NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 31 OCTOBER + 1 NOVEMBER 2012

 

 

NEWS FROM DANISH dr.dk/news:

 

DEATH TOLL AFTER HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO RISE / IT HAS CLAIMED A TOTAL OF 154 HUMAN LIVES OF WHICH AT LEAST 88 IN THE 15 US STATES AND 34 IN NEW YORK

 

The number of people falling victim to the super storm Sandy's ravaging in the metropole New York has risen again - from 24 to 38 according to the New York police.

 

That means that there are at least 88 victims in the 15 US states hit by the storm - so US media report.

 

If CANADA (1) and the CARIBBEAN (67-69) are included, then Sandy has claimed a total of 156-158 human lives.

 

Particularly HAITI and CUBA were hard hit in the Caribbean. Most victims in New York died because of trees falling upon their cars or houses.

 

The damage caused by Sandy could amount to up to 50 billion US dollar or about 39 billion Euro according to new estimates made by experts, i.e. an insurance provider specialized in analysing risks.

 

6 million are without power / electricity.

 

US Americans have donated more than 11 million dollars (about 8.5 billion Euro) to Red Cross.

 

Rupert Murdoch made 1 million dollar available to the affected families in NEW YORK and NEW JERSEY.

 

Carmaker FORD announced a donation of 50,000 dollars.

 

Competitor Toyota will donate 1 million dollar.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/news + German RTL + German ZDFtext

 

 

 

8 DIED IN CYCLONE NILAM IN INDIA

 

8 people died and 6 sailors are missing after the landfall of the cyclone Nilam in sourthern INDIA last night.

 

Thousands of people have been evacuated along the coast and have sought refuge in schools and public buildings.

 

Several victims were hit by falling trees and collapsing walls, while one was hit by a power line.

 

The oil tanker Pratibha Cauvery stranded on its way out of the harbour/port in Chennai where it had unloaded.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK News

[nancyk58]

DEATH TOLL FOLLOWING HURRICANE SANDY UPGRADED TO 98 INCL. 40 IN NEW YORK

 

 

102 have been found dead in the USA + Canada incl. 40 in the US state of New York. The death toll will probably rise when the houses in the flooded areas have been searched thoroughly.

 

More than 2.7 million buildings in New York and New Jersey remain without electricity / power.

 

About 4.6 million electricity customers in 15 US states were without power / electricity on Thursday (yesterday) compared to a peak of 8.5 million without electricity.

 

In New York the electricity company / utility provider Con Ed aka. Con Edison warned that it may take several weeks before everyone has electricity again.

 

The power outage is a big problem for many New Yorkers. Yesterday / Thursday the authorities started the distribution of food to primarily the elderly and the poor.

 

Red Cross has 12 mobile kitchens with capacity for serving 200,000 meals a day.

 

Many people in some areas are also without clean drinking water. Also problems with supply of gasoline.

 

Residents in the hard-hit district Staten Island feel forgotten by the authorities. The destruction was big when the area was hit by a powerful tidal wave, and some districts are totally destroyed.

 

Among the 20 deaths were 2 brothers aged 2 and 4. Their mother tried to escape the storm, but a tidal wave swept over the car. When the car could not start, she got out of the car and put the boys on the roof. A new tidal wave came and carried away the 2 boys. Their bodies were found after a massive search.

 

 

The collective traffic has resumed in New York, but it is considerably limited. The New Yorkers are allowed to free transport by the subway and by busses.

 

New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered that there must be at least 3 people in each car arriving in Manhattan - this to facilitate the car traffic.

 

 

67-69 people died in the Caribbean.

 

Death toll amounts to a total of 171.

 

Source: German ARDtext / Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

More than 150,000 houses including schools and hospitals are damaged or totally destroyed on CUBA caused by the hurricane SANDY - so according to Red Cross.

 

The electricity network has collapsed, and crops are destroyed.

 

Many families have sought refuge at friends' or family members' houses and in evacuation centers.

 

The top priority is to make sure that those who have lost their houses/homes will have temporary shelter.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK News

[nancyk58]

SANDY CLAIMED 106 US VICTIMS - 41 HEREOF IN NEW YORK according to CNN

 

Other media mention 102 victims - so death toll between 102 and 106.

