News

UN Warns of Continued Sea-Level Rise RisksNew York, 26 Sep (ONA) --- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the ongoing sea level rise, emphasising the urgent need to protect humanity from the devastating consequences of this crisis, which threatens to destroy communities.These remarks were made during the opening of the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on addressing the existential threats posed by sea level rise.The Secretary-General highlighted scientific findings indicating that the global sea level is now rising faster than at any time in the last 3,000 ...

Small Tsunami Hits Japan's Izu Islands After 5.9 EarthquakeTokyo, 24 Sep (ONA) --- A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Japan's Izu islands today, triggering a small tsunami with no reported damage.The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that a 50 cm (1.6 ft) tsunami reached Hachijo Island, one of the Izu islands, about 40 minutes after the quake.The earthquake occurred undersea near the uninhabited Torishima Island, 600 km (370 miles) south of Tokyo.Although a warning for a 1-meter (3.3 ft) tsunami had been issued for Izu and Ogasawara islands, no significant damage or ...

Six Dead after Record Rain Causes Floods in Japan Tokyo, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Six people died and 10 others are missing after record rainfall caused floods and landslides in parts of Japan's Ishikawa prefecture. The cities of Wajima and Suzu, which are still recovering from a deadly earthquake that devastated the area on 1 January 2024, are among the hardest hit by the deluge, which began last Saturday and continued until today, BBC news reported. Yesterday (Sunday), both cities saw twice the amount of rainfall they typically receive in September in an average year, ...

Forest Fires Rage in Colombia Amid Severe Drought Bogota, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Amid a drought affecting much of Latin America, Colombian authorities are battling forest fires across seven departments The Colombian National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management reported that nearly 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) have been consumed by flames.Fires are concentrated in areas bordering Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, all of which are experiencing similar challenges. In response, Colombia deployed eight aircraft to combat a fire in Nagataima, where two people sustained ...

Seismologists Warn of Future Possible Volcano EruptionsManila, 22 Sep (ONA) --- The Philippine state seismology agency issued a warning today regarding a possible eruption of Mount Kanlaon in central Philippines.The volcano has emitted about 10,449 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and recorded 55 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, it said.The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said that a heightened alert remains in effect for Mount Kanlaon, with an elevation of 2,465 metres.Located on Negros, the fourth most populous island in the Philippines, Mount ...

30 Dead in Coal Mine Blast in IranTehran, 22 Sep (ONA) —- At least 30 people have died as a result of a blast at a coal mine in South Khorasan province, Iran. The director general of the provincial crisis management department reported that the explosion occurred while 69 workers were present in the mine. He explained that the explosion did not involve a fire or destruction of walls, noting that the release of methane gas in the tunnels caused the workers inside the mine to suffocate. In September last year (2023), six people lost their lives due to an ...

1,500 People Evacuated Due to Record Rains in South Korea Seoul, 22 Sep (ONA) —- About 1,500 people evacuated their homes in South Korea due to torrential rains that battered the southern regions of the country. As of this morning, 1,501 people were temporarily forced to evacuate their homes in seven cities and provinces, including Busan, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces, according to the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. About 682 people of the evacuees have yet to return to their homes. No casualties have been reported ...

Over a Thousand People Evacuated in Republic of Korea Due to Record Rains Seoul, 22 Sep (ONA) --- As many as 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes in the Republic of Korea due to torrential rains that hit the southern regions of the country. Those people had to temporarily evacuate their homes in seven cities and provinces, including Busan, North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces, according to the country's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. About 682 people of the evacuees have yet to return to their homes. No casualties have been ...

German City of Dresden on High Alert for Flooding Berlin, 18 Sep (ONA) --- The eastern German city of Dresden is bracing for potential floods today, after days of heavy rains caused severe inundations across Central Europe. The Elbe river which flows through the city has now reached the 6-metre mark, leading authorities to declare the second-highest alert level, according to dpa. This means built-up areas, major roads and railway lines are all at risk of flooding. The water level is expected to continue to rise during the day before dropping ...

Landslide in Central Mexico Kills Nine Mexico City, 17 Sep (ONA) —- At least nine people were killed in a landslide that buried the homes of several families in central Mexico. Local authorities announced that the disaster occurred in the village of San Luis Ayucan. They added that rescue teams saved three people from under the piles of mud left by the landslide. The landslide displaced nearly 150 people from the village, who are now staying in shelters. Landslides are common in Mexico, especially during the rainy and hurricane season, which lasts from ...

