NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-14474329

 

Scotland's road and rail network hit by flooding

 

Train services have been disrupted in Glasgow and Edinburgh and flood warnings have been stepped up following heavy rain falls.

 

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has declared 27 main flood warnings and 14 flood alerts.

 

ScotRail said there was a reduced service between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.

 

It has also been reported that Glasgow saw one of the wettest 24-hour periods since records began.

 

A spokesman added that the situation was ever changing and advised travellers to check online.

 

Elsewhere, in Rosyth, water was pumped from homes and a school at Park Road.

 

There have been reports of small problems in Wellbank near Dundee, and at Ceres and Kilmany near Cupar.

 

Precautionary measures were taken in the Meadows area of Huntly in Aberdeenshire for a second time in a week.

 

At about 01:00, residents in the neighbourhood were alerted by police that the River Deveron could burst its banks.

 

Grampian Housing deployed flood defence guards to doors and windows of about 50 homes.

 

Water levels have been dropping off in some parts, however, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has maintained 22 flood warnings and 14 flood alerts across Scotland.

 

Swollen rivers

 

ScotRail said there was disruption between Edinburgh and North Berwick and Glasgow Queen Street and Dunblane.

 

Less rain is expected on Thursday but the Met Office said disruption was likely because of flooding from standing water and from swollen rivers and streams.

 

BBC Scotland weather forecaster Stav Danaos, said: "It has been one of the wettest 24 hours in the Glasgow area since records began.

 

"Rain is expected to continue through many central areas for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon with some heavy bursts likely in places.

 

"Rainfall totals will continue to rise with an increasing risk of localised flooding in places.

 

"The rain will begin to ease down this afternoon and become lighter with drier conditions following."

 

A Sepa spokesman said: "We expect to see a gradual rise in river levels. But as rain is persistent rather than thundery downpours, we do not expect to see any sudden increases.

 

"Accumulation of surface water and standing water is also anticipated."

 

Dumfries and Galloway Police said drivers would need to take extra care on the roads, in anticipation of heavy rain.

 

Tayside Police said river levels were very high in the force area, but there were no reports of significant flooding, although officers urged motorists to take care.

 

Fife Fire and Rescue Service said they had six call-outs about flooding since 23:00 on Wednesday.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12.8.11

 

 

HEATWAVE IN JAPAN KILLS 4 PEOPLE (Swedish text-TV / SVT Text)

 

900 hospitalized with hot flashes.

 

The situation is worsened by that fact that the air conditioning systems are switched off in order to reduce power consumption as a consequence of the earthquake on 11 March 2011.

 

 

 

UN REPORTS CHOLERA EPIDEMICS IN DROUGHT-PLAGUED SOMALIA (German text-TV / ZDF Text)

 

In the capital Mogadishu alone, almost 4,300 patients have been treated since the beginning of 2011. So far 181 have died.

 

In the past 2 months 100,000 Somalis have arrived in Mogadishu in the hope of finding water, food and shelter here. Add to this the more than 370,000 refugees already stranded here.

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From German text-TV / ZDF Text: NOT SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR THE STARVING: UN CUTS EMERGENCY PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN

 

Several aid agencies appeal for (demand) more financial support / funds for the starving in East Africa. So far only a little more than half of the necessary 1.41 billion Euro has been pledged, says Thomas Heilmann from Save the Children in an article for the national Sunday newspaper "Welt am Sonntag".

 

UN's World Food Programme has been forced to reduce its costs for special food for children under the age of 4. "More than 260,000 malnourished children must be cut off the emergency programme - because of insufficient funds".

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News in relation to natural disasters on 17.8.11

 

 

MASSIVE FLOODS IN PAKISTAN

 

Massive floods in Pakistan have made at least 60,000 HOMELESS.

 

The water masses destroyed houses and crops in the SINDH province in the southern part of PAKISTAN.

 

A total of 700,000 are affected, and more than 30 have been killed according to Pakistan's authorities that have been criticized for not having taken precautionary measures.

 

SINDH is one of the areas that were worst hit by last year's record-massive floods.

 

Since last year's floods, TEN THOUSANDS of people have been LIVING IN INTERIM CAMPS.

 

Source: Swedish text-tv / SVT Text

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News in relation to natural disasters on 19 August 2011

 

NEWS ON 19 AUGUST 2011

 

MASSIVE WILDFIRE IN SPAIN

 

A massive wildfire - at least 8 km across - has forced thousands of people to leave their homes in Spain's eastern region MURCIA.

 

The fire - triggered by strong winds and high summer temperatures - has destroyed vast areas of the national park Calblanque east of the city Cartagena.

 

About 2,500 people have been evacuated from the city Portman.

 

There are plans of deploying aircrafts to spray water over the flames.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

 

 

JAPAN: TSUNAMI WAVES IN THE FUKUSHIMA AREA AFTER EARTHQUAKE

 

A tsunami warning was issued after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake off the north-west coast occurred shortly after 7:30 am central European Time. One hour later the tsunami alert was lifted.

 

Buildings were swaying in Tokyo more than 28 miles away, but no reports of immediate damage. The magnitude of the earthquake was later corrected to being 6.3.

 

The quake occurred in a depth of 2 miles off Fukushima where about ½m high waves were expected in the Fukushima nuclear power plant area.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 18, 19 AND 20 AUGUST 2010

 

5 DEAD AT CONCERT IN BELGIUM IN CONNECTION WITH STORM - FESTIVAL CLOSED

 

The death toll at the rock festival Pukkelpop in Belgium has risen to at least 5. 40 were injured, 11 of which were seriously injured.

 

The storm caused 2 stages to collapse.

 

More than 60,000 people were gathered for the festival, in particular young people.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDF text

 

 

 

OIL IN THE NORTH SEA: SHELL ANNOUNCES THAT OIL LEAK HAS BEEN FILLED

 

The oil leak at Shell's platform in the North Sea has been filled according to Shell. Divers closed a valve on a defect line out of which oil was leaking.

 

The next step is to get the remaining oil out of the damaged pipe. It is hoped that no more oil is leaking into the North Sea, says Shell.

 

Shell has not yet reached the end of the operation, said Hugh Shaw, the British Ministry of Energy and Climate Change.

 

In the past couple of days more than 200 tons of oil has leaked into the North Sea.Source: German text-TV / ZDF Text

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN THE PACIFIC (source: Swedish text-TV / SVT text)

 

A powerful earthquake - magnitude 7.5 - occurred Saturday off the island state of VANUATU in the Pacific.

 

The tsunami warning centre for the Pacific did not issue any general alert. But according to the centre, quakes of this magnitude may trigger local tsunamis that may cause damage along coasts within 10km of the epicentre.

