NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 9 MAY 2012

 

 

FLOOD CHAOS IN INDONESIA

 

At least 4 people have drowned and 10 are missing after a river in the eastern part of Indonesia burst its banks following heavy rain. This has been announced by a government spokesman in the capital of Jakarta.

 

At least 15 are injured, and there is substantial damage in 11 villages.

 

The flooding occurred in the province of North Maluku close to the volcano Mount Gamalama that erupted in December.

 

Massive rain during the night generated a flood that hit the villages early in the morning, says the spokesman Sutopo Nugrohho.

 

 

Source: Danish text-Tv on DR (dr.dk/nyheder)

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 10 MAY, 2012

 

MASSIVE FAMINE THREATENING THE SAHEL REGION

 

The food supply situation is getting worse in the Sahel region.

 

4 million people are estimated to be threatened by acute food shortage.

 

More than 15 million people are affected by the food crisis according to OXFAM.

 

The flow of refugees increases the problem.

 

According to the UN organization OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) so far 337,000 people have left the northern part of MALI which has been affected by civil war since March.

 

Source: German text-tv / ZDFtext

 

 

ADDITIONAL GERMAN AID FOR THE STARVING IN THE SAHEL ZONE

 

Due to the famine in the African SAHEL zone, the German government has increased its aid donations by 15 million EURO. The additional amount is to go to i.a. food and support to refugees.

 

The German aid to the millions of starving in the Sahel zone now amounts to more than 37 million EURO.

 

According to aid agencies the food crisis covers in particular TCHAD, MALI, MAURETANIA and NIGER.

 

A total of 15 million people are affected by the food shortage.

 

Source: German text-tv / ZDFtext

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 MAY, 2012

 

37 DEATHS IN CONNECTION WITH CLOUDBURSTS IN CHINA

 

Heavy rain with hail / cloudbursts in northwestern China killed 37 people. 19 people are missing in the mountainous region in the province of GANSU.

 

Very bad weather in the region of Minxian made streets impassable, caused houses to collapse, and fields were destroyed - all this according to the news agency Xinhua.

 

About 30,000 people had to be evacuated according to the local authorities.

 

More bad weather forecast for this week-end in the province of Gansu.

 

Source: German text-TV / ARDtext

 

 

MINDESTENS 40 DEATHS IN CONNECTION WITH BAD WEATHER IN CHINA

 

Storm with hail and heavy rainfalls in the northwestern China caused at least 40 human lives, 90 injured. 18 people remain missing.

 

Several houses collapsed, streets were impassable, electricity and telefon connections were cut in the Minxian region in the province of Gansu.

 

30,000 inhabitants had to be evacuated to emergency shelters after the bad weather.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 13 MAY, 2012

 

 

Georgia: At least 5 incl. 2 children died in flooding caused by heavy rain in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. Water surged through the quarter Ortachala resulting in substantial material damage.

 

Source: Swedish text-Tv / SVT text

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 17 MAY 2012

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18111384

 

17 May 2012 Last updated at 23:00 GMT

 

Niger malnutrition crisis spreading - Save the Children

 

Months of warnings have failed to prevent a serious malnutrition crisis in Niger, Save the Children has said.

 

The charity says more than six million people are affected there, and about 18 million in the Sahel region.

 

It says a rising number of children now need medical treatment for the condition, as the crisis is reaching a new level of seriousness.

 

Save the Children's warning comes as this weekend's G8 meeting is expected to discuss food security.

 

The charity says it is now moving to an emergency response.

 

Alarm bells have been ringing about Niger - with its record of severe food crises - since late last year after erratic rainfall threatened crop shortages and food prices also soared, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge says.

 

Aid organisations have been trying to mitigate the impact.

 

Overall, 25% of the world's children are suffering from chronic malnutrition - over and above the current food emergencies in Africa, Save the Children says.

 

It has expressed its concern that G8 leaders will shy away from making bold commitments to ensure not only that children have enough to eat, but also the right kind of food and nutrition.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 MAY, 2012

 

 

4 DEATHS IN CONNECTION WITH MAGNITUDE 5.9 EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

The quake occurred at 4.04 Central European Time in the Region Emilia-Romagna.

 

Its epicentre was close to the community Finale Emilia around 35 km (22 miles) north of the city of Bologna.

