NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

nancyk58 · June 15, 2010

News on 15 June 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 15 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10317817.stm

Page last updated at 19:11 GMT, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 20:11 UK

US OIL FIRMS 'UNPREPARED' FOR MAJOR OFFSHORE DISASTER

Major oil firms drilling off the US coastline are as unprepared as BP for a large-scale spill, the head of a Congressional panel has said.

Edward Markey told the House energy and commerce sub-committee Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell all have identical response plans to BP.

BP's US chief Lamar McKay is one of five oil bosses giving evidence amid accusations BP took shortcuts.

President Barack Obama is to make a TV address later from the White House.

He is expected to use the primetime speech to outline the next steps his administration will take on the spill.

Speaking in Florida before returning to Washington at the end of a two-day trip to the affected region, he said the government would not abandon those affected.

"I am with you, my administration is with you for the long haul to make sure BP pays for the damage it has caused," Mr Obama said.

Oil has been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico since a drilling rig leased by BP exploded on 20 April with the loss of 11 lives and sank two days later.

The US Coast Guard estimates that about 35,000 barrels of oil are gushing out each day.

A cap placed by BP on the damaged oil well earlier this month is now said to be collecting about 15,000 barrels daily.

But the operation suffered a setback on Tuesday when a lightning strike sparked a fire on board a vessel collecting oil, forcing BP to suspend operations.

Fitch Ratings, one of the three big credit rating agencies, has downgraded BP by

six notches, from AA to BBB.

The move means Fitch is less confident of BP's ability to repay its debts following the huge clean-up and legal costs the company is expected to rack up as a result of the spill.

'NIGHTMARE WELL'

Opening the congressional hearing, Henry Waxman, joint chairman of the full House energy committee, took a tough line, declaring that the major oil firms were "no better prepared to deal with a major oil spill than BP".

He called the five firms' responses "cookie-cutter" plans and "paper exercises", adding: "BP failed miserably when faced with a real leak and one has to wonder whether... [the others] would do any better."

Echoing the words of former President George W Bush, Mr Waxman said the US was "addicted to oil".

"This addiction is fouling our beaches, polluting our atmosphere and undermining our national security," said Mr Waxman.

However, Texas lawmaker Michael Burgess, a Republican, accused Democrats of using the oil spill as a cover to propose climate change and energy legislation that would lead to over-regulation and higher taxes.

And the five oilmen called to give evidence - the bosses of Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips as well as BP America - all told the committee of their corporate commitment to safety.

"We do not proceed with operations if we cannot do so safely," ExxonMobil boss Rex Tillerson said.

While the theme of Tuesday's hearing is deepwater drilling in general, BP chief executive Tony Hayward will face a separate House hearing on Thursday devoted to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Mr Waxman and fellow committee member Bart Stupak sent Mr Hayward a letter on Sunday in which they set out technical questions they expect him to answer.

The letter quotes internal communications between BP engineers before the disaster in which the site is described as a "nightmare well".

'CARELESSNESS AND COMPLACENCY'

At issue were the choice for the design of the well, preparations for and tests of the cement job, and assurances that the well was properly sealed on the top.

Among other things, BP apparently rejected advice of a sub-contractor,

Halliburton, in preparing for a cementing job to close up the well.

BP rejected Halliburton's recommendation to use 21 centralisers to make sure the casing ran down the centre of the well bore. Instead, BP used six.

In an e-mail on 16 April, a BP official involved in the decisions explained: "It will take 10 hours to install them. I do not like this."

Later on the same day, another official recognised the risks of proceeding with insufficient centralisers but added: "Who cares, it's done, end of story, will probably be fine."

"It appears that BP repeatedly chose risky procedures in order to reduce costs and save time and made minimal efforts to contain the added risk," the congressmen write.

"If this is what happened, BP's carelessness and complacency have inflicted a heavy toll on the Gulf, its inhabitants, and the workers on the rig," they say.

President Obama has spent two days touring three states affected by the spill, which is threatening wildlife, fisheries and the tourist industry.

He will announce new steps to restore the Gulf Coast ecosystem in his TV address, according to a senior administration official who spoke to the Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity.

The speech will be delivered from the Oval Office, a setting reserved for the most sombre and important moments in US national life.

FROM OTHER NEWS SITES

Reuters UK :Oil executives turn on BP

CNN Money : BP to Congress: Leak fixed by August

Sydney Morning Herald : Oil bosses grilled as nation awaits Obama address

Offshore Technology : US BP Chief to Face Oil Spill Grilling

ITN : BP Exec faces grilling over 'risky shortcuts'

German ZDFtext: OIL POLLUTION HAS SO FAR COST BP 1.3 BILLION EURO

According to information from the British energy group BP, the oil pollution in the Gulf of Mexico has so far cost BP about 1.6 billion dollar or 1.3 billion Euro. The group paid this amount of money for the containment of the oil spill and for the clean-up of polluted coastal areas. The first damages (compensation) have been paid.

US-President Barack Obama said that the worst oil disaster in US history will have an impact similar to the terror attack on World Trade Center in New York on 11 September 2001. The ecological awareness will change as did the US foreign and security policies after 11 September.

Since the explosion on the "Deepwater Horizon" drilling rig on 20 April 2010, up to 380 million litres of oil has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. According to the latest estimates, 6 to 8 million litres oil a day is leaking into the Gulf.

Swedish SVT: OBAMA COMPARES OIL LEAK TO 11 SEPTEMBER 2001

In an interview with Politico, an online newspaper, US-President Barack Obama compares the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to the terror attack on World Trade Center in New York in 2001. - In the same way our foreign policy was influenced by 11 September 2001, this disaster will affect the way we look upon the environmental and energy policies for many years to come, he says. Yesterday, Obama promised in a statement - as he put it - to protect those living in the oil-affected areas along the Gulf of Mexico and their ways of life.

According to a new opinion poll, 71% of the US population think that Obama hasn't been tough enough when dealing with BP and the oil disaster.

At 20 o'clock, i.e. 2 o'clock tonight Central European Time, Obama will make a TV address to the nation from the Oval Office in the White House. According to Media, he will talk about the oil disaster.

German ZDFtext: FIRE ON BOARD A VESSEL: BP SUSPENDED OPERATIONS

A fire on board a vessel has temporarily stopped siphoning/funnelling some of the oil leaking from the oil well into the Gulf of Mexico. According to BP, the fire sparked by a lightning strike could be extinguished. Noone was injured. As a precautionary measure, the system siphoning/funnelling some of the leaking oil to a surface ship was switched off/closed down.

According to the latest estimates, up to 8 million litres of oil a day is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. BP had captured more than 2.3 million litres of oil a day by means of a funnel-like containment cap.

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Danish TV2 TTV and ARDtext: MAGNITUDE-5.7 EARTHQUAKE HIT CALIFORNIA

Last night, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake hit a remote area in southern California near the Mexican border, US Geological Survey (USGS) reports. The epicentre of the quake was about 9 km south-east of the census-designated place Ocotillo and occurred at 6.26am Central European Time. No reports of casualties or any damage.

The quake could also be felt in the Los Angeles region; a baseball game was interrupted in San Diego. The quake was followed by several dozens aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.5. Several small tremors were measured last week-end in southern California.

German ARDtext: TAIWAN experienced an earthquake. Its epicentre was about 135 km south of the capital TAIPEH.

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Danish DR1: 48 KILLED BY LANDSLIDES IN BANGLADESH

The landslides were triggered by heavy rains according to the authorities in Bangladesh. Enormous amounts of rain hit the southern coastal areas, and land- and mudslides buried several villages. Many people are missing, and the rescue operations continue. Continuous rain hampers the rescue operations.

Swedish SVT: 48 KILLED BY LANDSLIDES IN BANGLADESH

48 were killed and many are still missing after several landslides in Bangladesh. Most of the deaths occurred in the beach resort Cox Bazaar on the coast in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. Rescue operations are hampered, because the landslides made the roads impassable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10315737.stm

Page last updated at 13:22 GMT, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 14:22 UK

LANDSLIDES AND FLOODS KILL 58 IN BANGLADESH

Landslides and floods triggered by heavy rain have killed at least 58 people in south-east Bangladesh.

Dozens of people are missing and a number of houses are buried under mud, the authorities say.

Most of the deaths have occurred in the beach resort of Cox's Bazar. Five deaths have been reported from neighbouring Banderban district.

Rescue operations are continuing but rains are hampering efforts.

The mudslides struck south-eastern coastal areas early on Tuesday morning.

Officials said several people, including seven soldiers, were still missing.

'HAMPERED'

"Due to continuous rain, 53 people have been killed in Cox's Bazaar," Giyasuddin Ahmed, the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar district, told the BBC's Bengali service.

Officials said among the dead were six army soldiers.

Police said five more bodies were recovered in the neighbouring hill district of Banderban.

"There were landslides in at least five places on a 46km-long [28-mile] hill. They were caused by the torrential rain," Cox's Bazar police chief Nibhas Chandra told the BBC.

Mr Chandra said it had been raining continuously for the past two days in the area.

"The rescue operation is hampered because of the mud that has blocked the roads. In some places, the road is inundated because of the heavy downpour."

Officials said thousands of people were trapped by the floods and that the death toll was likely to go up.

Kamrul Ahsan, police chief of Banderban, told the BBC that "four members of a family living in a single house along the hill were entombed by a landslide in the early morning".

Mudslides are common during the rainy season in Bangladesh. The country has more than 200 rivers and is prone to severe flooding.

OTHER NEWS SITES

Melbourne Age : Bangladesh floods kill dozens

Daily Express : 47 killed in Bangladesh mudslides

Mail & Guardian Online : Dozens killed in Bangladesh flash floods

IAfrica.com : 42 killed in Bangladesh

France24 : At least 42 dead in Bangladesh floods, landslide

nancyk58 · June 16, 2010

News on 16 June 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 16 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ZDFtext: THE LAST FLOOD ALARM, LEVEL 3 ON RIVER ODER HAS BEEN LIFTED

The high water level (flood) on river Oder in Brandenburg falls. Wednesday afternoon, the district administration in Uckermark cancelled the second-highest alarm, level 3 for the river section. This means that the control measures at the dikes are dropped also in this district. During the day the water level by Stützkow (Uckermark) fell below 9.40m. Falling water levels on river Oder were forecast according to the district administration in Prenzlau. Since end of May, the dikes on river Oder had to withstand the pressure from the flood / high water.

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Swedish SVT: OBAMA: THE OIL LEAK WILL BE STOPPED THIS SUMMER

The US-government will make sure that BP pays for the damage caused by the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. So OBAMA said in his TV ADDRESS to the nation last night. 90% of the oil is expected to be recovered in the next couple of weeks. Obama said that he believed that BP will manage to stop the leak during the summer.

BBC WORLD NEWS:

Page last updated at 19:09 GMT, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 20:09 UK

BP TO FUND $20bn GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL PAYOUT

Oil giant BP is to put $20bn (£13.5bn) in a compensation fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill and will not pay shareholders a dividend this year.

Barack Obama announced the compensation deal after talks at the White House with senior BP executives.

Shortly afterwards, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said dividends would not be paid for the rest of this year.

