News

Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire Erupts, Forcing Mass Evacuations Guatemala City, 11 Mar (ONA) --- Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupted, prompting authorities to evacuate nearly 300 families and warn that 30,000 more people could be at risk. The eruption sent gas and ash high into the sky, forcing school closures and the shutdown of a key road. Local authorities fear lahars—deadly flows of ash, mud, and debris—could endanger nearby communities. The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) volcano, one of Central America’s most active, last erupted in June 2023. In 2018, a ...

Death Toll Rises to 16 in Argentina FloodingBuenos Aires, 10 Mar (ONA) --- Sixteen people were killed, dozens were missing, and thousands of residents were evacuated due to floods that hit the coastal city of Bahia Blanca in Argentina. Argentine authorities today said that sudden and violent floods caused by a storm that hit Argentina caused the death and missing of dozens. Local authorities have received more than 100 alerts for missing persons following the storm that hit the city, which includes one of Argentina's main ports, located 600 km south of Buenos Aires. ...

Homes in Australia Suffer Power Cuts as Storm Alfred Hits East CoastCanberra, 9 Mar (ONA) --- Storm Alfred, which struck Australia's east coast, has caused widespread power outages, leaving approximately 330,000 homes without electricity, according to a statement from the Australian electricity companies group today. Reports indicated that around 310,000 homes in southeastern Queensland and at least 16,000 homes in northeastern New South Wales were affected by the power cuts due to the storm. In a statement, the electricity companies group explained that restoring ...

Massive Wildfires Spark State of Emergency on New York's Long IslandWashington, 9 Mar (ONA) --- Fast-moving wildfires fanned by high winds have engulfed New York's Long Island, prompting the closure of a major highway and evacuation of a military base in the area. The fires are raging in and around the Pine Barrens area east of New York City. According to officials, three of the four blazes were fully contained, while the fire in Westhampton was 50% contained. The fires led to the shutting down of a stretch of Sunrise Highway that runs between Brooklyn to Montauk ...

Thirteen Die in Argentina RainstormBuenos Aires, 9 Mar (ONA) --- At least 13 people have died following massive rainstorm that hit the coastal city of Bahia Blanca in southwestern Argentina. Local authorities confirmed that 11 victims have been identified, while search efforts continue for two young girls swept away by the floods, according to National Security, adding that Bahia Blanca was "destroyed." As rescue operations remain ongoing, municipal authorities have warned that the death toll may rise further due to the scale of the disaster, which has caused unprecedented ...

Evacuation Ordered as 175 Fires Break Out in South and North CarolinaWashington, 3 Ma (ONA) --- The governor of South Carolina in the United States has declared a state of emergency, while firefighters were battling 175 wildfires that erupted across South and North Carolina overnight amid windy and dry conditions, threatening homes and prompting evacuations. There are ongoing response operations to the sprawling wildfires that had burned a combined 4,200 acres across the state, including blazes burning in Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union and Pickens counties, the South ...

Firefighters in Japan Continue Battle Against WildfireTokyo, 2 Mar (ONA) --- Japan's disaster management agency today requested more fire departments across the country to join the battle against a forest fire that has continued to spread in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate. Nearly 1,700 firefighters from around 450 departments across the country have already joined the effort to control the blaze, which has spread over five days since last Wednesday in Ofunato, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. While firefighters with aerial support from ...

Some 2,000 People Told to Evacuate in Japan WildfireTokyo, 27 Feb (ONA) —- More than 80 homes appear to have burned down and some 2,000 people have been ordered to evacuate after a wildfire broke out in a northeastern Japan city, local authorities said today, as the region was hit by its third fire in around a week. The blaze since yesterday has burned across 600 hectares of land in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, the municipal government said. Firefighting efforts continued through the night, while Self-Defense Forces helicopters were mobilized in the morning to contain ...

Curfew in Chile Following Widespread Power OutageSantiago, 26 Feb (ONA) --- The Government of Chile announced a curfew across more than ten regions following a widespread power outage. This outage disrupted traffic, paralyzed many businesses, and halted the Santiago metro service until further notice. Mobile phone services were also disrupted in some parts of the country. According to Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service, the power outage affected a vast area stretching from Arica in the north to Los Lagos in the south, home to ...

Eighteen Dead, Dozens Injured in Bus Accident in ThailandBangkok, 26 Feb (ONA) --- Thai police today announced that 18 people were killed and 32 were injured when a bus veered off the road due to a brake failure. Thai media reported that the double-decker bus was carrying 49 people when it veered off the road while descending a slope in Prachinburi, eastern Thailand, causing it to fall down the slope and overturn. Thai police stated that 17 bodies were found at the scene of the accident, and another died in the hospital.--- ...