 

The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km - its duration was a little more than 20 seconds.

 

It was felt across a huge sway of northern Italy, including the cities of Bologna, Ferrara, Verona and Mantua. Thousands of people ran into the street in panic in Bologna, Modena, Verona and Ferrara.

 

3 nightshift workers in 2 factories in the provinces of Modena and Ferrara died. Several people - at least 50 - are injured, and several houses and church steeples were severely damaged.

 

Several aftershocks occurred. The most powerful was measured at magnitude 5.1. People were evacuated out of buildings in Bologna and Milan (Milano / Mayland).

 

Several people are trapped in collapsed buildings.

 

One roof has collapsed in Sermide - a small town between Bologna and Verona.

 

Sources: German text-TV (ZDFtext + ARDtéxt) + Danish text-TV (DR text-TV / TV2 News) + Norwegian NRK + Swedish text-TV (TV4 Text + SVT Text) + BBC World

 

Link to BBC World News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18135898

 

EDIT: The death toll has now risen to 6.

 

The death toll may rise further as many people have been trapped inside collapsed buildings.

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EVACUATIONS AFTER MAGNITUDE 6.0 EARTHQUAKE IN BOLOGNA, ITALY

 

The quake magnitude has been upgraded to 6.0 (most news media earlier stated it at 5.9).

 

At least 6 people have died including 4 nightshift workers found dead in an old industry hall that had collapsed.

 

A five-year-old girl could be rescued from the rubble of her home in the Modena province.

 

More than 3,000 people were evacuated in the area, and 500 in Ferrara were urged to let themselves be evacuated.

 

The damage to historic buildings and monuments was substantial. Among the old damaged buildings were churches and church steeples and the castle Estense in San Felice Sul Panaro from 13 hundred and something (13xx).

 

There have been several powerful aftershocks today.

 

 

Cheese destroyed amounting to more than 250 million euro

 

More than 300,000 parmesan cheese and the grana padano cheese destroyed by the earthquake.

 

Representatives for the cheese industry estimate the value of the destroyed cheese to be more than 250 million euro.

 

The quake was very powerful and destroyed many buildings used for storage of thousands of tons of cheese.

 

It is a big disaster, but thank God that not one among the cheese producers died.

 

Source (of this update): SVT Text (Swedish)

 

German ZDFtext with more about the earthquake in Italy:

 

In the afternoon North Italy was shaken by af powerful, magnitude 5.1 aftershock. (The initial earthquake Saturday morning had a magnitude of 6.0).

 

Part of the city hall of Sant'Agostino di Ferrara that had been damaged by the quake Sunday morning was destroyed.

 

A church steeple in the town of Finale Emilia collapsed, and a firefighter was injured in that connection. The National Institute for Geophysics stated the aftershock magnitude at 5.1.

 

San Felice and Finale Emilia suffered the worst damage.

 

 

 

FLASH FLOODS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN

 

Massive flash floods have cost 22 human lives in Northern Afghanistan. Thousand houses have been destroyed. Around 50 people remain missing according to the spokesman for the governor.

 

The water has flooded the town of Sar-i-Pul in the province of the same name on Saturday evening.

 

"The deadly flood that occurred after 2 hours of heavy rain, turned 80 per cent of the town into ruin", said the spokesman Abdul Farid Ferungi.

 

The floods have also destroyed vast areas of farmland, and he has appealed to Kabul for emergency aid.

 

Source: German text-TV (ARDtext)

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

 

AFTERSHOCKS IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

A series of minor aftershocks occurred in the north-Italian region of Emilia Romagna early Monday morning.

 

There is no casualties, but many buildings have suffered additional damage.

 

The most powerful aftershocks were measured at 3.6 and 3.7, but the majority of them were only minor tremors. More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded after the magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurring in the night between Saturday and Sunday.

 

So far 7 people have died as a consequence of that earthquake.

 

More than 3,000 people have spent the night in tents, sports facilities or they stayed with family or friends.

 

Source: TV2 News (Danish text-TV)

 

 

21 May 2012 Last updated at 05:13 GMT http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18140543

 

Italy quake homeless in emergency shelters

 

Thousands of people left homeless by a powerful earthquake in northern Italy have spent the night in shelters as aftershocks continue to hit the region.