The payout fund is to be run by Kenneth Feinberg, a lawyer who oversaw compensation after the 9/11 attacks.

In his current role as Mr Obama's "pay tsar", Mr Feinberg sets salary limits for executives at firms in receipt of federal bailout funds.

Mr Obama said a $120m fund would also be set up to compensate oil industry workers.

He said he had heard growing concerns about the pace of compensation payments, and that the new fund would ensure all "legitimate" claims were paid.

"If you or your business has suffered economic loss as a result of this spill you will be able to file a claim," the president said.

Although BP has agreed to fund $20bn - roughly equivalent to one year of BP's annual profits - reports said there could be no cap on the amount BP might be asked to contribute to the fund.

Speaking after the talks, Mr Svanberg expressed regret over the spill, saying BP felt "sorrow and sadness for the tragic accident which should never have happened".

"We will live up to all our legitimate responsibilities," he said.

Earlier, BP's chief executive, Briton Tony Hayward, and the boss of BP America, Lamar McKay, accompanied Mr Svanberg to the White House.

SHARE PROBLEMS

The company has been accused of failing to follow proper procedures in the run-up to the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April.

The blast led to the deaths of 11 people, caused the rig to sink and has since seen millions of barrels of oil spew into the Gulf of Mexico.

Much of that is now washing ashore in states along the Gulf coast.

The fallout is affecting businesses and wildlife, as well as wiping billions of dollars

off BP's value.

BP's share price rose in US trading after an earlier slump as news of the funding deal emerged, but dipped as the day wore on and more details emerged.

In its latest effort to contain the oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, BP announced on Wednesday morning that it had begun operating a second containment system designed to bring oil and gas to the surface for burning.

BP managed to place a cap over the leaking oil pipe earlier this month, and is now collecting some of the oil.

However, estimates of how much oil is gushing out of the well have again risen dramatically since the start of the crisis.

A government panel of scientists now believes 35,000-60,000 barrels are leaking each day, up from its estimate last week of 20,000-40,000.

You can follow the testimony of BP chief executive Tony Hayward when he appears before a US Congress committee on the BBC News website on Thursday 17 June, from 1400GMT (1000 EST).

Danish TV2 TTV: OIL LEAK OF 9.5 MILLION LITRES OF OIL A DAY

The amount of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico is higher than estimated. A US-government panel of scientists now believes 35,000-60,000 barrels are leaking each day, up from its estimate last week of 20,000-40,000. This corresponds to 9.54 million litres of oil a day.

Swedish SVT, German ARDtext + ZDFtext, Danish DR1 and TV2 TTV: BP promised to put $20bn (£13.5bn) in a compensation fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill.

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Danish DR1 and TV2 TTV plus Swedish SVT: EARTHQUAKE IN SWEDEN

Northern Sweden was hit by a minor magnitude-3.0 earthquake on Tuesday evening at 22:30 local time. No damage occurred, but the earthquake was unusually strong for Sweden. The epicentre of the 15-20 second-long tremor was in the area between Skellefteaa and Luleaa.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10327034.stm

Page last updated at 17:12 GMT, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 18:12 UK

DEADLY FLASH FLOODS HIT SOUTHERN FRANCE

At least 19 people have been killed by flash floods in south-eastern France, officials say.

A number of others were reported missing after torrential rain hit the mountains above the Cote D'Azur region on Tuesday.

A number of towns in the department of Var were affected, with hundreds of homes flooded.

Meteo France, the national weather service, said up to 40cm (15.7in) of rain had fallen since Tuesday.

'DEVASTATED'

Water levels were said to be falling slightly in Draguignan on Wednesday, though the rain was continuing in nearby Roquebrune and Frejus.

"We have never seen so much rain in the month of June," Patrick Galois of Meteo France told the AFP news agency. The rainfall broke the record set in 1827.

At least 1,000 people had to leave their homes and spend the night in schools or other temporary shelters, and some 175,000 houses were estimated to have been left without electricity.

Some reportedly sought shelter on the roofs of their homes, while helicopters were brought in to rescue people.

The force of the water swept empty cars and other vehicles down streets in Draguignan.

"This morning, we woke up to find a town centre that was devastated, extremely battered with overturned cars floating in the streets, collapsed roads and gutted houses," said Corinne Orzechowski, the official leading the emergency operation.

Rail and air services in the region were interrupted, and about 300 passengers travelling on a high-speed train between Nice and Lille had been trapped by the flood waters, the AFP news agency reported.

The railway line between Toulon and Frejus will be closed until Thursday morning.

President Nicolas Sarkozy offered condolences to the families of the victims, and pledged his support to rescue workers "mobilising non-stop to provide aid and find those still missing".

OTHER NEWS SITES

Sky News : Fifteen Killed By Flash Floods In France

NEWS.com.au : Flash flooding leaves 15 dead in France

France24 : FRANCE: Deadly floods sweep southern Cote d'Azur region

Scottish Sun : Deadly French floods kill 11

Melbourne Age : Flash floods claim 11 lives in France

Danish DR1 and TV2 TTV: DEADLY BAD WEATHER IN FRANCE

At least 19 people have been killed by floods in south-eastern France, officials say.

A number of others were reported missing after torrential rain hit the mountains above the Cote D'Azur region on Tuesday.

A number of towns in the department of Var were affected, with hundreds of homes flooded.

In some areas the torrential rain made the water levels rise by several metres in a short time. "The water level rose by 50-60cm in a few minutes", said an eye witness who was trapped by floods in Draguignan.

The French Minister of the Interior Brice Hortefeux visited the affected region and said that he expected the death toll to rise. About 300 passengers travelling on a high-speed train had been trapped by the flood waters.

Swedish SVT: 20 DEAD AFTER CLOUDBURST IN THE COTE D'AZUR REGION

Heavy rains caused massive floods in southern France in the mountains above the Cote d'Azur region. Many of the 20 died in accidents related to Tuesday's bad weather, and dozens were reported missing.

The water level rose by several metres in a short time so many did not manage to flee in time and had to find safety on house roofs. Almost 900 people were stuck and had to be rescued. A senior official in the department of VAR said: "We haven't seen anything like this in a decade".

German ZDFtext: AT LEAST 11 DEAD BY HEAVY RAINS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE

Several are missing and more than 1,000 had to be moved to temporary shelters according to the authorities in the department of Var. More than 1,000 rescuers were active in the mountainous region above the Cote d'Azur region.

About 200,000 households are without electricity due to the floodings. According to the authorities, this bad weather is one of the worst in more than a decade.

German ARDtext: 15 KILLED BY FLOODS / THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

The death toll after the massive flooding in southern France has risen to 15 of which 8 died in Draguignan. 430 had to be moved from one prison to other prisons. 1 died in Frejus on the Mediterranean coast. 100 spent last night in temporary shelters after torrential rain. Thousands of households are without electricity.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10325814.stm

Page last updated at 11:28 GMT, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 12:28 UK

INDONESIA STRUCK BY THREE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES

At least three people have been killed after a series of powerful earthquakes in Indonesia, officials say.

The Indonesian earthquake agency said the largest quake, off the coast of Papua in eastern Indonesia, had a magnitude of 7.1.

There have been reports of collapsed homes in some areas. Papua is one of Indonesia's most remote and underdeveloped provinces.

A tsunami warning was issued but it has since been lifted.

The first quake, with a magnitude of 6.4, struck at 0306 GMT off the coast of the island of Yapen, in Papua, which has a population of about 70,000.

It was followed 10 minutes later by the largest quake 18 miles (29km) beneath the ocean floor off the northern coast of Papua province, the US Geological Survey said on its website.

Two people died on Yapen when their homes collapsed.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono told the Reuters news agency that the dead were a 47-year-old woman and a five-month old baby.

There have been at least two powerful aftershocks.

Another person was killed when a 5.3-magnitude quake rattled West Sulawesi province, reports say.

Police in Papua say it appears to be the worst affected area.

Deny Siregar, the chief of police on Yapen island, told the BBC that at least 20 homes had been crushed and that a church had collapsed.

He added that the powerful tremors caused scores of people to leave their homes and head for higher ground, while some sought safety at a nearby football field.

Yan Pieter Yarangga from the island of Biak told the Associated Press news agency that hundreds of people ran out of their homes after the quake.

"I ran too, I was afraid there would be a second quake," said Mr Yarangga.

Indonesia has recently been struck by many quakes. More than 1,000 people were killed off Sumatra in September 2009.

The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active areas for earthquakes and volcanoes.

In December 2004, a 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Aceh triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed quarter of a million people in 13 countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

OTHER NEWS SITES

Los Angeles Times : 3 killed, homes damaged in Indonesia quakes

CBC : Indonesian quake kills at least 3

Chicago Tribune : Indonesian earthquakes kill at least 3 people, destroy homes as officials fear higher toll

The Independent : Three killed as earthquakes rock Indonesia

Telegraph : Strong earthquakes hit Indonesian province of Papua

German ZDFtext + Danish DR1 + Swedish SVT:

AT LEAST 2 KILLED BY STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN INDONESIA

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake has shaken the Papua province in East Indonesia. At least 2 died - a mother and her child as their house on the small island of Yapen collapsed, a police spokesman reported. The authorities issued a tsunami warning, but lifted it again after only one hour. There were at least 2 strong aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 6.6.

The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active areas for earthquakes and volcanoes.

The earthquake occurred in the Irian Jaya region in western Papua New Guinea.

German ARDtext: 3 KILLED BY EARTHQUAKES IN INDONESIA

A series of strong earthquakes in Indonesia made dozens of houses collapse, and 3 were killed. A magnitude-7.0 earthquake shook the Papua province according to USGS. This quake was followed by several aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 6.4. Alone in the village Serui in the Yapan region more than 20 houses collapsed. 2 people were killed by the rubble/debris. The third victim was recorded after a magnitude-5.4 quake on the island of Sulawesi situated about 1.200 km further to the west.

nancyk58 · June 18, 2010

News on 17 June 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 17 JUNE 2001 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10337146.stm

Page last updated at 21:32 GMT, Thursday, 17 June 2010 22:32 UK

CONGRESS TELLS HAYWARD BP IGNORED OIL WELL DANGERS

BP chief executive Tony Hayward has been told by an angry US Congressional panel his firm ignored dangers when drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

House committee on energy and commerce chairman Henry Waxman said BP's "complacency" before the 20 April rig explosion had been "astonishing".

Asked about apparent shortcuts taken before the spill, Mr Hayward said it was too early to draw conclusions.

Mr Waxman replied that the BP chief executive was "stonewalling".

You're not taking responsibility, you're kicking the can down the road," he added.

Eleven people died in the Deepwater Horizon drill rig accident, which left a ruptured well spewing hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite BP efforts to contain the leak, oil continues to enter the sea, threatening states along the Gulf coast.

BP says it will withhold dividends until the end of the year as part of its response to the spill.

The long-term hope for ending the spill rests with two relief wells now being drilled, one of which has reached two miles (3km) below the seabed, or about two-thirds of its way to its target, US disaster coordinator Admiral Thad Allen reported on Thursday.

