Gazipur, Mar 8 – A fire broke out at a cotton godown of a spinning mill at Bagher Bazar in the city on Thursday. AktaruzzamanLiton, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service, said the fire broke out at the godown…
Category: Disasters
When environmental crises hit homes, women suffer the most
By Victor Tsang and Shari Nijman Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 5 (IPS) – When Mandelena became a mother, she was only 16. During the prolonged dry season in Gwor County, South Sudan, her community saw crops failing and cattle dying. Children…
Rohingya shelters being ungraded to mitigate disasters
Dhaka, Feb 27 – UN’s migration agency IOM on Tuesday said they are upgrading shelters to mitigate disasters when the monsoon and cyclone season hit the world’s biggest refugee settlement in the coming weeks.
Oxfam’s sexual abuse might inspire culture
Sexual abuse allegations against Oxfam staff, and failings in the charity’s response to them, delivered a body blow to an organisation renowned for years of humanitarian and development work. At the very least the accusations will leave a stain on…
7.2 quake damages homes, but Mexico avoids major destruction
Mexico City, Feb 18 (AP/UNB) – Mexico escaped major destruction from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted southern and central parts of the country, authorities said Saturday, though 13 people were killed in the crash of a helicopter sent to…
US$92.4m to improve livelihoods in flood-prone areas
Rome, 13 February 2018 – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Bangladesh signed a financing agreement today to sustainably improve incomes and promote resilience to extreme weather conditions for 303,000 rural households in six flood-prone districts in northern…
6 dead, 88 missing after strong quake hits Taiwan
Hualien, Feb 7 (AP/UNB) — Rescuers were working Wednesday to try to reach people who were trapped after a strong earthquake near Taiwan’s east coast caused several buildings to cave in and tilt dangerously. At least six people were killed…
Series of powerful aftershocks hit Taiwan’s Hualien
Aftershocks continue to rattle Taiwan after a strong earthquake that killed at least four people and injured more than 220 others. The powerful 6.4-magnitude tremor struck at 23:50 (15:50 GMT) about 20km (12 miles) off the island’s east coast. Residents…
Create ‘sponge cities’ to tackle worsening floods
Penang, Malaysia (Martin Khor) – With floods now causing more damage more frequently around the world, it is time to counter their effects by turning our towns into “Sponge Cities”, a recent trend popularised by China to absorb rainwater through…
Climate-related disasters cost nearly $400 billion in 2017
By Amina J. Mohammed UN, Jan 31 (IPS) – I am pleased to be with you at this important and timely summit on climate risk and to discuss the opportunities that are there for us to seize through decisive climate…
“The world has gone in reverse”
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Jan 18 (IPS) – A year into his position, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that peace remains elusive and that renewed action must be taken in 2018 to set the world on track for…
RUTA distributes warm cloths in Panchagarh
Rajshahi, 22 Jan – The Rajshahi University Teachers Association (RUTA) has distributed warm clothes to the cold affected poor and distressed people of Panchagarh to mitigate their sufferings.
Tremor jolts Bangladesh’s northern districts
Dhaka, Jan 20 – A mild earthquake jolted parts of northern Bangladesh on Saturday morning.
Muhith’s car injures at least 20 AL leaders and activists
Sylhet, Jan 19 – At least 20 leaders and activists of local Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were injured as the private car of Finance Minister AMA Muhith hit them at Shibganj area of the city on Friday…
Nine dead as huge storm batters Europe
Nine people including two firefighters were killed Thursday as violent gales battered northern Europe, snapping air and train links. Germany halted all long-distance rail traffic for at least a day, while numerous domestic flights were scrapped as hurricane-force winds lashed…
Lava flowing from Philippine volcano, thousands evacuated
Legazpi, Jan 15 (AP/UNB) — More than 9,000 people have evacuated the area around the Philippines’ most active volcano as lava flowed down its crater Monday in a gentle eruption that scientists warned could turn explosive. The Philippine Institute of…
False missile alarm sparks panic in US state of Hawaii
An incoming missile alert plunged residents of Hawaii into panic on Saturday morning before it was declared a false alarm.
Most of mudslide-stricken US town Montecito told to vacate
Montecito, Jan 13 (AP/UNB) – Most residents of mudslide-ravaged Montecito were under orders to clear out Friday as the search for victims dragged on and crews labored to clean up massive debris and repair power, water and gas lines.
California mudslides death toll 17 – 13 still missing
Hundreds of rescuers are combing wreckage in Southern California for more than a dozen people missing after mudslides that have killed 17 people.
California storm mudslides kill 13 – devastation huge
A storm that slammed a California coastal community is over. The search for its victims is not. Authorities in Santa Barbara County were still trying to reach new areas and dig into the destruction to find dead, injured or trapped…
Magnitude 7.6 quake hits the Carribean North of Honduras
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake has struck in the Caribbean Sea north of Honduras.There are no early reports of damage on land, but the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center warns of tsunami dangers in Puerto Rico, Jamaica, other islands and the…
2017 was a year of record-breaking climate events
By Kelly Levin We’re only a few days into the new year, but it’s already off to an extreme start. Washington DC, Jan 6 2018 (IPS) – Parts of the United States are experiencing blizzard and record low temperatures, with…
4 days of cold claims 12 lives in Bangladesh
Dhaka, 08 Jan – At least twelve people, including six children, died of cold-related ailments in Rajshahi, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts in last four days as the northern districts bore the brunt of a cold wave crossing over Bangladesh.
Moderate tremor felt in Comilla Chittagong
A moderate earthquake was felt in some parts of the country today at 12 hours 47 minutes 16 seconds (BST), according to a met office press release.
Mercury dips to 5.8 Degrees Celsius in Northern BD
A cold weave is sweeping over different parts of the country with the lowest temperature 5.8 degree Celsius recorded in Chuadanga and Rajshahi districts on Saturday.People in the districts have been suffering badly due to the persisting cold weather.
2017 was full of disasters and crises. 2018 looks like even worse
The UN has appealed for record levels of funding to help those whose lives have been torn apart, but the gap between the funding needs and the funding available continues to grow. And what makes the outlook especially bad for…
The political responsibility in the collapse of our planet
By Roberto Savio Rome, (IPS) – On 20 December, Europe’s 28 Ministers of Environment met in Brussels, to discuss the plan for reducing emissions prepared by the Commission, to comply with the Paris Agreement on climate change. Well, it is…
Critical Issues to Watch in 2018
By Martin Khor Penang, Malaysia, Jan 2 2018 (IPS) – Another new year has dawned, and on a world facing serious disruption on many fronts. What are the trends and issues to watch out for in 2018?
Sylhet stone quarry mudslide death toll now 5
Sylhet, Jan 3 – The death toll from mudslide while extracting stones from a quarry in Jaflong area of Goainghat Upazila rose to five as another succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday night.
Banking irregularities, Floods, Rohingya issue to pressure BD economy
Irregularities in credit management in banking sector, Rohingya influx and the floods in the last year will continue to keep overall economy under pressure this year, says the president of the country’s apex trade body. But at the same time…