 

At least seven people died and more than 50 were injured when the quake struck in the early hours of Sunday.

 

The magnitude six tremor, centred north of Bologna, destroyed or badly damaged many historic buildings.

 

Italian officials say the priority is to find safe accommodation for an estimate 3,000 displaced people.

 

Civil protection officials in the town of Finale Emilia organised the setting up of tents on a football pitch to accommodate hundreds of residents.

 

Many had seen their homes destroyed but others were simply too afraid to return home.

 

A 5.1 magnitude aftershock struck Sunday afternoon, destroying several buildings already weakened.

 

One firefighter was seriously injured after falling from a wall in Finale Emilia.

 

The original earthquake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10km just after 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Sunday.

 

Its epicentre was between the towns of Finale Emilia, San Felice sul Panaro and Sermide, about 35km (20 miles) north of the city of Bologna.

 

It was felt across a large swathe of northern Italy, as far away as the cities of Milan and Venice.

 

Italian TV showed many historic buildings reduced to rubble. Cars lay crushed under fallen masonry.

 

The roof of a recently renovated sixteenth-century chapel in San Carlo, near the city of Ferrara, collapsed, leaving statues of angels exposed to the elements.

 

Architect Claudio Fabbri told AFP news agency that the restoration had taken eight years, adding despondently: "Now there's nothing left to do."

 

Firefighters in Finale Emilia rescued a five-year-old girl from the rubble of a house after a series of phone calls between a local woman, a family friend in New York and emergency services, AP news agency reported.

 

Officials said that warehouses storing more than 300,000 wheels of Parmesan and Grana Padano cheese - with an estimated value of more than 250m euros (£200m; $320m) - also collapsed.

 

Stefano Berni, head of a consortium that protects the Grana Padano designation, told Ansa news agency: "It's a very heavy loss, but there have been no casualties, which is a great relief."

 

The victims included two workers at a ceramics factory in Sant'Agostino.

 

Another person - believed to be a Moroccan national - died in Ponte Rodoni do Bondeno and a worker in Tecopress di Dosso died when the roof of a foundry collapsed, local media reported.

 

Three women were also reported to have died as a result of heart attacks or other illness induced by the tremors.

 

Sunday's earthquake was the worst to hit Italy since the L'Aquila tremor killed nearly 300 people in 2009.

 

Northern Italy is frequently rocked by minor earthquakes, but the country is well-prepared to deal with them, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says.

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

The earthquake kills at least six and damages buildings across Emilia Romagna region

 

San Felice sul Panaro: 15th-Century castle severely damaged

 

Finale Emilia: bell tower collapses, crushing cars

 

Sant'Agostino: ceramic factory destroyed, killing two employees

 

Tecopress di Dosso: worker dies when a factory roof collapses

 

Buonacompra: historic church destroyed

 

Tremor also felt in cities of Bologna, Modena, Ferrara, Rovigo, Verona, Mantua, Milan and Venice

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 22 MAY, 2012

 

 

EARTHQUAKE SHAKES BULGARIA

 

A powerful earthquake occurred last night (i.e. the night between Monday 21.5.12 and Tuesday 22.5.12) in Bulgaria. The magnitude was 5.8 (5.9).

 

The epicentre was 23 km north-west of SOFIA according to Bulgaria's Seismological Institute. People living in tall houses in the capital woke up due to the earthquake.

 

A woman died after a heart attack triggered by the earthquake.

 

In Sofia and nearby Pernik several buildings cracked. Several tiles fell down from the roofs and hit / damaged cars. There were temporary electricity and internet cuts.

 

Substantial damage did not occur.

 

A number of aftershocks were recorded, but they did not cause substantial damage (nor did the earthquake itself).

 

It was the most powerful earthquake in the Sofia area for about 100 years.

 

It could be felt in all the western parts of the country as well as in the south-west of Bulgaria.

 

Sources: Danish text-tv (DR) plus German text-TV (ARDtext)

 

 

AFTERSHOCKS SHAKE NORTHERN ITALY

 

The earthquake-area in North Italy continues to experience aftershocks. Thousands of people in the Emilia Romagna region spent the second night in emergency shelters.

