Sri Lanka floods leave 600,000 people displaced

Historic floods have cut off access to many rural Sri Lankan villages, forcing nearly 75,000 residents from their homes. Widespread flooding and devastating mudslides in Sri Lanka have killed at least 202 people and displaced more than half a million, the government has said. The state-run Disaster Management Center said around 600,000 people remained temporarily homeless following last Friday’s landslides and floods. Agencies were struggling to distribute fresh food to rural areas. “In the capital, shops and supermarkets are running out of supplies as people are coming in and hoovering up items. "While waters are receding in some areas, there are still some parts that are 10 to 12 feet under water.”  Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said 16 countries had sent medicines and relief supplies to assist those driven from their homes.

Chile is battling the worst wildfire in its history

The burn area has doubled over the past two days to 3,870 square kilometres, according to the national forestry agency CONAF. It said 130 fires were still burning in the centre and south of the country, with 61 out of control. High temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius and strong winds also were hindering attempts to douse them. So far five firefighters, two policemen and three local residents have been killed while battling the blazes.

Using buckets, garden hoses, and branches, frantic locals have been joining in efforts to tackle the fire to save their homes, animals and farmland. “It’s hell. It’s chaos,” said Fernando Calkin, a fire volunteer. “We have been here for 11 days, and it is time for it to stop. There are some days I’d like to rest, but I can’t stay at home watching the fire on TV.”

In Santa Olga, a town of 5,000 in Maule, 1,000 homes were destroyed, Mayor Carlos Valenzuela told local media. The town of Hualane, 70km to the north, was also under threat. More than 4,000 firefighters were working to douse the flames, according to Bachelet who said that at least some of the fires may have been started intentionally. A number of people have been arrested in relation to ongoing investigations.

China floods kill scores, leave thousands homeless

Heavy rain in China has killed at least 154 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes, according to state media reported. About 114 people were killed and 111 others missing in the northern province of Hebei after rain triggered floods and landslides, the Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, citing the civil affairs department. Nearly 50,000 homes have collapsed, it said.

In the central province of Henan, 15 people were killed and eight were missing after thunderstorms and strong winds forced 72,000 people from their homes and damaged 18,000 houses.

 Overall, about 8.6 million people have been affected by the flooding, according to state media and local government reports. Large parts of China have been inundated with rain this summer, killing more than 200 people. More than 1.5m hectares of crops have been damaged, leading to direct economic losses of more than 20 billion yuan ($3bn), according to the government. The central bank on Friday issued a statement saying it would provide financial support for flooded areas.

A Los Angeles county fire helicopter battling a blaze

A Los Angeles county fire helicopter drops water while battling a blaze dubbed the “fish fire”.

A powerful quake strikes southern Taiwan

At 03:57 local time (19:57 UTC) on 6 February 2016, an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.4 struck 28 km (17 mi) north-east of Pingtung in southern Taiwan, in Meinong District of Kaohsiung. The earthquake struck at a depth of around 23 km (14 mi), with the earthquake having a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli scale.  Five aftershocks occurred.

Damage 

The worst affected city was Tainan, where numerous buildings reportedly collapsed, including at least one residential building,  with warnings that there may be hundreds of people trapped in collapsed buildings.  Seven people have been reported killed and 403 injured; 245 people have been reported as having been rescued. 

Taiwan Power Company initially reported 168,000 households experiencing power outage after the quake, but since then have restored the electricity to most of the houses. Taiwan High Speed Rail cancelled all of train service between Taichung Station and Zuoying Station starting Saturday due to the damage of the train power systems and extensive damage to its tracks north of Tainan.

Rescue efforts 

The Ministry of the Interior immediately set up the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) shortly after 4 a.m. once the earthquake had occurred. From the CEOC, President Ma Ying-jeou coordinated the rescue efforts and is expected to head to Tainan. Tainan Mayor William Lai also set up emergency response minutes after the quake. Premier Chang San-cheng has cancelled his original itinerary and is expected to head to Tainan as well. 

Ministry of National Defense confirmed that army units were dispatched for the rescue efforts consisting of 400 personnel. The Army Command Headquarters sent two helicopters to survey the damaged areas. Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital dispatched 30 medical personnel to Tainan. Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Yen Teh-fa will be stationed at the joint military operations command center to oversee the rescue efforts. A total of 1,200 beds in four locations have been prepared by the military for people who lost their homes due to the earthquake.

Scenes from the biggest storm of the year

 Scenes from the biggest storm of the year.

Widespread flooding in Missouri, Illinois

Torrential rains over the past several days pushed already swollen rivers and streams to virtually unheard-of heights in parts of Missouri and Illinois.

The Punjab and Kashmir under havoc by rains and floods

After heavy rains in KP – Now the Punjab and Kashmir under havoc by rains and floods 

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMC) is intact OR also Washed Away

After Effects of Hurricane Sandy

 

According to news reports, New York and a few other US states are struggling with the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Offices, school and business came to a standstill, which signals a large financial loss. According to initial warnings, three-and-a-half metre high waves could hit the main city areas. People were moved to higher areas and many flights were cancelled or rescheduled. Is this a result of global warming?

 

In the current modern era we have seen many parts of the world suffering from natural disasters such as floods, drought and earthquakes. I would like to mention that it’s not only the poor countries that get affected but the world together is paying a high price for natural disasters. The floods in China displaced about half a million people, even Russia witnessed the worst floods in its history; Australia destroyed thousands of acres of land and homes and now it’s the US. Unfortunately despite these disasters the world has failed to control the rising temperature of the Earth.

The last global summit on climate failed to bring any positive change due to the world powers being selfish and blaming each other for raising the level of carbon emissions. Global warming is indirectly harming the already weak world economy. It is high time that the world gets together and each individual and every country contributes to protect the planet.

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ

Global warming

According to media reports people of New York City and much of the US East Coast braced themselves for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. New York City shut down its mass transit system, closed its schools and ordered hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes Sunday in the face of dire predictions about the hurricane.
According to initial warnings, it could be the largest storm – with a diameter of more than 1,500 kilometers when measured by the extent of damaging-force winds — to hit the United States. The storm sheer size and power not the intensity at its core poses the gravest danger. Seven thousand flights around the city have already canceled or rescheduled. On the instructions of city Mayor Michael Bloomberg 375,000 people are migrating from low lying areas to high areas.

Due to the global warming, we are seeing worst kinds of flooding, hurricanes and droughts in many countries. Not only poor countries but rich countries are also a paying a high price for natural disasters. Now from China to Russia and Australia to the US, no one is safe. Only month ago more than half million population migrated from flood affected areas of China, just days ago Russia also witnessed its worst floods of its recent history.

Last year floods in Australia destroyed thousands of acres of land and homes. Unfortunately despite growing global warming and increasing natural disasters, world community has failed to control raising temperature of earth which is main cause of this type of disasters and ordinary people are falling victims. Due to selfishness of big powers, last global summit failed to bring about any positive change and big powers are still blaming each other for raising level of carbon on earth. Record numbers of floods and hurricanes are adding to woes of already weak world economy. Only combined efforts of modern world can minimize these natural disasters.

— Khawaja Umer Farooq, Jeddah