Dhaka, Oct 20 – A depression over coastal Odisha and adjoining area moved Northwestwards and was centred at 06 am on Friday over Odisha and adjoining area as a land depression.
Category: Disasters
Aid network’s ‘innovation labs’ to prepare 4 countries for disasters
A global network of aid agencies has launched four new “innovation labs” in Bangladesh, Jordan, Kenya and the Philippines, aimed at finding fresh ways to help local communities prepare for disasters.
California wildfire toll rises as blazes continue
Forty people have died and hundreds are still missing in California after six days of wildfires that have devastated swathes of countryside and destroyed thousands of homes. California’s governor said it was “one of the greatest tragedies” the state had…
Loudspeakers reinforce quake alert system in Mexico City
Mexico City, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) – Mexico City will reinforce its earthquake alert system by installing between 800 and 1,000 new speakers on the streets, after the 7.1 earthquake which hit the capital on Sep. 19 and killed 228 people,…
Leave no one behind: Disaster resilience for sustainable dev
Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2017 from UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific UN report says natural disasters to become more destructive in Asia-Pacific without action on disaster resilience Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and intense and…
Locals asked to stay away as Japanese volcano erupts
Mount Shinmoedake in southern Japan erupted for the first time in six years Wednesday, shooting a plume of ash several hundred metres into the air and sparking warnings to local residents. People were ordered to stay away from the volcano…
Dubai ruler uses personal 747 jet to help Rohingya Muslims
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has ordered the use of his private 747 plane and the opening of an air bridge to provide aid to Rohingya…
US states declare emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
Mexico City, Oct 7 (AP/UNB) – Tropical Storm Nate gained force as it sped toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Friday after drenching Central America in the rain that was blamed for at least 21 deaths. Forecasters said it was likely to…
Back-to-back hurricanes take heavy toll on the Caribbean
By António Guterres UN, Oct 4 (IPS) – As you know, we are coming off a jam-packed High-level week and the opening of the General Assembly. Some of the most important speeches during that period came from leaders of Caribbean…
EU releases €1.2 million to support Bangladesh flood victims
Dhaka – 3 Oct — In response to the widespread floods that have swept across large parts of Bangladesh in recent weeks, the European Union is providing €1.2 million (BDT 114.2 million) in emergency relief funding to assist the most…
Bali volcano triggers memories of deadly 1963 eruption
Kagangasem, Indonesia, Sept 28 (BSS/AFP) – The last time Bali’s Mount Agung volcano erupted, a stream of molten lava flattened teenage Gusti Nyoman Dauh’s home, while cascading ash, rocks and hot gas killed 1,600 of his neighbours.
Bali volcano exodus nears 100000 amid tremors
Bali, Sep 28 (AP/UNB) — The exodus from a menacing volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali is nearing 100,000 people, a disaster official said Wednesday, as hundreds of tremors from the mountain are recorded daily. The National Disaster…
35,000 evacuated from near Mount Agung
Nearly 35,000 people have been evacuated from their homes near an active volcano in Bali, as authorities warn it could erupt imminently. The area around Mount Agung has seen hundreds of tremors and signs of magma rising to the surface…
Rivers Day: Revival of dying rivers must for sustainability
Dhaka, Sept 24 – The severe floods that devastated the Bangladesh’s 27 districts are a wake-up call for the authorities concerned to act immediately to recover the dying rivers to protect from even more perilous deluge in future, say green…
Boat with 30 on board capsizes in Turag River
Gazipur, Sept 23 – A boat carrying at least 30 passengers capsized in the Turag River in Tongi on Saturday night.
Mexico’s disaster response system severely stretched by quake
By Emilio Godoy Mexico City, Sep 20 (IPS) – Central Mexico faced Wednesday the challenge of putting itself back together after the powerful 7.1-magnitude quake that devastated the capital and the neighbouring states of Mexico, Morelos and Puebla the day…
Bangladesh needs to shore up its flood defence
By Mahfuzur Rahman Dhaka, Sep 20 (IPS) – Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country with floods hitting almost every year, leaving a trail of destruction despite having early warning systems. Now experts say it is time for the delta nation to…
Maria destroys Puerto Rico homes, knocks out power
San Juan, Sep 21 (AP/UNB) — The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and turned some streets into raging rivers Wednesday in an onslaught…
Mexico earthquake toll rises to 230
At least 21 children and five adults died at a primary school which collapsed in Mexico City during Tuesday’s quake, the government says. The shallow, 7.1 magnitude quake killed at least 230 people in total and caused major damage across…
Mexicans dig in rubble for survivors: Toll 248
Mexico City, Sep 20 (AP/UNB) — Rescuers and volunteers frantically dug through the rubble of collapsed schools, homes and apartment buildings long into the night, looking for survivors of Mexico’s deadliest earthquake since 1985 as the number of confirmed fatalities…
Strong earthquake topples Mexico buildings killing 226
A strong earthquake has struck central Mexico, killing more than 226 people and toppling dozens of buildings in the capital, Mexico City.
World’s poor ‘paying the price’ for global crises: UN
Dhaka, Sept 15 (UNB) – People living in poverty around the world are facing increasing multiple threats, including climate change and the global economic crisis, but the political will to tackle the issues is lacking, a United Nations human rights…
Kuala Lumpur school fire kills 24 students, teachers
At least 24 students and teachers have died in a fire at a religious school in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The fire at the Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah broke out in the early hours of Thursday morning. The victims are…
Cities flushed with raw sewage as Hurricanes stress systems
By Jennifer A Dlouhy and Ari Natter Hurricane Harvey took aim at one of the nation’s most industrial regions, releasing a stream of toxic pollutants from chemical plants, refineries and Superfund sites in Texas. But when its bigger sister Irma…
Suu Kyi won’t attend UN General Assembly
Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to miss next week’s UN General Assembly as criticism of her handling of the Rohingya crisis grows. Some 370,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed to Bangladesh since violence in Rakhine state escalated…
FEMA estimates 25pc of Florida Keys homes gone
Florida, Sep 13 (AP/UNB) — With 25 percent of the homes in the Florida Keys feared destroyed, emergency workers Tuesday rushed to find Hurricane Irma’s victims — dead or alive — and deliver food and water to the stricken island…
Europe leaders view Irma-devastated Carribbean islands
Philipsburg, Sep 13 (AP/UNB) — France’s president and the Dutch king visited Caribbean territories Tuesday that were hammered by Hurricane Irma, bringing in much-needed food, water and medical supplies amid accusations that European governments were unprepared, slow to react and…
Floods – hurricanes – droughts… when climate sets the agenda
By Baher Kamal Rome, Sep 11(IPS) – When officials and experts from all over the world started the first-ever environmental summit hosted by China, they were already aware that climate and weather-related disasters were already seriously beginning to set the…
US commemorates 9-11 in NY ground zero
While the U.S. contends with the destruction caused by two ferocious hurricanes in three weeks, Americans also are marking the anniversary of one of the nation’s most scarring days. Thousands of 9/11 victims’ relatives, survivors, rescuers and others are expected…
Hurricane Irna literally pulling ocean away from shoreline
s a meteorologist, there are things you learn in textbooks that you may never see in person. You know they happen theoretically, but the chances of seeing the most extraordinary weather phenomena are slim to none. This is one of…