NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 3.4.13

 

 

33 DEAD IN ARGENTINA FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN AND ENSUING FLOODINGS

 

33 people have died in Argentina following heavy rain according to the authorities.

 

25 people have died in La Plata 50 km south of the capital BUENOS AIRES according to the local governor, Daniel Scioli.

 

In the night before Wednesday Buenos Aires got 311 litres of water per square meter. At least 8 people died here as a consequence of floodings and damage caused by the storm. Many quarters of Buenos Aires experienced power outages. Cars were washed away by the water masses. The rail transport was disrupted.

 

Mayor Mauricio Macri Macris says that 350,000 people are affected by the floodings in Buenos Aires.

 

A powerful strom carried the rain with it.

 

2,200 people have been evacuated from La Plata. Half of La Plata is under water and is without power / electricity.

 

 

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

 

 

 

66 DEAD BODIES RECOVERED AFTER LANDSLIDE LAST FRIDAY IN TIBET

 

Chinese rescuers have recovered 66 dead bodies (out of 83 possible). 83 miners were trapped / buried by a landslide in Tibet last Friday. None of the miners survived.

 

There is no hope of finding any survivors.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 4 AND 5 APRIL 2013

 

 

DEATH TOLL IN ARGENTINA FOLLOWING HEAVY RAIN RISEN TO AT LEAST 55

 

Sources: German, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish text-tv on 4.4.13

 

 

MADAGASCAR FLOODED BY BILLIONS OF GRASSHOPPERS

 

Billions of grasshoppers are flooding Madagascar in an invasion that makes you think of the accounts of grasshopper invasions in the Bible.

 

Famina is threatening if the insects are not stopped in time. Even North Africa and Israel are affected.

 

Even countries such as EGYPT, MALI, ISRAEL + ALGERIA have been affected by the invasion of the grasshoppers.

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 6 APRIL 2013

 

 

MAGNITUDE 7.1 EARTHQUAKE OFF INDONESIA

 

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake stuck off the Indosian coast today (Saturday 6.4.13) according to several international news agencies citing US Geological Surveys.

 

According to Reuters the quake struck 256 km east of Indonesia and hit the island of New Guinea. The quake was triggered more than 75 km below the surface of the earth.

 

The quake struck at 13:42 local time and shook the Papua province 27 miles from the province capital Jayapura in eastern Indonesia. The quake made people run in the streets in panic.

 

So far there are no reports of casualties or material damage.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 News / Swedish SVT Text + German ARDtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 9 APRIL 2013

 

 

MAGNITUDE 6.1 (USGS: 6.3) EARTHQUAKE CLOSE TO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN SOUTH-WESTERN IRAN KILLING AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE AND INJURING 800, BUT NO DAMAGE TO THE PLANT ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTOR

 

 

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has shaken the south-western part of Iran according to USGS = US Geological Survey(s). The epicentre is south-east of the port city of Bushehr that houses Iran's only nuclear power plant.

 

According to the Iranian earthquake institute the epicentre is in Kaki about 90 km south-east of the coastal city of Bandar Buschehr. From Iran the magnitude is stated to have been 6.1 (and not 6.3 such as USGS said).

 

According to the Russian constructor of the plant - Atomstrojexport - the quake has not caused any damage to the plant or its reactor.

 

According to Iranian news media /agencies: At least 30 killed and about 800 injured in the powerful earthquake.

 

The quake could be felt in several neighbouring countries and as far away as in Dubai. There have been 5 aftershocks.

 

The operation of the Iranian nuclear power plant started in the autumn of 2011.

 

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

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 10 APRIL, 2013

 

 

37 PEOPLE DIED AND AT LEAST 850 INJURED IN THE MAGNITUDE 6.1 (USGS: 6.3) EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHERN IRAN YESTERDAY / RESCUE TEAMS HAVE FINISHED THEIR WORK

 

The death toll has been upgraded to 37, and the number of injured has been upgraded to at least 850 following the earthquake in Iran close to the Iranian port city of Bushehr yesterday on Tuesday, 9 April 2013. 700 houses were destroyed in the quake according to the Iranian news agency Fars.

 

Yesterday, i.e. Tuesday the hardworking rescuers managed to rescue 20 people out ALIVE from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Bushehr.

 

The rescue work has been finished - there are no longer victims in the rubble, said a spokesman for Red Crescent. The work is now focused on helping those surviving the quake.