 

There were no immediate reports of any damage. The epicentre of the quake was 6 miles south-west of the capital Port-Vila in Vanuatu which consists of 12 islands east of Australia.

 

Update on SVT Text (Swedish text-TV) Sunday morning 21.8.11)

 

It now says that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.1 - and followed by another quake an hour later with magnitude 7.0 - citing US Geological Survey (USGS).

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters on 23 August 2011

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14622549

 

23 August 2011 Last updated at 06:21 GMT

 

Severe weather warning issued for London by Met Office

 

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for London, saying there is a RISK of a localised flooding.

 

However, torrential rain predicted during Tuesday morning rush hour had not occurred by 07:00 BST.

 

The Environment Agency (EA) said there was a risk of flooding in southern and eastern England.

 

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is on stand-by to help anyone hit by flooding after heavy rain was predicted for the capital.

 

On Monday evening, the Met Office had predicted that heavy rain "will start from about midnight and there will also be a lot of lightning".

 

However, on Tuesday morning, the Met office said many of the rain clouds had fragmented although there were expected to be periods of heavy rain.

 

"A yellow alert has been issued to highlight the risk of localised surface-water flooding," a spokeswoman said.

 

The EA has urged people in the areas at risk to check the Environment Agency website for up-to-date information and flood forecasts.

 

The LFB's Jim Knighton said: "We're ready and waiting to help people who might be hit by flooding.

 

"Keeping people safe is our top priority but flooding can also devastate people's properties and possessions, so wherever possible we use sandbags to keep water out of people's homes."

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14625665

 

23 August 2011 Last updated at 07:22 GMT

 

Hurricane Irene strengthens as it swirls over Caribbean

 

A strengthening Hurricane Irene has swept over the northern Dominican Republic, bringing strong winds and heavy downpours.

 

The storm, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, had maximum sustained winds of 160km (100 mph).

 

Forecasters say Irene is set to intensify further as it heads north-west towards the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

 

The storm is forecast to reach the south-eastern US by the weekend.

 

At 06:00GMT, Irene, now classed as a category two hurricane, was 110km (70 miles) east-north-east of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said.

 

The hurricane is expected to be near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the south-eastern Bahamas by Tuesday night, forecasters said.

 

Irene was likely to strengthen further and could become a major hurricane within the next 72 hours as it moves over the warm sea waters.

 

"We didn't anticipate it gaining this much strength this early," meteorologist Chris Landsea told the Associated Press.

 

Bad memories

 

On Monday, Irene knocked out power to more than half the island of Puerto Rico and affected water supplies to more than 100,000 people.

 

The governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuno, said he had asked the US government to declare Puerto Rico a disaster area so it could gain access to emergency funds.

 

In the Dominican Republic, authorities closed schools and evacuated coastal communities ahead of the storm's arrival.

 

Emergency preparations were also stepped up in neighbouring Haiti by United Nations agencies operating there.

 

The country, which suffers from extensive deforestation and poor infrastructure, is particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall.

 

Hundreds of thousands of people still live in makeshift camps after the January 2010 earthquake.

 

In the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands, people have been trying to reinforce windows and doors, as well as stocking up on supplies.

 

On Grand Turk, where Hurricane Ike caused devastation in September 2008, resident Peter White told AP he was taking no chances.

 

"We've loaded up on water and rations are our shutters are ready to go up. Bad memories of Ike are a big reason why we get so prepared now."

 

Hurricane Irene is on a projected path to reach the United States by the end of the week, possibly making landfall in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina.

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The following is from text-TV in Denmark (DR1 + TV2 News), Sweden (SVT) and Germany (ZDF Text):

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE SHAKES THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES

 

US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit the eastern states in the USA with epicenter in the state of Virginia.

 

The authorities chose to evacuate the US Capitol building in Washington and Pentagon in the suburb Arlington.

 

The epicentre of the quake was near RICHMOND in Virginia. Richmond is situated 138 km from Washington D.C.

 

The quake could be felt in Manhattan, New York and in Boston in the US state of Massachusetts.

 

The quake disrupted the mobile network along the East Coast.

 

Buildings were swaying along the north-east coast of the USA.

 

Control towers have been evacuated at the Newark and J.F. Kennedy airports in New York. The taxiways and the control towers will have to be inspected before air traffic will resume after the quake.

 

Also Washington's domestic air traffic was disrupted after the quake.

 

"This is one of the biggest quakes on the east coast for a long time, at least for some decades", said Lucy Jones, spokeswoman for USGS, to CNN.

 

-----

 

Tremors could also be felt in Detroit, Rhode Island and across Michigan.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14634730

 

23 August 2011 Last updated at 19:54 GMT

 

Earthquake strikes US east coast

 

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake has rattled the east coast of the United States.

 

The quake was felt in Washington, where the Pentagon and US Capitol building were evacuated, as well as in New York.

 

The Washington National Cathedral and the Ecuadorean embassy were among buildings damaged, although there were no immediate reports of injuries.

 

Federal officials said two nuclear reactors had been taken offline near the epicentre of the quake in Virginia but that no damage had been reported.

 

The quake struck at a depth of 3.7 miles (6km), the US Geological Survey said, and its epicentre was about 9 miles from the town of Mineral, in the state of Virginia.

 

An initial measurement of 5.8 was later upgraded.

 

Flights on hold

 

The tremor shook Washington DC for about 30 seconds, causing office buildings to sway and houses to shake.

 

The streets of the city filled with evacuated workers minutes after the quake, and police moved swiftly to cordon off key government institutions, restricting access to federal buildings on Capitol Hill.

 

Television monitors and lights swayed for about 30 seconds as the quake rumbled away, and the mobile phone network showed intermittent service for some time afterwards.

 

"When it started, it felt like someone was moving furniture next door," Peter Walker told the BBC from Washington.

 

"Things began to shake even more and so everyone rushed out into the corridor.

 

"The alarm went off and the building was evacuated. After an hour we were all sent home.

 

"There are traffic jams all over the city. The metro is really crowded and so some people are walking or cycling home."

 

Reports said the tremor was felt as far north as Boston and in North and South Carolina in the south.

 

Flights from New York's John F Kennedy and Newark airports were delayed while authorities checked for damage from the quake, but later resumed.

 

The Associated Press said flights out of Reagan National Airport were also put on hold.

 

The Amtrak passenger train network slowed its trains in its busy northeastern routes, and advised passengers to expect delays.

 

In Washington, the Metro public transportation system was running trains at 15mph (24.1km/h) while workers inspected the tracks, and likewise said customers should expect delays.

 

Neither system reported injuries.

 

Reports of minor damage began to trickle in minutes after the quake struck.

