News

Pakistan Flood Death Toll Rises to 972 Amid Ongoing Monsoon Rains Islamabad, 15 Sep (ONA) --- The death toll from heavy rains and flash floods in Pakistan since 26 June 2025 has climbed to 972, with 1,062 people reported injured, according to the latest figures released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The NDMA confirmed that at least 972 people—including 266 children, 547 men, and 159 women—have lost their lives in rain and flood-related incidents across affected regions. The severe weather has also damaged 8,481 homes. Earlier reports had ...

Train-Bus Collision Leaves 10 Dead, 41 Injured in MexicoMexico City, 9 Sep (ONA) --- At least 10 people were dead and 41 others were injured when a train collided with a bus at a rail crossing in the State of Mexico, according to authorities. Civil Protection General Coordinator confirmed the casualty toll, noting that four of the injured remain in critical condition. Security footage showed the double-decker bus slowly moving across the train tracks. The train then suddenly appeared, ramming the bus at its midpoint and splitting the vehicle in two. The bus driver was arrested at the request ...

Evacuations, Transport Disruptions as Typhoon Tapah Hits Southern ChinaBeijing, 8 Sep (ONA) --- China's National Meteorological Center announced that Typhoon Tapah has made landfall in south China's Guangdong Province, prompting evacuations, school closures, and the suspension of train and ferry services. Tapah, the year's 16th typhoon is expected to make landfall along the coast between the cities of Jiangmen and Maoming, unleashing torrential rain across the southern Pearl River Delta and western Guangdong through Tuesday, China's News Agency (Xinhua) reported. The cities raised typhoon ...

Oman Reaffirms its Commitment to Supporting Children's Issues Geneva, 3 Sep (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to supporting children's issues and strengthening its partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). In its statement during the opening session of the Executive Board of UNICEF, Oman emphasized the importance of continuing close cooperation to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing the protection and well-being of children worldwide. Oman clarified that this cooperation ...

16 Injured in Ammunition Depot Explosion in LibyaTripoli, 1 Sep (ONA) --- A massive explosion at an ammunition depot in the Libyan city of Misrata today left 16 people injured, according to the Libyan News Agency (WAL). Ambulance and Emergency Service spokesman Osama Ali said all of the injured suffered minor wounds and are in stable condition. The agency added that the explosion was fully contained, noting that fires had broken out as a result but were being dealt with by specialized teams. --- ...

Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 500, Over 1,000 InjuredKabul, 1 Sep (ONA) --- The death toll from the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in eastern Afghanistan today has risen to 500, with more than 1,000 others injured, as rescue teams continue operations under difficult conditions. The powerful quake leveled entire villages built of mud and stone, while landslides blocked major roads and communication outages hampered relief efforts. Local authorities said Kunar was the hardest-hit province, particularly in the districts of Nurgal, Sawkay, ...

Pakistan: 33 Dead, Millions Affected Due to Floods in PunjabIslamabad, 1 Sep (ONA) --- Pakistan's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali announced that the massive floods that have swept through parts of Punjab province in eastern Pakistan have resulted in the death of 33 people and affected more than two million others. He added that about half a million people have been evacuated to safe areas as the severe floods continue to submerge vast areas of Punjab, noting that relief and rescue operations are still ongoing. He stated that more than 800 boats ...

Mt. Shinmoe in Southwestern Japan Erupts, Spews Plume 5,500m above CraterTokyo, 28 Aug (ONA) --- Mt. Shinmoe on the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu erupted today, spewing a plume of ash 5,500 meters above the crater. The eruption that occurred this morning sent volcanic material 5,000 meters above the volcano's peak for the first time since 3 July 2025, Japan News Agency (Kyodo) said, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency maintained the level 3 alert on a scale of 5, calling on the public to refrain from approaching the crater in both Miyazaki and Kagoshima ...

150,000 Evacuated Ahead of Floods in Punjab, PakistanIslamabad, 28 Aug (ONA) --- Pakistani authorities announced that they evacuated more than 150,000 people from areas along three major rivers in Punjab province after receiving a warning from India about the release of excess water from one of its dams. Pakistani officials explained that recent heavy rains and floods have caused water levels to rise dangerously, while the discharge of water from the Indian side threatens to submerge large parts of Punjab. A spokesperson for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority indicated that ...

Genetic Breakthrough Reclassifies Giraffes into Four Distinct Species Geneva, 27 Aug (ONA) --- A landmark scientific analysis has concluded that Africa’s giraffes are not one but four distinct species, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the continent’s tallest mammal and carrying profound implications for their conservation. This reclassification, led by a task force of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), divides them into Northern, Reticulated, Masai, and Southern giraffes. Previously, all giraffes across Africa were considered a ...