 

Italy's Prime Minister Monti visited the earthquake area Sant'Agostino and the also hard-hit Finale Emilia and pledged aid to the people there.

 

The damage is expected to amount to billions.

 

The peasants alone claim damage at up to 200 million Euro.

 

300,000 Laibe Parmesan chesse were destroyed.

 

Source: German text-TV (ARDtext)

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50 HUMAN LIVES LOST IN AFGHANISTAN DUE TO MASSIVE FLOODING AFTER HEAVY RAIN IN THE SARI PUL PROVINCE IN THE NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN

 

According to the governor of the province, Abdul Jabar Haqbeen the rain started pouring down at the beginning of the week and became heavier and heavier.

 

The rain made streams burst their banks, and many thousand have become homeless, says the governor.

 

Almost 60,000 have lost their home, and more than 250 villages are affected by flooding, says Abdul Jabar Haqbeen.

 

Danish Text-TV - DR.dk on 26.5.12

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 28 MAY, 2012

 

 

MAGNITUDE 6.4 EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHERN ARGENTINA

 

A powerful earthquake har shaken the northern part of Argentina. According to US Geological Survey (USGS) the magnitude was 6.4.

 

The epicentre was about 120 km from the town of Santiago des Estero.

 

No reports of casualties or material damage.

 

Source: German text-TV (ZDFtext) + Swedish SVT Text

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 29 MAY, 2012

 

10 KILLED BY EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

A powerful earthquake north of Parma has shaken northern Italy. So far there are reports of 10 deaths and several persons injured or buried under rubble.

 

The quake has been measured at 5.8 on the Richter scale.

 

A little more than one week ago another earthquake killed 7 and destroyed hundreds of houses.

 

According to Reuters citing Italian media the quake has made several buildings collapse in the area where many buildings were already damaged after last week's quake.

 

Source: Danish TV2 news (both live plus text-tv)

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18247659

 

29 May 2012 Last updated at 11:05 GMT

 

New earthquake shakes northern Italy - '10 dead'

 

A new earthquake has struck the Emilia region in northern Italy, killing at least 10 people and burying several others under rubble, local media say.

 

All the deaths were in the Modena area.

 

Three were killed when an industrial shed collapsed in Medolla, three died in San Felice, two in Mirandola and one in Cavezzo.

 

Tuesday's tremor, estimated at 5.8 magnitude, hit the same region where a quake 10 days ago killed seven people and destroyed many buildings.

 

Milan and Bologna were shaken too.

 

Some people fled from buildings when they felt the tremor, which struck at 09:03 local time (07:03 GMT).

 

Italian media report that some buildings damaged by the larger 20 May quake have now collapsed in Mirandola, Finale Emilia, San Felice and Cavezzo. That quake measured 6.0.

 

Many historic buildings now lie in ruins in Cavezzo, where the roof of a church, damaged by the earlier quake, collapsed on Tuesday, Il Messaggero news website reports.

 

Calls to emergency services have overloaded the telephone network in some areas, causing a system blackout. Train services have been halted in some parts of northern Italy.

 

Office workers were evacuated in Bologna and there are reports of evacuations elsewhere too.

 

The quake struck 40km north of Bologna and 60km east of Parma, at a depth of 9.6km (six miles), Reuters reports. It was felt as far away as Venice, the Austrian border and Piedmont.

 

The 20 May quake destroyed many centuries-old buildings of cultural value. It was the worst to hit Italy since the L'Aquila tremor that killed nearly 300 people in 2009.

 

About 7,000 people who fled that quake are still living in dozens of tented camps erected in public spaces, AFP news agency reports. There have been many tremors in the region since that quake.

 

More to be read on BBC World News.

 

 

Update from TV2 News: Death toll risen to at least 15 and 10 missing.

 

Update from TV2 News Wednesday morning central European time: At least 16 killed and 350 injured. 10 aftershocks tonight. 14,000 temporarily homeless.

 

 

NEW AFTERSHOCKS IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

Several aftershocks struck the north-eastern Italy during the night between Tuesday and today (Wednesday 30.12) after yesterday's earthquake that has cost at least 17 human lives and hundreds of injured.

 

Inhabitants in the northern and central Italy were frightened due to the aftershocks that also struck Pisa and Venice (Venedig).

 

Many victims were trapped in masses of rubble, but most of them have been rescued according to the authorities.

