News

Floods Cause Dam Crack in Northeastern ChinaBeijing, 6 Aug (ONA) --- Authorities in northeastern China's Liaoning Province have announced a crack in a dam on a river, after water levels rose due to continuous heavy rains in the province. The crack, about 18 meters long, occurred this morning in a dam on the Wanghe River in the city of Tiehling. Residents threatened by the crack have been evacuated without any casualties reported so far. A front-line headquarters has been set up in response to the emergency, while repair work on the dam is currently underway. ...

China Issues Two Flood AlertsBeijing, 5 Aug (ONA) --- China's Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration have issued orange and yellow alerts for mountain floods. According to the orange alert issued by the two authorities, mountain floods are expected to hit some areas in Liaoning and Heilongjiang. The two authorities also issued yellow alerts for mountain floods in some parts of Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan and Xicang, advising local authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring and flood warnings and make evacuation ...

Eight Dead, 19 Missing in Flash Floods in ChinaBeijing, 5 Aug (ONA) --- Eight people died and 19 others remained missing following flash floods and mudslides that hit Kangding City in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Local authorities reported that a tunnel bridge was toppled and homes were destroyed in Ridi Village, which is located in a valley at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level. Nearby mountains are more than 5,000 meters above sea level. The disaster left six people dead and 11 others missing. In addition, the floods caused a bridge between ...

Boat Accident Near Sicily Leaves Two Dead, One Missing Sicily, 4 Aug (ONA) --- Two people were reported dead and one went missing after a boat accident off the coast of Italy's southern island of Sicily, the coast guard reported today. Emergency services had approached a boat in distress with migrants on board. According to the coast guard, 34 people were immediately taken on board and brought to the port of Syracuse, in eastern Sicily. Of the rescued migrants, one died shortly after arriving at the port, and another person died later in a hospital. The search for the ...

Earthquakeof 5 MagnitudeHitsIndonesia's Sulawesi Jakarta, Aug 01 (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring five on the Richter scale hit today the Bone Bolango Regency-Gorontalo area on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The epicenter of the earthquake occurred 73 km southeast of Gorontalo province, at a depth of 129 km, Indonesia Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said in a ...

Earthquake of 5.3 Magnitude Strikes South Sandwich IslandsLondon, 31 Jul (ONA) --- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck today the South Sandwich Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 35 km. There were no reports of material damage or human losses as a result of the earthquake. The South Sandwich Islands are an archipelago that forms part of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which are an overseas territory of the UK. --- ...

15 Injured in Germany Chemical Company Explosion Berlin, 30 Jul (ONA) - Fifteen people were injured in an explosion at a German chemical plant.The German Police and the German chemical company said that 15 workers suffered injuries in a fire caused by the explosion at the main factory in the city of Ludwigshaven, in southwestern Germany.The chemical company's fire brigade was able to put out the blaze at the site.Environmental monitoring vehicles detected slightly elevated levels of hydrocarbons in the Ludwigshafen site as well as its vicinity."There was no threat to the public at ...

2 Died, 20 Injured in Train Derailment in India New Delhi, 30 Jul (ONA) --- Two people died and about 20 others injured in a train derailment in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. Indian media reported, citing officials, that the accident occurred in the morning when 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai mail train derailed. Rescue operations are still underway, with members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushing to the scene. An Indian Railways spokesman said that the mail train collided with the freight train, adding that another freight train derailed near the ...

Greece Imposes Restrictions to Tackle 'Goat Plague'Athens, 30 Jul (ONA) --- Greece has imposed a nationwide ban on the transportation of sheep and goats in a bid to contain a highly contagious infection known as "goat plague" or Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). The ban affects the movement of these animals for breeding, fattening, and slaughter.New cases of the virus have been detected in the central Larissa region and Corinth in the south. The disease, which can kill 80% to 100% of infected animals, poses no threat to humans but can devastate livestock populations. At least ...

Earthquake of 5.2 Magnitude Strikes JapanTokyo, 30 Jul (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture in northeastern Japan today.Japan Meteorological Agency said that the quake was at a depth of 40 km, with no tsunami warning being issued.There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no malfunction was detected at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture. An earthquake of 6.0-magnitude struck off the coast of Fukushima in northeastern Japan on April 4 of this year. In 2011, an earthquake of ...