The plan is to seal the leak with concrete but that is not likely to happen until August at the earliest which is why the pressure on BP is bound to intensify, says the BBC's environment correspondent, David Shukman.

'TREMENDOUS RISKS'

The company's shares rose more than 6% after it agreed to put $20bn (£13.5bn) in a fund to compensate victims of the spill.

The increase halted falls that had led to the company's stock value halving in recent weeks.

Congressman Waxman said in his opening remarks that BP had "cut corner after corner" in order to save money, which led to the explosion and fire on board the Deepwater Horizon.

"We could find no evidence that you paid any attention to the tremendous risks BP was taking," he went on.

"We reviewed 30,000 pages of documents from BP, including your e-mails. There is not a single e-mail or document that shows you paid even the slightest attention to the dangers at this well."

One by one, other Congressmen, both Democrats and Republicans, questioned

BP's activities in America in a hearing which lasted some seven hours.

"We are not small people but we wish to get our lives back," said Bart Stupak, playing on a comment made the day before by BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg about how BP sympathised with the "small people" of the Gulf, and a recent remark by Mr Hayward about wanting his "life back".

Congressman Mike Ross pointed out that BP had so far failed to stop the oil spill.

"Mr Hayward, since this hearing began a little over an hour ago, up to 112,847 gallons have been dumped into the Gulf," he said.

"On day 59 of this environmental and economic disaster... I continue to be frustrated and downright angry about BP's response."

Texan Republican Michael Burgess expressed surprise when the BP chief said he had not known anything about the well in question until he was told in April that drilling had confirmed an oil discovery.

"But you're the CEO of the company," Congressman Burgess said.

"With due respect," Mr Hayward replied, "we drill hundreds of wells around the world."

"Yeah, that's what scares me right now," said Mr Burgess.

A row erupted within Republican ranks after another Texan Republican, Joe Barton, suggested BP had been subjected to a "$20bn shakedown" by the Obama administration.

Mr Barton, the senior Republican on Mr Waxman's committee, was rebuked by his own party leaders and retracted his words, the Associated Press reports.

"I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident," he said in a statement.

BP PLEDGE

Earlier, as Mr Hayward prepared to testify, a protester briefly disrupted the hearing, shouting that he should be "charged with a crime" before she was removed.

She was identified as Diane Wilson, a fisherwoman from Seadrift, Texas, near the Gulf Coast.

Expressing his "deep regret" for the spill, Mr Hayward said he had focused on improving safety for the three years he had been in his post.

Asked if his job was at stake, he said his priority was stopping the leak and clearing up the oil.

"I give my pledge as the leader of BP that we will not rest until we make this right," he said.

"We're a strong company and no resources will be spared."

Mr Hayward's inability to answer specific technical questions about the situation on the rig angered the panel particularly.

BP's chief executive said answers would be supplied by his firm when they were ready.

The questions, set out in a letter to Mr Hayward on Sunday by Mr Waxman and fellow committee member Bart Stupak, include allegations that BP:

Went against the advice of its own plan review regarding the well's design and chose a riskier, cheaper and quicker casing option

Used only six centralisers to make sure the casing ran down the centre of the well bore, rather than the 21 recommended by sub-contractor Halliburton

Rejected warnings by its own plan review and Halliburton in preparations for a cementing job

Decided to forego a recommended safety step in the circulation of drilling mud

Did not deploy a "lockdown sleeve" that would have prevented the seal from being blown out from below

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German ARDtext: DEAD IN BAD WEATHER IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

More than 100 people have died in connection with flooding and landslides following heavy rain in South East Asia. According to the authorities in BANGLADESH, BURMA (aka. MYANMAR) and INDONESIA, ten thousand were made homeless within the last couple of days due to FLASH FLOODS. Rescuers had problems when trying to reach the affected areas. The death toll is expected to rise.

At least 46 died in the north-western part of BURMA. In the state of Rakhine in Burma numerous bridges, houses and other buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Danish DR1 TTV: 46 KILLED BY LANDSLIDES IN BURMA

A landslide in BURMA aka. MYANMAR cost 46 human lives according to the state media. The landslide was triggered by several days of heavy rains and occurred in the western part of Burma near the border to Bangladesh. It was the worst weather in several years according to the local authorities. Bridges, houses and other buildings were damaged by the heavy rain. 33 cm fell in the state of Rakhine, the newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported. Some areas experienced 1m high floods according to the newspaper.

Danish TV2 news / live: FLOODING IN SOUTHERN CHINA. 42 killed and 36 missing. Roads and railways were washed away.

Swedish SVT: MORE THAN 100 DEAD IN CLOUDBURST AND LANDSLIDES

In BURMA and BANGLADESH, more than 100 died after flooding and landslides. In West Burma more than 46 were killed by landslides according to the state media on Thursday. The landslides were triggered by heavy rain at the border to Bangladesh.

In BANGLADESH at least 55 died. Thousands were reportedly made homeless as water masses destroyed their homes. The worst hit area is Teknaf which is home for hundred thousands of Burmese refugees.

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Yahoo! UK and Ireland : Floods kill 25, wreck homes in French Riviera

News.com.au : France floods kill 25

France24 : FRANCE: Worst floods in centuries kill dozens in France's Cote d'Azur

Sydney Morning Herald : Floods kill 22 in France's Cote d'Azur

Reuters UK : French storms and floods kill 19

German ARDtext: FRANCE: AT LEAST 20 DEAD BY BAD WEATHER

According to the latest information, more than 20 have died due to floodings in southern France. According to the authorities, 11 dead bodies were recovered in the small town of Draguignan. Helicopters airlifted more than 1,350 people to safety from house roofs. 100 were rescued by boat. It was the worst bad weather in the region in more than 170 years. President Sarkozy pledged government support.

German ZDFtext: AT LEAST 20 KILLED IN HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN FRANCE

Heavy rain triggered floodings. The rivers rose so that the water levels reached over 2 m. Hundreds were air lifted to safety by helicopters or rescued by boat. It was the worst flood in the region in 180 years. More than 1,000 rescuers were active in the mountainous region above the Cote d'Azur coast. 200,000 households are without electricity due to the flood.

nancyk58 · June 18, 2010

NEWS ON 18 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ZDF: 7 BILLION LITRES OF OIL LEFT IN THE RUPTURED OIL WELL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

According to BP estimates, the ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico contains more than 7 billion litres of oil.

BP's chief executive Tony Hayward mentioned this figure before the US congress where he was summoned to a 6-hour-long hearing.

This means that the oil well should still contain 94-97% of all the oil available there.

Compared with the speed at which oil is leaking into the Gulf, it would take 2-4 years before the total amount of oil has leaked into the Gulf - in case the well cannot be plugged.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10355285.stm

Page last updated at 17:55 GMT, Friday, 18 June 2010 18:55 UK

BP 'STRONG DESPITE SPILL SETBACK'

BP remains a "strong company" despite the "setback" it has suffered as a result of the oil spill in the US Gulf of Mexico, its chairman says.

In an interview with Sky News, Carl-Henric Svanberg dismissed comments by Russia's president that the oil giant may face "annihilation".

Mr Svanberg also confirmed that BP chief executive Tony Hayward would be handing over the day-to-day response to BP managing director Bob Dudley.

The BP oil rig exploded on 20 April.

Eleven people died in the Deepwater Horizon drill rig accident, which left a ruptured well spewing hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite BP efforts to contain the leak, oil continues to enter the sea, threatening states along the Gulf coast.

It has been described as the worst ecological disaster in the US.

A containment cap and another device are capturing some 25,000 barrels of oil a day - the latest estimates suggest 35,000-60,000 barrels a day are spewing out.

President Barack Obama has vowed to make BP pay for the damage.

The company has agreed to put aside $20bn (£13.5bn) to compensate victims of the oil spill - and has vowed to help with the clean-up.

On Friday, rating agency Moody's downgraded BP's credit rating by three notches, following similar moves by the other two rating agencies earlier this week.

It said the full costs of the oil spill would have a negative impact on the company's cash flow

for "a number of years".

Complaicency charges

On Thursday, Tony Hayward faced an angry US Congressional panel which told him BP had ignored dangers when drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

House committee on energy and commerce chairman Henry Waxman said BP's "complacency" before the rig explosion had been "astonishing".

He accused Mr Hayward of "stonewalling" for failing to answer his questions.

But Mr Svanberg defended the chief executive, saying the answers would have to wait until a BP inquiry into what happened was completed.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that BP had to pay "a lot of money this year".

"Whether the company can digest those expenditures, whether they will lead to the annihilation of the company or its break up is a matter of expediency," Mr Medvedev said.

But the BP chairman rejected his company was facing that prospect.

"The company is strong, the company has strong underlying performance - strong cash flow, strong operations," Mr Svanberg said.

But he added that it was impossible to know the final cost of the spill until it had been stopped.

BP says it will withhold dividends until the end of the year as part of its response to the spill.

The long-term hope for ending the spill rests with two relief wells now being drilled, one of which has reached two miles (3km) below the seabed, or about two-thirds of the way to its target, US disaster co-ordinator Admiral Thad Allen reported on Thursday.

It is planned is to seal the leak with concrete but that is not likely to happen until August at the earliest

OTHER NEWS SITES

ABC Online : BP chief quits role in stricken Gulf

Reuters UK : WRAPUP 7-BP aims to raise cash as it struggles to plug well

CNBC : BP Siphons Off Record Amount of Oil on Thursday: Allen

MSNBC : BP reports progress on relief well

Economic Times : Mood lifts as BP survives grilling

nancyk58 · June 20, 2010

NEWS ON 19 and 20 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

NEWS ON 19 and 20 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10356365.stm

Page last updated at 02:41 GMT, Saturday, 19 June 2010 03:41 UK

BP REJECTS OIL DRILL PARTNER's 'NEGLIGENCE' CLAIM

BP has denied claims by one of its partners that its handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill amounted to "gross negligence".

BP said it "strongly disagrees" with Anadarko Petroleum, who said BP's behaviour in the run-up to the disaster was "reckless".

Anadarko, the largest independent oil and gas company operating in the Gulf, owns 25% of the well.

The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April, killing 11 workers.

BP has faced mounting criticism for its handling of what has become the worst environmental disaster in US history, as the leak continues to spread despite efforts to contain it.

But BP's chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has said it remains a "strong company" despite the "setback" caused by the spill.

Mr Svanberg has also said that Chief Executive Tony Hayward would be handing over the day-to-day response to BP managing director Bob Dudley.

Mr Hayward was challenged by a US Congressional panel earlier this week, and faced accusations that the company had ignored dangers when drilling in the Gulf.

'Negligence'

James Hackett, chief executive of Anadarko Petroleum, said it was considering "contractual remedies" for what the company has described as BP's "gross negligence or wilful misconduct" over the spill.

"The mounting evidence clearly demonstrates that this tragedy was preventable and the direct result of BP's reckless decisions and actions," he said.

Mr Hackett added that Anadarko would have acted differently in the lead-up to the April blowout.

BP responded that Anadarko was "refusing to accept responsibility for oil spill removal costs and damages", despite a written agreement that the parties would share the costs of any clean-up after a spill.

The oil giant had said on Wednesday that it expected its partners in the well - which include Anadarko and Mitsui, with a 10% share - to meet their legal obligations.