 

The quake did not cause any damage or radio-active (contaminated) leaks from Iran's only nuclear power plant situated 9 miles from the epicentre of the quake - according to the Iranian authorities.

 

The quake could be felt i several neighbouring countries and as far away as Dubai.

 

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

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 APRIL, 2013

 

 

36 DEAD AND 2,393 HOMELESS FAMILIES FOLLOWING FLOODING IN kENYA

 

Floodings in Kenya have claimed at least 36 human lives over the past 3 weeks according to government information. 2,393 families had to leave their homes.

 

Streets have been damaged in many areas of Kenya. The government distributed food.

 

The rainfalls have also been good because the water supplies had been replenished, the grazing land has recovered and the farmers could make advantage of the rain to sow.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Danish dr.dk nyheder (nyheder = news)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 12 APRIL, 2013

 

DEVASTATION DUE TO STORMY WEATHER IN THE USA / 1 PERSON DIED

 

Bad weather has resulted in major devastation in the US state of MISSISSIPPI claiming 1 death.

 

According to rescue teams 5 people were injured. A tornado moved across the southern state.

 

Before that the storm front moving to the east had also caused extreme winds and hail in the US states of ARKANSAS, MISSOURI, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA and KANSAS.

 

COLORADO, SOUTH DAKOTA and MINNESOTA had heavy SNOW falls.

 

Source: German ARDtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN ON 13 APRIL 2013

 

 

MAGNITUDE 6.3 EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN RESULTING IN AT LEAST 24 INJURED OF WHICH 7 SERIOUSLY INJURED AND SEVERAL DESTROYED HOUSES

 

At least 24 people were injured - of which 7 seriously - in connection with a magnitude 6.3 earthquake close to the port city of Kobe in Japan. The quake occurred early Saturday morning at 5:33 local time.

 

Several houses were destroyed.

 

There was no risk of any tsunami. The Japanese weather service reported that the sea level had been slightly higher in some areas.

 

The epicentre was at a depth of 5-10 km / 15 km in the Seto Inland Sea (ARDtext) / on the island of Awaji about 6 miles from the city of Osaka (info from USGS) - SVT Text.

 

No damage reported from the nuclear power plant Oi which is the only nuclear power plant in operation in Japan for the time being.

 

Train / Air traffic was disrupted for some hours.

 

Sources: Danish TV2 news / German ARDtext / Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 16 APRIL, 2013

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22168202

 

16 April 2013 Last updated at 15:25 GMT

 

Major earthquake strikes south-east Iran

 

Iran has been struck by its most powerful earthquake for nearly 40 years, with tremors felt across Pakistan, India and the Middle East.

 

The epicentre of the 7.8-magnitude quake was near the south-east city of Khash, close to the Pakistani border, the US Geological Survey said.

 

Offices were evacuated in Karachi, Delhi, and in the Gulf states.

 

There were conflicting reports on casualties. Iranian state TV said at least five people had been injured.

 

It denied earlier reports that 40 people had been killed.

 

At least five people died in the Pakistani town of Mashkel, near the border with Iran, hospital and local government officials said. Some reports said more than 20 people had died there.

 

The earthquake struck in the province of Sistan Baluchistan at about 15:14 local time (10:44 GMT), close to the cities of Khash, which has a population of nearly 180,000, and Saravan, where 250,000 live.

 

"The epicentre of the quake was located in the desert, and population centres do not surround it. There were no fatalities in the towns around the epicentre," an Iranian crisis centre official, Morteza Akbarpour, was quoted as saying by the Iranian news agency Isna.

 

Iran's Red Crescent said it expected limited damage and a low death toll because the earthquake was so deep - the Iranian Seismological Centre estimated the depth at 95km (59 miles).

 

However, one unnamed Iranian government official told Reuters: "It was the biggest earthquake in Iran in 40 years and we are expecting hundreds of dead."

 

All communications to the region have been cut, and the Iranian Red Crescent said it was sending 20 search-and-rescue teams with three helicopters to the area.

 

Sistan Baluchistan is Iran's biggest province and one its most impoverished areas.

 

A member of parliament for Saravan, Hedayatollah Mir-Morad Zehi, said there were 1,700 villages in the area, and most of the buildings were made of mud.

 

Many people in surrounding villages live in tents, which it was hoped would limit the number of casualties.