Five Workers in Vietnam Died due to Coal Mine Collapse Hanoi, 30 Jul (ONA) --- Authorities in Vietnam reported today that five workers died after a coal mine collapsed in the north of the country. The accident occurred yesterday Monday in the Quang Ninh region, one of the largest coal mining areas in the country, authorities said. State media reports said that the victims, all males aged between 23 and 47, worked for a unit of a state-owned coal mining company, indicating that the cause of the accident is under investigation. --- ...

Earthquake of 4.5 Magnitude Strikes Fiji CoastSuva, 30 Jul (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 4.5 magnitude on the Richter scale struck today the coast of Fiji Islands in the South Pacific. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the earthquake occurred south of Fiji Islands, and was at a depth of 571.5 km. No reports of human losses or material damage have been reported as a result of the earthquake so far. Fiji Islands are located in an area called the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, which is exposed from time to time to many aftershocks and earthquakes that may be strong. ...

Earthquake of 5.2 Magnitude Strikes AlaskaWashington, 29 Jul (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck the US state of Alaska today. The epicenter of the earthquake took place 28 km southwest of the city of Atka, at a depth of 70 km, the US Geological Survey reported.No reports of material damage or human losses have been recorded due to the earthquake so far.Alaska is located above the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area where tectonic plates meet, and the friction of which leads to strong seismic and volcanic activity. --- ...

Over 3,800 Evacuated After Dike Breach in Central ChinaBeijing, 29 Jul (ONA) --- A total of 3,832 residents have been evacuated after a river dike breached in central China's Hunan Province, Chinese authorities said on Monday.No casualties have been reported so far, according to the Xiangtan City's flood control and drought relief headquarters.The headquarters said 1,205 people, including armed police, militia, and professional rescuers, have been mobilized into rescue and relief work, assisted by more than 1,000 officials, Xinhua reported.Temporary shelters have been set up in four ...

French Train Services Back to Normal After SabotageParis, 29 Jul (ONA) --- France's high-speed train network was back to normal today, three days after coordinated acts of sabotage heavily disrupted travel before the Olympics opening ceremony, French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said.It remains unclear who carried out the three arson attacks on strategic points of the rail infrastructure early Friday. "This morning, all trains are running," Vergriete added.The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the attack, with a source close to the investigation ...

Several People Missing After Dam Collapses in Northwestern RussiaMoscow, 29 Jul (ONA) --- Local authorities in Russia said today that several people are missing after a dam collapsed in the White Sea-Baltic Canal in the Karelia region, northwest Russia. The waters swept away a temporary sand dam that was built between the 10th and 11th tanks of the White Sea-Baltic Canal during restoration work, authorities clarified. Emergency services reported that the waters destroyed 13 houses, and that three people, including a child, were rescued. Meanwhile the search for four other people ...

Russia Studies Climate Change in Arctic Regions Moscow, 28 Jul (ONA) - The Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences announced that Russian experts will conduct studies on climate change in the Arctic regions.In a statement, the Institute indicated that the famous Russian research vessel Mstislav Keldysh set off from Murmansk on an expedition to the Barents and Kara Seas to study greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the National Climate Monitoring Program.The scientists will conduct research on numerous fields which will be implemented under a most important ...

Nineteen People Reported Missing After Boat Capsizes in Northern Ethiopia Addis Ababa, 28 Jul (ONA) --- As many as 19 people were reported missing following a boat capsized in northern Ethiopia according to local media. The boat, which was carrying 26 people, sank in the Tekeze River in the northern Amhara region. Seven people, including a child, were rescued from the river. The child suffered serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care at a nearby health facility. Two dead bodies were recovered while search operations continue, the Xinhua news agency ...

Six Persons Died Due to Landslide in Central China Beijing, 28 Jul (ONA) --- At least six people were found dead and six others injured after a devastating rain-triggered landslide struck Yuelin Village in the city of Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province, local authorities said.The landslide occurred today morning and washed away part of a residential house, causing 18 people to be buried, local authorities said. Rescue efforts are still underway. --- ...

Firefighters Put Out Fire at Oil Refinery in KoreaSeoul, 28 Jul (ONA) --- South Korean firefighters put out a fire today at a factory of S-Oil, a major oil refining company, about three hours after it broke out.According to local firefighters, no causalities were reported as the fire erupted at early hours of the morning, with photos showing dense flames rising from the plant.Ulsan fire chief said that firefighters were burning off remaining hazardous materials in a pipe after the production line valve was closed.The S-Oil plant is located in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of ...

