NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14877640

 

12 September 2011 Last updated at 12:36 GMT

 

Floods chaos worsens in Pakistan

 

More than 200 people have died and millions remain affected after two weeks of flooding in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, officials say.

 

The situation is worsening each day as water levels are rising because of poor drainage, the head of Pakistan's disaster management body said.

 

The UN has begun relief work but more rain has been forecast for the area.

 

Meanwhile, in India's eastern Orissa state more than one million have been displaced and 16 killed in floods.

 

About 2,600 villages have been submerged across 19 districts. The army and navy have been called in to help as many villagers are still stranded and dependent on food drops from helicopters.

 

'Huge' crop losses

 

Heavy monsoon rains have been battering South Asia for days but southern Pakistan has borne the brunt of the bad weather in recent weeks.

 

Almost one million houses there have been destroyed or damaged and floods have affected nearly 4.2m acres of land, the UN says.

 

The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef, said up to 2.5 million children had been affected.

 

One official said children and families, many of them still recovering from last year's devastating floods, are in urgent need of help before the situation worsens.

 

More rain has been forecast for the coming days.

 

"The situation in Sindh is already serious and there will be more flooding and more problems because of these rains," Arif Mehmood, a meteorology official, is quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.

 

In other developments:

 

Officials in Badin district are said to have issued a warning to people to vacate their homes and breaches in several canals have forced evacuations in Mirpurkhas town

 

After Pakistan's leaders appealed for international help, China pledged $4.7m (£2.96) for urgent humanitarian assistance

 

Pakistan's disaster management authority said it was working to quantify what it called the "huge" losses in cash crops such as sugar cane and cotton

 

Officials in Orissa, India, said at least 61,000 people had been evacuated to safety and relief and rescue operations had begun.

 

Several rivers, including the Mahanadi, are overflowing and flood waters have severed a number of key road links.

 

Some areas had been cut off due to breaches in river banks and embankments and helicopters were the only way to bring food and water to people stranded there, Mr Mohapatra said.

 

Orissa's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the authorities were taking all measures to bring aid to those affected, adding that the state might seek help from central government.

 

Officials said the situation was expected to get better soon as rains had stopped and the water level in the Mahanadi and other rivers had begun to recede.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS on 13 September 2011

 

MORE THAN 200 - AROUND 218 - KILLED IN FLOODS FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN PAKISTAN

 

Heavy monsoon rain has resulted in floods in southern Pakistan. At least 218 people have died so far.

 

As many as 5.3 million people inhabitants in the SINDH province are affected by floods according to the newspaper "The News" citing the disaster management authoritiy.

 

130,000 are currently in makeshift camps run by the government and private relief organizations that are providing the affected population with food and water.

 

Meteorologists have forecast heavy rains also for the next couple of days.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 14 +15 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

MAGNITUDE 6.2 QUAKE IN NORTH-EASTERN JAPAN / TALL BUILDINGS SWAYING IN TOKYO

 

The earthquake occurred Thursday afternoon local time. According to Japanese TV, there was no risk of any tsunami.

 

According to Tokyo's power company, the crippled nuclear power plant Fukushima has not suffered any damage. On 11 March 2011 it was seriously damaged by the quake and ensuing tsunami.

 

The disaster on 11 March caused damage to roads, harbours/ports, buildings etc. at more than 1,000 billion - according to an estimate made by the Japanese government.

 

Source: Danish text-TV (DR1 + TV2 news) and Swedish text-TV (SVT) on 15.9.11

 

 

FLOOD DISASTER THREATENS 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN AND HAS KILLED AT LEAST 226 PEOPLE

 

Soldiers and civilian rescuers have evacuated ten thousands out of the flooded areas in the SINDH province in south Pakistan one year after the flood of the century in Pakistan. At least 226 have died in the latest flood according to official information given.

 

It has rained non-stop for now 2 months in the region.

 

More than 5.3 million are affected by the floods.

 

1.2 houses are wholly or partly destroyed, and vast agricultural areas are submerged.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext on 14.9.11

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

UN INCREASES ITS PAKISTAN AID (source: Swedish text-TV - SVT)

 

WFP, UNs organization World Food Programme, intensifies its relief work and aid for the 5.4 million people in Pakistan hit by heavy rains and floods.

 

More districts will receive food aid such as leguminous fruit (pulse), salt, high-energy biscuits and tea.

 

WFP needs more donations and appeals to the international community to help / donate.

 

About 665,000 houses are damaged or destroyed in the floods. 1.8 million people are estimated to have fled.

 

 

 

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS DROWNING IN PAKISTAN (source: Danish text-TV / DR1)

 

Pakistan's PM, Yusuf Raza Gilani has cancelled his participation in the UN General Assembly in New York due to new massive floods affecting millions in southern Pakistan.

 

2011's floods have so far cost 230 human lives and destroyed 1.2 million houses. Thousands of cows have drowned. Power and water supplies are cut off in many areas.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

A POWERFUL - MAGNITUDE 6.8 or 6.9 - EARTHQUAKE COST 19 HUMAN LIVES IN NORTHERN INDIA AND IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY NEPAL

 

Several people were injured.

 

The epicentre was 6 miles north-east of Gangtok, the capital in the Indian Himalaya state of Sikkim. The power supply in Gangtok was cut off.

 

3 people - i.a. a man on motorbike and his 8-year-old daughter - died when a wall in the British embassy in Katmandu (Nepal's capital) collapsed.

 

The tremors could be felt far away: In the Indian cities of Gawakati and Calcutta plus in the neighbouring countries of Bhutan and Bangladesh.