 

Today a 65-year-old woman was rescued from the rubble of a 5-storey-house in Cavezzo.

 

National mourning has been declared in Italy and is to be in force until Monday.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

 

 

EDIT: From Danish newspaper on 31 May, 2012 in relation to earthquake + tremors in northern Italy:

 

DEATH TOLL RISEN TO 17 AFTER THE POWERFUL AFTERSHOCK TUESDAY MORNING IN NORTHERN ITALY

 

Rescuers found another dead body in the rubble of a collapsed factory in the MEDOLLA area bringing the death toll up to 17. Several remain trapped in the rubble, and 350 people are injured - according to CNN.

 

9 days ago an earthquake hit the same area killing 7 people.

 

The many thousands still living in tents after the latest earthquake panicked due to the magnitude 5.8 aftershock that occurred around 9 o'clock.

 

The number of people forced to leave their homes has doubled and amounts to 14,000 after Tuesdays aftershock.

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 3 & 4 JUNE, 2012

 

 

A NEW AFTERSHOCKS IN THE REGION EMILIA IN NORTHERN ITALY - THE MOST POWERFUL MEASURED AT MAGNITUDE 5.1

 

After the powerful quakes on 20 and 29 May causing 24 deaths, the region was shaken by a number of aftershocks - the most powerful was measured at magnitude 5.1 according to the Institute for Geophysics and could be felt in Bologna and Milano aka. Mayland. Noone was injured this time according to Italian media.

 

Some buildings - damaged by the previous quakes / aftershocks - collapsed.

 

This morning the 24 quake victims were remembered with one minute of silence.

 

Sources: Danish, Swedish and German text-TV on 3 / 4 June 2012

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE - MAGNITUDE 6.1 - IN INDONESIA

 

A powerful earthquake has shaken Indonesia. The tall buildings in the capital of JAKARTA swayed. No report of casualties or material damage.

 

According to Indonesian authorities the quake had a magnitude of 6.1.

 

The epicentre was 121 km off the coast of the province of Jawa Barat (West-Java) / 12 mile south-west of Sukabumi on western Java.

 

The tremor occurred at a depth of about 24 km.

 

Source: German text-TV (ARDtext) / Swedish text-TV (SVT Text)

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 5 JUNE, 2012

 

AT LEAST 35 DEATHS IN INDIA DUE TO EXTREME HEAT WITH TEMPS ABOVE 45 DEGREES CELSIUS

 

Since the end of last week, 13 people have died in the east-Indian state of the West Bengal as a result of temperatures up to 46 degrees Celsius.

 

22 have died in the district of Krishna in the southern Indian state of Andhra Predesh - also due to extreme heat for almost 2 weeks. Most of the dead were farm workers or homeless.

 

In many regions, the temperatures have been 4-5 degrees higher than normal.

 

Source: German text-TV / ARD Text

 

 

CENTRAL PARTS OF BRAZIL HIT BY MASSIVE DROUGHT

 

This is the worst drought for 50 years according to President Dilma Rousseff. The authorities plan to send 3,300 tanks with water to the affected areas.

 

A state of emergency has been declared in 800 villages/towns/cities.

 

Livestock has died in the worst drought-stricken areas.

 

Source: Norwegian text-TV / NRK

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NEWS ON SUNDAY, 10 JUNE 2012

 

EARTHQUAKE HITTING GREECE AND TURKEY

 

The south-western part of Turkey and several Greek islands have been shaken by an earthquake early this afternoon at 13:44.

 

The epicentre was in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea between Rhodos and the Turkish resort town / seaside resort Ölüdeniz near the Mugla province on the Turkish south-western coast. It was about 70 km east of Rhodos.

 

According to the Geodynamic Institute in Athens the quake had a magnitude of 5.8.

 

According to the Turkish earthquake centre Kandilli the magnitude was 6.1 - so the private TV broadcaster NTV.

 

There have been 2 aftershocks of magnitudes 6.0 and 4.9.

 

No information has been given as to any casualties or any major material damage in the 2 countries.

 

The tremors frightened people around the Turkish coastal town Fethiye. The duration of the tremors was several seconds according to the inhabitants.

 

On 23 October 2011, a powerful earthquake shook the eastern part of Turkey killing more than 500 people.

