts of the country. According to police, 170 people have been killed so far due to floods and landslides across Nepal. According to Home Ministry officials, 42 people are missing in floods, landslides and inundation. As many as 111 people have sustained injuries in flood-related incidents, Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Rishiram Pokharel said. Search and rescue operations are underway with the mobilisation of all the security agencies, he said, adding that the Nepal Army has airlifted 162 people from across the country. As many as 4,000 people affected by flood and inundation have been rescued by the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel, Pokharel said. All necessary relief materials, including food grains, have

Hurricane Helene: Toll hits 100, aid rushed to North Carolina, Florida

President Joe Biden described the impact of the storm as stunning and said he would visit the area this week