 

Due to the shortage of gasoline and heating oil the US President Barack Obama has decreed the supply of 80 million litres of gasoline and diesel into the crisis region.

 

Many gas stations has no power to operate / run their pumps or gasoline has been sold out.

 

Many people are living in ice-cold homes due to the widespread power outages.

 

Next week cold weather is expected in the metropolitan area of New York causing the temperatures to fall to 2 or 3 degrees Celsius.

 

Thousands in the US states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut might still be without electricity when the very cold weather is expected.

 

New York's mayor Bloomberg cancels marathon following criticism of this event taking place on Sunday when search operations after missing people are still on-going. And the marathon event would require forces (i.a. policemen) that would otherwise have been available for the search operations.

 

Sources: ARDtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text + RTLtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 4 NOVEMBER 2012

 

FAMINE IN HAITI AFTER THE HURRICANE "SANDY"

 

A state of EMERGENCY has been declared in HAITI hit by massive devastation caused by hurricane SANDY.

 

Rainfalls in connection with the hurricane destroyed the crops in vast parts of HAITI, and now America's poorest country is threatened by famine according to the authorities.

 

At least 60 people were killed in Haiti by SANDY, and thousands were made homeless.

 

HAITI is also suffering following the devastating earthquake in January 2010 when more than 220,000 people were killed.

 

Sources: RTLtext + ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 5 NOVEMBER 2012

 

 

TEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOMELESS IN NEW YORK

 

Between 30,000 and 40,000 houses are inhabitable in New York after the superstorm Sandy, says mayor Michael Bloomberg. He compares the situation with the crisis in New Orleans after the hurricane Katrina in 2005.

 

Sandy swept across 15 US states, and at least 109 people died in the USA and Canada.

 

1.4 million households remain without power (electricity) in 7 US states - one week after the hurricane made landfall in the north-eastern USA.

 

Worst hit is NEW JERSEY where 780,000 customers remain without light and heating. Then follows New York City where ½ million customers remain without electricity / power Monday.

 

A new storm is expected to reach USA on Wednesday bringing skyfall and strong winds.[/b]

 

Sources: Swedish SVT Text and Norwegian NRK News + German ARDtext

 

 

HAITI ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP - FACING SERIOUS FOOD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS AFTER SANDY

 

Haiti's government asks for international help once again after the storm Sandy which is estimated to have claimed more than 50 human lives and to have resulted in substantail damage amounting to hundred million. 70% of the crops is destroyed following massive floodings caused by heavy rain. 52 people were killed in connection with SANDY .

 

21,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by the storm according to Wall Street Journal.

 

Only a few months ago, another storm - Isaac - spread almost just as much devastation.

 

What was left of the potential crops is gone - even the bananas said a man employed at the local UN office to the newspaper Miami Herald.

 

Sources: Swedish SVT Text + German ZDFtext

 

 

INDIA: At least 22 died and 60,000 were made homeless within one week after the cyclone Nilam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The ensuing skyfall (cloudburst) resulted in massive loss of crops.

 

Swedish SVT Text

 

 

363 KILLED IN FLOODING IN NIGERIA

 

363 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 2.1 million people are fleeing the worst flooding in Nigeria in 50 years. So the authorities report.

 

Each year Nigeria is experiencing flooding as a result of the annual rainy season. But this year's flooding that started in July has been much more powerfull than normal.

 

The president has declared the flooding a national disaster, but assures that it will not result in shortage of food.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 7 NOVEMBER 2012

 

MAGNITUDE 7.4 EARTHQUAKE IN GUATEMALA KILLS 15

 

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake claimed several human lives in Guatemala. According to Guatemmala's president 15 people may have died and hundred and something are missing in the wouth-western part of the country - so AFP reports.

 

According to president Otto Perez this information is preliminary and unconfirmed.

 

12 buildings collapsed. The victims were killed in connection with collapsing buildings. And some power outages were the result.

 

The tremors could also be felt in southern MEXICO including in the capital Mexico City and in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.

 

The earthquake led to panic in Guatemala City, Mexico City and San Salvador where numerous citizens ran out in the streets as buildings were swaying.

 

The epicentre was off Guatemala's Pacific coast - 45 km south-west of Champerico in Guatemala at a depth of 33 km.