 

At the National Cathedral in north-west Washington, the highest building in the US capital city, three pinnacles in the central tower snapped off and a fourth was leaning. The 30-storey high central tower suffered minor structural damage.

 

Also, the embassy of Ecuador was reported to have suffered major damage.

 

In Charleston, West Virginia, hundreds of workers left the state Capitol building.

 

"The whole building shook," a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Court said. "You could feel two different shakes. Everybody just kind of came out on their own."

 

The AFP news agency said procedures put in place after the 9/11 attacks were activated in New York when the quake hit. Police guided people to local parks and away from tall buildings.

 

One witness told AFP she saw a Wall Street skyscraper "shaking like a tuning fork".

 

Another said the 20th floor of the court building he was on "shook like mad" and that everyone was scared.

 

Fatima Richardson, 28, who was sitting on the steps of a courthouse said: "You could see the building moving. I was just freaking out."

 

Lower Manhattan office worker Juan Ramos told AFP he was confused after giving blood.

 

"I saw my cup of coffee shaking but I thought nothing of it. I had just donated blood so I thought I had not recovered my equilibrium," he said.

 

 

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

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14625665

 

23 August 2011 Last updated at 18:37 GMT

 

US warning over strengthening Hurricane Irene

 

US officials have warned the entire US east coast should be ready for the possible arrival of Hurricane Irene.

 

Now a category 2 storm heading over the Turks and Caicos Islands and south-eastern Bahamas, it may intensify to a category 4 as it nears the east coast.

 

But forecasters have cautioned that it is too early to predict the storm's exact path or place of impact.

 

Irene brought heavy downpours as it swept over the Dominican Republic where 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters.

 

Hurricane Irene is on a projected path to reach the US by the end of the week, possibly making landfall in Georgia, South Carolina or North Carolina.

 

'Larger than average'

 

In Puerto Rico, where US President Barack Obama declared an emergency - making it eligible for federal help - the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people.

 

The storm, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, currently has maximum sustained winds of 100mph (160km/h).

 

But if Irene increases to a category 4 storm it could reach speeds of 131mph.

 

"Irene is forecast to become a larger-than-average hurricane," the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said.

 

The hurricane was expected to be near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the south-eastern Bahamas by Tuesday night, forecasters said.

 

The NHC warned "an extremely dangerous" storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 9 to 13ft (3 to 4m) on the low-lying islands.

 

Irene was likely to strengthen further and could become a major hurricane within the next 72 hours as it moved over warm sea waters, they added.

 

"We didn't anticipate it gaining this much strength this early," meteorologist Chris Landsea told the Associated Press.

 

Bad memories

 

By 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT), Irene had top winds of 100mph and was 55 miles northeast of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and 70 miles south-southeast of Grand Turk Island.

 

On Monday, Irene knocked out power to more than half the island of Puerto Rico and affected water supplies to more than 100,000 people.

 

Emergency preparations were stepped up in Haiti by United Nations agencies operating there.

 

The country, which suffers from extensive deforestation and poor infrastructure, is particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall.

 

Hundreds of thousands of people still live in makeshift camps after the January 2010 earthquake.

 

In the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands, people have been trying to reinforce windows and doors, as well as stocking up on supplies.

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters on 23 + 24.8.11

 

From Swedish text-TV / SVT: Russia has begun shipping 50,000 tonnes of wheat to North Korea in humanitarian aid. 50-80% of the crops in North Korea has been destroyed by cold weather (the crops have frozen).

 

 

Swedish text-TV / SVT: HURRICANE IN THE CARIBBEAN GAINING STRENGHT

 

The hurricane Irene in the eastern Caribbean (Sea) may develop into a powerful storm during Wednesday.

 

Until now, Irene is classified as a category 2 storm according to the US Hurricane Centre.

 

The winds are up to almost 49 meter per second.

 

The centre has warned against "an extremely dangerous storm" - the water level may rise by 2 - 3,5m in parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14641567

 

24 August 2011 Last updated at 19:34 GMT

 

Hurricane Irene reaches category three on way to US

 

Hurricane Irene has grown into a category three storm as it barrels towards the east coast of the US.

 

Irene, which has drenched the Dominican Republic, now boasts winds of 120 mph (193km/h) near the Bahamas, and could reach the US mainland later this week.

 

Tourists are being evacuated from an island off North Carolina and people are already stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state.

 

The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean.

 

Federal officials have warned it could do the same along the US east coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore.

 

Irene 'may strengthen'

 

On Wednesday afternoon, Irene was about 250 miles south-east of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and churning north-east at about 12mph.

 

Forecasters say the hurricane - which spans more than 400 miles - could strengthen to a category four storm by Thursday.

 

Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival.

 

Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows.

 

Authorities ordered tourists and visitors to evacuate Ocracoke Island, off North Carolina, on Wednesday, and the 800 or so residents who live on the barrier island year-round were told to flee on Thursday.

 

Newly wed Jennifer Zaharek, 23, of Connecticut, told the Associated Press: "We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation."

 

She and her husband Andrew, who were married on Monday, had hoped to spend their honeymoon on the island.

 

A number of tourists have caught flights off the Bahamas ahead of the storm's arrival there.

 

Smaller hotels were shut on the island and larger resorts were booked up with people seeking a place to ride out the storm.

 

The storm was expected to make many roads impassable in downtown Nassau, the Bahamian capital.

 

Woman dies

 

On Tuesday, Irene pelted the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with high winds and heavy rain.

 

The US state department warned US citizens against travelling to the region.

 

Hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic took refuge in schools and churches after they were displaced by storm flooding.

 

In Puerto Rico, the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people.

 

Government offices, schools and the University of Puerto Rico were closed on Wednesday.

 

A 62-year-old woman died while attempting to drive over a swollen river near the capital, San Juan, the Associated Press reported.

 

And on Tuesday, more than 80 families in the town of Canovanas lost their homes when a river rose suddenly in heavy rain, El Nuevo Dia newspaper reported.

 

US President Barack Obama declared an emergency, making the island, a US protectorate, eligible for federal help.

 

Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advised residents of the east coast from the Mid-Atlantic region up to New England to prepare for the hurricane's arrival.

 

"It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," he told ABC television.

 

"Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders."

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters on 25 August 2011

 

MAGNITUDE 7.0 EARTHQUAKE STRUCK NORTH PERU (German text-TV / ZDFtext)

 

EARTHQUAKE HIT PERU's JUNGLE (Danish text-TV / TV2 News)

 

On Wednesday 24 August 2011, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Peru's Amazonas jungle. There are no reports of casualties (deaths or injuries).

 

The tremors could be felt in Peru's capital LIMA and in neighbouring BRAZIL.

 

The epicentre was in the Amazonas region north of the village Pucallpa about 600 km from Lima at a depth of 145 km and in a thinly populated region in the central-eastern Peru according to the US Geological Surveys (USGS).