Typhoon Kajiki Hits China, Over 100,000 Affected Beijing, 26 Aug (ONA) --- Typhoon Kajiki, the 13th typhoon of the year, brushed past the coast of south China's island province of Hainan, affecting over 100,000 people, according to a Chinese provincial press conference. The typhoon passed through the offshore areas from the resort city of Sanya to Ledong Li Autonomous County, and headed toward the central and northern coastal regions of Vietnam. Preliminary figures show that about 102,500 people in Hainan have been affected, and no casualties had been reported. The typhoon inflicted ...

Fire Breaks Out at Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Moscow, 24 Aug (ONA) --- A fire broke out at the Kursk nuclear power plant during the early morning hours, Russian media reported today. REN TV quoted the plant's press office as saying that the fire broke out in a transformer unit not related to the nuclear department, noting that there was no risk to the safety of workers or the facility itself. This incident comes amid escalating attacks between Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022, with strikes targeting vital energy and infrastructure facilities in both ...

5.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Eastern Russia's Kamchatka Moscow, 21 Aug (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck eastern peninsula Kamchatka, the Russian Federation today. The Kamchatka branch of geophysical service of the Russian academy of sciences reported that the earthquakes epicenter was located 208 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Kamchatka peninsula, Eastern Russia at a depth of 50.4 kilometers. ---Ends/Emad ...

3 Dead, 1 Missing in Rain-Triggered Landslide in Southwest ChinaBeijing, 20 Aug (ONA) --- Three people were found dead and one remains missing after a rain-triggered landslide struck a village in Pu'er City of southwest China's Yunnan Province today, according to local authorities. One trapped individual has been rescued and taken to the hospital, Chinese News Agency (Xinhua) reported. A total of 58 villagers from 23 households in the village have been relocated to safer sites, Xinhua added. All-out search and rescue efforts are underway. --- ...

2 Died, 4 Injured in Train Accident in South KoreaSeoul, 19 Aug (ONA) --- Two workers died and four seriously hurt today after being struck by a passenger train in the southeastern South Korean city of Cheongdo, officials said. The accident occurred near the Cheongdo Bullfighting Stadium when a Mugunghwa train bound for Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province hit seven workers who were inspecting structures on a slope near the tracks, according to police and the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. The train was carrying 89 passengers, none of whom were injured, Yonhap News Agency reported. The ...

5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northeastern AfghanistanKabul, 19 Aug (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck northeastern Afghanistan today. The US Geological Survey reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 42 kilometers from the Jurm district in Badakhshan province, northern Afghanistan, at a depth of 202.4 kilometers. No human or material losses were reported as a result of the earthquake. --- ...

2 Died, Others Injured in Oil Well Fire in IndonesiaJakarta, 18 Aug (ONA) --- A fire erupted at an oil well, resulting on death of two people and injury of several others, according to the Blora District Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in Central Java, Indonesia. BPBD's Rapid Response Team member Agung Triyono said two people died from severe burns, while three others, including a young child, were receiving hospital care. A Blora police spokesman said the fire broke out as a result of a borehole explosion, noting that the flames quickly swept through the drilling site, forcing the ...

2 Died in Light Plane Crash in KazakhstanAstana, 18 Aug (ONA) --- A light plane crashed in the Tselinograd district of Kazakhstan's Akmola region, resulting in death of two people, said the country's transport ministry. According to the Ministry of Transport, the Aerostar R40F UP-LA229 light plane crashed on Aug. 17 during a general aviation flight. The aircraft did not catch a fire, (Kazinform) news agency reported. "As per the Rules for the Investigation of Aviation Accidents, a commission has been set up. Employees of the Department for the Investigation of Accidents of the Ministry ...

20 Died, 134 Injured in Blast at Factory in Russia's Ryazan RegionMoscow, 18 Aug (ONA) --- Twenty people died and 134 others were injured in an accident that occurred at a factory in the Shilovsky district of Russia's Ryazan region, according to the regional operations headquarters. According to Russia's (TASS) news agency, 31 patients are in hospitals, while 103 patients are undergoing outpatient treatment. The relevant authorities reported that search and rescue operations are still ongoing. Russia's Ryazan region is home to a number of large industrial facilities, including ...

3 Injured in Commercial Building Fire in OsakaTokyo, 18 Aug (ONA) --- Three people were injured after a fire broke out in a building in the Dotombori area, one of the busiest shopping districts in Osaka, Japan. The Japanese news agency (Kyodo) quoted the fire department as saying that the fire broke out on the first floor of the building, requiring a woman to be taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and two firefighters also sent for treatment. --- ...