President Barack Obama has vowed to make BP pay for the damage, and a criminal investigation is underway from which potential fines and damages could run into billions of dollars.

BP has agreed to put aside $20bn (£13.5bn) to compensate victims of the oil spill - and has vowed to help with the clean-up.

A containment cap and another device are capturing some 25,000 barrels of oil a day - the latest estimates suggest 35,000-60,000 barrels a day are spewing out.

On Friday, rating agency Moody's downgraded BP's credit rating by three notches, following similar moves by the other two rating agencies earlier this week.

'Stonewalling'

At a US congressional panel on Thursday, House committee on energy and commerce chairman Henry Waxman said BP's "complacency" before the rig explosion had been "astonishing".

He accused Mr Hayward of "stonewalling" for failing to answer his questions.

But Mr Svanberg defended the chief executive, saying the answers would have to wait until a BP inquiry into what happened was completed.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that BP had to pay "a lot of money this year".

"Whether the company can digest those expenditures, whether they will lead to

the annihilation of the company or its break up is a matter of expediency," Mr Medvedev said.

But the BP chairman rejected his company was facing that prospect.

"The company is strong, the company has strong underlying performance - strong cash flow, strong operations," Mr Svanberg said.

But he added that it was impossible to know the final cost of the spill until it had been stopped.

BP says it will withhold dividends until the end of the year as part of its response to the spill.

OTHER NEWS SITES

Telegraph : Oil spill: BP to sue partner in Gulf oil well

BusinessWeek : Anadarko Says BP Should Pay After Being Reckless (Update4)

Mail Online UK : Oil of Wight: Under-fire BP boss Tony Hayward takes time out to enjoy Cowes Week !!!!

ITN : BP rows with partner over oil spill blame

IAfrica.com : Battered BP boss lets go

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1287925/BP-oil-spill-boss-Tony-Hayward-takes-time-enjoy-Cowes-Week-despite-ongoing-Gulf-Mexico-disaster.html

By Christopher Leake / Last updated at 12:15 AM on 20th June 2010

Not a slick PR move: As oil chokes the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Tony Hayward enjoys a day out on BP boss's yacht Bob off the Isle Of Wight.

Meanwhile...a sheen of oil floats on the surface of the water off the shoreline in Orange Beach, Alabama. Skimming boats have been working throughout the Gulf to catch the oil before it washes up on land

The BP boss at the centre of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill came under further pressure last night after he was spotted relaxing at a yachting event on the Isle of Wight.

Tony Hayward, BP’s £1million-a-year chief executive, was enjoying the clear blue waters of the Solent, 4,500 miles away from the disaster. His appearance came as it was reported he had been removed from day-to-day control of the crisis.

Just 48 hours after Mr Hayward was ‘sliced and diced’ for four hours at a US Congressional hearing in Washington in which he was accused of failing to take responsibility and ignoring dangers when BP was drilling in the Gulf, he watched a 52ft yacht named Bob, which he co-owns, take part in the JP Morgan Asset

Management Round the Island Race yesterday. It came fourth in its class behind triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie.

Mr Hayward, 53, joined crew on the yacht before the race – and seemed to do his utmost to maintain a low profile, wearing dark glasses and a baseball cap with a large peak covering his face. He also pulled the collar of his weather-proof jacket as high as it would go.

But the apparent ruse failed and later President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said Mr Hayward had committed yet another in a ‘long line of PR gaffes’.

Mr Emanuel mocked Mr Hayward’s infamous statement that he wished the crisis were over so that he could have his life back. Referring to the yachting race, Mr Emanuel told ABC Television: ‘He’s got his life back, as he would say.’

Mr Emanuel said the focus should stay on capping the leaking well and helping the people of the Gulf region.

Mr Hayward, who is married with two children, has listed sailing as his favourite pastime. He and his family have sailed in the Virgin Islands, the Grenadines, Thailand, Belize, Turkey and Greece.

Hugh Walding, co-ordinator of the Isle of Wight Friends of the Earth, said last night that Mr Hayward deserved the criticism.

‘I’m sure this will be seen as yet another PR disaster for him from people who have got exceedingly upset about this whole thing,’ he said. ‘He should at least be managing the image of the company better.’

Mr Hayward’s spokeswoman Sheila Williams said he had taken a break with his son to watch his boat in the race.

In a statement, BP described Mr Hayward’s break as ‘a rare moment of private time’ and said that ‘no matter where he is, he is always in touch with what is happening within BP’ and can direct operations if required.

In a new blow to BP, its oil-capture systems designed to cap the gushing leak in the Gulf were shut down on Friday night because of a technical problem. The company said yesterday that the shutdown involved a blocked flame arrester, but it was hoped to restart the systems after a lightning storm passed.

Meanwhile, BP was also accused yesterday of ‘wilful misconduct’ by the American co-owners of its pipeline at the centre of the disaster.

James Hackett, chief executive of Anadarko Petroleum, the largest independent oil and gas company operating in the Gulf, claimed: ‘There appears to be gross negligence or wilful misconduct.’

Mr Hackett, whose Houston-based firm owns 25 per cent of the oil well, pinned the blame and the financial responsibility on the British giant. His remarks further raised the stakes in an intense political row which will cost BP at least £13.5billion in compensation.

The Anadarko boss revealed he was considering ‘contractual remedies’ for BP’s ‘gross negligence or wilful misconduct’ over the spill.

Last night BP said that it ‘strongly disagreed’ with Mr Hackett’s claims. BP said Anadarko was ‘refusing to accept responsibility for oil spill removal costs and damages’ – despite an agreement that it would share the costs of any clean-up after a spill.

German ZDFtext on 20 June 2010: BP-CEO TONY HAYWARD IN ENGLAND - "THE HEIGHT OF ARROGANCE"

BP-CEO Tony Hayward is not only criticized for the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and for the way he deals with it, but also for being present at a yachting event in Great Britain.

A photo has been taken showing Tony Hayward aboard his luxurious sailing ship "Bob" - only one day after BP had removed him from day-to-day control of the crisis following the worst oil pollution in US-history.

The White House in Washington criticized Hayward's behaviour. The Alabama senator, Richard Shelby called it "the height of arrogance".

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BBC World News: SCORES DIE IN CHINA FLASH FLOODS

Swedish SVT on 19 June 2010: MANY DIED AFTER CLOUDBURST IN SOUTHERN CHINA

More than 100 have died in floodings and landslides in connection with torrential rain in southern China, news agency New China reported. More than ½ million people have been evacuated in the following regions / provinces: Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi. The damage caused by the bad weather is estimated at the equivalent of 7.5 billion Swedish Kroner.

Danish TV2 (eve) on 19 June 2010: AT LEAST 100 DROWNED IN SOUTHERN CHINA

Massive floodings in southern China cost more than 100 human lives, and the 50 missing are feared dead. 1.4 million Chinese were evacuated (this figure was later downgraded to 860,000). Many of the victims and missing were hit by mudslides after torrential rain. Rivers were overflowing their banks and large agricultural areas were under water. The damage caused by the floodings is estimated to the equivalent of about 5.7 billion Danish kroner.

German ZDFtext and ARDtext on 19 and 20 June 2010: FLOOD DISASTER IN CHINA: AT LEAST 130 DIED

According to state media, water rose in several rivers in the Guangdong province after torrential rain. Since last week-end parts of southern China experienced torrential cloudbursts.

By massive floodings and landslides in 9 south Chinese provinces, more than 130 have died. Almost 90 are missing according to the authorities. The number of people who had to leave their homes due to the floodings to be moved to safer places was downgraded from 1.4 million (announced Friday) to 860,000. More than 10 million are affected by the flood. Heavy rain led to bursting dams and rivers overflowing their banks.

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Danish TV2 on 19 June 2010: EARTHQUAKE STRIKES INDIA

Saturday morning local time, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off India's Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, west of India's coast. No tsunami warning was issued according to the Indian authorities. According to US Geological Survey, USGS the quake struck in a depth of 27 km. The epicentre was 180 km off the town Port Blair. There were no reports of casualties.

Prince Myshkin · June 20, 2010

bp get mentioned in natural disasters

that case sounds as man made as they come!

nancyk58 · June 20, 2010

bp get mentioned in natural disasters
that case sounds as man made as they come!

I can follow you. The reason why the oil spill disaster is mentioned here is that the oil spill is a disaster to the fragile nature in the marshland.

nancyk58 · June 21, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 21 June 2010

NEWS ON 21 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Swedish SVT: CLOUDBURSTS COST HUMAN LIVES IN CHINA

Heavy cloudbursts in Central and southern China cost more than 175 human lives, whereas 107 are missing. More than 1 million people have been evacuated from the flooded regions.

On Monday, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao demanded the use of additional disaster relief workers in the affected regions.

Last week-end's bad weather is estimated to have caused damage at almost 20 billion yuan or the equivalent of 22 billion Swedish kroner according to the Chinese authorities. A total of 15 million inhabitants are affected by cloudbursts, and 68,000 houses have collapsed.

---------------------------------------------------

German ARDtext + danish DR1 TTV: MANY DEAD AFTER FLOODINGS AND LANDSLIDES IN BURMA

63 are dead after days of heavy rain causing floodings and landslides in north-western Burma. 15,000 families are affected by the bad weather in the Burmese state of Rakhine according to the UN. State media stated the number of affected as only 2,000. Villagers returned to their houses even though they were still threatened by landslides. The military government and relief organizations provided those affected by the bad weather with clothes, medicine/medicaments and food.

The death toll may rise as many slopes and ranges of hills have become unstable after large amounts of rain.

The military government has changed Burma's official name to Myanmar.

------------------------------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10362459.stm

Page last updated at 03:03 GMT, Monday, 21 June 2010 04:03 UK

By Mike Thomson, BBC News, Niamey

BBC World News: AID AGENCIES LAUNCH NIGER APPEAL

Two major aid agencies have launched $10m (£6.7m) appeals for DROUGHT-stricken NIGER in West Africa.

About seven million people - half of the country's population - face food shortages after crop failures last year.

Aid organisations OXFAM and SAVE THE CHILDREN say the situation is growing more critical by the day.

Their concern is shared by the UN, which says the crisis is of a magnitude not seen before.

Save the Children says 400,000 children under five are at risk of starvation.

Oxfam says it will focus help towards a further two million adults who are facing severe food shortages.

The crisis, in the world's most under-developed nation, has been caused by a combination of a crop failure - following a drought last year - along with big increases in the price of many staple foods.

The UN's country director, Khardiata Lo Ndiaye, says the emergency is already worse than the drought in 2005, and says that help is needed quickly.

"The magnitude of this crisis has not been seen before. We need money now!" she said.

The UN currently only has just over half the funds it has appealed for to support the population until the next harvest, which is due in September.