 

People panicked in Peru's capital LIMA and other towns and cities when - around noon - the tremors caused the tall buildings to sway. So the newspaper "El Comercio" reported in its online version.

 

 

HURRICANE "IRENE" GAINING STRENGTH AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ISLANDS OF BAHAMAS

 

The hurricane IRENE reached the Bahamas on Thursday morning and swept across the Bahamas with almost 200 km per hour (ZDF) / where it reached wind speeds of 44m per second (SVT).

 

Irene destroyed 90% of the houses in parts of the islands. Trees were uprooted and roofs blew off the houses according to the authorities. Substantial damage was reported, but there were no reports of casualties (deaths or injured).

 

Irene is now heading for the densely populated US east coast and is expected to get there on Friday. Precautionary measures have been taken on the US east coast.

 

The US state of NORTH CAROLINA has declared STATE OF EMERGENCY before the arrival of the hurricane.

 

Up to 180,000 inhabitants have been ordered to leave areas near the Atlantic coast.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV (SVT) and German text-TV / ZDF text

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14669374

 

25 August 2011 Last updated at 20:42 GMT

 

Hurricane Irene churns towards US

 

Authorities on the east coast of the US, from North Carolina to New York City, are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene this weekend.

 

The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is a category three storm, packing winds of 115mph (185km/h), and expected to get stronger.

 

The US Navy has moved 36 ships out to sea to protect them and their port from high waves.

 

Irene, currently over the Bahamas, has already caused havoc in the Caribbean.

 

States of emergency have been declared in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and in eastern North Carolina, allowing greater co-ordination between state and US federal disaster management authorities.

 

"In this emergency I am activating all levels of state government to prepare for any situation that may be caused by Hurricane Irene," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

 

Evacuations

 

At 11:00 EDT (15:00 GMT) on Thursday, Irene was 105 miles north of Nassau, the Bahamian capital, and moving north north-west at 14mph, the US National Hurricane Center said.

 

The expanding hurricane is now 580 miles wide and forecast to reach category four ahead of its expected arrival in North Carolina on Saturday.

 

It is then expected to weaken as it moves up the east coast, diminishing in strength to a still-powerful category two storm on Sunday.

 

US authorities are warning of dangerous storm-surge seas, high waves and rip-tide currents along the south-eastern coast.

 

Amtrak, America's passenger rail service, announced it was cancelling train travel south of Washington on the east coast, and airlines predicted widespread disruptions to air travel at the weekend.

 

In Virginia, the US Navy ordered its Second Fleet to leave Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia on Thursday morning and head out to sea.

 

"The forecasted destructive winds and tidal surge is too great to keep the ships in port," said Vice-Adm Daniel Holloway, the fleet's commander.

 

"There is a much greater potential of not only the ships being damaged, but also the pier infrastructure.

 

"Having the ships under way also makes them ready and available to respond to any national tasking, including any needed disaster response efforts."

 

North Carolina emergency officials have extended evacuation orders to include more than 200,000 tourists and residents in three coastal counties.

 

Visitors to the region have been leaving the area, while residents are preparing to ride out the storm by stocking up on food, water and fuel.

 

"It wouldn't behove anyone to stay in these circumstances," Dare County emergency management spokeswoman Sharon Sullivan told the Associated Press.

 

"Businesses are boarding up. Nobody can guarantee their safety."

 

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie warned would-be holiday makers to avoid the shore, and urged people to evacuate ahead of the storm's anticipated arrival on Saturday night.

 

"We do not want folks going to the shore this weekend," he said. "If you're at the shore now... I'm urging folks to voluntarily leave."

 

In New York City, more than 1,000 miles north of the storm's location on Thursday morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged residents of low-lying and beach-front areas to find a place to stay on higher ground ahead of Irene's anticipated arrival on Sunday.

 

The New York Police Department, the nation's largest, moved 50 small boats to low-lying areas to be ready for rescue missions.

 

The city's social services agencies are doubling their efforts to ensure homeless New Yorkers have access to shelter.

 

Also, crews were clearing the city's drainage system to make room for the torrents of rain expected when the storm passes to the city's east.

 

The exact track of the hurricane is uncertain, but US emergency officials said the east coast from the Carolinas to New England was preparing for its impact.

 

"This is going to be a big storm. Just because it hits one area doesn't mean it's not going to cause damage further up the coast," said Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 

 

WILDFIRE IN NORTHERN GREECE OUT OF CONTROL (German text-TV / ZDFtext)

 

A massive wildfire in the Alexandroupolis region (Alexandroupolis is a north-eastern Greek port city) has got out of control on Thursday. A STATE OF EMERGENCY has been declared for the region.

 

So far the flames have destroyed 2,500 hectares of land, forests and agricultural areas.

 

Currently, Greece is hit by extreme drought and strong winds. Also in the next few days there will be a high risk of wildfires.

 

This summer 2 people have lost their lives.

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters on 26 August 2011

 

 

GREECE ASKING OTHER EU COUNTRIES FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FOREST FIRES

 

Forest fires in the Evros region at the border to Turkey made the Greek authorities declare state of EMERGENCY.

 

Greece has asked some European countries for assistance to fight a series of forest fires. Spain and France have sent aircraft to Greece today Friday.

 

In several parts of Greece there have been about 90 fires during the last 24 hours. So far up to 4,000 hectares of forest and land burned.

 

Sources: Swedish text-TV (SVT) and German text-TV (ZDFtext)

 

 

Text-TV from Sweden (SVT) and Germany (ZDFtext)

 

250,000 INHABITANTS EVACUATED IN NEW YORK

 

Millions have been recommended to seek shelter from hurricane Irene.

 

Inhabitants living in New York's lower-lying areas will be evacuated according to New York's mayor Michel Bloomberg. More than 250,000 are affected by the evacuation.

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo said measures before hurricane Irene are among the most comprehensive mobilisations ever done before a possible natural disaster.

 

As many as 55 million Americans on the US east coast have been recommended to seek shelter. Several states have declared state of EMERGENCY.

 

Tonight the strength of hurricane Irene was category 2.

 

 

FEAR OF HURRICANE IRENE HAS MADE NEW YORK DISRUPT TRAFFIC (SUBWAYS AND BUSSES)

 

US president Obama has declared state of EMERGENCY for NORTH CAROLINA.

 

The hurricane is expected Saturday on the south-eastern coast of the USA, and it is also expected to reach WASHINGTON and NEW YORK.

 

President Obama has returned to Washington due to the hurricane - he was on holiday, but decided to return due to the approaching hurricane.