Typhoon Bebinca Makes Landfall in Chinese ShanghaiBeijing, 16 Sep (ONA) —- Bebinca, the 13th typhoon of this year (2024), made landfall in Shanghai this morning. The typhoon, with the maximum wind force near its center reaching 42 meters per second, churned ashore at the Lingang area of Pudong district, according to the Shanghai central meteorological observatory. Bebinca is believed to be the strongest typhoon to land in Shanghai in 75 years, according to China's News Agency (Xinhua). The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in China has activated ...

6.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Western CanadaOttawa, 16 Sep (ONA) —- An earthquake measuring 6.5 magnitude on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Port McNeill in British Columbia, western Canada. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the epicenter of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean, at a depth of about 10 km. There were no reports of casualties or material losses as a result of the earthquake, and no tsunami warning was issued. The western coast of Canada is located within an area known geologically as the "Ring of Fire" or the "Circum-Pacific Belt," ...

Four Killed, Thousands Displaced as Floods Sweep GuineaConakry, 12 Sep (ONA) —- Four people have died, and thousands have been displaced following heavy rainfall in Guinea. Rains led to the displacement of 20,000 families, the national agency for the management of humanitarian emergencies and disasters said today. Waters also flooded homes, roads, and bridges, triggering landslides and sweeping away livestock, the agency added.—- ...

Hurricane Francine Makes Landfall in US LouisianaWashington, 12 Sep (ONA) —- Hurricane Francine made landfall in the US state of Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The center said that heavy rain and hurricane-force winds were spreading across southern Louisiana, with wind speeds estimated at 155 km/h, making Francine a Category 2 storm. The NHC urged residents to shelter indoors and stay away from windows. Some places could see up to 30cm of rain, bringing the risk of significant flash flooding.—- ...

Endangered Species Makes a Comeback in California, 100 Years After ExtinctionCalifornia, 11 Sep (ONA)--- California's gray wolf population has surged, with new data revealing a dramatic increase.This spring, 30 wolf pups were born across five of the state’s seven packs, doubling the total population to over 60 wolves—the highest number in a century.The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's quarterly report highlights this as the most significant growth since the last wolf was shot in 1924.This resurgence began when OR-7, a radio-collared wolf from Oregon, ventured into California ...

Death Toll of Typhoon Yagi Rises to 141 Dead, 59 Missing in VietnamHanoi, 11 Sep (ONA) —- A total of 141 people died and 59 others were missing after Typhoon Yagi caused landslides and floods in northern Vietnam. Vietnamese local authorities confirmed that the Le River Dam in Quyet Thang commune was destroyed due to the high water level of the river. It also warned that the water level of the Hong (Red) River in the capital Hanoi has exceeded the second warning level of the three flood control levels, and is expected to reach the highest warning level, ...

Typhoon Yagi Kills 87 in Vietnam, 64 Still MissingHanoi, 10 Sep (ONA) --- Landslides and widespread flooding triggered by typhoon Yagi have killed at least 87 people in Vietnam and left 64 others missing, local authorities said today as recovery and relief efforts continue. Typhoon Yagi - the strongest to strike northern Vietnam in around 30 years - swept across the region last Saturday, bringing ferocious winds and torrential rain. Some localities such as Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces have seen rainfall of up to 50 centimetres in the past 48 hours. It is ...

Nine Dead after Boat Carrying Illegal Migrants Sinks off Senegal CoastDakar, 10 Sep (ONA) --- Nine people have died after a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal. In a statement on social media, the Senegalese navy said that the boat, which was attempting to carry migrants to Europe, overturned on Sunday near the coast of Mbour, in western Senegal. The navy launched a search operation using three boats, with support from a Spanish maritime surveillance aircraft. So far, nine bodies have been found, three survivors have been identified, and an ...

Floods Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: UNNew York, 10 Sep (ONA) --- UN humanitarian workers said that heavy rains and flooding have impacted about half a million people since late June in South Darfur, Red Sea, River Nile and Northern states, with North Darfur State being the hardest hit. The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said that " In areas at risk of famine, including in El Fasher, which is the capital of North Darfur, about 124,000 people have been impacted by heavy rains." He added that "Flooding and stagnant water are also ...

Death Toll from Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam Rises to 24Hanoi, 9 Sep (ONA) —- At least 24 people have died, and 299 others have been injured over the past two days due to Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit northern Vietnam in the past 30 years. The storm has been followed by landslides and flooding in northern Vietnam. The Vietnamese government said in a statement that the typhoon, which hit the country last Saturday, has disrupted power supplies and telecommunications in several parts of the country, mainly in Quang Ninh and Haiphong provinces. The National ...