Nine Soldiers Killed, 20 Injured in Truck Accident in ColombiaBogota, 25 Feb (ONA) --- Nine Colombian soldiers were killed and 20 others injured when their truck fell into a chasm last night in the southwest of the country, local authorities said. The military vehicle, carrying 36 soldiers, fell into a chasm about 100 meters, governor of Narino department Luis Alfonso Escobar, Said. Videos released by authorities showed rescue workers using ropes to help the soldiers.--- ...

Four Dead, 6 Injured after Bridge Collapses in South KoreaSeoul, 25 Feb (ONA) --- Four workers died and six others injured when part of a bridge under construction collapsed on a highway in Cheonan, 90 kilometers south of the Korean capital, Seoul today. Four or five-long steel beams holding up the bridge collapsed one by one during construction work, killing four people and injuring six others, most of them seriously, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing local authorities. The workers were constructing a section of the Seoul-Sejong road ...

Boat Collision in Central China Leaves 2 Dead, Several MissingBeijing, 25 Feb (ONA) --- Two people have died and a number of others remain missing after a passenger boat collided with an oil waste recovery vessel in central China's Hunan Province this morning, local authorities said. The incident occurred on the Yuanshui River in Qinglang Township, Yuanling County. A preliminary estimate indicated that 12 people were believed to have been aboard the passenger boat at the time of the crash, according to county officials. Rescue workers have rescued three ...

Three Dead, Others Injured after Boat Capsizes off New YorkWashington, 24 Feb (ONA) --- Three people were dead and two others were injured, one critically, when a boat capsized off Staten Island in New York, the US Coast Guard announced today. Another person was still missing, prompting search and rescue teams to continue their search in the waters, officials added. The incident occurred about five miles southeast of Breezy Point, a neighborhood on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. The Coast Guard confirmed that it had dispatched three rescue boats and a ...

112 Migrants Rescued Off Libyan CoastParis, 24 Feb (ONA) --- The Ocean Viking rescue ship, chartered by the non-governmental organization SOS Mediterranee, rescued 112 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast. The organization said in a statement that the ship initially assisted a fiberglass boat and rescued 25 migrants, including three women, noting that it had rescued 87 other migrants on a wooden boat in coordination with the Italian authorities. The statement pointed out that the rescued people were of different nationalities. The ship ...

Omani Astronomical Efforts Help Observe Two New Asteroids Muscat, 23 Feb (ONA) ---Oman Society of Astronomy and Space(OSAS) set a new milestone in its scientific march through its contribution to the observation of two new asteroids, P226fqs and P226gRJ. The efforts of OSAS formed part of an initiative undertaken by the International Asteroid Search (IASC), which aims to discover and track near-Earth asteroids by analyzing accurate astronomical data using the latest technologies. Two members of the OSAS participated in the IASC initiative as part of an international research ...

Six Elephants Dead after Being Hit by Train in Sri Lanka Colombo, 20 Feb (ONA) --- A passenger train derailed after striking a herd of elephants near a wildlife reserve in central Sri Lanka in the early hours of today. While no injuries were reported among passengers, six elephants died from the accident in Habarana, east of the capital Colombo. Two injured elephants were being treated, police said, noting that it was the worst such wildlife accident the country had seen, AFP reported. It is not uncommon for trains to run into herds of elephants in Sri ...

Turkish Airlines Suspends Flights at Istanbul Airport Due to SnowfallIstanbul, 20 Feb (ONA) --- Turkish Airlines announced the cancellation of some flights at Istanbul International Airport for today and tomorrow due to snowfall. The company said in a post on its official account on X that the decision to cancel some flights to and from Istanbul Airport was based on restrictions taken by the State Meteorological Service over the expected snowfall in the city. In a related context, local authorities in Istanbul announced the suspension of studies throughout the city ...

Over 30 Dead After Bus Fell into Ravine in Southern BoliviaLa Paz, 18 Feb (ONA) --- Bolivian authorities announced that more than 30 people have died and 15 others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the Potosi municipality in southern Bolivia. The local police said that the bus fell from a height of approximately 800 meters (2625 feet) from a precipice in the southwestern municipality of Yocalla. The mountainous road is full of curves and the bus's speed might have been a factor in the accident, the police said.--- ...

Major Floods Hits Several US States Amid Warnings of Snowstorms and Low TemperaturesWashington, 16 Feb (ONA) --- Heavy floods swept across the US states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and Arkansas, with the US National Weather Service issuing warnings to avoid travel on the roads. Meanwhile, the northeastern states and the plains are preparing for snowstorms and a sharp drop in temperatures. Local authorities in Kentucky reported that emergency teams found the body of a man in the floodwaters in Clay County. Landslides closed several roads in Virginia. ...