 

The rescue operation was made difficult by heavy rains and by the darkness.

 

Several villages were cut off after landslides in particular in the border region between Sikkim and Nepal.

 

Sources: Text-TV in Sweden (SVT) and Germany (ZDFtext)

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News in relation to natural disasters

 

 

45 DEAD AFTER EARTHQUAKE IN HIMALAYA (Source: Text-TV in Denmnark (DR1 and TV2 News)

 

Rain and landslides have made it very difficult to search for survivors after Sunday's powerful earthquake in an isolated / remote region in the Himalayas stretching through India, Nepal and Tibet.

 

So far, 45 are reported dead according to the police.

 

A thick cover of clouds has prevented helicopters from flying over the affected areas, and the authorities say that the death toll might rise.

 

Rescue teams have not been able to reach the remote areas.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHERN INDIA: DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN TO AT LEAST 53

 

More than 40 have died in India alone. In Nepal 6 died whereas at least 7 died in Tibet.

 

Rain and power cuts made the rescue operations very difficult.

 

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake could be felt in Northern and eastern India, Tibet and Bangladesh.

 

The epicentre was close to India's border to Nepal.

 

Source: German text-TV /ZDFtext

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14967812

 

19 September 2011 Last updated at 13:25 GMT

 

Race to rescue quake victims in India, Nepal and Tibet

 

Rescue efforts are under way across isolated Himalayan regions in India, Nepal and Tibet after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the area on Sunday.

 

The epicentre was the northern Indian state of Sikkim, where the Indian government says that at least 35 people have been killed.

 

But the relief effort there has been hampered by rainfall and landslides. It is feared that the toll could rise.

 

Several earthquakes hit the region this year, but none caused major damage.

 

'People are panicky'

 

In Sikkim many buildings are reported to have collapsed while power supplies in many areas have been cut off.

 

Thick cloud and heavy rain is making it difficult for rescuers.

 

Indian military helicopters have been unable to take off and aid workers are stranded trying to reach the affected areas. Roads have been destroyed making it difficult to get to mountainous regions.

 

Officials say that thousands of soldiers helping the relief effort may not reach many areas until Tuesday because the high mountain passes are blocked.

 

"The situation doesn't look good," an official from the UN's disaster management team in Delhi told the Reuters news agency. "My feeling is the death toll and number of injured are going to increase."

 

A resident in Gangtok, capital of Sikkim, told the BBC over the telephone that there was panic in the immediate aftermath of the quake and that several buildings were either cracked or tilting to one side. Thousands of people spent the night outside their homes.

 

A British tourist in the city also spoke to the BBC and said that the quake was so violent that it knocked him over on the third floor of the hotel where he was staying.

 

It has been raining for four days without respite in parts of Sikkim and shops, businesses and offices in Gangtok are closed. Telephone communications to the affected areas is patchy.

 

Bhim Dahal, press advisor to Sikkim's chief minister, told the BBC that more than 150 have been injured and the main highway to the north of the state has been blocked.

 

However officials say that roads connecting the state to the rest of India - through the state of West Bengal - have now re-opened.

 

Mr Dahal said that the state government building and the police headquarters in Gangtok have been badly damaged and 1,000 houses have collapsed - with 100,000 damaged - across the state.

 

Significant damage

 

Tremors were felt in the north-eastern Indian states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura. They were also felt in regions of India: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi. Bangladesh and Bhutan also felt the quake.

 

One person was killed during a stampede as people panicked in a town in the eastern state of Bihar, and other deaths were reported near Darjeeling, in West Bengal.

 

Latest reports from Nepal say that at least six people have been killed with more than 100 injured. Officials say that significant structural damage has been caused to buildings in the east of the country.

 

In addition a landslide triggered by the quake has blocked transport along the highway which links the city of Dharan to the town of Dhankuta. Dharan was hit by a devastating quake 28 years ago.

 

In the capital Kathmandu, three people were killed when a wall at the British embassy collapsed. A budget debate in the country's parliament was suspended for 15 minutes when lawmakers fled the chamber as the entire building shook.

 

Just over the border in Tibet's Yadong County, just 40km (25 miles) from Sikkim, the earthquake caused hundreds of landslides disrupting traffic, telecommunications, power and water supplies.

 

Chinese authorities said relief supplies were on the way to the area.

 

SIKKIM: INDIA'S SECLUDED STATE

 

Became part of India in 1975

Has a population of 500,000 people

Renowned for its spectacular mountains and lakes

Economy largely dependent on tourism

 

 

TEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN JAPAN DEMONSTRATING AGAINST THE CONTINUED EXPLOITATION OF NUCLEAR POWER

 

Between 10,000 and 60,000 people were demonstrating for putting an end to exploitation of nuclear power after the quake and ensuing tsunami and crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

 

The new Prime Minister Yoshiniko Noda will come up with a new energy concept with focus on renewable energy.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

TYPHOON "ROKE": JAPAN RECOMMENDS EVACUATION OF 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE (German ZDFtext) / TYPHOON WARNING IN JAPAN (Swedish text-TV / SVT).

 

The Japanese authorities have asked 1.1 million people to seek safer ground / to prepare for evacuation before the arrival of typhoon "Roke" that is expected to make landfall on Wednesday 21 September.

 

There is a risk of a flood and mud avalanches according to Nagoya city administration (or community). Nagoya is situated in Aichi Prefecture - an area between Tokyo and Kyoto.

 

The centre of the typhoon was south-east of the island of Kyushu and moved towards the main island of Honshu.