Death Toll from Torrential Rains in Morocco Rises to 11Rabat, 9 Sep (ONA) —- Eleven people died and nine others are missing following the torrential rains that hammered 17 provinces of Morocco, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said citing a provisional report. Seven deaths were recorded in the province of Tata, two in the province of Tiznit and two other victims, including a foreign national, in the province of Errachidia, the Interior ministry spokesperson, Rachid El Khalfi, told the press in Rabat today. Nine other people are missing in the provinces of Tata, ...

US Authorities Evacuate over 5,000 People in California due to WildfiresWashington, 9 Sep (ONA) —- US authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for more than 5,000 people in California due to severe wildfires that have spread across an estimated 17,000 acres and have spiraled out of control in the southern part of the state. The local fire service reported that its teams were unable to control the fire, which is threatening more than 8,000 buildings. Ongoing heat is also increasing the risk of new fires. California has been experiencing increasingly larger ...

Typhoon Yagi Kills 14, Leaves Nearly 200 Injured in Northern VietnamHanoi, 8 Sep (ONA) —- At least 14 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured after Typhoon Yagi made landfall in northern Vietnam, authorities said today, as recovery and relief efforts continued. The deaths included four people in one family killed early today when their house collapsed, the Search and Rescue Operations Department of Vietnam’s Defence Ministry said in a report. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh convened a video conference with representatives from 26 provinces and cities ...

20 Migrants Missing after Boat Capsized off ItalyRome, 5 Sep (ONA) --- At least 20 migrants were missing in the Mediterranean after their vessel sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Italy and Italian coastguard announced. Twenty people are reported missing in the Mediterranean after a shipwreck on 1 September," UNHCR Representative for Italy Chiara Cardoletti posted on X. Italy's coastguard rescued seven migrants. The survivors said they had set off on 1 September 2024 and after a day's ...

Typhoon Yagi Leaves 16 People Dead in PhilippinesManila, 4 Sep (ONA) --- Sixteen people died, 15 injured, while 21 others went missing due to floods and landslides caused by typhoon Yagi, which has struck parts of the Philippines, according to the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's reports today. The council also noted that since the beginning of the week, 1.7 million people have been affected by severe weather across 26 provinces along with the capital, Manila. Among those affected, 106,834 people have been displaced due to ...

EU Officials Pledge to Develop More Water-saving Technologies in Farming as Droughts Worsen Ayia Napa, Cyprus, 4 Sep (ONA) --- Officials from nine southern European Union (EU) countries pledged to work together to develop more water-saving technologies in agriculture as the prospect of worsening droughts puts additional strain on farmers and threatens food security. The promises came during a gathering in Cyprus of the so called MED9 countries — France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Malta, Spain and Slovenia — to address growing water scarcity as a result of ...

129 Killed in Attempted Prison Break in DR CongoKinshasa, 3 Sep (ONA) --- Democratic Republic of Congo's government said at least 129 people were killed while trying to escape from the central Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa late on Sunday. In a statement, Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo today said a fire had also broken out in the jail's administrative building, including its hospital. Some 59 people were wounded, he added. He added that 24 people were shot dead, while others suffocated in the crowd. Shabani said that there was a loss of lives, several ...

Bangladesh Flood Death Toll Rises to 71Dhaka, 3 Sep (ONA) --- The death toll from floods caused mainly by the onrush of upstream waters in parts of Bangladesh has risen to 71. According to a new toll announced by the country's National Disaster Response Coordination Center under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, three southeastern districts - Feni, Cumilla and Noakhali - are the worst-affected districts. Nearly 6 million people have been affected by the floodwaters that hit 11 of the country's 64 districts and caused colossal damage to life, property and ...

Rain-Triggered Flood Kills 6 in Northwest ChinaBeijing, 3 Sep (ONA) --- Six people were killed after a rain-triggered flood in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province, local authorities said. Intense short-term rainfall hit Shinaihai Township in Gonghe County, causing a road culvert in the township to be destroyed by flooding, China's emergency management department said, according to Xinhua News Agency. Search and rescue efforts are underway, and follow-up work is ongoing.--- ...

Floods, Landslides in Philippines Leaves 2 Killed, 10 InjuredManila, 2 Sep (ONA) --- Two people were killed and 10 others were injured as Tropical Storm Enteng and the southwest monsoon Habagat hit the Philippines. The storm hit large parts of Luzon and Visayas islands with heavy rains and strong winds, forcing authorities to cancel sea and air travel and suspend government offices and schools, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction Council said. Some 739 passengers were reportedly stranded at various ports in Bicol and Calabarzon. The ...