 

 

Some of New York's bridges have also been closed (Danish text-TV / DR1)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS on 27 August 2011

 

 

HURRICANE IRENE HAS MADE LANDFALL IN NORTH CAROLINA AS A CATEGORY 1 STORM

 

Irene made landfall at Cape Lookout in North Carolina on the US east coast - according to USA's national hurricane centre.

 

Irene had wind speeds of up to 140 km per hour (compared to 150 km per hour earlier) and has been downgraded to a category-1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

 

Irene moves to the north / north-west with a speed of 22 km per hour.

 

The hurricane is feared to hit cities like PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK and BOSTON later Saturday.

 

The authorities in New York have ordered the evacuation of as many as 300,000 inhabitants from lower-lying areas in New York.

 

2 MILLION have been asked to go to a safer place.

 

Sources: Danish text-TV (DR1 and TV2 News) and Swedish text-TV - SVT

 

 

Hundred thousands of people are without electricity in the US state of North Carolina.

 

Wind speeds of up to 440 km per hour has caused substantial damage to power lines and the water supply - so governor Beverly Perdua told CNN. The governor knows of one death in relation to the hurricane.

 

According to ABC, more than 24,000 flights have been cancelled in the USA due to the hurricane.

 

According to CNN, 65 MILLION people could be affected by Irene on the US east coast. At least 10 US states have declared state of Emergency.

 

More than 100,000 members of the national guard are ready to be deployed.

 

German text-TV - ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 28 AUGUST 2011

 

 

Text-TV in Denmark (DR1 and TV2), Sweden (SVT) and Germany (ZDFtext)

 

Irene - a category one hurricane, later downgraded to a tropical storm - moved with 26 km per hour.

 

More than 1 million had fled the coastal areas in New Jersey before Irene arrived.

 

Almost 2 million were evacuated from New Jersey out of fear of flooding.

 

An "extremely dangerous" storm surge was threatening to raise the water level by up to 2.5m in coastal areas from Virginia to Massachusetts - according to USA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) which also warned of local tornadoes in New York's districts Brooklyn and Queens.

 

125 to 250 mm of rain was expected - locally even 380 mm of rain.

 

The capital WASHINGTON had more than 200m of rain, but has not suffered substantial damage according to Reuters (news agency). Some bridges have been closed, but the airports remained open.

 

The Danish meteorologist Tanev explained what happened. He had learned that the tide in New York was falling - and that coincided with the storm surge - they somehow offset each other meaning that this incident was by far not so bad as feared.

 

The costs in relation to the damage might total up to 12 billion dollars.

 

65 million people were affected by Irene from Washington to Boston.

 

The weakened tropical storm is now heading for Canada.

 

The hurricane - IRENE with a range / radius of 800 km - was downgraded to a tropical storm with wind speeds of 29 m per second

 

Flooding in lower-lying parts of New York

 

2m flooding flooding in some parts of Manhattan

 

So far 12 people dead of which at least 2 children. In Virgina an 11-year-old boy was hit by a tree that fell onto his home. Another victim was a 55-year-old windsurfer.

 

Over 4 million households and shops/businesses are without power / electricity in Virginia, South and North Carolina plus in Maryland

 

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

 

Danish TV2 News: TAIWAN HIT BY A TYPHOON. 35,000 soldiers deployed. Risk of high waves and mudslides.

 

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

 

German text-TV / ZDFtext: AT LEAST 7 KILLED BY TYPHOON IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

The typhoon "Nanmadol" has triggered landslides following enormous amounts of rain in the Philippines. At least 7 died on Saturday, and 6 are missing.

 

Almost 50,000 had fled the typhoon in the northern and eastern Philippines.

 

"Nanmadol" reached maximum speeds of up to 170 km per hour. Several bridges and roads were impassable. According to meteorologists, the typhoon will continue to sweep the Philippines until Tuesday.

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14705194

 

29 August 2011 Last updated at 08:08 GMT

 

TAIWAN drenched as Tropical Storm Nanmadol sweeps in

 

Torrential rains and fierce winds have hit south-east Taiwan causing extensive disruption, as Tropical Storm Nanmadol swept over the island.

 

Thousands of people were evacuated and there were reports of flooding and power cuts across the region.

 

Taiwan had deployed 35,000 troops to prepare for the storm's onslaught, but there were no reports of serious damage as the storm's intensity diminished.

 

It had already wrought havoc in the Philippines, leaving at least 12 dead. (DR1: at least 16 reported dead in the Philippines)

 

Tropical Storm Nanmadol - downgraded from a typhoon - brought winds of 135 km/h (84mph), but it largely skirted the island. Taipei escaped the brunt of the storm.

 

Nevertheless schools and government offices remained closed in many areas across the island. Many domestic flights were also cancelled.

 

About 30,000 households in southern and eastern Taiwan lost power, the AP news agency reports, while heavy rains closed many roads and bridges.

 

The region most severely affected by the storm was southern Pingtung county, where civilian defence teams had to rescue people from areas inundated by flash floods.

 

The storm is now headed for the south-eastern coast of China.

 

When the typhoon hit the PHILIPPINES last week, powerful winds and rain triggered floods and landslides, blocking major roads and destroying several bridges.

 

Among the victims there were two children killed when a rubbish tip wall collapsed in the northern mountain city of Baguio.

 

 

More from text-TV on Danish DR1: TAIWAN: THOUSANDS EVACUATED

"This is the worst typhoon hitting Taiwan since the typhoon Morakot in 2009 when about 700 people died" - Taiwan's Meteorological Institute.

 

 

Danish text-TV / DR1: HURRICANE IRENE KILLED 32 IN 9 US STATES

 

6 people were killed in each of the 3 states - New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania

 

4 people were killed in Virginia

 

3 were killed in New Jersey

 

2 were killed in each of the 3 states - Connecticut, Floridaa and Vermont

 

1 was killed in Maryland

 

So 18 + 4 + 3 + 6 + 1 = total of 32 people killed in the above 9 states.

 

5 of the deaths believed to be caused by hurricane Irene have not yet been confirmed by the authorities.

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14707826

 

29 August 2011 Last updated at 20:42 GMT

 

UGANDA landslides: Villagers killed in Bulambuli

 

At least 24 people have died after torrential rains triggered landslides in eastern Uganda, Red Cross workers say.

 

Residents fear 35 people may have been killed in Bulambuli district, but only 24 bodies have been recovered so far.

 

The village of Namwidisi has reportedly been completely submerged in mud.

 

Last year, hundreds died in a similar incident nearby. Officials said then they would relocate up to half a million people to avoid any repeat.

 

However, following some local opposition to the plans only a few thousand - those deemed most at risk - were actually moved.

 

The Minister of State for Relief Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru, said the government planned to push ahead with relocations to avoid more deaths.