 

A few days ago, West Japan was haunted by the tropical storm "Talas". At least 100 people died or were missing after that storm. The authorities warn against high water and waves.

 

 

 

GUATEMALA HIT BY 3 EARTHQUAKES killing at least 3 people on Monday 19 September within 90 minutes occurring in the region around Santa Rosa with production of sugar canes. Buildings in the capital, Guatemala City, 5 miles away were swaying during the quakes. Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

 

Danish TV2 News: FLOODING IN PAKISTAN: 220 dead in the water masses in Pakistan. 2 million have been forced to leave their homes.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS 21 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

TYPHOON ROKE HITS CENTRAL JAPAN

(source: Danish text-TV / DR1)

 

TYPHOON ROKE MAKES LANDFALL - SEVERAL DIED DUE TO THE TYPHOON(source: German text-TV / ZDFtext)

 

The typhoon Rohe has hit Japan with extremely strong winds (more than 160km per hour) and enormous amounts of rain.

 

The landfall took place close to Hamamatsu about 200 km south-west of TOKYO.

 

According to the authorities, at least 5 people have died. At least 4 of these have died in the area around Tokyo, and the population has been recommended to be very careful.

 

"we must be extremely careful due to the very heavy / torrential rain, the very strong winds and the high waves at sea", said Osamu Fujimura, spokesman for the Japanese government. Residential areas and roads/streets are flooded.

 

More than 1 million Japanese have been asked to seek safer ground.

 

The Japanese authorities warned the population on the main island of HONSHU against further flooding, stormy winds and landslides.

 

The 15th typhoon in the season has windspeeds of 200 km per hour in its centre.

 

Almost 300 flights have been cancelled, but also traffic by rail and highway has been troubled by the very bad weather.

 

The typhoon is heading north-east where the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant is situated!!

 

German text-TV / ZDFtext: The operators of nuclear power plants and workers at the crippled nuclear power plant Fukushima have prepared for the arrival of typhoon Roke. They will prevent radio-active radiation from dust raised by the very strong winds. And they will prevent penetration / entry of rain water into the damaged reactors.

 

Typhoon Roke has made Toyota stop production in 11 of 15 factories.

 

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

 

THE DEATH TOLL AFTER THE QUAKE IN THE INDIAN STATE OF SIKKIM IN NORTHERN INDIA APPROACHES 100 (source: Swedish text-TV / SVT)

 

At least 100 have died of which 65 in the Indian state of Sikkim. The death toll is feared to rise, as dead bodies are still buried in the debris.

 

 

Danish text-TV / DR1: PAKISTAN FLOOD

 

According to the UN, so far 248 people have died in this year's floods. About 824,000 have been forced to leave their homes in the SINDH province.

 

5.4 million people are affected.

 

 

More news in relation to Japan on 21 September 2011

 

JAPAN: TYPHOON LED TO WORRIES CONCERNING THE CRIPPLED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

 

The tropical storm resulted in reinforced alert at the quake- and tsunami-hit nuclear power plant. It was feared that the strong winds would result in a leak of contaminated (radio-active) water from the crippled Fukushima plant.

 

Initially more than 1 million people were warned that it might be necessary to evacuate them, but later the warning only covered 330,000 people that had to be evacuated.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

 

JAPAN: SEVERAL (6) DEATHS DUE TO TYPHOON (ROKE)

 

The typhoon Roke has ravaged in central Japan and caused AT LEAST 6 DEATHS.

 

The disaster-hit region around the crippled nuclear power plant Fukushima that was seriously affected by the quake and ensuing tsunami on 11 March and in other parts of the island state were ravaged by enormous amounts of rain and extremely strong winds.

 

Apparently, there was no major damage to the nuclear power plant. Thousands of houses and streets were under water, trees fell down, and there were power failures in the affected regions.

 

Thousands had been forced to flee the water masses.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15014228

 

22 September 2011 Last updated at 06:29 GMT

 

Deadly Typhoon Roke moves across Japan

 

The powerful typhoon that hit Japan on Wednesday has been making its way across the country, bringing floods, damage and deaths.

 

At least 10 people have been killed by Typhoon Roke, with many others missing or injured, local media reported.

 

The storm, which caused winds of 162km/h (100mph), passed near the capital Tokyo and the damaged nuclear power plant at Fukushima.

 

However, it now looks as if the storm is losing strength.

 

Roke, the second typhoon to hit Japan this month, made landfall on Wednesday afternoon (0500GMT) in Hamamatsu.

 

It then moved up the main island of Honshu before passing near Tokyo, where thousands of commuters were stranded with trains suspended.

 

More than 200 domestic flights were also cancelled, while at least 200,000 households in central Japan were without electricity late on Wednesday, according to the AP news agency.

 

The typhoon later headed up Japan's north-east coast past Fukushima.

 

Those killed included an elderly woman buried in a landslide in Iwate prefecture and a sewerage worker in the city of Sendai.

 

One of the main worries was that the heavy rain could force radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the sea.

 

The plant is run by Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), which said the storm had damaged security cameras but that it did not appear to have caused any water to overflow.

 

"We are seeing no problems so far," said Tepco spokesman Hiroki Kawamata.

 

Engineers have been using water to cool reactors since the 11 March earthquake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems - but this has led to an accumulation of contaminated waste water at the plant.

 

 

German text-TV ZDFtext: CLEAN-UP OPERATION AFTER DEADLY TYPHOON ROKE

 

One day after the deadly typhoon the clean-up operation has begun in Japan. At least 10 have died in the tropical storm - and 6 are regarded as missing.