 

Sources: Danish and German text-TV (Danish TV2 TTV and German ZDFtext + ARDtext)

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News in relation to natural disasters on 10 / 11 June 2012

 

 

MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN THE US STATES OF COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, UTAH AND WYOMING

 

Massive fires are ravaging since Saturday in the western US-state of COLORADO. At least one person is missing and hundreds of people have been evacuated.

 

The fire started near Fort Collins about 100 km northwest of Denver.

 

Last night the areas with ongoing wildfires covered an area of more than 5,600 hectares. 18 houses have been destroyed or damaged. Hundreds were taken to emergency shelters.

 

Fires are also ravaging in the US states of New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

 

Fears of winds hampering the extinguishing of the fires.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text + German text-TV (ARDtext)

 

 

60 INJURED BY MAGNITUDE 6.0 EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY

 

This was reported by the health authorities in the MUGLA province. No deaths triggered by the earthquake. Some people had heart attacks and 6 were injured when they jumped out of windows in panic.

 

The epicentre was between the island of Rhodos and the Turkish coast.

 

According to Turkisk information, the aftershocks reached magnitudes of 4.9 and 4.7. The tremors could be felt in Izmir in the northern part of Turkey and in Antalya in the east of Turkey.

 

Source: German text-TV / ARDtext on 11.6.12

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MASSIVE WILDFIRE IN THE US STATES OF COLORADO HAS COST 1 HUMAN LIFE AND 400 FIREFIGHTERS ARE IN ACTION.

 

Hundreds of people have been taken to emergency shelters.

 

The areas with ongoing wildfires covers an area of 93 squarekilometres.

 

At least 18 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

 

Source: Danish TV2 News live on 12.6.12

 

 

80 AFGHANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY EARTHQUAKES

 

2 earthquakes - magnitudes 5.4 and 5.7 on the Richter scale - have triggered a disaster in a mountainous area in the northern Afghanistan.

 

The 2 quakes occurred in the night between Sunday and Monday local time and triggered landslides that buried an entire village - Mullah Jan - consisting of more than 25 houses in the Burka district in the Baghlan province about 200 km norths of the capital Kabul. The governor in this province reported this.

 

Tuesday morning, the authorities had got an overview of the disaster.

 

80 human lives have been lost according to the police chief in the province - his name is Asadullah Sherzad.

 

Source: Danish text-TV / DR News + TV2 news live

 

 

2 THIRDS OF THE POPULATION IN NORTH KOREA = 16 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM HUNGER ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

Almost every third child aged less than 5 is malnourished according to a report made by 6 UN organizations that are operating in the Stalinistic country.

 

Lack of access to water and poor sanitary conditions have often resulted in cases of diarrhoea.

 

According to the report, the health system can only cover 30% of the most important treatments with medication and the hospitals are often experiencing power cuts.

 

The UN needs about 160 million Euro in order to help the population. So far the UN disposes of 40% of this amount.

 

(Source: German text-TV / ARDtext + Swedish text-TV / SVT Text)

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 17 JUNE 2012

 

 

WILDFIRES AROUND GREECE's CAPITAL, ATHENS

 

It is not only election day in Greece. Hundreds of firefighters are fighting wildfires / forest fires that broke out this week-end around Athens.

 

Neighbouring countries are assisting Greece with water from the water - the so-called water bombs - FRANCE, ITALY and CROATIA.

 

Strong winds made the firefighting efforts in i.a. Keratea very difficult.

 

The wildfires are this season's first ones.

 

Every year in the dry summer months, Greece is experiencing forest / wild fires.

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MAGNITUDE 6.4 EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN ON SUNDAY 17 JUNE, 2012

 

A powerful earthquake - magnitude 6.4 - shook Japan late Sunday evening central European time.

 

The quake had its epicentre 115 km south-east of Morioka that is located at the Japanese coast. It occurred at a depth of 31 km.

 

There is no information on any casualties or substantial material damage.

 

Japan is often experiencing earthquakes because Japan is situated on the 40,000 km long Ring of Fire where the ocean - and continental plates meet.

 

Source: Danish text-TV on the main public service channel DR

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 19 JUNE, 2012

 

 

US WILDFIRES: SITUATION HAS NOT IMPROVED

 

The situation does not seem to improve in the US-state of COLORADO which is experiencing devastating wildfires. An imminent heatwave worsens the situation.