 

"The government plans to procure land every year to relocate people who find themselves in this kind of situation," Mr Ecweru said.

 

Red Cross workers and villagers are digging in the mud hoping to find survivors and retrieve bodies in the area 270km (167 miles) north-east of the capital, Kampala.

 

A local chief, his wife and all of his eight children were killed, reported the Daily Monitor, a leading independent Ugandan newspaper.

 

Several roads in the region have been cut after heavy rains over the past month.

 

Following last year's disaster on the slopes of Mount Elgon, it was said that rapid population growth had led people to cut down trees on the mountains, making mudslides and flooding more common.

 

 

German text-TV / ZDFtext: 29 DEAD IN LANDSLIDES IN UGANDA

 

At the foot of the extinct volcano Elgon in East Uganda at least 29 died in landslides. After heavy rain during the night before Monday, around 20 houses were buried by landslides in 3 villages in Sisiya county. Also 6 children died according to Red Cross.

 

More than 300 people died in the same region after landslides in March 2010 when thousands became homeless.

 

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14711508

 

29 August 2011 Last updated at 23:14 GMT

 

IRENE: Death toll nears 40 as recovery begins

 

Tropical Storm Irene has killed 37 people, and authorities warn that flooding could continue for up to three days in northern US states.

 

More than five million people remain without power, while Vermont is reeling from its worst floods in many decades.

 

Insurance claims could top $7bn (£4.3bn), the Consumer Federation of America estimated.

 

The brunt of Irene's impact was felt by towns and suburbs from North Carolina to Vermont.

 

Driving rains and flood tides damaged homes and cut power to more than three million people in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York alone.

 

Further damage predicted

 

The storm passed over the east coast at the weekend and has now moved over the border into Canada's north-eastern provinces.

 

US authorities have warned the impact of the storm will be felt for some time and that certain rivers had yet to crest, with further flooding expected over the next two to three days.

 

In New York, which escaped the worst of Irene's fury, transport resumed on Monday.

 

But Governor Andrew Cuomo said dozens of bridges and roadways would need to be repaired and that some of the state's rivers had yet to crest from flooding.

 

"You're going see more damage before it starts to get better," he told reporters.

 

The states south of New York, where Irene struck at hurricane-strength on Saturday and Sunday have begun the arduous task of cleaning up, assessing the damage and counting the dead.

 

Vermont lashed

 

In the rural state of Vermont, the last hit before Irene passed into Canada, the storm washed away bridges and swamped the town of Brattleboro.

 

Touring the town, Governor Peter Shumlin criticised media coverage for focusing on New York, saying: "We're not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too."

 

Authorities asked people to avoid travelling in the state, and warned of significant flooding, damaged roads and downed power lines.

 

The storm caused a section of a ski lodge to collapse in the town of Killington, where as many as 300 people were stranded on Monday.

 

Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy said on Monday that in his state more homes were without power as a result of the storm than at any other time in the state's modern history.

 

In many areas electricity will not be restored for the rest of the week, Mr Malloy added.

 

The Associated Press news agency reports that 37 people have been killed in 11 states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods caused by the storm.

 

Claims for wind damage are expected to be one sixth of the total sum from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and claims for flood damage one tenth, the Consumer Federation of America estimated.

 

As it moved north-east, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm and then a post-tropical cyclone.

 

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said an increase in speed was expected over the next couple of days, with the centre of the storm moving over eastern Canada on Monday.

 

A tropical storm warning for Canada was likely to be lifted on Monday, it added.

 

Back to work

 

The storm, downgraded from a hurricane, passed New York on Sunday.

 

More than 300,000 people evacuated from low-lying areas in New York City are now able to return home.

 

New Yorkers were back to work on Monday, with the city's subway network and its three main airports all reopened.

 

More than half the commuter rail lines running into the city were suspended or delayed amid lingering flooding and mudslides.

 

The US air transport network began slowly clearing a backlog after cancellations at the weekend. More than 1,400 flights were cancelled on Monday, according to Flightaware.com, compared with 7,804 on Sunday.

 

Airports in New York were worst hit by cancellations, but Philadelphia and Boston airports were also affected.

 

In Philadelphia, officials lifted the city's first state of emergency since 1986. Several buildings were destroyed by the storm, but there were no deaths or injuries.

 

Further south in North Carolina, Governor Beverly Perdue said some areas of the state were still unreachable. TV footage showed fallen trees and power lines.

 

Officials in Virginia have begun the clear-up, but say the damage was not as bad as feared.

 

 

Storm tragedies

 

Celena Sylvestri, 20, drowned when her car filled with water on a flooded New Jersey road. She had called her boyfriend and 911 for help.

 

A New York man was electrocuted when he tried to rescue a child on a street with downed power lines.

 

Two men in Florida drowned as they tried to swim or surf rough waves.

 

Seven people were crushed by falling trees in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

 

 

German text-TV / ZDFtext: 250,000 CANADIANS WITHOUT POWER

 

Hurricane "Irene" has been downgraded to a "post-tropical cyclone" with 85 km per hour. It is currently sweeping the provinces Quebec and New Brunswick and is the cause for more than 250,000 people being without power. Also Montreal was without power for a short time.

 

No reports of injured.

 

At least 32 died in the US East coast. Damage estimated at 7 billion dollar.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 30 AUGUST 2011

 

Swedish Text-TV /SVT: COSTS FOR HURRICANE IRENE OVERRATED

 

The costs are lower than calculated according to the company Air Worldwide. The company estimates the damage at 3-6 billion dollar (compared to 10 billion dollar earlier).

 

Hurricane IRENE killed at least 46 in the USA and CANADA according to the authorities.

 

 

Swedish Text-TV /SVT: The earthquake in eastern USA may have shaken the nuclear power plant North Anne in Virginia more than it was designed to withstand, says The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the USA. Two reactors near the town of Mineral will not be restarted before experts have authorized the restart.

 

 

Swedish Text-TV / SVT: A MAGNITUDE 6.8 QUAKE OFF EAST TIMOR

 

An earthquake preliminarily measured at magnitude 6.8 occurred deep under the bottom of the sea offf East Timor.

 

No tsunami warning has been issued. There has been no report of casualties according to the news agency AP.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 31 AUGUST 2011

 

 

DOZENS OF COMMUNITIES ON THE US COAST CUT OFF AFTER HURRICANE "IRENE" (German text-TV / ZDFtext)

 

Thousands are still cut off after hurricane "Irene" in the USA. Dozens of communities must be provided with emergency rations via airdrops. They were cut off / trapped by the water masses after flooding caused by hurricane "Irene".

 

In Paterson in NEW JERSEY, hundreds were evacuated to a safe place after a river exceeded the high water mark by 4m.