 

The typhoon moved across the main island of HONSHU with the capital TOKYO with heavy rains and extremely strong winds.

 

Thousands of houses and streets/roads were under water.

 

The storm moved northwards. No further damage has been done to the crippled plant Fukushima that was destroyed by the quake and ensuing tsunami on 11 March 2011.

 

 

Swedish text-TV / SVT and Danish TV2 News: AT LEAST 10 DIED DUE TO THE RAVAGING OF TYPHOON ROKE IN JAPAN

 

One of the victims was a 101-year-old woman. Hundreds of people were injured, and 5 are missing according to the TV broadcaster NHK.

 

Typhoon Roke triggered FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES on the main island of HONSHU and the already disaster-hit north-eastern Japan.

 

The already crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima has allegedly made it through the typhoon without further damage.

 

On Thursday, the typhoon Roke lost strength over the island of Hokkaido in north-east Japan on its way away from Japan.

 

330,000 people had been warned of evacuation.

 

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15015765

 

22 September 2011 Last updated at 11:03 GMT

 

Pakistan floods: Authorities 'struggle to provide aid'

 

Authorities in Pakistan are still struggling to reach those worst affected by floods, weeks after devastating monsoon rains in the south.

 

Aid workers, who are also affected by flooding, have had difficulty getting help to the thousands stranded on higher ground, officials told the BBC

 

Officials say 8 million people have now been affected by the crisis. Last week they put the figure at about 6 million.

 

This year's floods in Sindh are thought to be worse than last year's deluge.

 

Caused by heavy monsoon rains, the floods have already killed 248 people and damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes across the province since they began last month.

 

Officials have also expressed fears about the rapid spread of disease and say that the problems affecting the southern province are only getting more acute.

 

Already, more than two million people are estimated to be suffering from flood-related diseases following the torrential rain, cases of malaria and diarrhoea are increasing, and at least 7,000 people are being treated for snake bites.

 

Thousands stranded

 

A basic shortage of manpower was the reason cited by officials for the problems in channelling aid to those most in need.

 

"People who have in the past worked as aid delivery workers are themselves in problems, their homes are inundated and families displaced," Irshad Bhatti, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), told BBC Urdu.

 

Mr Bhatti added that a lack of co-ordination between different agencies, officials and the military made matters worse.

 

"Aid delivery is being carried on by a number of aid agencies and the military, but there is no co-ordination, and as a result efforts of all these entities are proving ineffective," he said.

 

The logistical challenge is immense. Large areas are under water, officials say, and thousands of groups of people are taking shelter on patches of high ground in small groups.

 

Mr Bhatti says that officials have informed the government in Sindh province of the problem and highlighted the urgency of co-ordinating emergency relief.

 

Last week the United Nations launched an appeal for $365m (£231m) to help those in Sindh and neighbouring Balochistan province affected by the crisis.

 

The government response to the flooding has been heavily criticised.

 

Correspondents say that the perception is that for a second year running, the government has failed hundreds of thousands of flood victims.

 

About 23 of Sindh's 26 districts have been affected by floods.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

WORLD BANK QUADRUPLES ITS FAMINE AID

 

(source: German ZDFtext)

 

The World Bank has decided to quadruple its aid for the 13 million famine-stricken people in East Africa for the next 5 years: To a total of $1.9 billion dollars.

 

Due to the dramatic situation in the civil war-hit country Somalia, the aid agencies Oxfam, ADRA and World Vision also sounded the alarm. The next 3 months are very critical.

 

The German Development Minister, Dirk Niebel declares that enormous amounts are not decisive - with a view to the German contribution / donations of 151 million Euro for the needy in East Africa. He mentioned that in order for aid to be effective there should be the necessary structures available.

 

 

 

THAILAND RAVAGED BY FLOODS (source: Danish text-TV / TV2 News and Swedish text-TV / SVT)

 

 

The number of deaths in connection with the floods in Thailand and neighbouring country Cambodia continues to rise. According to the authorities in the two affected countries 158 DIED IN THAILAND since the middle of July due to the floods, whereas THE DEATH TOLL IN CAMBODIA IS 61 within the last 2 weeks.

 

"23 provinces in the northern and central part of Thailand are under water, and close to 2 million people are affected by floods and heavy rain", so the authorities in charge of disaster management in Thailand's capital BANGKOK.

 

Even Bangkok is threatened.

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http://www.gmanews.tv/story/233497/nation/pedring-makes-landfall-roars-across-luzon

 

Updated 11:12 a.m. - Typhoon "Pedring" (international name: Nesat) made landfall in northeastern Luzon early on Tuesday morning but PAGASA warned that nearly all of Luzon will be affected by the typhoon's heavy winds and rain. Classes up to the tertiary level have been suspended in Metro Manila and in some provinces. The typhoon is expected to exit Luzon by Tuesday afternoon.

 

Pedring makes landfall, roars across Luzon

 

09/27/2011 | 07:11 AM

 

(Updated 12:33 p.m.) - Typhoon Pedring (international name: Nesat) made landfall over the boundary of Aurora and Isabela provinces early Tuesday morning, knocking out power lines and causing outages in a wide area of Luzon, officials said.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that nearly all of Luzon will be affected by the typhoon's heavy winds and rain throughout the day. The weather bureau said provinces along the "trackline" of Pedring are Aurora, Quirino, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, and La Union provinces.

 

Before dawn Tuesday, Metro Manila experienced strong winds that knocked out power in some areas, felled trees, and scattered debris that have littered roads.