 

Hundreds of firefighters - more than 1700 - are in action in the affected region in the central Midwest. So CNN.

 

The flames have so far destroyed more than 180 houses. Thousands have had to flee the fires.

 

The wildfires are the third-largest in Colorado's history.

 

Source: German text-TV / ARDtext

 

 

AT LEAST 4 DEAD AND 7 PEOPLE BURIED AFTER LANDSLIDES IN EAST INDONESIA

 

A mud avalanche in East Indonesia has killed at least 4 people and buried 7 other. 5 houses were trapped / buried after very heavy rain (cloudburst) that triggered landslides in the MALUKU province - according to the authorities.

 

In the community SOYA, 4 dead bodies were recovered including that of a 4-year-old boy. 2 injured people were brought to the hospital.

 

The rescuers continued the search for 7 missing who had been trapped / buried under mud and rocks.

 

sourcde: German text-TV / ARDtext

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 19 JUNE, 2012

 

 

TYPHOON SWEEPING ACROSS JAPAN

 

Today (19.6.12), a powerful typhoon swept across Japan carrying with it enormous amounts of rain and strong winds.

 

The typhoon reached the mainland at 10 o'clock central European time and is expected to pass the capital TOKYO during this afternoon.

 

In the town/city of ISHINOMAKI that was hit by last year's earthquake and ensuing tsunami, 10,000 people have been urged to seek higher ground.

 

In Nachikatsuura, southwest of Tokyo, the inhabitants have been urged to leave their homes.

 

All air traffic has been affected - 400 flights were cancelled.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 JUNE, 2012

 

TYPHOON IN NORTH-EAST JAPAN RESULTED IN 1 DEAD AND AT LEAST 50 INJURED

 

1 person has been killed and more than 50 injured by a powerful typhoon.

 

The typhoon named "GUCHOL" passed during the night i.a. the northeastern part of Japan and thus the region that was destroyed in March 2011 by the mega-powerful earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

 

The state-run broadcaster NHK reported that there have been injured people in about 15 prefectures.

 

More than 150,000 people were urged to seek higher and safer ground.

 

Hundreds of domestic flights were cancelled.

 

Source: ZDFtext (German text-TV on channel 2)

[nancyk58]

On 23.6.12 I read about a magnitude 5.9 (originally measured at magnitude 6.4) earthquake somewhere in Indonesia (I have forgotten exactly where in the vast state of many, many islands).

 

No casualties / no substantial damage reported. (German ARDtext)

 

 

GREECE: Saturday evening, Greece was struck by a magnitude 4.8 earthquake. The epicentre was near the town of Aigio on the Peloponnesos peninsula. It could be felt in Athens 150 km away to the west. No reports of material damage.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

 

 

2 DEATHS AND 100 INJURED IN CONNECTION WITH EARTHQUAKE IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN PARTS OF CHINA

 

2 persons lost their lives and about 100 were injured in an earthquake that struck the south-western parts of China Sunday afternoon (local time).

 

So it is reported by the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua.

 

The magnitude of the quake was 5.7 according to Xinhua.

 

In March 2012 there was an earthquake in the same area - 25 lost their lives.

 

China's worst earthquake in recent years was in the Sichuan province in May 2008 when nearly 90,000 lost their lives.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK text-TV on 24.6.12

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS (EARTHQUAKE / LANDSLIDES / WILDFIRES) ON 25 JUNE 2012

 

 

VILLAGES BURIED BY A LANDSLIDE IN UGANDA, AFRICA - 18 KILLED

 

A landslide in the Elgon mountain in eastern Uganda close to the Kenyan border is said to have buried several villages, and many people have lost their lives. So far at least 18 people have been reported dead.

 

After heavy rain, avalanches of mud buried 2 small villages. In that connection at least 15 houses were buried according to Red Cross. Initially, it was not clear how many people were inside the houses at the time of the landslide. Around 160 people lived in the villages of Namaga and Bunakasal in the Bududa region.

 

According to local sources, as many as 100 people may be missing - buried by the landslide.

 

At least 3 villages are reported to have been levelled by the landslide that hit the Bumwalukani area - so the news agency Reuters reports.