Electric Cars Worldwide Jumps by Half To 42m Berlin, 28 Jul (ONA) ---- The number of electric cars is continuing to rise rapidly worldwide, according to the latest research out of Germany.The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) reported today that there were around 42 million cars with electric motors at the end of 2023 - some 50% more than a year earlier.This figure includes purely electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles with a range extender.According to the ZSW, there were 23.4 million of these cars in China, more than half of the ...

Floods Hit Philippine Capital Manila, 25 Jul (ONA) --- Floods today hit the Philippine capital after deadly Typhoon Gaemi worsened torrential monsoon rains that lashed the area, trapping thousands of people in rising flood waters and causing widespread damage.Continuous heavy rains, massive flooding and landslides across the Philippines killed at least 13 people and displaced more than 600,000, and an oil tanker capsized off the country’s coast during strong winds and high waves, Philippine authorities said today.Unlike in Taiwan, the typhoon – known locally as Carina – ...

Ethiopia Landslides Death Toll Rises to 257: UNNew York, 25 Jul (ONA) --- Deaths from landslides in Ethiopia have reached 257, with the final toll expected to approach 500, according to the United Nations Office (UN) for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).The UN agency released the figures today after the landslides in the mountainous Gofa zone in southern Ethiopia, the first triggered by heavy rains on Monday, the second engulfing those who had gathered to rescue people.The revised death toll is an increase of 28 on figures provided yesterday.Hundreds of people combed ...

UN Agencies: Hunger Affects about 9 Percent of World's Population in 2023New York, 24 Jul (ONA) --- United Nations agencies has announced that conflicts, economic turmoil, and climate contributed to disrupting efforts to reduce hunger last year (2023), affecting about nine percent of the world's population. The United Nations agencies (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated, in a joint ...

Crew Dead Following Helicopter Crash in RussiaMoscow, 25 Jul (ONA) --- The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the crash of a Mi-28 helicopter in the western Oblast of Kaluga, and the death of its crew. "An Mi-28 helicopter crashed in the Kaluga Region while performing a routine flight. The helicopter went down in a deserted area. There is no destruction on the ground. The crew was killed," the ministry said. According to the military statement, a technical malfunction was likely to blame. --- ...

China Activates Emergency Response to Floods in Beijing, HebeiBeijing, 25 Jul (ONA) --- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Beijing and Hebei Province. Heavy to torrential rains are forecast in Beijing and neighboring Hebei Province, with heavy downpours and short-term intense rainfall in some regions, until tomorrow (Friday). The headquarters warned that the continuous rainfall has a high risk of causing disasters. China's National Meteorological Center advised local governments to ...

Heavy Rains in India’s Gujarat Leave 9 Dead Gujarat, India, 25 Jul (ONA) --- Nine people died, and hundreds evacuated to safety as torrential rain continued to lash various parts of Gujarat state in India.According to a statement issued by the Indian government, 74 districts of the state have received more than 500mm of rainfall. It added that 4,238 people were relocated, and 535 were rescued from seven districts.Alok Pandey, relief commissioner, said that rescue operations are ongoing in Dwarka and Surat, with efforts to assist affected residents and manage the ...

Taiwan Grounds Flights as it Braces for Typhoon Gaemi Taipei, 24 Jul (ONA) --- Taiwan is bracing for the arrival of powerful Typhoon Gaemi, which is expected to make landfall on the island's North East coast later today. The storm - the first typhoon of the season to affect the island - has led to the cancellation of parts of its largest annual military drills. Almost all domestic flights have been cancelled, along with more than 200 international flights, according to the transport ministry, BBC news reported. On its way to Taiwan, Gaemi also brought relentless rains ...

Desperate Search in Ethiopia for Landslide Survivors Addis Ababa, 24 Jul (ONA) --- The search for those engulfed by landslides in southern Ethiopia continues with people using shovels and their bare hands to dig through mud as fears grow that the number of dead could rise beyond the 229 bodies already found. Drones are being used by emergency teams to search for possible survivors in a remote mountainous area of the Gofa zone. The head of the UN’s humanitarian office in Ethiopia (Ocha) said that heavy rains caused a landslide on Sunday evening. A second one occurred on ...

Nine Dead after Spanish Fishing Boat Sinks off Falklands Madrid, 24 Jul (ONA) --- Nine people have died and four more are missing after a Spanish fishing boat sank in the South Atlantic Ocean, a Spanish government official has said. The 27-member crew abandoned the Argos Georgia and took to life rafts when it started taking on water last Monday, about 200 nautical miles off the coast of the Falkland Islands, BBC news reported. Pedro Blanco, the Spanish government's representative in the north-western region of Galicia, said that 14 of those on board had ...