 

Along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, at least 10 trees were uprooted by fierce winds and blocked the normally busy thoroughfare early Tuesday, according to a report on GMA News TV's "News to Go."

 

PAGASA also issued a gale warning in other parts of the country. "Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of Visayas and the Western seaboard of Mindanao," it warned.

 

Govt work, classes suspended

 

Malacañang on Tuesday ordered the suspension of work in government offices in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon due to Typhoon Pedring.

 

"No government work today except for emergency and NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council) related services," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to reporters.

 

He said the suspension on government work covers the National Capital Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.

 

Classes in the tertiary level in all the areas that Lacierda mentioned were also suspended.

 

The Department of Education earlier suspended all classes from elementary to high school in Metro Manila on Tuesday.

 

According to PAGASA, the fast-moving typhoon is expected to be out of the land mass of Luzon by Tuesday afternoon. "Pedring" is expected to exit the country towards the South China Sea by Wednesday afternoon.

 

HS/VVP/YA, GMA News

 

 

RELATED STORIES ( can be read on http://www.gmanews.tv )

 

» 4 Luzon dams release water — PAGASA

» US Embassy to remain closed until Wednesday, Sept. 28

» Alarm Level 3 up in Marikina as river level breaches 17 meters

» Storm surge from Manila Bay floods Roxas Blvd, now impassable

» Typhoon Pedring slightly weakens, crosses NLuzon

» DOH on Code White alert for 'Pedring' casualties

 

 

Swedish text-tv / SVT: PHILIPPINES: At least 5 people have been washed away and are feared dead since typhoon NESAT hit the main island of LUZON.The capital MANILA is paralyzed. Schools and work places are closed.

 

The collective traffic has stopped, and the stock exchange trading has been suspended.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15070550

 

27 September 2011 Last updated at 06:59 GMT

 

Powerful Typhoon Nesat hits Philippines

 

A powerful typhoon has struck the Philippines, triggering floods, cutting power and halting work in the capital Manila.

 

Typhoon Nesat also forced the closure of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the US embassy in the city.

 

At least two people were killed and another four were reported missing.

 

As the storm approached, the authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 people in the central Albay province.

 

The typhoon is expected to continue across the country, before blowing across the South China Sea towards southern China on Thursday.

 

Fishermen missing

 

Nesat made landfall just before dawn on Tuesday in the eastern Isabela and Aurora provinces on the Pacific coast.

 

The storm - with wind gusts of up to 170km/h (105mph) - is now making its way across the island of Luzon, the BBC's Kate McGeown in the central Luzon province of Zambales reports.

 

Many roads have been flooded and flights cancelled, and local media are urging people against non-essential travel, our correspondent says.

 

In Manila, government offices, schools and universities were closed, as the authorities urged city residents to stay indoors.

 

Officials warn that low-lying areas of the capital are particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

 

There were reports of one landslide just north of Manila and another in central Luzon.

 

At least two people died, including a baby who fell into a swollen river in the central province of Catanduanes.

 

Four fishermen are missing, and more than 50 more have been rescued after their boats capsized in rough seas.

 

There are fears that the death toll would rise further.

 

Meteorologists also warn that huge - 12ft (4m) - waves are expected to slam the shoreline.

 

"The damage is expected to be big," Richard Gordon, head of the Philippines National Red Cross, told the BBC.

 

"Right now there are already power interruptions. Our agriculture will again be damaged here. And certainly in terms of infrastructure there are some bridges that are flooded right now."

 

Earlier, about 110,000 people in several towns of the Albay province were ordered to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.

 

"We can't manage typhoons, but we can manage their effects," provincial Governor Joey Salceda was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

 

The Philippines suffers frequent typhoons - but Nesat is thought to be the largest this year.

 

"This typhoon is very wide in diameter, about 650km, and covers most of Luzon," Graciano Yumul, who supervises the country's weather bureau, told reporters.

 

It comes almost exactly two years after Typhoon Ketsana killed more than 400 people.

 

 

Swedish text-TV/SVT + Danish TV2 News: Death toll risen to 7 in the Philippines including 3 children.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

From the free papers 24 Timer + MetroXpress on 27.9.11: AIDS-hit threatened by hunger / famine disaster AFRICA

 

From 2004 to 2009 the number of deaths as a consequence of hiv/AIDS has fallen from 2.1 million people each year to 1.8 million people. But now there is a risk of the famine in East Africa and in the Horn of Africa pushing the development in the opposite direction. 500,000 AIDS-hit are right now in danger of dying because the famine has made it more difficult to get access to the life-prolonging medicine - so according to Red Cross.

 

 

Swedish text-TV / SVT:

 

MORE THAN 35 DIED AND FIFTY-SOMETHING MISSING IN THE PHILIPPINES FOLLOWING TYPHOON NECAT

 

The typhoon is approaching HONGKONG and MACAU where the authorities, markets, businesses / shops and schools are closed up to the arrival of the typhoon.

 

From there the typhoon will move on across southern CHINA.

 

 

Swedish text-TV / SVT:

 

MORE THAN 100 DEAD IN THE WORST FLOODS FOR DECADES IN CAMBODIA

 

The MEKONG River overflowed its banks after massive rains this fall.

 

About 17,000 families were forced to leave their homes.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 29 + 30 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

 

MASSIVE FLOODS KILL AT LEAST 38 IN ORISSA, INDIA

 

Due to massive floods several thousands of people are living without shelter in Orissa that is an eastern region in India - according to the news agency Reuters. The floods are the worst in the region for 30 years. So far at least 38 people have lost their lives due to the natural disaster.