 

The earthquake was the strongest one since 1976 when 20,000 people died in a magnitude 7.5 quake.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 News live / German ZDFtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

 

Hundred thousands on the US east coast remain without power/electricity, water and heating one week after the monster storm SANDY.

 

Source: German ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 8 NOVEMBER 2012

 

48 DEAD AFTER EARTHQUAKE IN GUATEMALA

 

At least 48 people have died in a powerful - magnitude 7.4 - earthquake in the Central-American country Guatemala.

 

The epicentre was off Guatemala's Pacific coast.

 

The earthquake and ensuing landslides resulted in destroyed buildings and buried people and cars. Landslides have blocked the roads in many areas.

 

Worst hit is the region around San Marcos at the Mexican border where 30 something houses were levelled.

 

There have been several aftershocks in the region after Wednesday's quake.

 

Around 16,000 people have been affected according to the President Otto Pérez Molina.

 

More than 2,000 soldiers are participating in the rescue operation - and at least 100 people remain missing.

 

The tremors could be felt in Guatemala City, the capital - as well as in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital and in Mexico City, Mexico's capital.

 

It was the worst earthquake in Guatemala since 1976 when more than 20,000 were killed in a magnitude 7.5 quake.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 news + German ZDFtext + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

NEW STORM - WINTER STORM "ATHENA" - ON THE US EAST COAST: SNOW DRIFTS AND POWER OUTAGES

 

One week after hurricane "Sandy", storm and snow resulted again in chaos and power outages on the US east coast.

 

The population in the New York and New Jersey regions are experiencing 20 cm - even up to 30 cm - new-fallen snow and icecold and strong winds.

 

Up to 700,000 buildings and homes that had got the power back very recently are now experiencing power cuts.

 

The expected flood did not come, luckily. But lower-lying areas reported mild floodings.

 

New York had rain and sleet. The roads/streets were icy. Roads are closed, trains and busses are out of service / cancelled, and almost all air traffic was cancelled.

 

Airlines cancelled at least 1,300 flights from and to New York and New Jersey.

 

Up to 700,000 buildings and homes are without power in New York and New Jersey.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + German ARDtext + Danish dr.dk/news

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 8 AND 10 NOVEMBER 2012

 

Death toll after the earthquake (see above) in Guatemala risen to 52.

 

Entire families were destroyed, when their homes last Wednesday were destroyed during the most powerful earthquake in Guatemala for several decades i.e. since 1976 when a magnitude 7.5 quake killed 20,000.

 

The quake last Wednesday killed at least 52, more than 200 are reported injured. At least 22 remain missing according to the authorities.

 

According to the President, more than 1 million people were affected by the quake, and more than 3000 were evacuated.

 

Source: Danish free paper MetroXpress on Friday 8.11.12

 

 

AT LEAST 16 DEATHS IN HAITI AFTER HEAVY RAINFALLS

 

Haiti has been ravaged by more terrible weather 2 weeks after the hurricane "Sandy".

 

Heavy rainfalls killed at least 16 people including 5 children according to broadcaster Radio Metropole. Other people remain missing.

 

Particularly affected by the strong rainfalls was the city of Cap Haitien in northern Haiti.

 

Floodings and raging rivers caused severe damage.

The rain destroyed a big part of the crops causing fears among the aid agencies that Haiti might experience FAMINE soon.

 

Source: German ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 11 NOVEMBER 2012

 

MAGNITUDE 6.6 EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CENTRAL MYANMAR aka. BURMA

 

A powerful earthquake that has been measured at 6.6. on the Richter scale hit the central Myanmar / Burma early Sunday morning (2.12 central European time).

In the country's second-largest city - MANDALAY - citizens ran out of the buildings in panic.

 

According to local media, the quake claimed 7 human lives and dozens were injured (ARDtext) in the region around Mandalay.

 

According to the authorities, the epicentre was in Shwebo about 100 km - other sources say 60, 115 and 117 km north (north-west) of Mandalay [/b][/color].

 

4 people died and 25 were injured when a bridge collapsed close to the epicentre. 2 monasteries collapsed claiming 2 human lives in Kyaukmyaung.

 

The quake struck at a depth of only 9km according to the US Geological Surveys (USGS).

 

The south-east Asian country is the continent's second-poorest country.

 

There have been several aftershocks.