Gas Explosion at Taiwan Department Store Kills at Least FourTaipei, 13 Feb (ONA) —- A gas explosion at a department store in central Taichung City in Taiwan today claimed at least four lives, fire authorities said. At least 24 other individuals were injured in the incident, according to the National Fire Agency (NFA). The agency said the gas explosion occurred on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, which was under temporary closure for construction. The cause remains under investigation. The explosion was captured by several vehicle dashcams, ...

Six Missing in Fishing Boat Fire in South KoreaSeoul, 13 Feb (ONA) —- Six people are missing after a fishing boat caught fire in waters off southwestern South Korea. A 34-ton fishing boat caught fire in waters off the coast of Buan County, about 200 kilometers southwest of the capital Seoul, the Korean Coast Guard announced this morning. Six people missing after a fishing boat with 11 people on board caught fire in waters off the southwestern coast today, the Coast Guard said. Five people were rescued. Among the victims were 11 people on board the ...

US Military Plane Crashes into San Diego BayWashington, 13 Feb (ONA) —- The US Navy announced that an EA-18G Growler military aircraft crashed into the waters of San Diego Bay in California, after its two-pilot crew ejected safely. The US Navy said in a statement that the plane belonged to the VAQ-135 electronic attack squadron, and crashed while trying to land. They confirmed that its crew had been rescued without injuries. The statement added that the Naval Base Coronado launched the Emergency Operations Center to follow up on the repercussions of the accident, ...

Snowfall Causes Heavy Traffic, Accidents across Istanbul Istanbul, 11 Feb (ONA) --- Sporadic snowfall has continued in Istanbul since this morning, causing heavy traffic and accidents in several areas. On the Anatolian side, snowfall started in the early hours, covering roads and green territories. The European side couldn't avoid snow too, as it turned roadsides and parked vehicles white. Some means of transport struggled to climb hills due to the fallout where vehicles couldn't incline upward and slide back down Istanbul's steep hills. However, municipal ...

At Least 51 Dead in Road Accident in GuatemalaGuatemala City, 11 Feb (ONA) —- 51 people died in a road accident in Guatemala. The Guatemala City Fire Department reported that a passenger bus veered off a highway it was traveling on and fell into a ravine in the city, killing at least 51 people, noting that there are still survivors trapped. It added that the bodies of 36 men and 15 women were recovered and sent to a morgue in the city while 10 seriously injured were transferred to the hospital. —- ...

Three Dead, 6 Missing after Fishing Trawler Sinks off Korean Southern CoastSeoul, 9 Feb (ONA) --- A fishing trawler sank off the southern coast of South Korea early today, leaving four people dead and six missing, local officials said. The 139-ton vessel, carrying 14 crew members on board was reported missing in waters about 17 km east of the island of Habaek, According to Yonhap news agency. Coast Guard vessels and other fishing boats have rescued four foreigners, while three South Korean crew members, including the vessel's 66-year old captain, were found ...

WHO Welcomes Evacuation of 104 Patients from Gaza Geneva, 5 Feb (ONA) --- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the evacuation of 104 patients, mostly children, from the Gaza Strip, but called for the pace to be accelerated as thousands wait to be evacuated."Since Saturday, WHO has supported the medical evacuation of 104 patients - large majority of them children - out of Gaza via the Rafah crossing to receive specialized care in Egypt. 172 companions traveled with the patients," he pointed out.WHO Director-General said around ...

4.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Aegean SeaAnkara, 5 Feb (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale struck the Aegean Sea in western Turkiye today.A statement by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that the 4.5-magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 km.Two earthquakes measuring 4.7 magnitude on the Richter scale hit the Aegean ...

1 Killed, 5 Injured in Ohio ShootingWashington, 5 Feb (ONA) --- One person was killed and five others were injured in a shooting incident at a building in the US state of Ohio.The US news network CNN reported, citing security sources, that about 100 people were evacuated from the building. Yet, the suspect is not believed to be in the area.Six people were taken to local hospitals, including one who was killed, Police Chief Greg Jones said in a press conference.Police said that the suspect has not been arrested yet, adding that a firearm was found at the scene. ...

2 Dead, Hundreds Displaced as Devastating Floods Hit Australia's QueenslandCanberra, 5 Feb (ONA) --- Two people have died and hundreds have been displaced from their homes as floods hit the Australian state of Queensland.Seasonal rains caused flooding that lasted a week, destroying small rural towns on the state's north coast, sweeping away a major bridge and cutting off drinking water supplies.Thousands of residents in low-lying coastal suburbs and towns are under immediate evacuation orders, while hundreds remain in evacuation centers as flooding recedes. The number of homes which ...