 

Source: http://www.metroXpress.dk on 29 September 2011.

 

 

THAILAND'S ARMY DEPLOYED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WATER MASSES

 

Around 10,000 Thai soldiers have been deployed.

 

188 people have died in the water masses that are flooding vast agricultural areas.

 

The tourist destination CHIANG MAI in the northern part of the country is flooded, and the authorities are working hard to prevent central BANGKOK from being flooded.

 

The soldiers have 500 vehicles and around 100 boats at their disposal in their attempt to help victims in the bloated rivers.

 

Source: Danish text-TV on DR1 (seen on 30 September 2011)

 

 

HAITI: 600,000 are still living in camps after the devastating earthquake, and journalists & reporters coming back can notice a deterioration in the camps during the past year.

 

Source: Danish TV2 News, live on 30 September 2011

 

 

FUKUSHIMA REACTORS BELOW THE BOILING POINT (Source: Ritzau/Reuters - MetroXpress on 29.9.11)

 

The temperature in all 3 nuclear reactors damaged in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima in March 2011 is now below the boiling point, i.e. less than 100 degrees Celsius. This enables a cold shut-down of the nuclear power plant at the end of 2011.

 

A devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March 2011 knocked down the nuclear power plant's cooling system and resulted in a melt-down of 3 of the plant's 6 reactors. Since then the management of the plant has tried to cool down the reactors and bring the temperatures down below the boiling point.

 

Technically, a cold shut-down of the reactors means that the temperatures are - and continue to be - below 95 degrees Celsius so that the reactors are not overheated. A cold shut-down of the reactors is a precondition for the return of the evacuated inhabitants.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 1 OCTOBER 2011

 

JAPAN: The Japanese authorities had selected 21 areas where measurements were made. PLUTONIUM was measured in 6 of the areas!!

 

Source: Danish TV2 News live

 

 

The PHILIPPINES HIT BY THE SECOND TYPHOON IN ONE WEEK

 

With winds up to 195 km per hour, typhoon Nalgae made landfall in the northern Philippines this Saturday.

 

The tropical storm hit the border region of the provinces Isabela and Aurora.

 

400,000 have been forced to leave their homes.

 

Last Tuesday, typhoon Nesat made landfall in the same region. About 1 million people were affected by the typhoon. At least 50 died, and 31 are still missing.

 

The damage to the infrastructure and in the agriculture has been estimated at at least 100 million Euro.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 News live + German text-TV / ZDFtext

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15135050

 

1 October 2011 Last updated at 14:26 GMT

 

Typhoon Nalgae batters flood-hit Philippines

 

The second typhoon to hit the Philippines in less than a week has been battering northern areas, with ferocious winds and heavy rain.

 

At least one person died as Typhoon Nalgae hit regions still waterlogged by the earlier storm Nesat, and officials warned of flash floods and landslides.

 

Nalgae crossed the main island Luzon, but weakened as it headed west toward the South China Sea.

 

The Philippines suffers frequent typhoons, about 20 a year.

 

Nalgae made landfall in the eastern province of Isabela on Saturday. At it strongest it was packing winds of up to 195km/h (121mph).

 

It is now expected to gather strength again over the sea as it moves towards China's Hainan island and Vietnam. Heavy wind and rain is expected in the Philippines for another 48 hours.

 

A woman was killed in Mountain Province when a landslide engulfed the minibus she was travelling in. A second person was injured.

 

In Isabela, power supplies were switched off as winds toppled trees and blew off roofs.

 

In Luna township, a bus carrying 30 people turned over in a rice field but no-one was hurt, the Associated Press reported.

 

Misery compounded

 

The storm is taking much the same route as Typhoon Nesat which hit the country on Tuesday leaving at least 52 people dead and thousands homeless.

 

Tens of thousands of residents have moved into evacuation centres or the homes of relatives or friends, but many areas are still heavily flooded from the earlier storm.

 

With more heavy rains expected, officials fear that floods resulting from the second hurricane will compound the misery of more than a million people still trapped after the first.

 

Several towns remain submerged, and the BBC's Kate McGeown in Manila says many residents are still on rooftops awaiting rescue from the first storm.

 

"I hope the [Nesat] floods will wash out to Manila Bay before the [Nalgae] runoff hits the area," disaster management chief Benito Ramos said, quoted by AFP news agency.

 

"If the latter catches up to the former, there won't be any rooftops left to see above the floodwaters."

 

Provincial disaster official Raul Agustin told ABS-CBN television that marooned flood victims were often reluctant to leave for fear their homes would be looted.

 

"When we send out rescue teams to help them, they ask for food instead," he said.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 2 OCTOBER 2011

 

 

MASSIVE FLOODS IN THAILAND where several rivers have overflown their banks have affected 2 million people. Foods are thrown down from aircrafts (airlifts).

 

Source TV2 news, live

 

 

THE WATER LEVEL OF THE FILIPPINO ISLAND OF LUZON IS RISING after cloudbursts in connection with typhoon Nalgae that ravaged the Philippines Saturday.

 

Rescue teams are trying to evacuate ten thousands of people trapped in their homes / on rooftops.

 

Source: Swedish SVT

 

 

AT LEAST 55 DEAD AFTER 2 TYPHOONS THAT HIT THE PHILIPPINES IN ONE WEEK

 

Nesat that hit the Philippines last Tuesday cost 52 human lives, whereas Nalgae cost 3 human lives. Nalgae moved across the South Chinese Sea and is now heading towards China.