29 Injured as Earthquake Strikes Indonesia's SulawesiJakarta, 17 Aug (ONA) — A 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked central Sulawesi today, injuring 29 people, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency.The quake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometers near Poso Regency, was felt across neighboring areas.The National Disaster Management Agency confirmed in a statement that two of the injured are in critical condition, though no fatalities have been reported. — Ends/AH ...

At Least 8 Dead in Flooding Across Northern China Beijing, 17 Aug (ONA) — At least eight people have died due to severe flooding in northern China, while rescue teams continue searching for four others reported missing. The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported today that the flash floods struck northern Inner Mongolia, sweeping away 13 people. One individual has been rescued so far. China’s National Meteorological Center renewed a blue rainstorm alert, warning of heavy rainfall in multiple regions across the country. — Ends/AH ...

Three Die Due to Heavy Rain in Seoul Seoul, 14 Aug (ONA) --- Heavy rainfall in Seoul caused the death of three people, prompting the Republic of Korea's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to raise its emergency response to Level 2. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy rains are expected to hit parts of central South Korea for the second consecutive day. The administration noted that Seoul, its suburbs, and inland areas will witness heavy rain in the morning, ranging from 10-40mm per hour, along with strong winds and lightning. While the rain is ...

5.6-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Tonga IslandsNuku'alofa, 14 Aug (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck today the Tonga Islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The earthquake occurred 156 km from the Neiafu area, at a depth of 10 km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Tonga is an archipelago of 176 islands scattered in the South Pacific Ocean, of which only 52 are inhabited, located northwest of New Zealand and Australia. ...

Explosion at US Steel Plant in Pennsylvania Leaves 2 Dead, 10 InjuredWashington, 12 Aug (ONA) --- An explosion at a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh in the US State of Pennsylvania left two dead and at least 10 others injured late Monday, officials said. The blast, followed by several smaller explosions, was felt in surrounding communities and prompted county officials to urge residents to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to respond. Five of the injured remain in critical but stable condition, while the others have been discharged from hospital. No workers are reported missing. The ...

UN Humanitarian Organizations Call for Urgent Action to Meet Food Needs in GazaNew York, 12 Aug (ONA) --- United Nations (UN) humanitarian organizations called for urgent action after medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported the deaths of more than 100 children from malnutrition since the start of the war in October 2023. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) described on its official website the surpassing of the 100-child death toll as a "devastating milestone that shames the world and demands long overdue urgent action." The World Food Programme (WFP) ...

Mount Merapi Erupts in Indonesia, Spewing Ash 1,600 Meters HighJakarta, 12 Aug (ONA) --- Mount Merapi volcano in Indonesia erupted today, spewing an ash column 1,600 meters above its summit. In a statement, an officer from the Mount Merapi Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PGA) said that the eruption was detected on a seismometer and had a maximum amplitude of 30.4 mm, and that the eruption lasted approximately 34 seconds. The Indonesian Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center indicated that the alert level for Mount Merapi, located on the border between ...

100% of GCC Households Have Access to Safe Drinking Water and Electricity Muscat, 10 Aug (ONA) --- The percentage of households in the GCC countries with access to safe drinking water and electricity has reached 100 percent, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 91 percent. Data released by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) indicates that the percentage of primary schools suitable for students with disabilities is 100 percent, compared to a global rate of 50 percent. Meanwhile, health coverage stands at 72 percent in the GCC, surpassing the global rate ...

New York, 4 Aug (ONA) --- The UNICEF said that the lives of more than 640,000 children under five are at heightened risk of violence, disease and hunger. Recent assessments show that the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in North Darfur has doubled in the past year. More than 1,180 cholera cases including an estimated 300 cases in children and at least 20 deaths have been reported in Tawila in the State since the first case was detected on 21 June 2025. This represents a rapid surge in cases in the town which has absorbed over 500,000 internally displaced people ...

Death Toll from Flooding in Beijing Rises to at Least 60Beijing, 31 Jul (ONA) --- The death toll from flooding caused by heavy rains in and around Beijing has climbed to at least 60, authorities said today. In the Chinese capital, the number of dead rose from 30 to 44, while at least eight people were reported to have been killed in neighbouring Chengde city, as rescue efforts to locate those still missing continue. A home for the elderly on the outskirts of Beijing was particularly hard-hit, with the facility suddenly submerged by water on Monday morning. Most of the residents were ...