OTHER NEWS SITES

Guardian.co.uk : Free markets and famine in Niger | Jeevan Vasagar

World Bank : UN launches Kyrgyzstan aid appeal

x : Starvation threat prompts West Africa appeals

The Scotsman : Charities appeal for fast funds in food crisis

Sydney Morning Herald : Aid agencies appeal for West Africa food crisis

See also

Niger's silent crisis (21 June 10) / Today

'Niger drought made me a beggar' (14 June 10 / Africa)

Niger's hungry 'fleeing south' (21 May 10Africa)

Niger 'faces total crop failure' (28 April 10Africa)

In pictures: Niger's food crisis (27 April 10Africa)

Country profile: Niger (03 March 10 / Country profiles)

Related internet links : Save the Children + Oxfam

NIGER is a vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger endured austere military rule for much of its post-independence history and is rated by the UN as one of the world's least-developed nations.

The drought-prone country sometimes struggles to feed its people.

nancyk58 · June 23, 2010

NEWS ON 22 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ARDtext: REBUILDING IN HAITI ALMOST STOPPED

Since the powerful earthquake 5 months ago, HAITI has hardly made any progress in relation to rebuilding the country - according to a US-Senate report.

The reasons are:

- a weak Haitian government

- differences of opinion among donor countries and other donors AND

- a general bad organization!

Millions of people have not been able to return to their homes; ruins and destroyed buildings are everywhere.

The reconstruction was also delayed by conflicts in relation to land and by difficulties with the customs authorities.

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PAGASA: MORE RAINS LOOM OVER FLOOD-HIT MAGUINDANAO TOWN

06/22/2010 | 07:54 AM / GMA News.TV - THE PHILIPPINES

More rains loom over flood-hit areas of Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.

But PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox said the rains brought by the inter-tropical convergence zone are not expected to be as heavy as last weekend’s downpour.

"Sultan Kudarat town residents may still expect rains but no longer as heavy," Palafox said in an interview on dzBB radio.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council had said heavy rains triggered the overflowing of the Simuay River, which flooded at least 10 villages.

Hit by floods were Bulalo, Salimabao, Limbo, Gang, Calsada, Banubo, Katuli, Macaguiling, Mulaog and Senditan villages.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, low-lying villages including Bulalo, Calsada, Katuli, Senditan and Salimbao still experienced knee-deep floods.

Evacuation centers were established and forced evacuation may be enforced if the floods reach "critical" level.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the inter-tropical convergence zone, ITCZ is affecting Visayas and Mindanao.

"Visayas and Mindanao including Palawan will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. — LBG, GMANews.TV

------------------------------------------------------------------

Swedish SVT: MASSIVE DESTRUCTION AFTER RAIN IN BANGLADESH

More than 150,000 people have been trapped in floodings after several weeks of torrential rain in north-eastern Bangladesh. Thousands hectares of crops have been destroyed.

5 weeks of rain caused rivers to overflow their banks. Fields and towns/villages have been flooded. The communication with many towns is cut off, and the water level continues to rise. There are still no report of casualties.

Last week 55 died in south-eastern Bangladesh in landslides triggered by the torrential rain.

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Danish TV2 News: 24 KILLED IN GHANA FLOODS

Massive floods cost more than 24 human lives in GHANA, where several houses have been washed away by torrential rain which hit GHANA last week-end.

"The national death toll has risen to 24. We will do our utmost to save those trapped by floods and to deliver aid to them", says Kofi Portuphy, coordinator for Ghana's national disaster management.

3 of Ghana's regions have been particularly hard hit by the floods.

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German ARDtext: DAM / EMBANKMENT BURST IN CHINA: 145,000 PEOPLE THREATENED

After a day of bad weather and massive floods with almost 200 dead, the southern China is threatened by a new disaster. In the JIANGXI province, river FU burst a dike; the water masses threaten 145,000 inhabitants of the city, Fuzhou.

About 68,000 have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, and 1,200 other people have been rescued out of the flood area according to Xinhua. More than 10,000 rescuers including soldiers and policemen try to stop the hole in the dike with sandbags and the like.

Swedish SVT (evening): MILLIONS EVACUATED IN CHINA AFTER RAIN

The disaster is aggravated after floods in China. During Tuesday the death toll rose to 200.

12,000 have been evacuated from their homes in the JIANGXI province after 10 days of rain.

In the ten provinces in southern and south-west China hit by floods, as many as 2.4 million people have been evacuated.

The financial losses are estimated at around the equivalent of 46 billion Swedish Kroner. Both President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao have ordered intensive rescue efforts.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10372362.stm

Page last updated at 09:53 GMT, Tuesday, 22 June 2010 10:53 UK

THOUSAND PEOPLE MISSING IN NORTH-EAST BRAZIL FLOODS

Floods have engulfed two states in north-east Brazil, leaving about 1,000 people missing and forcing at least 100,000 to flee their homes.

At least 38 people are known to have died so far in Alagoas and Pernambuco.

Correspondents say the floods, brought on by nearly a week of rain, have washed away entire villages.

The governor of Alagoas, Teotonio Vilela Filho, said bodies were being washed up on beaches and riverbanks.

"Up until the early afternoon [Monday] we had 26 confirmed dead in Alagoas and more than 1,000 people missing," he said.

"We are praying for the missing to be found alive," he added, before holding talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday.

Twelve deaths were confirmed in the state of Pernambuco.

More than 58,000 people were forced to leave their homes in Alagoas and more than 42,000 in Pernambuco, Brazil's civil defence agency was quoted as saying by Spain's Efe news agency.

AFP news agency quoted unspecified officials as saying the total number of people displaced was 100,000.

Everything lost

The River Mundau burst its banks in the Alagoas town of Uniao dos Palmares, leaving at least 500 people unaccounted for, civil defence officials told AFP.

Aerial footage showed floodwater washing through the town.

The town of Quebrangulo in Alagoas was reportedly 80% submerged, forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.

In Vitoria de Santo Antao, Pernambuco, a bridge was brought down.

A local woman, named only as Severina, told the Associated Press news agency as she stood with her son that she had lost all her possessions.

"There is nothing left, nothing, nothing, nothing," she said.

An unnamed man in the Pernambuco town of Cortes was shovelling mud out of his home on Monday.

"We are here on our feet, praying to God that we will be able to rebuild again and that everything will work out," he said.

More than 1,000 miles of roads were washed away by the rains, hindering the delivery of aid to affected areas.

Rescue teams brought people out of the worst-affected areas by helicopter.

The army and navy are helping with the rescue efforts.

In 2009, flooding killed at least 44 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the same region.

OTHER NEWS SITES

Guardian.co.uk : Brazil floods leave 1,000 missing

Telegraph : Brazil floods: 1,000 missing, 39 dead

Melbourne Age : 1000 missing, 39 dead in Brazil floods: governor

IAfrica.com : Brazil floods kill 39

Sydney Morning Herald : 39 killed, 1,000 missing in Brazil floods

Swedish SVT + Danish TV2 News: THOUSAND PEOPLE MISSING AFTER FLOODS IN BRAZIL

Several days of cloudbursts in Brazil have resulted in massive floods. More than 35 have died, and more than 1,000 are missing. Worst hit is the state of Alagoas in Brazil, where the governor, Teotonio Vilela Filho fears a rise in the death toll. "Up until the early afternoon [Monday] we had 26 confirmed dead in Alagoas and more than 1,000 people missing," he said. "We are very worried - bodies are being washed up on beaches and riverbanks", said Filho.

Additional 100,000 people have been made homeless. President Lula da Silva promises that funds will be made available to help those affected.

German ZDFtext and ARDtext: BRAZIL: MORE THAN 40 DEAD IN CONNECTION WITH BAD WEATHER

In north-east Brazil, more than 40 have died due to rainstorms / torrential cloudbursts which resulted in massive floods, Brazil's civil defence agency reported. Affected are the neighbouring states of Alagoas and Pernambuco in Brazil. Alagoas' governor, Teotonio Vilela Filho expects the death toll to rise, because more than 1,000 people are missing.

Last week-end several rivers in the region were overflowing their banks flooding entire stretches of land. An estimated 70,000 had to leave their homes in the two states in Brazil. 40,000 lost their homes due to the floods. Several villages on the banks of river Mundau were completely destroyed.

nancyk58 · June 23, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 23 June 2010

NEWS ON 23 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ARDtext: 1,500 HOUSES FLOODED IN BOSNIA

Floods in northern Bosnia have made more than 1,500 houses uninhabitable. Dozens of families were moved to higher ground after that 3 days of rain caused rivers to overflow their banks. This was reported by the news agency FENA.

The situation was particularly bad in Celinac about 20 km east of Banja Luka. In Celinac alone, 500 houses were under water, and about 10,000 inhabitants were without electricity after power failure. Prime Minister Milorad Dodik talked about a "disaster".

German ZDFtext: 40 DEAD AND 600 MISSING AFTER RAINSTORMS AND FLOODS IN NORTH EAST BRAZIL

40 died, 600 are missing and 120,000 people lost their homes in the 2 states of Alagoas and Pernambuco in North East Brazil in connection with the rainstorms and floods. Several villages were completely destroyed, bridges collapsed and streets were blocked in dozens of towns / villages. The rain was so heavy that the normal amount of rain for a whole month fell in only 2 days.

nancyk58 · June 23, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 23 June / Post II today

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 23 JUNE 2010, POST II

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10396554.stm

Page last updated at 17:50 GMT, Wednesday, 23 June 2010 18:50 UK

TWO PEOPLE DIE IN GULF OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP - US OFFICIAL

Two people have died in the clearing up of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the US Coast Guard has said.

The deaths occurred in two separate incidents, Coast Guard Adm Thad Allen said, without giving further details.

Adm Allen also said BP had to remove a cap containing some of the oil gushing from the well after an underwater robot bumped into the venting system.

BP chief executive Tony Hayward earlier handed over the management of the spill to another senior executive.

BP said Bob Dudley would head the company's restoration organisation "effective immediately".

Mr Hayward has been strongly criticised in the US for making a series of PR gaffes in the wake of April's oil spill.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10372362.stm

Page last updated at 09:36 GMT, Wednesday, 23 June 2010 10:36 UK

FLOODS IN NORTH-EAST BRAZIL KILL DOZENS OF PEOPLE

Floods have engulfed two states in north-east Brazil, killing at least 42 people and forcing at least 100,000 to flee their homes.

Another 1,000 people are missing, prompting fears that the death toll in Alagoas and Pernambuco might rise.

The floods, brought on by nearly a week of rain, are thought to have destroyed entire villages.

The governor of Alagoas, Teotonio Vilela Filho, said bodies were being washed up on beaches and riverbanks.

At least 29 people were confirmed dead in Alagoas and more than 1,000 people are missing.

"Unfortunately, some towns have been nearly 100% destroyed, basically wiped off the map," Sandro Cavalcante, a spokesman for the Alagoas state Civil Defense agency, told the Reuters news agency.

At least 13 deaths were confirmed in the state of Pernambuco.

More than 58,000 people were forced to leave their homes in Alagoas and more than 42,000 in Pernambuco, Brazil's civil defence agency was quoted as saying by Spain's Efe news agency.

AFP news agency quoted unspecified officials as saying the total number of people displaced was 100,000.

The federal government said it would allocate R$100m ($56m) to the relief effort.

Everything lost

The River Mundau burst its banks in the Alagoas town of Uniao dos Palmares, leaving at least 500 people unaccounted for, civil defence officials said.

Aerial footage showed floodwater washing through the town.