 

Iran's Fars news agency reported that Saravan had suffered no serious damage.

 

In the Pakistani town of Mashkel, which has a population of about 45,000, communications were also disrupted. But aid workers said many houses were thought to have been damaged or destroyed.

 

The earthquake was felt across the region.

 

Michael Stephens, a researcher at RUSI Qatar, told the BBC from his office in Doha: "I definitely felt the walls shaking. It lasted for about 25 seconds."

 

Mohammad Wazir, a correspondent for BBC Persian in Pakistan, says the quake was felt in the cities of Karachi and Quetta.

 

Tuesday's earthquake was about 180 times stronger in energy release than a 6.3-magnitude quake that struck on 10 April near the nuclear plant at Bushehr in south-western Iran. That quake killed at least 37 people and wounded 850.

 

The Bushehr plant was not damaged by the earlier earthquake, and an official at the Russian firm that built the plant said it had not been damaged by Tuesday's earthquake either, Reuters reported.

 

Scientists say earthquakes in south-eastern Iran are triggered by the clash between the Arabia and Eurasia tectonic plates, the former of which is pushing north at a rate of several centimetres each year.

 

In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake destroyed much of the south-eastern city of Bam and killed some 26,000 people.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/nyheder (nyheder = news), Swedish SVT Text, German ZDFtext / ARDtext plus mentioned on TV2 News live

[nancyk58]

^

 

EDIT: According to Pakistani media 12 Pakistani died as a consequence of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Iran that made houses in New Delhi, India and in the Gulf Region sway.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 APRIL 2013

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE - MAGNITUDE 6.6 (USGS) / CHINA: 7 - IN SICHUAN PROVINCE IN SOUTH-WEST CHINA. HUNDREDS OF DEATHS AND INJURED EXPECTED

 

Several hundred people are expected to have been killed or injured in a powerful earthquake in China. Initial figures were at least 56 deaths and more than 600 injured. 4 hours later 72 people were confirmed dead and 600 injured (news agency TT citing broadcaster CCTV). The death toll was later downgraded to 47.

 

Most affected was the western part of the SICHUAN province in south-west China.

 

Many people were asleep when the quake occurred, woke up and ran out of their homes and in the streets in panic.

 

The quake was followed by several powerful aftershocks.

 

The epicentre is about 100 km north-west of the town of Leshan and occurred at a depth of about 15 km - according to US Geological Survey (USGS) the quake occurred at a depth of 12 km.

 

The tremors could be felt so far away as in Chengdu - the capital of the south-west Chinese province of Sichuan.

 

 

The official news agency Xinhua (New China) stated that the magnitude of the quake was 7.0. The USGS stated the magnitude to be 6.6.

 

The authorities expect substantial damage.

 

According to Xinhua 2,000 soldiers are on their way to the affected area to reinforce the rescue teams there.

 

The densely populated province of SICHUAN had experienced one of the worst = most powerful earthquakes in May 2008 resulting in more than 70,000 / about 80.000 deaths.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + ARDtext + Swedisht TV4 Text / SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 APRIL 2013

 

 

EARTHQUAKE IN THE SICHUAN PROVINCE IN SOUTH-WEST CHINA KILLING AT LEAST 102 PEOPLE AND INJURING MORE THAN 2,200 PEOPLE

 

A powerful earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks in the night between Friday and Saturday central European time hit the Sichuan province in south-west China.

 

102 people are reported killed. At least 2,200 are wounded according to a spokesman for the Chinese government and China News Service.

 

The quake has destroyed buildings and triggered landslides. Rescue teams have been sent to the disaster-stricken areas.

 

The quake was initially measured at magnitude 7.0 by the US Geological Survey (USGS) centre, but later downgraded to 6.6.

 

Sources: Media in Sweden (SVT Text), Germany (ZDFtext + ARDtext), Norway (NRK news) and Denmark (TV2 News and dr.dk/nyheder where nyheder = news).

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 21 APRIL 2013

 

 

DEATH TOLL FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH-WEST CHINA RISING TO 203 AND >11,000 INJURED

 

A powerful earthquake and a series of aftershocks in the night between Friday and Saturday central European time hit the SICHUAN province in the south-western China.

 

The death toll continues to rise.

 

203 are reported dead, and at least 11,000 injured according to the news agency REUTERS.