 

The tremors could be felt in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, about 1,000 km away.

 

In March 2011, more than 70 people were killed when a magnitude 6.8 quake shook Burma at the borders to Thailand and Laos.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/news + German ZDFtext + German ARDtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

 

HAITI AFFECTED BY FLOODINGS AFTER HEAVY RAIN, KILLING AT LEAST 16 INCLUDING 5 CHILDREN

 

At least 16 have drowned and several are missing after grave floodings in northern Haiti since Friday - so El Economista reports.

 

Intensive / heavy rain caused the rivers in the region to burst their banks resulting in substantial damage to both buildings and the agriculture.

 

The rain destroyed a big part of the crops causing fears among the aid agencies that Haiti might experience FAMINE soon.

 

Almost 1,600 people have been evacuated - they are now in shelters according to the local rescue service.

 

Haiti tries to recover from the damage caused by the hurricane "Sandy" 2 weeks ago when at least 54 died and 20 remain missing.

 

Particularly affected by the strong rainfalls was the city of Cap Haitien in northern Haiti.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 NOVEMBER 2012

 

ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE = AN AFTERSHOCK IN GUATEMALA - MAGNITUDE 6.5

 

Only a few days after a powerful earthquake, the western part of Guatemala has been shaken by another tremor / an aftershock that triggered a number of landslides.

 

According to the US Geological Surveys (USGS) the quake had a magnitude of 6.5.

 

The epicentre was in the Pacific 24 km south-west of the town of Champerico at the Mexico border and 180 km south-west of Guatemala City at a depth of 29 km.

 

A woman were slightly injured when a wall collapsed. There are no additional reports of any damage or casualties.

 

In the middle of last week a magnitude 7.4 quake in the same region had destroyed more than 2,000 houses and killed 52 people .

 

Sources: German ARDtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

 

FLOODINGS IN TOSCANA + VENICE, ITALY AFTER HEAVY RAIN CAUSED RIVERS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS

 

Streets in Toscana are under water. Evacuations have taken place, bridges have been ravaged and crops destroyed as a consequence according to the news agency REUTERS.

 

The citizens of Venice / Venedig are walking in water up to the waist since 3/4 of the city was flooded after heavy rain.

 

Shops and businesses, homes and historical palaces were under water when the water level was 1.5m above normal. It is the sixth highest level since measurements of the water level started in 1872.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 News (live) / dr.dk/news + Swedish SVT Text

 

 

DEATH TOLL RISEN TO 13 AFTER QUAKE AROUND SECOND-LARGEST CITY, MANDALAY, BURMA.

 

More than 100 houses were destroyed - one mine collapsed.

 

Rescuers are helping those in need in the area.

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 13.11.12

 

AT LEAST 4 DEATHS CAUSED BY FLOODING FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN IN TOSCANA IN NORTHERN ITALY / FLOODINGS IN TOSCANA FORCE PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES

 

Due to floodings, vast parts of Toscana and Umbria in northern Italy are under water following heavy rain in the week-end. Hundred(s of) people have been forced to leave their homes.

 

In southern Toscana by Capalbio a 73-year-old man drowned in his car that was filled with water from a river in the Grosseto province in Toscana.

 

3 people working at the state-run energy group Enel were killed late Monday when their car was driving across a collapsing bridge over the river Albegna. This happened near the city of Grosseto.

 

In Albinia a lady was washed away by masses of mud and her life is threatened.

 

3 people are missing in Albinia, and a rescue team is looking for them. Numerous people fled on to the roofs of their houses.

 

The peak of the flood is expected in Grosseto and in Rome where the water level or river Tiber is monitored.

 

The flooding is also the reason for enormous trafic problems in central Italy. Parts of the railways are closed.

 

The bad weather with heavy rain and ensuing floodings haunted all of North Italy last week-end.

 

The meteorologists warn of more rain on Thursday - and the rain will last the entire week-end.

 

The President of the central-Italian region Toscana urged soldiers to assist with the clean-up operations.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + ARDtext + Danish TV2 News (text-tv + live) + NRK News

 

 

DEATH TOLL IN BURMA AFTER POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE RISING TO AT LEAST 26

 

The death toll after the powerful earthquake in Burma has risen to at least 26.