The town of Quebrangulo in Alagoas was reportedly 80% submerged, forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.

BBC News website user Katya Christina said her district of Maceio, in Alagoas, has not been affected by the water but the lower part of the city was flooded.

She said she had heard that people in the countryside were getting no government assistance: "My friend lives in the town of Sao Jose Da Lage, which has been devastated.

"He says the government is doing nothing to help. The locals are having to help each other. We are trying to get food and blankets sent out to help people. Anything we can do to help.

"If I could I would even go there myself - but it's too dangerous because of landslides."

In Vitoria de Santo Antao, Pernambuco, a bridge was brought down.

A local woman, named only as Severina, told the Associated Press news agency as she stood with her son that she had lost all her possessions.

"There is nothing left, nothing, nothing, nothing," she said.

An unnamed man in the Pernambuco town of Cortes was shovelling mud out of his home on Monday.

"We are here on our feet, praying to God that we will be able to rebuild again and that everything will work out," he said.

Roads swept away

More than 1,000 miles of roads were washed away by the rains, hindering the delivery of aid to affected areas.

Rescue teams brought people out of the worst-affected areas by helicopter.

The army and navy are helping with the rescue efforts.

In 2009, flooding killed at least 44 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the same region.

nancyk58 · June 24, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 24 June 2010

NEWS ON 24 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish TV2 TTV, DR1 TTV and German ARDtext: CANADA HIT BY A RARE EARTHQUAKE!

A relatively powerful earthquake hit eastern Canada on Wednesday for up to 30 seconds. Thousands inhabitants of MONTREAL, but also many in OTTAWA, ran out of tall office blocks into the streets. There were no reports of casualties or (substantial) material damage.

According to US Geological Survey, USGS the quake had a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was on the border between the provinces of ONTARIO and QUEBEC.

Journalists from the news agency AFP reported that the walls in tall office blocks shook for several seconds, walls cracked and some people were upset, but unharmed.

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German ARDtext: BRAZIL: AT LEAST 40 DEAD AFTER FLOODS

Massive floods have totally destroyed a small town in North-East Brazil. After unusually heavy rain, a river overflowed its banks and destroyed the town, Branquinha with 12,000 inhabitants.

At least 42 died in the states of ALAGOAS and PERNAMBUCO, and 100 are missing according to the ministry in charge of civil defence.

The floods were triggered by heavy rain. The amount of rain falling in only 2 days corresponded to the amount af rain normally falling in one month.

____________________________________________________________

Danish TV2 News, Swedish SVT, German ARDtext and ZDFtext:

BP REINSTALLS A NEW CONTAINMENT CAP

A new oil containment system has been "successfully reinstalled" on Deepwater Horizon's ruptured oil well on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico at 1,30, says BP that is responsible for the enormous environmental disaster.

For more than 10 hours, the ruptured oil well spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, after that an underway robot bumped into the venting system used by BP. The operations were suspended / discontinued.

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nancyk58 · June 25, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 25 June 2010

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND UNICEF ON 25 JUNE 2010

German ARDtext: CONTINUED FLOOD CHAOS IN BRAZIL

Floods in north-east Brazil have cost at least 45 human lives. Ten thousands of people are on the run, and hundreds are still missing.

President Lula de Silva flew over the disaster area in a helicopter.

Army and rescue teams are distributing relief (food and other goods). The extent of the disaster is not clear after almost one week of floods. About 30,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

nancyk58 · June 26, 2010

News on 26 June 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 26 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Swedish SVT: CHINESE CITY THREATENED BY FLOODS

The Chinese city, CHANGSHA with more than 6 million inhabitants is threatened by floods after long time's heavy rain. On Friday the water rose to 2.4 m above the level regarded as dangerous. The water level on the river Xiang which flows through Changsha is now the third-highest since the measurements started in 1952. Soldiers and rescue teams try to reinforce the dikes along the river.

CHANGSHA is situated in the HUNAN province in South-East China.

At least 235 people have died after the cloudbursts on 13 June.

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German ARDtext: FEAR OF STORMS IN THE OIL-POLLUTED REGION

In the oil-polluted region along the Gulf of Mexico there is an increasing fear of the first tropical storms. The national hurricane center in Miami reports that there is a 70% likelihood of bad weather in the West Caribbean becoming a tropical storm within the next 2 days.

CNN's meteorologist Chad Myers considers it very likely that the winds will either force the oil out into the sea OR in the other direction towards the coast.

After a rather quiet hurricane season last year, the US weather service expects a higher number of tropical storms this year, and they will be more powerful.

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German ARDtext and ZDFtext: BRAZIL: CONTINUED FLOOD CHAOS IN BRAZIL WHERE FLOODS HAVE COST MORE THAN 50 HUMAN LIVES

A STATE OF EMERGENCY has been declared in NORTH-EAST BRAZIL.

After floods for days in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco, the death toll has risen to 51. 150,000 had to leave their homes. The number of missing was downgraded from 600 to 56!

The slowly flowing flood leaves desolate areas behind. One week after the beginning of the disaster, many areas remain without electricity, sufficient drinking water and food.

President Lula de Silva cancelled his participation in the G20 summit in Toronto, Canada, and the government made a 3-digit-million amount available to the towns affected.

According to initial calculations, the floods in Alagoas alone destroyed 11,500 houses.

nancyk58 · June 26, 2010

NEWS ON 26 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS, part II

NEWS ON 26 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS, part II

German ZDFtext and ARDtext: OIL POLLUTION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO: FIRST TROPICAL STORM CAUSES FEAR

The inhabitants in the oil-polluted region along the Gulf of Mexico await the first tropical storm with fear. On Saturday, the storm named “Alex” was created in the western Caribbean and set course on the Mexican peninsula of Yucatan, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reports.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it is not yet clear whether the storm will reach the oil-polluted region. Heavy rain and powerful winds would really hinder the containment of the oil spill.

Experts expect a season of very strong / powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic from 1 June to 30 November 2010.

Danish DR1 and TV2 TTV: STORM THREATENS THE GULF OF MEXICO

On Saturday, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico might become worse following meteorologists’ forecast on Saturday of the first tropical storm.

“This will be the first time, and there is no manuscript for this”, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said to CNN.

The storm may spread the enormous oil spill which has become bigger and bigger in two months and which is threatening / polluting the beaches of the US-states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Danish TV2 TTV: CHINA THREATENED BY NEW FLOODS

Continuous rain has caused the water levels in the rivers in the southern and central part of CHINA to rise to a record-high level. CHINA must prepare itself for more disasters triggered by the rain – disasters which have already cost 235 human lives.

China’s minister for water resources warn regional officials that their jobs are at risk if they do not manage to protect people from the floods.

nancyk58 · June 27, 2010

NEWS ON 27 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish TV2 TTV and DR1 TTV: EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CHILE

An earthquake measured at magnitude 5.6 on the open Richter scale has shaken northern Chile near ARICA according to the US Geological Survey, USGS. There is no report of any casualties or any damage.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 127 km south-east of ARICA and occurred in a depth of 80 km. The region is located north of Chile's largest copper mines.

Earthquakes are frequent in CHILE.

A very powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.8. on the Richter scale shook the central part of CHILE on 27 Februar 2010 killing at least 500 people.

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German ZDFtext: HUMAN CHAIN AGAINST DEEP WATER DRILLING IN GULF OF MEXICO

With a chain of human beings on an oil-polluted beach, hundreds of US-citizens have protested against deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Facing the oil disaster after the explosion on one of BP's drill(ing) rigs, Florida's Governor Charlie Christ particpated in the protest on Pensacola Beach.

The organizers of the action / event "Hands across the Sand" said that by means of the human chain they would also promote / agitate for an increased use of renewable energies.

nancyk58 · June 29, 2010

News in relation to natural disasters on 28 June 2010

NEWS ON 28 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10433706.stm

Page last updated at 14:32 GMT, Monday, 28 June 2010 15:32 UK

SCORES BURIED BY LANDSLIDE IN SOUTH-WEST CHINA

At least 100 people are feared to be buried or trapped after a landslide triggered by torrential rain in south-west China, state media reported.

The landslide happened at 1430 local time, and engulfed a number of homes in Dazhai village in Guizhou Province.

Officials said rescue work was being hampered by continued heavy rain.

Southern and eastern China have been hit by flooding this month, with at least 235 killed and more than 100 missing.

An estimated 2.4 million people have been displaced.

At least 107 people were trapped or buried, a local official told Xinhua news agency.

Dazhai village had experienced torrential rain in the days before the landslide.

Villager Cen Chaoyang told Xinhua that he had rushed out of his house when he heard the landslide and managed to escape.

"I called the others to flee. But it was too late. I saw some people behind me being buried," Mr Cen said.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao said rescuers should do all they could to dig out those trapped.

However, it is still raining heavily and rescuers have a 5km (3-mile) hike to reach the site, which is inaccessible by road.

It is feared the death toll could rise.

Power cuts

Nearly 69 million people across China have been affected by the heavy rains, officials said on Sunday.

The government has ordered the setting-up of a rescue and relief centre to co-ordinate the emergency response.

More than 15,000 soldiers have been deployed to aid rescue operations.

The disaster has led to power cuts, collapsed reservoirs and widespread damage to roads. Millions are without drinking water supplies.

The floods are among the worst in southern China since 1998, when more than 3,600 people were killed and more than 20 million were displaced, Xinhua reports.

OTHER NEWS SITES

CHINAdaily: 107 people trapped

Philippine Daily Inquirer : More than 100 trapped in China landslide

Yahoo! UK and Ireland : 'Slim' chance for 107 trapped in China landslide

Sky News : More Than 100 Feared Dead In China Landslide

Guardian.co.uk : China landslide traps more than 100

Swedish SVT: MORE THAN HUNDRED DIED IN LANDSLIDE IN CHINA

About 100 people died in a landslide in south-west China after several days with torrential rain.

Very bad weather with torrential rain has hit parts of central and southern China. According to local authorities 69 million people are affected.

Earlier in June, Southern and eastern China were hit by flooding and landslides with at least 235 killed after heavy rain - according to news agency New China.

Rescue operations focus on an area in the Guizhou province.

German ZDFtext: LANDSLIDE IN CHINA - AT LEAST 150 TRAPPED

Monday, a landslide trapped at least 150 people in south-west China. The landslide triggered by heavy rain occurred in the Guizhou province according to reports from state news agency Xinhua. The number of victims is unknown.

Large areas in South China were hit by floods last week killing more than 239. More than 11 are still missing. More than 3 million had to leave their homes.

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German ZDFtext: "ALEX" IS AGAIN CLASSIFIED AS A TROPICAL STORM - 4 DEAD

The storm "Alex" in Central-America has become stronger, and meteorologists classify it as a tropical storm. Before that, it had brought lots of rain to Belize and the Mexican peninsula, Yucatan - and 4 were killed. US-meteorologists expect "Alex" to become even stronger on its way over the Gulf of Mexico, and within 48 hours it could become a hurricane. It is not expected to come near the area of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10441149.stm

Page last updated at 17:20 GMT, Monday, 28 June 2010 18:20 UK

GULF STORM ALEX 'MAY DELAY BP OIL CAPTURE'

Plans to increase the amount of oil being captured from a leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico could be delayed by a tropical storm, BP has said.