 

Hurricane "Irene" swept the US east coast last week-end and reached CANADA monday, and it had weakened before reaching Canada.

 

Around 40 people were killed in the USA.

 

 

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED WEDNESDAY BY US PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THE US STATES OF NORTH CAROLINA AND NEW YORK (Swedish text-TV / SVT)

 

Hurricane "Irene" triggered flooding, and now President Obama has declared state of emergency. This means that federal funds can be released for emergency efforts in these two states.

 

Fire fighters and members of the natural guard are working hard to help thousands of trapped people in several states isolated by flooding since hurricane "Irene" that was accompanied by powerful and massive cloudbursts and strong winds.

 

 

Obama will visit Vermont and northern part of New York to see the damage for himself after hurricane "Irene". Just mentioned on Danish TV2 News Live

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 1 and 2 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

NIGERIA: AT LEAST 102 PEOPLE DROWNED WHEN A DAM BREACHED in the south-western part of Nigeria Wednesday.

 

Red Cross reports that the dam breached after CLOUDBURSTS and FLOODING.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

MAGNITUDE 6.8 EARTHQUAKE AT THE ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO IN ALASKA

 

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred at the island group (Aleutian archipelago) in Alaska in the USA.

 

A local tsunami warning was issued, but later lifted again.

 

The epicentre was 20 miles from the city of ATKA.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters

 

 

WILDFIRE IN LOS ANGELES THREATENING COMMUNITY (Swedish text-TV / SVT text)

 

Hundreds of firefighters are working hard to protect the community OAK HILLS (with 9,000 inhabitants) against a wildfire in a mountain pass outside Los Angeles. The fire was out of control on Friday. Thousands have been evacuated from the community.

 

 

 

TROPICAL STORM "LEE" BRINGS HEAVY RAIN TO LOUISIANA

 

6 years after the devastating hurricane "Katrina", the inhabitants prepare for the tropical storm "Lee" that will bring torrential rain to New Orleans - maybe 500mm. Authorities fear for massive floods triggered by "Lee". Thousands are without power. The mayor has declared a state of EMERGENCY.

 

State of Emergency also declared for Mississippi.

 

 

UN's OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, OCHA: FAMINE SPREADS IN SOMALIA

 

Despite international assistance, the famine in Somalia is at risk of spreading further according to UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. Almost every region in southern Somalia is threatened by famine. In a report it reads that "despite the escape/flight internally in Somalia is drawing to a close, the malnourishment and mortality rates are rising and contagious/infectuous diseases are spreading".

 

A famine was declared in July for the south-Somali regions Bakool and Lower Shabelle. It has spread to 3 additional areas / regions so that famine has been declared in 5 regions in southern Somalia.

 

Sources: Danish text-TV (TV2 News) + German text-TV (ZDFtext)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 4 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA HIT BY TROPICAL STORM "LEE"

 

A tropical storm named "Lee" hit the US state of LOUISIANA in the southern USA.

 

In New Orleans the dikes will be tested more than at any other time since the disastrous hurricane "Katrina" in 2005.

 

According to USA's National Hurricane Centre, the centre of the tropical storm "Lee" is 130km south-west of Morgan City in Louisiana with a wind speed of 72km per hour.

 

Enormous amounts of rain are expected. According to the forecasts, the next 2 days will see 51cm of rain in south-eastern Louisiana.

 

A flooding warning will be in force in New Orleans until Tuesday morning.

 

Sources: Danish text-TV (DR1 + TV2 News)

 

 

POWER FAILURES ON THE US COAST

 

Louisiana has experienced heavy rain and power failures in at least 35,000 households and businesses/shops.

 

In the Gulf of Mexico, 237 oil and gas (drilling) rigs and 23 derricks have been evacuated according to the authorities.

 

A state of emergency has been declared by the governors of LOUISIANA and MISSISSIPPI plus by the mayors of NEW ORLEANS and BILOXI City.

 

According to meteorologists, "Lee" will not reach the strength of a hurricane.

 

Source: German text-TV (ZDFtext)

 

 

 

VANUATU: POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE - MAGNITUDE 7.0 - IN THE PACIFIC

 

Yesterday, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the island of VANUATU in the South Pacific according to the US Geological Surveys (USGS).

 

The earthquake occurred 13 miles inside the earth's crust. No tsunami was generated / triggered according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).

 

The quake occurred about 35 miles south-east of Vanuatu's capital Port Vila.

 

Vanuaty is situated on the pacific ring of fire - a zone of strong, seismological activity in the ocean due to the friction between various plates in the earth's crust.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT text

 

 

AT LEAST 17 DEAD AND 43 MISSING IN JAPANESE TYPHOON "TALAS"

 

At least 17 were killed and 43 are missing since typhoon "Talas" swept over West Japan.

 

More than hundred people are injured.

 

The typhoon brought with it very strong winds and cloudbursts which caused flooding and triggered landslides.

 

One victim died as his car was hit by a big wave that filled his car.

 

In the prefecture of NARA, a building was washed away.

 

Yesterday, the typhoon moved over the islands of SHIKOKU and HONSHU, and today it moved slowly northwards.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT text and Danish TV2 News, Live

[nancyk58]

News in relation to natural disasters on 5 September 2011

 

 

OBAMA PROMISES TO HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS

 

The rivers that had overflowed their banks following hurricane "Irene" are now receding as US president Obama visited the disaster-hit NEW JERSEY.

 

New Jersey experienced the worst flooding for several decades, and Obama wanted to see the damage with his own eyes on Sunday and to follow the relief efforts when he visited the worker town Paterson which is one of the worst-hit after the massive storm.

 

"HELP US" was the text on a big sign held up by a group of children when Obama's motorcade passed them on the way to Paterson.

 

Source: Danish text-TV / TV2 News

 

 

TYPHOON COST AT LEAST 31 HUMAN LIVES IN WEST JAPAN

 

Hurricane "Talas" brought strong winds and cloudbursts that triggered flooding and landslides that destroyed houses and damaged roads and washed away cars.

 

At least 31 died, and more than 50 are reported missing, and thousands are trapped. The death toll is expected to rise.

 

One victim drowned when the water masses filled his car. Another man was killed when a landslide levelled his house.

 

Typhoon "Talas" is one of the most powerful hurricanes in recent years. It made landfall on the island of Shikoku and on the main island Honshu Saturday with winds up to 108km per hour.

 

Sources: Danish text-TV / TV2 news + Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

132 DIED IN MONSOON RAIN IN PAKISTAN

 

4-5 million people are affected by the monsoon rain which started 1 month ago.

 

At least 200,000 houses have been destroyed and 100,000 animals in the communities have died due to flooding.