 

12 remain missing, 230 are injured according to the national Red Cross. More than 250 houses were destroyed as the magnitude 6.4 quake shook the region last Sunday.

 

More than 20 clinics, almost 140 churches and dozens of authority buildings and 4 schools have been damaged.

 

The epicentre was more than 100 km north of the second-largest city MANDALAY.

 

Source: german ARDtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 14.11.12

 

TIBER FLOOD REACHING ITALY's CAPITAL ROME

 

Due to a flood on the river TIBER several Roman streets are under water. Before that it was raining with strong winds. With the peak / top water level being about 13 m no major damage is expected According to the authorities the tall Roman walls guarantee the safety of the City area. Problems should only be possible in the outskirts of Rome, said Mayor Gianni Alemanno.

 

The flood claimed 4 human lives at the beginning of the week in Toscana. Hundreds had to leave their houses or had to flee up on the roofs of their houses.

 

Source: German ARDtext

[Black Rose]

Some nasty flooding in parts of the South West at the moment, with more rain to come :(

 

This is a field, where the water is a good 2 feet deep and a good 10 or so metres away from the main river.

 

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 24, 25 AND 26 NOVEMBER 2012

 

On 24 November I read that there had been a minor magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Japan - without any casualties or material damage.

 

 

On 25 and 26 November 2012 I read about 3 deaths in floodings in south-western England since Thursday. In Devon, Somerset and Cornwall many areas are under water.

 

From dr.dk: 3 deaths after 4 days of rain in the UK:

 

A 21 year old woman died Saturday when an oak tree fell on to a wall behind which she and other people (probably all homeless) were in their tents - according to the Exeter police.

 

A 50-year-old man drowned in a small river that had overflown its banks.

 

A 70-year-old man was killed in a car in a brook.

 

The rainy weather is expected to continue.

 

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/news and German ARDtext + ZDFtext

 

 

 

Update from ARDtext on 26.11.12:

 

After days of heavy rainfalls and floodings the people in England and Wales are preparing for more floodings. New water masses are to be expected in particularly north-east England and in north Wales.

 

This past week-end particularly the south-western part of England was affected killing 3 people and resulting in more than 800 houses affected by water. Streets/roads were blocked and train traffic disrupted. Car drivers were rescued out of their cars.

 

This weather is at risk of continuing undtil late Tuesday. Also Scotland is expected to be affected.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 28.11.12

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE - MAGNITUDE 6.3 - OFF INDONESIA

 

A powerful earthquake shook the ocean off Indonesia Wednesday, but no tsunami alert was issued.

 

The earthquake was measured at magnitude 6.3 by Indonesian geologists - so AP reports.

 

The epicenter of the quake was 157 km northwest of Tual in the group of islands / archipelago called the Moluccas, east of Sulawesi.

 

2 million people are living in the Moluccas consisting of about 1,000 islands.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 3 DECEMBER 2012

 

THE PHILIPPINES: FEAR OF TYPHOON "BOPHA"

 

Due to the approaching typhoon "Bopha", almost 8,000 people in the Philippines have left their houses. People living in the coastal and low-lying areas have sought safer places according to the authorities.

 

The typhoon BOPHA is expected to make landfall on the east coast of the island of MINDANAO with wind gusts / speeds of up to 210 km per hour and heavy/torrential rain (skyfall).

 

The authorities are reported to have stored food and rescue equipment in the areas where the typhoon might pass. The wind speed has been measured at 175 km per hour.

 

According to the head of the Civil Defence in the capital Manila, Edgardo Ollet, it would be the strongest typhoon in the Philippines this year.

 

In december 2011 a typhoon destroyed the towns / cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. More than 1,200 people died.

 

Sources: German ARDtext + Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

AT LEAST 300 CONFIRMED DEATHS IN THE PHILIPPINES CAUSED BY TYPHOON BOPHA

 

The death toll following typhoon BOPHA in the Philippines has risen to 300. The typhoon has left a devastated landscape in the southern part of the Philippines.

 

The typhoon that mainly hit the island of MINDANAO and particularly the southern island's east coast - triggered floodings and landslides.