However, a relief well being drilled to staunch the flow is on target to be finished by early August, a senior BP executive said.

BP says the cost of cleaning up the slick has reached $2.65bn (£1.76bn).

Tens of thousands of barrels of oil have leaked every day since the Deepwater Horizon rig sank in April.

A containment cap placed over the leaking pipe is collecting up to 25,000 barrels a day and sending it to two surface ships.

BP had hoped to collect up to 53,000 barrels a day by linking up another vessel, but Mr Wells, the firm's senior vice-president of exploration and production, said that conditions caused by Tropical Storm Alex would cause problems.

The expected heavy seas could cause a delay of up to a week in hooking up the new oil capture system, Mr Wells said a briefing.

"While we are on track for the end of June, it will be roughly a week after that, the 6th or 7th of July," he said.

Relief well

Alex is slowly intensifying and is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters expects the storm to come ashore near the Texas-Mexico border early on Thursday.

Mr Wells said that a relief well - believed to be the best hope of plugging the leak - is now within about 20ft (6m) horizontally of the blown-out well.

Crews would drill another 900ft (274m) downwards before cutting sideways into the leak and starting to pump in heavy mud to try to stop the flow of oil, he added.

A second relief well is being drilled as a backup.

BP says more than 39,000 people are now involved in the response effort.

The spill has closed fishing grounds, killed wildlife and affected the coastlines of four US states.

On Sunday oil began washing ashore at the Mississippi resort town of Biloxi, forcing tourists to evacuate beaches.

German ARDtext: OIL REACHES MISSISSIPPI

Almost 10 weeks after the start of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico the oil has also reached the coast of US-state Mississippi. The tropical storm "Alex" disappeared over the sea towards Mexico - at a good distance of the area hit by the oil disaster. The containment could continue.

The costs of the fight against the environmental disaster are increasing fast for BP. In the last 3 days BP has paid 300 million $. For the first time the costs per day have passed 100 million $.

nancyk58 · June 29, 2010

NEWS ON 29 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ARD text: USA: "ALEX" BECOMES STRONGER

The tropical storm "Alex" has made the US-meteorologists issue a hurricane warning for southern Texas and North-East Mexico. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that "Alex" is becoming stronger and probably will be declared a hurricane today - Tuesday, 29 June 2010.

The top wind speeds amount to 100 km per hour. The epicentre of the tropical storm moves towards the Texan - Mexican border and thus further away from the oil pollution off Louisiana's coast where the BP oil drilling rig "Deepwater Horizon" sank on 20 April 2010.

German ZDFtext: HURRICANE WARNING ISSUED FOR TEXAS AND NORTH-EAST MEXICO

Now, the US-authorities have issued a hurricane warning for southern Texas and North-East Mexico. The tropical storm Alex is becoming stronger in the Gulf of Mexico. Later today, Alex is expected to be upgraded to a hurricane.

The meteorologists expect the hurricane to steer round the US-state of Louisiana which is currently hard hit by oil pollution from the ruptured BP-oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

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German ARDtext: EARTHQUAKE IN THE RHINE-MAIN-AREA IN GERMANY

A minor earthquake in the Rhine-Main area occurred in the night between Monday and Tuesday. The epicentre of the magnitude-3.2 and -3.4 earthquake was north-west of Frankfurt's airport, said the managing geology director of Rhein-Pfalz' office (authority) for Geology and Mining, Friedrich Häfner. Even the area around Taunus was affected by the tremors. Such a quake is not unusual for the region, and there is "no need to worry", he added. There is no report of injured people or substantial damage.

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German ARDtext and ZDFtext: CHINA: SEARCH FOR MORE THAN 100 TRAPPED PEOPLE

Rescuers have continued their search for more than 107 people trapped in a village following a landslide in the south-Chinese Guizhou province. The rescue operations are hampered by new cloudbursts which threaten to trigger new mud slides. Last week, large areas in South China were hit by floods where more than 377 were killed. 142 are still missing. According to information given by the government, more than 3 million people had to leave their homes.

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German ARDtext: RUMANIA: MORE THAN 16 DEAD AFTER FLOODS

More than 16 are dead following floods, and 9 are missing according to Rumania's authority in charge of disasters. Several regions in particular in the north-eastern part of Rumania are affected by the floods caused by heavy rains. Alone in the night between Monday and Tuesday (today), 6 died in Botosani county on Rumania's border to Ukraine. In the mountainous region, heavy rain swelled small streams to violent rivers

Swedish SVT: MORE THAN 20 DEAD IN BAD WEATHER IN RUMANIA

At least 21 people have died in cloudbursts and floods in Rumania in the past 7 days.

Most of the victims drowned after having been swept away by the water masses, but 2 were killed by strokes of lightning, and one fell down from a roof.

About 300 have been evacuated according to the authorities which fear that the death toll may rise.

In May and at the start of June, at least 24 died in similar bad weather in southern and central Poland.

nancyk58 · July 1, 2010

NEWS ON 30 JUNE 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10465678.stm

Page last updated at 15:27 GMT, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 16:27 UK

RAIN AND SEVERE FLOODS KILL AT LEAST 20 IN ROMANIA

At least 20 people have been killed in a week of torrential rains and flooding in Romania.

Around 7000 people have been evacuated so far and large areas of arable land are under water, officials said.

The Romanian government has asked for aid from the European Union to help repair the damage to roads and farmland.

Interior Minister Vasile Blaga said that the situation was especially bad in the north-east of the country.

Thousand of riot police continue to enforce flood defences and help to evacuate residents, Mr Blaga told parliament.

He warned that the damage caused by the floods would take a heavy toll on the Romanian economy, which is struggling to emerge from a recession.

The economy of Europe's second-poorest country contracted by more than seven percent last year, and the government now predicts a drop of 1% to 2% in GDP this year.

FROM OTHER NEWS SITES

TheStar.com.my : Floods kill 24, Romania to seek emergency EU aid

IOL : Romania floods: Toll at 24, damage costly

Channel 4 News : Romania requests EU aid in flooding

France24 : ROMANIA: Deadly floods force thousands to evacuate

AFP via Yahoo! : 21 killed as heavy rain, floods hit Romania

German ZDF: FLOOD: 22 DEAD IN ROMANIA

According to the Romanian government, 22 people drowned in Bucharest in the past 8 days due to floods following a week of torrential rains.

2 people died in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday in the south-west of Romania. One couple drove through the mountainous region in their car and were washed away by the flood.

Worst hit for days is the eastern part of Romania. The situation along the east-Romanian tributary of Donau, Siret, is dangerous because Donau's water level rises, said the Interior Minister Vasile Blaga. "Siret no longer flows into Donau - it is the other way round", he said.

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Danish TV2 News and DR1: SOUTHERN MEXICO HIT BY POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE / HOUSES SWAYING IN MEXICO CITY

Southern Mexico was hit by a powerful magnitude-6.5 earthquake according to the US Geological Survey, USGS, and several buildings in Mexico City swayed as a consequence hereof.

The epicentre was 120 km west-south-west of Oaxaca with 250,000 inhabitants and is the capital in the Mexican state of Oaxada.

Tremors could be felt as far away as in the capital, Mexico City 355 km from the epicentre. People fled out of their houses in Mexico City, eye witnesses said.

The authorities are examining the consequences of the earthquake. There is no report of injuries or major damage.

German ZDFtext: POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO

A powerful magnitude-6.5 earthquake hit the Oaxaca region about 350 km south of Mexico City according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre was in the Mexican state of Oaxaca in a depth of 10 km. The earthquake occurred at 2:20 local time (9:20 Central European Time).

The powerful earthquake triggered panic in Mexico City: Buildings swayed and people ran out of their houses in pyjamas. No report of casualties or damage to houses according to the authorities in Mexico City.

BBC: SOUTHERN MEXICO HIT BY AN EARTHQUAKE

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10466543.stm

Page last updated at 16:59 GMT, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 17:59 UK

TEXAS ON ALERT AS ALEX SWEEPS IN

US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Texas as Hurricane Alex bears down on the coast with 80mph (130km/h) winds.

Alex, which has now strengthened to a category two hurricane, is expected to make landfall near the Texas-Mexico border.

Heavy seas caused by the first Atlantic hurricane of the season have already disrupted BP's oil spill clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Boats skimming the slick have been sent back to port by the US Coast Guard.

High waves and strong winds generated by Alex have also pushed more oil from the spill on to beaches in Louisiana.

"The sad thing is that it has been about three weeks since we had any big oil come in here," said marine science technician Michael Malone.

"With this weather, we lost all the progress we made," he added.

A huge oil patch has been pushed towards Louisiana's Grand Isle and the uninhabited Elmer's Island, dumping large tar balls on the beach.

Oil dispersant flights and controlled burning operations in the Gulf of Mexico have also been postponed.

However, Alex is not stopping oil recovery at the scene of the leak 50 miles (80km) off the Louisiana coast.

Two vessels are capturing oil gushing from the wreck of the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig despite waves of up to 7ft (2.1m).

The deployment of a third vessel has been delayed until the weather improves.

A containment cap is capturing up to 25,000 of the estimated 30,000 to 60,000 barrels of crude spewing from the ruptured well every day.

President Obama's emergency declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to co-ordinate disaster relief efforts, the White House said.

Alex, currently a category one hurricane, is strengthening and expected to make landfall late on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The centre warned that torrential rain could cause flash floods and mudslides in north-eastern Mexico and southern Texas.

It also warns of a storm surge of up to 5ft (1.5m) spreading several miles inland along the affected coast.

German ZDFtext: HURRICANE "ALEX" HAMPERS BP's OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

Boats skimming the slick caused by the leaking oil in the Gulf of Mexico have had to stop their operation due to "heavy seas". The oil can now unimpeded approach the beaches in the US-states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Winds up to 120 km per hour in connection with the tropical storm "Alex" contribute to a more massive pollution of the beaches. It is not clear when the measures in the Gulf of Mexico can continue.

The crew on board the vessels used in connection with the containment and controlled burning of the leaking oil in the Gulf of Mexico continue their work.

nancyk58 · July 1, 2010

News on 1 July 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 1 JULY 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish TV2 TTV: ONE KILLED DURING EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHERN MEXICO

One person was killed Wednesday, when southern Mexico was hit by a powerful earthquake. The earthquake was measured at 6.2 on the Richter scale according to US Geological Survey (USGS) and made several buildings in Mexico City sway. Mexico City is situated about 350 km from the epicentre which was 125 km west of the city of Oaxaca. The city has about 250,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The 49-year-old man was killed in his bed in his home south of Oaxaca when a rafter fell down and hit him, the local authorities stated. _____________________________________

Swedish SVT: HURRICANE "ALEX" HAS REACHED MEXICO

The hurricane "Alex" reached the north-eastern Mexico and was upgraded to a category-2 storm out of the 5 categories on the hurricane scale, USA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami stated.

The hurricane swept over the coast in the Gulf of Mexico and southern Texas with heavy cloudbursts.

"Alex" reached Mexico's beaches at 4am Central European time. 17,000 people were evacuated in north-eastern Mexico.