 

The SINDH province is worst-hit.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

MORE THAN 1,000 HOUSES DESTROYED BY WILDFIRES IN TEXAS, USA

 

A series of wildfires have destroyed more than 1,000 houses in Texas. Currently there are more than 50 wildfires in Texas.

 

More than 1.5 million hectares of land in Texas have been scorched / parched by wildfires since November. Local drought has resulted in the wildfires. It has also brought about great financial losses for the agriculture industry in Texas.

 

Source: Danish text-TV (DR1)

 

 

FAMINE SPREADING IN SOMALIA

 

Now also Somalia's BAY region has been hit by famine, 750,000 additional people are at risk of starving to death in the next 4 months according to UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO. In the BAY region, 58% of children below the age of 5 suffers from acute malnourishment.

 

The number of Somalis in need of acute emergency aid has risen from 2.4 million people to 4 million people so far this year. 3 million of the needy are living in the southern parts of Somalia.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

 

HURRICANE KATIA GAINS STRENGTH

 

Hurricane KATIA which is currently somewhere between Bermuda and the Caribbean gains strength. It has been upgraded to a category 4 storm according to USA's national hurricane centre.

 

Winds are moving in speed of 60m per second south of Bermuda. The hurricane is far away from land. Meteorologists warn of enormous waves that may hit USA's east coast, Bermuda and parts of the Bahamas in the next couple of days.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

DEATH TOLL AFTER JAPANESE TYPHOON "TALAS" RISEN TO 46 PEOPLE

 

54 are missing after the ravaging of typhoon Talas in west Japan last week-end. Villages are still cut off. Today saw airlifts from helicopters to the trapped population.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 8 + 9 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

US PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN NEW YORK

 

This was done following flooding in the north-eastern USA that has cost at least 5 human lives. Hurricane IRENE hit the same area last week.

 

Apart from New York, the floods - triggered by torrential rain - have hit NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA and WASHINGTON D.C.

 

With a state of emergency declared, the federal authorities can implement coordinated measures to "save human lives and protect property and public health and security" according to a White House statement.

 

More than 100,000 people have been forced to leave their houses as a consequence of the floods.

 

Source: Danish text-TV (DR1 and TV 2 news)

 

 

TEXAS WILDFIRES: Thousands flee. 2 were killed. 5,000 homes were destroyed.

 

(TV2 News and Care2 Causes)

 

 

PAKISTAN ASKS THE UN FOR HUMANITARIAN AID AFTER HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS IN NORTHERN + CENTRAL PAKISTAN

 

Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari has asked the UN and secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon for humanitarian aid after massive flooding in the northern and central parts of Pakistan.

 

At least 130 have died so far - most of them were buried by mudslides. Several drowned after being caught by the water masses.

 

Worst hit are areas in the southern part of the SINDH province where vast agricultural areas are under water.

 

Source: Danish text-TV / TV2 news

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 9 and 10.9.11

 

 

3 PEOPLE DIED IN MASSIVE FLOODS IN BRAZIL

 

3 days of non-stop rain have resulted in massive floods in the southern Brazil.

 

At least 3 people died, and more than 65,000 people were forced to leave their homes.

 

On Friday, the authorities declared state of emergency in 32 cities in Santa Catarina - a state in Brazil.

 

Several cities are almost under water because of record-high water level in the river Itajai-Acu.

 

The authorities warn of landslides triggered by the cloudbursts.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14862800

 

9 September 2011 Last updated at 20:54 GMT

 

Magnitude-6.4 quake hits off Vancouver Island

 

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake has hit near Vancouver Island, Canada, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says.

 

The epicentre of the quake, which hit at 12:41 local time (19:41 GMT), was 289km (179 miles) west of Vancouver, the USGS reported.

 

The quake occurred a depth of 23km (14.3 miles), the USGS added. Eyewitness accounts say buildings swayed in central Vancouver.

 

However, no tsunami warning has been issued.

 

The closest major settlement, Port Hardy - with a population of over 5,000 - has received no reports of damage caused by the earthquake.

 

Police in Seattle, more than 200km away in the US state of Washington, said tremors were also felt there, but there were no reports of damage.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14863085

 

10 September 2011 Last updated at 01:02 GMT

 

Floods worsen in eastern US after Tropical Storm Lee

 

The Susquehanna River has reached record levels in Pennsylvania and New York, swollen by torrential rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee.

 

The president declared a state of emergency in both states, bringing federal aid to affected areas.

 

The river rose a record 42.6 feet (13m) in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Friday but later receded to 41.4 feet.

 

Flash flood warnings are still in effect for south-central Pennsylvania and have been issued for Maryland.

 

Tropical Storm Lee made landfall near New Orleans a week ago. It brought torrential rain to many areas as it swept north-east, killing at least seven people.

 

The storm prompted hundreds of thousands to leave their homes.

 

The Wilkes-Barre levee system withstood the cresting Susquhanna river, although much of the damage was concentrated in the surrounding areas.

 

A bridge partially collapsed, interstate highways were closed and water submerged low-lying homes in the wider area.

 

In Binghamton, New York, the river broke a record by spilling over retaining walls. Flooding closed a major highway near the city.

 

Some 20,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Binghamton.

 

Near Wilkes-Barre more than 75,000 people were told to leave.

 

Evacuation orders are expected to stay in place until Sunday or Monday.

 

Ninety miles down the river, crews put sandbags around the governor's mansion in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS on 11 September 2011

 

 

PAKISTAN ASKS FOR HELP AFTER TORRENTIAL RAIN TRIGGERING MASSIVE FLOODS IN THE SINDH PROVINCE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF PAKISTAN

 

Yesterday, on Saturday 10 September 2011 Pakistan's PM Yusuf Raza Gilani appealed to the international community to help Pakistan following several weeks of monsoon rain resulting in massive floods in the SINDH province in the southern parts of Pakistan.

 

More than 140 people have died. More than 4 million people have become homeless due to the water masses.

 

More than 13% of the very important cotton crops may be lost!

 

Last year, 1/5 - one fifth - of Pakistan was under water after floods.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

 

 

 

JAPAN HONOURS / COMMEMORATES THE VICTIMS OF THE QUAKE AND ENSUING TSUNAMI ON 11 MARCH 2011

 

In the town of MINAMISANRIKU that lost 900 people 6 months ago and in other communities in north-east Japan, several thousand people gathered to commemorate the victims of the quake and ensuing tsunami.

 

The quake ravaged 60% of the buildings in Minamisanriku, and the coastal areas of Minamisanriku were washed away by the 15m high tsunami.

 

A minute of silence is planned to be observed at 14:46 local time, i.e the time of the mega-earthquake.

 

The quake and ensuing tsunami killed 20,000 people. The nuclear power plant in Fukushima was damaged, and the core melted in several reactors.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT and German text-TV / ZDFtext