 

Worst hit was the Compostela Valley with at least 151 deaths - according to government spokes(wo)man Fe Maestre - including 66 inhabitants and soldiers who were washed away by a FLASH FLOOD that had flooded 2 emergency shelters and a field camp near the city of New Bataan on the island of MINDANAO yesterday / Tuesday. About 300 people are missing - many of them in the province of Davao Oriental according to Minister of the Interior Manuel Roxas today / Wednesday. Entire families were washed away, he said after a tour in the disaster area.

 

An unknown number of fishermen at sea are also missing.

 

Hundreds are injured, and almost 200,000 people have sought refuge in evacuation shelters.

 

Many flights and ferries were cancelled.

 

Landslides and floodings made the streets impassable which made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach those in need of help.

 

This is the strongest storm in the Philippines for 41 years with wind gusts of up to 210 km per hour.

 

Later BOPHA weakened and headed westward to the South-China Sea.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext, Swedish SVT Text, Norwegian NRK News + Danish dr.dk/news and TV2 News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 5 DECEMBER 2012

 

MAGNITUDE 5.5 EARTHQUAKE SHAKING EAST IRAN NEAR AFGHANISTAN - AT LEAST 5 DEATHS

 

At least 5 people died in connection with an earthquake in IRAN. 20 other people are reported to be injured according to the Iranian news agency Fars and state-run Iranian television.

 

The magnitude 5.5 earthquake shook the eastern part of IRAN. Particularly the town of Zohan in the province CHORASAN / South-Khorasan is affected: Many inhabitants in the province capital Birjand left their houses in panic - so Fars.

 

Reportedly, the earthquake caused destructions to older buildings in the region, and several power & telephone lines have been cut Wednesday evening.

 

Earthquakes are frequent in IRAN because several tectonic plates meeting there.

 

More than 220 people were killed at the beginning of August by 2 quakes in the north-western IRAN.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

AT LEAST 482 DEAD BODIES RECOVERED - HUNDREDS MISSING

 

2 days after the typhoon BOPHA ravaged the southern Philippines and particularly the island of MINDANAO the death toll has risen to close to 500. Until thursday eve (local time) 482 dead bodies have been recovered. At least 370 remain missing and 250,000 have been made homeless by the typhoon.

 

The victims include 78 villagers and soldiers who were washed away by a flashflood that submerged / flooded 2 emergency shelters and a field camp.

 

Many of the deaths occurred in the two mountain villages of New Baatan and Monkayo.

 

More than 400 were injured as the typhoon mit hurricane-scale windgusts and heavy rain swept over the island of MINDANAO.

 

Many died in flash floods and in connection with landslides, others were killed by falling trees or debris.

 

Worst affected was the province Compostela Valley with about 200 deaths. Entire families were killed.

 

The material damage is huge. According to aid workers and the UN the need for help is insatiable.

 

The UN is ready with humanitarian help and is ready to mobilize international support, says a spokesman for general-secretary Ban Ki-Moon.

 

The typhoon moved on.

 

Each year the Philippines is hit by 20 typhoons.

 

Sources: ZDFtext + ARDtext + Norwegian NRK News

 

 

 

TSUNAMI ALERT AFTER POWERFUL/STRONG EARTHQUAKE OFF JAPAN's EAST COAST

 

A tsunami alert has been issued Friday after a powerful earthquake off Japan's east coast. According to the GeoResearchCenter Potsdam the quake had a magnitude of 6.9. According to the US Geological Survey the quake had a magnitude of 7.3. (Reuters: 7.4). This alert is in force and covers the north-eastern coast of Japan.

 

The quake caused buildings in Tokyo to sway according to eye witnesses.

 

So far there is no information of potential victims or damage.

 

According to news agency AFP citing Japanese media the tsunami waves have been calculated to be about one meter high. According to Reuters there should be no risk of a widespread tsunami in the Pacific region.

 

EDIT: According to Japanese media an 1m high tsunami wave hit the town of Ishinomaki in the Miyagi prefecture. Ishinomaki is situated 400km north of Tokyo and was very much affected by the gigantic tsunami following the powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the same region on 11 March 2011.

 

All tsunami warnings have been lifted at about 19.20 local time, i.e. about 2 hours after the submarine earthquake.