 

Source: German ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 3 OCTOBER 2011

 

 

MANY PLACES / AREAS CUT OFF AFTER THE 2 RECENT TYPHOONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

Numerous people are still trapped on the rooftops of their houses after the tropical storms in the Philippines. Some areas remain cut off from the outside world. The authorities asked for additional rescue teams and more boats to save the trapped people. At least 15 villages remain cut off.

 

The emergency shelters are already full and there is no space to house additional families.

 

Within a couple of days the Philippines were hit by 2 typhoons - Nesat and Nalgae. At least 59 human lives were lost in connection with the ravaging of the 2 typhoons .

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 5 OCTOBER 2011

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15178872

 

5 October 2011 Last updated at 07:14 GMT

 

Thailand floods: More than 200 die, temples threatened

 

More than 200 people have died in monsoon flooding in Thailand since mid-July, officials say.

 

More heavy rain is forecast, reservoirs are at full capacity and rivers are overflowing.

 

Water has inundated 58 of Thailand's 77 provinces, with 25 still badly hit.

 

Huge tracts of farmland are submerged, threatening this year's rice crop.

 

Water is also lapping at the walls of Buddhist temples in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, a World Heritage Site.

 

Officials are struggling to drain water from one of the ancient city's best known temples, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, after a makeshift dyke on the Chao Phraya river was breached.

 

'Worst ever seen'

 

The northern city of Chiang Mai, another popular tourist destination, has also been badly hit by floods.

 

The capital Bangkok has so far been spared, but it is under threat as Tropical Storm Nalgae is expected to bring more rain in the next few days.

 

Flooding has affected more than two million people.

 

"The current flood situation is the worst that I have ever seen and it will last until the first week of November," said independent flood expert Royal Chitradon, the director of Thai Integrated Water Resource Management.

 

The government says it will draft a plan to improve prevention measures and warning systems.

 

But the BBC's Southeast Asia correspondent, Rachel Harvey, says the new administration is under pressure to get a grip on the current crisis before planning for the future.

 

 

From other news sites

 

Al Jazeera : Hundreds killed in Southeast Asia floods

 

France24: THAILAND: Three-quarters of Thailand affected by worst floods in decades

 

Indian Express : 'Worst' Thai floods kill 224, threaten Bangkok

 

NEWS.com.au : Thailand's 'worst' floods leave 224 dead

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15180670

 

5 October 2011 Last updated at 11:08 GMT

 

Somali famine: Red Cross aid push in Islamist areas

 

The International Red Cross has begun a huge distribution of aid to one million people in famine zones in Somalia controlled by Islamist militants.

 

A continuous operation will transport the food in lorries from the coast deep into areas controlled by al-Shabab.

 

The Red Cross says it is its biggest such operation anywhere in the world.

 

It followed difficult negotiations with al-Shabab, which banned many Western aid agencies from its territory two years ago.

 

The UN has declared a famine in six regions of Somalia - mostly in al-Shabab areas.

 

Tens of thousands of people have fled to seek food aid in the capital, Mogadishu, which is ruled by the weak interim government, or in camps in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.

 

Last month, al-Shabab began moving people out of displacement camps, run by local charities in Islamist areas, and returning them to their villages.

 

The group said it wanted people to prepare land ahead of the rainy season.

 

But no crops are expected to be ready for harvest until January and aid workers said a massive food distribution operation would be needed for months to come.

 

The Red Cross has worked in Somali for 20 years - and it said it used this track record to negotiate access with the Islamists.

 

Red Cross spokesman Geoff Loane told the BBC its operation was a three-month distribution, targeting vulnerable people like farmers and pastoralists.

 

The organisation will also provide seed to nearly a quarter of a million farmers, so that they can begin to recover from the region's worse drought in 60 years.

 

"If all goes well, hopefully these farmers will be able to harvest some crops by the end of the year," Mr Loane said.

 

BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says if the transportation operation is successful it could break the back of the famine.

 

The UN estimates that in September half of the four million Somalis in need received food aid. With the Red Cross reaching another million or more, it could mean that three-quarters of the victims of the famine and drought will be helped.

 

To this should be added money sent home by the Somali diaspora and aid from Islamic organisations, our analyst says.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 7 OCTOBER 2011

 

 

SO FAR 237 DEATHS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MASSIVE FLOODS IN THAILAND

 

At least 2.4 million people are affected by the floods that are caused by heavy rains.

 

The situation worsened / deteriorated further because the authorities were forced to open several dams / levees that would have collapsed if they were not opened.

 

About 10% of Thailand's fields are under water.

 

Source: Danish text-TV / TV2 News

 

 

 

VIETNAM: THE WORST FLOODS FOR 10 YEARS IN VIETNAM HAVE COST 18 HUMAN LIVES OF WHICH 16 CHILDREN

 

More than 56,000 homes are flooded in the MEKONG delta.

 

A large part of the rice crops is threatened.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 9 OCTOBER 2011

 

 

THE DEATH TOLL IN THE PHILIPPINES AFTER THE RAVAGING OF 2 TYPHOONS HAS RISEN TO 101

 

27 are reported missing.

 

Nesat hit the Philippines on the 27 September followed by Nalgae on 1 October.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

 

 

 

CHILDREN'S HEALTH TO BE CHECKED IN FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN

 

The Japanese authorities in the prefecture of Fukushima which was hit by the nuclear accident in connection with a powerful earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March have initiated health checks of 360,000 Japanese children.