 

The german media cite the official news agency Xinhua (China News) for 179 (confirmed) dead and about 7,000 injured. News agency AP mentions 11.000 injured.

 

Most victims were recorded in the LUSHAN region near the city of Ya'an (having millions of inhabitants). Destroyed trams and a damaged mobile (communication) network hamper rescue efforts.

 

The quake triggered landslides that blocked roads and cut the power supply and telephone connection in LUSHAN in the SICHUAN province.

 

Initially the quake was measured to be magnitude 7.0 by US Geological Survey centre (USGS), but was later downgraded to 6.6. It occurred at a depth of about 12 km.

 

China's Earthquake Network centre recorded 1,165 aftershocks of which 3 with a magnitude 5.0+ during the first 24 hours after the quake.

 

More than 17,000 policemen and military are deployed in the rescue operation.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/nyheder (= news)/TV2 News, German ZDFtext / ARDtext + Norwegian NRK Nyheder (News) + Swedish SVT Text / TV4 Text + UK ( BBC World News - see link below)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22236884

 

BBC:

 

21 April 2013 Last updated at 06:19 GMT Help

 

More than 24 hours after a powerful earthquake devastated villages in China's Sichuan province, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble.

 

(Reporter: more than 19 pulled out alive)

 

At least 179 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured. Rescuers are struggling to reach the worst affected areas.

 

Premier Li Keqiang has flown to the south-western province to direct rescue efforts. "

 

EDIT: Death toll risen to 207.

 

 

 

5 SNOWBOARDERS KILLED IN AVALANCHE IN COLORADO, USA

 

An avalanche west of Denver in Colorado, USA killed 6 snowboarders. 1 person survived the accident.

 

A policeman told the newspaper "Denver Post" that the snowmasses came down outside of the borders of the Loveland ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains meaning the the snowboarders were off-piste and apparently triggered the avalanche and was trapped / buried.

 

The survivor was also trapped by the snowmasses, but managed to get free and go/send for help. The search and rescue teams could only recover the dead bodies of the 5 snowboarders.

 

It is the worst avalanche accident in Colorado since 1962 when 7 people died.

 

Source: German ZDFtext/ARDtext + UK (see link below) + Norwegian NRK Nyheder (news) + Danish TV2 News / dr.dk/nyheder

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22236871

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE OFF JAPAN - MAGNITUDE 6.1

 

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook the southern parts of Japan (Sunday 21.4.13).

 

The quake had its epicentre in the sea around 600 km south of Tokyo at a depth of 424 km - so earthquake experts in the USA report.

 

There is no risk of any tsunami according to Japan's meteorological institute.

 

There are no reports of damage as a consequence of the quake.

 

Source: Norwegian NRK Nyheder (N. News)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 24.4.13

 

 

EARTHQUAKE IN EAST AFGHANISTAN CLAIMING 13 DEATHS AND 75 INJURED

 

An earthquake in East Afghanistan claimed at least 13 human lives, and 75 were injured.

 

The epicentre was 25 km outside of the Afghani town of Jalalabad.

 

The magnitude was 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 64 km according to US Geological Survey service centre (USGS).

 

The tremors could be felt in Afghanistan's capital KABUL and Pakistan's capital Islamabad and even as far away as in India's capital New Delhi where the tall buildings were swaying. The quake could also be felt in Kashmir on the border between India and Pakistanj.

 

A spokesman for the Afghani province Nangarhar said that numerous houses were destroyed and many people trapped in the rubble.

 

The neigbouring Afghani province of Kunar reported hundreds of destroyed buildings.

 

Last week there was an earthquake in IRAN on the Pakistan border.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish TV4 Text / SVT Text + Danish TV2 News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 15 APRIL 2013

 

14 DEAD IN LANDSLIDE FOLLOWING SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN IN NORTH ECUADOR

 

Landslide in Northern Ecuador buried several houses and killed 14 people following several days of heavy rain. It happened in the town of Tabete close to Colombia border.

 

Source: Swedish SVT Text

[chuck kottke]

Wish we had an answer to prevent more of the tragic consequences of the landslides and earthquakes - interestingly, I had always wondered if storms and tides moved the crust enough to trigger land movements, and interestingly the TV news covered a bit of information I found fascinating - that the North American crust had been shifted as a result of superstorm Sandy - which leads one to wonder if this movement and similar storms are enough to change some of the parameters related to earthquakes and landslides.