 

The epicentre is close to the region where a devastating magnitude 9.0 quake occurred on 11 March 2011 triggering a gigantic tsunami. Thousands were killed, and a nuclear disaster took place in Fukushima.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + ARDtext and Swedish SVT Text and Danish dr.dk/news

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO THE PHILIPPINES AND NATURAL DISASTERS ON SATURDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2012

 

TYPHOON "BOPHA" RETURNING TO THE PHILIPPINES - HEADING FOR THE NORTHERN TIP OF THE ISLAND OF LUZON

 

The powerful typhoon BOPHA that ravaged the Philippines 4 days ago = last Tuesday killing almost 500 people has changed its course and is now apparently returning to the Philippines.

 

The typhoon is expected to make landfall on the northern tip of the island of LUZON - the largest island in the Philippines - in the night between Saturday and Sunday with windgusts up to 160 km per hour / 45 m per second.

 

Earlier this week, BOPHA hit the southern part of the Philippines - the island of MINDANAO - with devastating force.

 

500+ people were killed, 500+ are missing, and more than 250,000 have become homeless.

 

President Benigno Aquino has declared the country in a state of EMERGENCY.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/news + TV2 News (live and text-tv) and Swedish SVT Text

[coldlocked]

Luzon? The north? Oh please, please, no. That's where my family's old house is located.

 

Unfortunately this is what it looks like in Davao Oriental province:

(from inquirer.net)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS / THE PHILIPPINES ON 10 DECEMBER 2012

 

THE UN ASKS THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO HELP THE PHILIPPINES

 

The typhoon "Bopha" that ravaged the Philippines last week has claimed more than 600 human lives, and more than 800 people remain missing.

 

Today the UN pleads for assistance to millions of affected people in the Philippines.

 

The humanitarian UN coordinator, Luiza Carvalho reports the plans for an acute aid package and a more long-term support to the MINDANAO region in the southern part of the country.

 

"5 million people are affected and need immediate help".

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text

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POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE - MAGNITUDE 7.1 - OFF INDONESIA

 

A powerful, magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Monday a region off Indonesia's coast.

 

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the tremor occurred around 230 km north-west of the town of Saumlaki at a depth of almost 160 km. No tsunami warning was issued.

 

There are no reports of any damage to the surrounding islands.

 

Source: German ZDFtext

 

 

AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE FROZEN TO DEATH IN THE BALCANS

 

At least 10 people have frozen to death in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia this past week-end.

 

The temperatures fell to minus 24 degrees Celsius in Bosnia where 2 men froze to death during the night up to yesterday.

 

In northern Serbia the police helped people who - due to the snow - were trapped in their houses.

 

In Serbia 3 people died during the week-end when snowstorms paralyzed / stopped the northern part of the country.

 

All 5 victims that died in Serbia and Bosnia were elderly living alone or people living in remote villages - so the authorities.

 

Sources: Swedish SVT Text + free papers 24 Timer + MetroXpress citing news agencies Ritzau and AFP

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DEATH TOLL AFTER TYPHOON "BOPHA" RISING TO MORE THAN 700 IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

The number of deaths following the tropical storm BOPHA in the Philippines has risen to more than 700.

 

The chance of finding more survivors is small.

 

One week ago BOPHA hit the southern part of the Philippines as a typhoon. A few days ago it swept across the northern part of the Philippines.

 

More than 5 million people were affected by the worst storm in 2012 in the region.

 

The damage to houses and agricultural areas has been assessed to the equivalent of 130 million Euro.

 

Sources: Swedish SVT Text and German ARDtext

 

 

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KIEW, UKRAINE FOLLOWING RECORD SNOWFALL

 

Ukraine has got more snow now than before for the past 80 years.

 

The capital KIEW is in an emergency state.

 

10,000 people in the entire country were cut off from power supply by temperatures around the freezing point.

 

Kiew's mayor Alexander Popow asked the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education to help Kiew so that students and recruits could be called in to remove the snow.

For the past 2 days, Kiew has got a total of 43 cm of snow.

 

Source: German ZDFtext

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NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 DECEMBER 2012

 

30 DEATHS DUE TO COLD WEATHER IN POLAND SINCE 1 DECEMBER

 

Last year 19 people died due to the cold during December.

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text

 

 

 

UN PLEA FOR 2.2 BILLION DOLLAR TO PUT AN END TO CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN HAITI

 

About 8,000 have died, and 620,000 cases have been reported since the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in October 2010.

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text