 

In 2010, 200 people were killed by a landslide.

 

Source: Norwegian text-TV / NRK

 

 

EARTHQUAKE HITS TURKISK HOLIDAY RESORT

 

A powerful earthquake - magnitude 5.3 - has shaken Turkey's coast facing the Aegean Sea, but there are no reports of casualties.

 

The area is popular with Scandinvians on holiday.

 

The quake occurred Monday afternoon local time and had a magnitude of 5.3 according to the seismological institute in Kandilli in western Turkey.

 

2 weeks ago, 57 people were injured when a quake shook the Fehiye area which was also hit in connection with this Monday's quake.

 

This quake could also be felt on the Greek island, Rhodos.

 

Source: Norwegian text-TV / NRK

 

 

11,000 EVACUATED FROM WILDFIRES IN COLORADO, USA

 

An explosive wildfire has forced 11,000 people away from their homes in the US state of Colorado. Also tourists had to be evacuated.

 

The fire treatens to spread to the popular area, Pikes Peak which is one of the most visited forest and mountain areas in the USA.

 

TV pictures taken from Pikes Peak 4,300 m above sea level show thick smoke columns.

 

The fire in this area is one of about 20 wildfires ravaging different areas in the USA.

 

Winds and high temperatures worsen the situation.

 

The flames destroyed about 2 dozen houses near the Rocky Mountain National Park last week-end.

 

A wildfire that had come out of control close to the city of Colorado Springs covered about 8 square km on Sunday, 24 June.

 

Colorado experiences its worst fire season for 10 years.

 

Source: Norwegian text-TV / NRK + German text-TV (ARDtext) + Danish text-TV

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 26 JUNE, 2012

 

TROPICAL STORM IS THREATENING FLORIDA - STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED

 

Florida has been declared in a state of EMERGENCY by the US state's governor Rick Scott.

 

This means access to federal financial funds to cover costs caused by the natural disaster and evacuation plans can be adopted.

 

The tropical storm DEBBY is coming ashore from the Gulf of Mexico with heavy rain and very strong winds that have already caused power cuts and sudden flooding.

 

At least 1 woman has died in a tornado. So local media report. The authorities warn of the risk of additional tornadoes in the area.

 

Meteorologists expect the storm to go ashore tomorrow in the northern part of the US state.

 

Source: Danish text-TV / TV2 News

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18587921

 

Tropical Storm Debby has drenched the US state of Florida, bringing flooding to parts and leading the governor to declare a statewide emergency.

 

The knot of low pressure has lingered over the Gulf of Mexico since Sunday evening, bringing a constant barrage of wind and rain.

 

State officials say at least 35,000 homes and businesses have had power knocked out by the extreme weather.

 

One woman died on Sunday after the storm whipped up tornadoes.

 

Crews in Alabama are meanwhile continuing their search for a South Carolina man missing off the coast.

 

The man, who was on holiday with his family, disappeared on Sunday afternoon in rough surf off Orange Beach.

 

Residents in low-lying neighbourhoods near the Florida coast have been advised to leave their homes, while the bridge to St George Island - a popular vacation spot - has been closed off.

 

Forecasters said the storm's maximum sustained winds weakened slightly to 45 mph (75 km/h), from 50mph, but say its strength is not likely to change over coming days.

 

Still, the US National Hurricane Center expects the storm to dump an additional 6-12in (15-30cm) over the area in the next few days.

 

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a statewide emergency on Monday. The move allows the state to suspend certain laws as it responds to the storm, and access federal funds.

 

"Because of the broad impact of Tropical Storm Debby, virtually every county in Florida could be affected," Mr Scott said in a statement.

 

MORE THAN 100 MISSING AFTER LANDSLIDES IN UGANDA

 

More than 100 people are missing after a landslide in the eastern part of Uganda. About 30 people have been found dead.

 

Heavy rain triggered the landslide on Monday (25.6) when 2 villages were buried in mud. The villages are situated at the ELGON mountain close to the Kenyan border.

 

More than 200 pople have become homeless.

 

The rescue efforts continued today, but the chances of finding any survivors are now very little.

 

"The landslide was massive and buried 29 houses", says Stephen Mallinga who is the minister in charge.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text