Disaster preparedness serves us well, but for the most powerful forces of nature, evacuation seems like the better choice - if only we knew when the earth were to move...

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 2 AND 3 MAY 2013

 

 

WILD FIRES (FOREST FIRES) IN CALIFORNIA, USA THREATENING 4,000 HOMES

 

Massive forest fires and other wild fires are currently ravaging along CALIFORNIA's coast and now threatening 4,000 homes and one military base.

 

Local citizens are being evacuated, and one university in the rerion has been closed.

 

More than 950 firefighters are currently fighting to extinguish the fire. Large clouds of smoke can be seen northwest of LOS ANGELES.

 

The temperature in CAMARILLO was record-high yesterday (Friday, 3 May 2013) with 36 degrees Celsius according to US meteorological institute.

 

Several media including dr.dk/nyheder (news) plus Danish tv2 news

 

 

 

 

 

THE FAMINE DISASTER IN SOMALIA HAS UP TO NOW CLAIMED 258,000 HUMAN LIVES

 

Almost 260,000 inhabitants of Somalia - half of them less-than-5-year-old children - have died of famina between 2010 and 2012. This figure is much higher than feared. So it is reported in an official report.

 

UN diplomats and officials admit that not enough was done to help!!

 

Source: Several international media / Danish MetroXpress / MX on 3 May 2013

 

 

13 DEAD IN HEAVY RAINFALLS IN SAUDI-ARABIA

 

Heavy rainfalls in the desert state of Saudi-Arabia have claimed at least 13 human lives. 4 are missing - so the news agency AFP reports.

 

The heavy rain has hit several areas including the capital - Riyad - and several regions in the north, south and west.

 

Many have lost their lives when otherwise dried-out river beds were transformed into rivers where people and vehicles were caught/trapped in the water masses.

 

The rainfalls were the most powerful / strongest to hit the country for 25 years!

 

Source: Danish MetroXpress/MX on 2 May 2013 (also read about it in other media plus Danish TV2 News live)

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 11 MAY 2013

 

 

1 CHILD AND AT LEAST 20 INJURED AFTER MAGNITUDE 6.2 EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH IRAN

 

70 villages are affected in a remote mountainous region in southern Iran.

 

Hundred houses have collapsed according to Red Crescent. 400 houses were destroyed in the port city/town of Dschask.

 

The epicentre was 85 km southeast of Minab at a depth of 36 km.

 

Source: German ARDtext on 11.5.13

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 15 MAY 2013

 

 

SRI LANKA PEOPLE FLEEING CYCLONE MAHASEN THAT HAS ALREADY CLAIMED 7 HUMAN LIVES AND INJURED 10

 

A powerful / strong cyclone in the Bay of Bengal has ravaged Sri Lanka.

 

Yesterday - Tuesday, 14 May 2013 - it claimed at least 7 human lives and forced thousands to flee the affected region - so the authorities in the country.

 

The cyclone called MAHASEN was accompanied by heavy rain and triggered LANDSLIDES.

 

MAHASEN is expected to reach BANGLADESH and MYANMAR / BURMA and north-eastern India later this week / Thursday morning.

 

7,399 people from 1,947 families have been affected, says a spokesman for Sri Lanka's disaster center to the news agency Reuters.

 

 

BANGLADESH AND MYANMAR aka. BURMA DECREE EVACUATIONS BEFORE ARRIVAL OF HURRICANE "MAHASEN"

 

Bangladesh and Myanmar/Burma have ordered the evacuation of hundred thousands of people as a cyclone is approaching the coasts of Bangladesh.

 

According to the authorities in Myanmar/Burma 166,000 will be moved to higher-lying areas.

 

The cyclone might result in floodings of up to 2m in the lowlying coastal areas and is expected to make landfall Thursday evening.

 

According to the authorities as much as 4.7 million people may be affected.

 

The tropical cyclone Mahasen is a category 1-hurricane with wind gusts of up to 140 km per hour.

 

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/nyheder (news) + Norwegian NRK News + Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 16 MAY 2013

 

 

CYCLONE "MAHASEN" MADE LANDFALL ON THE SOUTH COAST OF BANGLADESH: SO FAR 9 DEATHS RECORDED

 

 

Cyclone "Mahasen" made landfall on the south coast of Bangladesh with heavy rainfalls.