 

The checks follow fear of radiation from the crippled nuclear power plant having affected their thyroid gland.

 

Many parents have insisted on the children being checked.

 

A new inofficial report shows that 10 of 130 evacuated children from Fukushima have hormonal or other deviances in the thyroid gland.

 

 

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 10 OCTOBER 2011

 

FLOOD DEATH TOLL IN PAKISTAN IS 270

 

So far 270 have died in floods following heavy monsoon rain in Pakistan.

 

The capital Bangkok is threatened.

 

Source: Danish TV2 News Live +

 

 

DEATH TOLL RISES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

 

The massive floods in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have cost about 500 human lives according to compilations today / Monday. Vast areas with in particular rice have been damaged.

 

In THAILAND the death toll is 269, and the military has been deployed in the rescue work. Intensive work is on-going in order to protect the capital Bangkok with its many million citizens.

 

The death toll in CAMBODIA is 207 of which 83 are children.

 

VIETNAM has reported 24 deaths in floods by the MEKONG river.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

 

 

 

MAGNITUDE 5.5 EARTHQUAKE OFF JAPAN's NORTH-EAST COAST

 

Skyscrapers in Tokyo were swaying, but no damage has been reported, and no tsunami alert was issued.

 

The crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima was not affected by the quake according to operator Tepco.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 11 OCTOBER 2011

 

BANGKOK AT RISK OF FLOODING

 

The Thai authorities are working hard to build flood walls around Bangkok's suburbs to protect the capital from the worst flooding for 50 years - flooding caused by torrential rain for 2 months. Bangkok is lying 2 m above sea level and is now at risk of flooding caused by overflown reservoirs in the north. Some suburbs are already under water. It is expected that river Chao Praya will overflow its banks in the next couple of days.

 

Precautionary measures have been taken and are being intensified at Bangkok's international airport.

 

So far at least 269 have died since the end of July. The flooding has affected central and northern Thailand.

 

Sources: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text and German text-TV / ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 13 OCTOBER 2011

 

2 FEMALE AID WORKERS FROM MÉDÉCINS SANS FRONTIÈRES KIDNAPPED IN KENYA ON THE BORDER TO SOMALIA

 

They were kidnapped when sitting in a vehicle - their chauffeur was injured, but his condition is stable. The 2 female aidworkers were kidnapped by armed men and abducted from the DADAAB refugee camp that houses more than 400,000 refugees.

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN BALI

 

(source: Danish text-TV / DR1 + Swedish text-TV / SVT text)

 

A powerful earthquake (magnitude 6.2 according to SVT text evening or 6.8 according to DR1 early in the day) hit the Indonesian tourist island of BALI this morning central European time.

 

More than 40 people are reported injured according to RED CROSS, but there are no reports of deaths. Among the injured - some with broken legs or head damages - are more than 10 foreign tourists.

 

The epicentre of the quake was at a sea depth of 6 miles, 13 miles or 130 km south of Bali's capital city Denpasar and the tourist town of Kuta.

 

The duration of the tremors was several minutes causing citizens to panic.

 

The quake could be felt in nearby islands and in the regions of Surabaya, Blitar and Malang on the main island of JAVA.

 

 

GUATEMALA: AT LEAST 19 DEATHS FOLLOWING CLOUDBURSTS that hit CENTRAL AMERICA last week. Guatemala was worst hit.

 

Also EL SALVADOR and NICARAGUA were hit.

 

40,000 have become homeless.

 

Source: Swedish SVT text

 

 

THAILAND: BANGKOK PREPARES FOR THREATENING FLOODING

 

Canals are dug around Thailand's capital, Bangkok for protection of the capital against the worst flooding for decades. The canals are to ensure that more water can run away from the flooded provinces.

 

Since the end of July, flooding and landslides in Thailand have cost at least 283 human lives.

 

One third - 1/3 - of Thailand has been declared disaster-hit area by the government. This enables the authorities to distribute the aid faster and to handle the budgets better.

 

Also the neighbouring countries CAMBODIA and VIETNAM are fighting floods.

 

 

 

HIGH RADIO-ACTIVITY IN TOKYO: RADIOACTIVITY MEASURED AT JUST BELOW ( = ALMOST) EVACUATION LIMIT !! :o

 

According to media reports, the Japanese authorities have measured radiation almost at the limit for evacuations in Japan's capital, Tokyo. In one area in western Tokyo, the radiation was 3.35 micro-sievert per hour according to broadcaster NHK. That corresponds to an annual value of 17.6 milli-sievert. According to rules in force, an evacuation of the area would be required from a level of 20 milli-sievert per year. It is not yet clear whether the radiation comes from the Fukushima nuclear power plant 220 km away.

 

Source: German text-TV ZDFtext (citing broadcaster NHK)

 

 

AGAIN POSSIBLE FOR JAPANESE TO EAT RICE FROM FUKUSHIMA

 

JAPAN. Rice harvested near the crippled nuclear power plant Fukushima can again be sent to the Japanese consumers after tests have shown radioactive contents below the limit. So the news agency Kyodo.

 

In September the radioactive Cesium was found in rice harvested 56 km from the nuclear power plant. Here it was found that the harvested rice was above the limit. Therefore the area to be examined for radioactivity was tenfolded.

 

The Fukushima power plant was destroyed by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March 2011.

 

Source: The Danish free paper 24 Timer (24 Hours) / News agencies RITZAU + REUTERS citing the news agency Kyodo

[ellendianelopo]

I heard that one about Japan this morning... and I am really concerned about the workers that were kidnapped... thanks for the informations Nancy!