"Alex" has already disrupted BP's oil spill clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil production has been partially stopped in the area. President Barack Obama has declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY IN TEXAS.

Swedisth SVT (evening): "ALEX" DOWNGRADED TO STORM

On Thursday, "Alex" was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, when approaching high-lying areas in north-eastern Mexico. When earlier today, the storm swept over the Mexican coast, some winds were measured to be a hurricane. A tropical strom warning was issued by the Mexican authorities along the coast between Rio San Fernando and la Cruz. "Alex" stopped the oil spill clean-up after the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. the Oil production has partly stopped in the region.

German ARDtext: HURRICANE "ALEX" REACHES MEXICO

Hurricane "Alex" which ravaged the Gulf of Mexico made landfall in Mexico in the night between Wednesday and Thursday. With wind gusts of up to 165 km per hour, the US Hurricane Center classified it as a category-2 hurricane.

The storm uprooted trees and flooded streets in the Mexican sea port of Matomoros and in southern Texas.

People barricaded their houses. Oil and gas production rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were spared. The fight against the oil pollution was however hampered.

German ZDFtext: HURRICANE "ALEX" REACHES THE MEXICAN AND TEXAN COAST

In the night between Wednesday and Thursday (local time), hurricane "Alex" made landfall on the Mexican and Texan coast. With wind speeds/gusts of more than 150 km per hour and heavy rain, the tropical storm which was upgraded to a category-2 hurricane made landfall in north-eastern Mexico and on the south coast of the US-state of Texas. According to the broadcaster CNN, the inhabitants awaited "Alex" in their shelters.

The oil spill clean-up was disrupted. High waves threaten the oil booms off the coast.

German ZDFtext (evening): STORM "ALEX" SWEEPS ACROSS MEXICO

Hurricane "Alex" swept over North-East Mexico with wind speeds / gusts of 170 km per hour. The first tropical storm in the hurricane season stirred up meter-high waves that washed up on the coast. Streets and houses were flooded. According to initial information, 4 people died in Mexico. The south of Texas was also hit by hurricane winds and heavy rain. The oil pollution clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico was hampered. "Alex" became quickly weaker when on land and was downgraded to a tropical storm. In 2 - 3 days it will disappear gradually / dissolve.

Danish DR1: THE STORM "ALEX" HAS WEAKENED

The tropical storm "Alex" made landfall in northern Mexico last night. It tore off house roofs, flooded streets and forced thousands to flee fisher villages along the coast.

When "Alex" reached land, it was a so-called category-2 storm, but it has already somewhat weakened and is downgraded to a category-1 storm.

"Alex" is this hurricane season's first storm. It has apparently spared Texas, which had prepared for a situation of being hard hit.

ricardo · July 2, 2010

Actually that Alex storm is causing disasters in Nuevo Leon(The third or fourth most important state) and therefore Monterrey, besides. A lot of states ran out of internet yesterday-

nancyk58 · July 2, 2010

THANKS FOR YOUR INFORMATION, RICARDO. :)

In the next couple of weeks I will not be able to post here, so please post updates of developments here.

NEWS ON 2 JULY 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish DR1: POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE NEAR VANUATU

With a magnitude between 6.4 and 6.8, a powerful earthquake has hit the group of islands, Vanuatu in the Pacific. Such powerful earthquake can create local tsunamis. No tsunami warning has been issued after this quake.

A spokesman for the Pacific Warning Centre says that the quake was too far away from land and occurred in a too big depth for any tsunami to be triggered in this case.

The Pacific Warning Centre estimates that the quake occurred in a depth of 35 km, whereas the Australian authorities think that the epicentre was in a depth of 66 km.

German ARDtext: TANKER IS TO PURIFY / CLEAN WATER

A rebuilt supertanker is used in the fight against the oil pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. The "A Whale" from Taiwan can receive 500,000 barrel ( almost 80 million litres) polluted water a day and separate it from oil according to the coast guard. The water is led back to the sea, whereas the purified oil will be pumped to another ship.

The coast guard will test the 335-m-long oil purification (cleaning) ship for 2 days from Saturday in the Mississippi delta and then decide whether it can be used in the fight against the oil pollution.

nancyk58 · July 18, 2010

News on 17 and 18 July 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 17 AND 18 JULY 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish DR1 and TV2 News: TYPHOON CONSON COST 55 HUMAN LIVES IN ASIA (the Philippines + China)

More than 55 died in the PHILIPPINES and in SOUTH-EASTERN CHINA due to the typhoon Conson for the last couple of days. This info was given by Filipino and Chinese rescue teams.

Conson has been downgraded to a tropical storm after it reached CHINA, where

40,000 people have been evacuated.

Also VIETNAMESE authorities have evacuated several thousands from exposed areas.

Photos show substantial material damage. Roads and houses have been destroyed, and trees were uprooted in many areas.

German ARDtext and ZDFtext: TYPHOON "CONSON" RAVAGES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: MORE THAN 67 DEAD

The typhoon "Conson" has killed more than 67 in the Philippines. Dozens are missing. Thousands of houses are destroyed, and many boats sank. Oil leaked from 2 ships which had been damaged.

On the SOUTH-CHINESE island, HAINAN, 40,000 had to leave their homes as a precautionary measure. Here 2 died as a consequence of the typhoon: A motor cyclist and a guard both hit by billboards flying around, according to local rescue teams. Trees were uprooted and electricity poles came down.

Several boats were in distress at sea off Vietnam's coast. The rescue operation continues.

Swedish SVT: MORE THAN 67 DEAD AS A CONSEQUENCE OF TYPHOON "CONSON"

More than 67 are dead due to the typhoon "Conson" which swept the PHILIPPINES and the CHINESE island, HAINAN. The typhoon has been downgraded to a tropical storm and is heading for VIETNAM.

The Filipino authorities warn that the death toll may rise as tens of people are still missing after the tropical storm.

In the CHINESE island of HAINAN, 2 were killed and 40,000 were evacuated on Friday.

ln VIETNAM the police transported tourists away from the beaches where the tourists had gathered to watch the big waves.

German ARDtext: STORM "CONSON" HITS VIETNAM

After the massive devastation and destruction on the Philippines, the tropical storm, "Conson" has reached VIETNAM. 3,500 soldiers are deployed in coastal regions where they assist in connection with the evacuation of people, according to state broadcaster Voice of Vietnam.

In the north-western VIETNAM, thousands of Vietnamese have left threatened houses to avoid being victims of floods and landslides. According to the radio, 6 fishermen are missing and being searched for. A total of 11 people are missing.

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NEWS ON 18 JULY 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

Danish TV2: POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE OFF ALASKA

No reports of casualties or damage after an earthquake hit the seafloor off Alaska's coast early Sunday morning.

The tremor in the northern part of the Pacific war recorded at magnitude-6.7 on the so-called Moment Magnitude scale which is now widely used by American specialists.

According to US Geological Survey, USGS, the earthquake occurred off the Aleutian Islands - a group of 300 minor islands.

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Danish TV2 TTV AND DR1 TTV: INDONESIA STRUCK BY 2 EARTHQUAKES

Indonesia has been struck by 2 earthquakes in the sea off Papua New Guinea - around 537 km north-west of Papua New Guinea which is situated north of Australia. The first one was measured at magnitude-6.9 on the Richter scale. Immediately after the quakes Indonesia issued a tsunami alert, which was later lifted according to news agency AP.

The first earthquake struck shortby before noon local time. The epicentre was 57 km below the seabed, 525 km north-east of the capital, Port Morseby. The second earthquake was measured at 6.8 on the Richter scale and struck half an hour later.

There are no reports of casualties or damage to buildings.

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nancyk58 · July 20, 2010

News on 20 July 2010 in relation to natural disasters

German ZDFtext and ARDtext: 175 DEAD IN SOUTH AMERICA DUE TO EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER

South America has been hit by the strongest winter for a very long time. So far 175 have died in 7 countries due to the very cold weather - COLD WAVE.

The situation was worst in southern PERU, where the thermometre in the highest areas of the Andes fell to up to minus 23 degrees Celsius. Since the beginning of last week, 112 died there - according to official information - due to too low body temperatures and flu.

In ARGENTINA the lowest temperatures in 10 years were measured. 16 froze to death there.

nancyk58 · July 21, 2010

News on 21 July 2010 in relation to natural disasters

NEWS ON 21 JULY 2010 IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

German ZDFtext and ARDtext: THE DEATH TOLL IN CONNECTION WITH THE COLD WAVE IN LATIN AMERICA GONE UP

So far, the devastating very cold weather - cold wave - in SOUTHERN AMERICA has cost at least 185 human lives. For weeks the temperatures in parts of the subcontinent have been very low.

The situation in PERU is very dramatic. In southern PERU alone, the authorities recorded 112 victims in the last couple of days. There, the thermometer fell to minus 20 degrees Celsius / centigrade.

In ARGENTINA 16 people have frozen to death so far. 13 died from CO poisoning caused by defective / faulty heating.

BOLIVIA reports 20 victims as a consequence of the very cold weather. 9 died in southern BRAZIL due to the very cold weather.

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German ARDtext: CHINA: 700 DEAD IN CONNECTION WITH FLOODS IN 2010

So far, massive floods in CHINA have cost 701 human lives in 2010. This is the highest death toll since 1998. 347 are still missing according to the authorities.

According to information given, the material damage amounts to 142.2 billion Yuan or 16 billion Euro. Three quarters of China's provinces are affected by the floods. Record-high water levels of 25 rivers have been recorded.

Swedish SVT: SOUTHERN CHINA FLOODED AGAIN

Massive floods in southern CHINA have killed more than 700 people.

According to a Chinese vize-minister Liu Ning, 187 have died in the last couple of weeks and 173 are missing as a consequence of this natural disaster.

Ten thousands of homes and other buildings have been destroyed by the water, and 110 million people are affected, Liu said. He estimated the financial losses at more than 142 billion yuan (16 billion Euro).

The rainy season is expected to continue until the end of August with heavy rain. The rain is expected to spread to the north.

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Danish DR1 TTV and TV2 News: EARTHQUAKES IN IRAN

A number of earthquakes - the strongest measured at magnitude 5.8 on the Richter scale - struck early Wednesday morning local time near Iran's southern coast at the Persian Gulf. So Iran's Seismological Center reports. Iranian state media report that there is no report of casualties or any damage. Iran's Seismological Center reported a number of quakes measured at the magnitudes of 5.8; 5.2; 4,1 and 3,9 in the thinly populated southern region.

German ARDtext: 15 INJURED IN CONNECTION WITH EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHERN IRAN

15 people were injured by an earthquake in southern IRAN according to Iran's state television. The magnitude-5.8 earthquake was felt very strongly in the Aschkenan region. After the earthquake several aftershocks with magnitudes between 3.5 and 5.2 shook the region according to the Geophysical Institute at Teheran's University.

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Danish DR1 TTV: EARTHQUAKE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Papua New Guinea which is part of the island, New Guinea east of Indonesia, was hit by a magnitude-6.3 earthquake according to geologists. No tsunami alert was issued, and there is no report of casualties or any damage.

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

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