 

The consequences of the cyclone were not as bad as feared.

 

1 million had been evacuated from the coastal areas before arrival of the cyclone, and they were allowed to return this afternoon.

 

9 people have died according to information given by the authorities.

 

Some hundred huts / houses 150 km south of the capital, Dhaka, were damaged or even destroyed. There were reports of floodings.

 

Neighbouring state, MYANMAR aka. BURMA, was more or less spared. 1 million inhabitants had been evacuated before arrival of the cyclone.

 

INDIA expects damage to houses caused by the storm and damage to power and telephone lines in the north-eastern Indian states.

 

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

 

 

 

6 DEATHS AND 7-14 MISSING FOLLOWING 3 TORNADOES IN NORTH TEXAS, USA

 

3 tornadoes in the northern part of US state of Texas claimed 6 human lives. Between 7 and 14 people are missing. 45 people were hospitalized.

 

According to the US news broadcaster CNN more than hundred have been injured.

 

Around 120 houses were destroyed according to the authorities in the town of Granbury 50 km south-west of Fort Worth.

 

The tornado swept through the area about 100 km from DALLAS - that was Wednesday evening.

 

Trees were uprooted and cars overturned.

 

According to a spokesman for the police, officials & policemen had gone from house to house to find out whether the people living there were trapped in the rubble, injured or dead.

 

The rescue operation was made difficult because it was dark.

 

The people in the affected areas are transported to a safe place by school busses.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + ARDtext, Norwegian NRK News, Swedish TV4 Text + Swedish SVT Text

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 18 MAY 2013

 

 

MAGNITUDE 6.1 EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH JAPAN

 

The northern coast of Japan has been shaken by a magnitude 6.1 earthquake.

 

The quake occurred in the Pacific about 50 km from the town of Namie and thus close to the nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi that was crippled by the tsunami on 11 March 2011. All this according to the US Geological Survey centre USGS. The Japanese weather service stated that the magnitude of the quake was 5.9.

 

The tremor occurred at a depth of 50 km.

 

There was no tsunami warning issued. And there are no reports of any damage.

 

Source: German ARDtext

 

 

NAMIBIA HIT BY GRAVE DROUGHT - STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY PRESIDENT POHAMBA.

 

The crops are expected to be 48% lower than average.

 

Source: Norwergian NRK News

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 20 MAY 2013

 

 

STORMY WEATHER AND A LITTLE LESS THAN 30 TORNADOES IN 4 US STATES - AT LEAST ONE MAN DEAD IN OKLAHOMA

 

 

At least 4 US states in the MIDDLE WEST and in the SOUTH have been haunted by tornadoes today, Sunday 20 May 2013.

 

Roofs were torn off houses, trees uprooted and vehicles overturned.

 

One man died in Shawnee in the US state of OKLAHOMA. A dozen other people have been injured according to broadcaster CNN.

 

NRK NEWS: One person died Sunday when a tornado ravaged Colorado.

 

2 tornadoes were confirmed in Oklahoma, and the weather service warned people to seek shelter.

 

The national weather service reported almost 30 tornadoes in the US states of OKLAHOMA, IOWA, KANSAS + ILLINOIS.

 

A caravan park east of Oklahoma City was destroyed.

 

Yesterday (Sunday 19.5.13) the authorities also issued storm warnings for Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.

 

A big and "extremely dangerous" tornado was sighted south-west of the town of WICHITA in the US state of KANSAS in the Middle USA.

 

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

 

 

 

FLOODING IN CHINA CLAIMS 55 HUMAN LIVES - 1½ MILLION AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING

 

Source: Danish TV2 News live

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS END OF MAY + 1.6.13

 

 

3 TORNADOES IN OKLAHOMA CLAIMING AT LEAST 5 DEATHS

 

5 people died in the Oklahoma City region and up to 50 are injured (5 of these are in a critical state). Several streets in the capital Oklahoma City were under water. Many people were stuck in their cars in the affected traffic.

 

Friday evening the twisters moved towards MISSOURI.

 

On 20 May a tornado of the highest category had destroyed MOORE near Oklahoma City killing a total of 24 people.

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Danish TV2 news + Danish dr.dk/news

 

 

 

 

A few days ago there a tropical storm Barbara clsimrf 2 deaths in Mexico.

 

A 61-year-old man chose to ignore numerous warnings and went surfing and died.

 

Another person - 47 years old, I think - was washed away by the water masses.

 

International media on 30.5.13

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 2 JUNE 2013

 

 

TORNADOES IN OKLAHOMA AND MISSOURI CLAIMED 14 HUMAN LIVES

 

At least 14 people died in connection with 3 (maybe 5) tornadoes that ravaged mainly the US states of Oklahoma + Missouri on Friday 31.5.13.

 

A total of 11 people died in OKLAHOMA, whereas 3 died in the neighbouring state MISSOURI in floodings in connection with the storm and its aftermath.

 

Less than 2 weeks ago a powerful tornado claimed 24 human lives in OKLAHOMA. The clean-up operation after that tornado is on-going.

 

Source: Danish dr.dk/nyheder (news)

 

 

ONE KILLED IN CONNECTION WITH MAGNITUDE 6.6 EARTHQUAKE IN TAIWAN

 

A powerful - magnitude 6.6 (later downgraded to 6.5) - earthquake hit Taiwan according to US Geological Survey centre.

 

According to the news agency AFP one people died, and many buildings were swaying in Taiwan's capital TAIPEI.

 

The powerful earthquake made people flee into the streets.

 

The victim was a male mountaineer who was hit by falling stones on the mountain of Mount Ali in central Taiwan.

 

The quake occurred almost 40 km south-east of the town Tai-Chung at a depth of about 14 km.

 

Sources: Danish dr.dk/nyheder (nyheder = news) + German ZDFtext

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO NATURAL DISASTERS ON 3 JUNE 2013

 

 

LARGE PARTS OF CENTRAL EUROPE FLOODED AFTER HEAVY RAIN - SO FAR 4 PEOPLE KILLED (3 IN THE CHECH REPUBLIC / ONE IN AUSTRIA) AND AT LEAST 8 MISSING IN CONNECTION WITH THE CURRENT FLOOD SITUATION

 

After several days of heavy rain with ensuing floodings and landslides the water levels of the rivers in Central Europe have risen alarmingly much.

 

River MOLDAU thas passes the Chech capital PRAHA aka. Prague/Prag is one of these rivers. The historic part of PRAHA is threatened, several parts of the area is also under water. Schools and the metro are closed all Monday.

 

Water levels are rising in Lower Bavaria including in German PASSAU where the rivers DONAU and INN meet. This morning the water level of INN is 9.60 m and the water level of Donau is 12 meter.

 

The old parts of Passau are flooded in many areas. The power had to be cut in the old parts of Passau. 250 federal soldiers are deployed.

 

Disaster alert issued in Bavaria after a full day of rain.

 

In some towns & cities and regions in Bavaria/Bayern - i.a. Passau and Rosenheim - Thuring and Saxony (Sachsen) a state of emergency was declared. Thousands are affected.

 

Many schools in Bavaria are closed on Monday (3.6.13).

 

The TCHECH Republic is in a state of EMERGENCY declared by Prime Minister Petr Necas. 3 people have died in the water masses in the Chech Republic. A man and a woman were killed as their house collapsed, and a man was found dead in the river UPA.

 

More than 10 million Euro is earmarked help. 2.000 additional soldiers are deplayed to assist in Prague (Prag/Praha) and in other regions.

 

The high water level situation is also dramatic in AUSTRIA aka. Österreich (D) and Autriche (F). At least one person has died here due to flooding. 2 other persons are missing.

 

The heavy rain triggered landslide(s). Several communities had to be evacuated. The Austrian authorities expect a FLOOD OF THE CENTURY situation as in 2002. Austria got the equivalent of 2 months' rain in only 2 days.

 

Some people had to be evacuated in Switzerland aka. die Schweiz (D) / Suisse (F). The situation in Switzerland is stable after the rain stopped Sunday morning.

 

 

Sources: German ZDFtext + Danish dr.dk/nyheder + TV2 NEWS

 

 

 

 

WILD FIRES IN CALIFORNIA NEAR LOS ANGELES

 

Wildfires are ongoing in the US state of CALIFORNIA i.a. in the mountainous region near Los Angeles where many people had to leave their houses. Numerous buildings were destroyed. More than 2,000 firefighters are deployed using firefighting planes (aircraft) and helicopters in the attempt to bring the fire under control. Strong winds are making the firefighting difficult.

 

 

Sources: German ZDFtext