News

LA Faces Extreme Fire Danger as High Winds Forecast Los Angeles, 15 Jan (ONA) --- Winds that have fanned wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles are again expected to kick up in the early hours of today - after a 25th death from the huge, week-long outbreak was confirmed. Forecasters have again identified an area of "extreme fire danger", emphasising the risk level in a region to the north-west of the city centre, BBC news reported. The anticipated increase in wind speeds threatens to further fan the remaining four blazes, which firefighters have made further ...

Strong Earthquake Hits Southwestern Japan, Triggering Tsunami Advisories Tokyo, 13 Jan (ONA)--- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 has hit southwestern Japan, the country's Meteorological Agency said today. Tsunami advisories were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the temblor was centered, in the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as nearby Kochi Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck at 9:19 p.m. local time, according to the agency. The JMA urged the public to stay away from coastal waters. Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes because of ...

Death Toll from Raging Wildfires in Los Angeles Rises to 24Washington, 13 Jan (ONA) --- The death toll from the wildfires raging in Los Angeles, California, has risen to 24, while 16 others are still missing. Firefighters are still working to limit the spread of the fires, while meteorologists have warned of continued unsuitable weather conditions. The US National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings of strong winds of 50 mph (80 kph) with gusts up to 70 mph (113 kph) in mountainous areas. Aircraft dropped water and fire-fighting materials, while ...

At Least Five Dead, Evacuation Orders Issued as Los Angeles Wildfires Spread to HollywoodWashington, 9 Jan (ONA) --- US authorities issued a mandatory evacuation orders today for residents of the historic Hollywood Hills following the outbreak of a new wildfire known as the "Sunset Fire," which dangerously approached the famous Hollywood Boulevard. The Los Angeles Fire Department said that the fire posed an "immediate threat to life" and urged residents to leave immediately. California Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN that the raging wildfires have claimed the lives of at ...

Death Toll Rises to 126 in Tibet Earthquake Beijing, 8 Jan (ONA) --- At least 126 people have died, and over 3,000 buildings were damaged in a major earthquake in Tibet. More than 30,000 residents have been relocated as rescue teams continue searching for survivors amid freezing temperatures. Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on a major geological fault line, but the last earthquake was one of China’s deadliest in recent years. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Tibet at a depth of 10 km, with tremors felt in Nepal and parts of India. Temperatures near ...

Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Los Angeles Washington, 8 Jan (ONA) --- US authorities issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents in Los Angeles, California, due to wildfires that are threatening over 13,000 structures. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that the wildfires, accelerated by the strong winds, have destroyed numerous homes in the Palisades area, noting that an exact count of the damaged or destroyed homes has not yet been determined. Local authorities have issued evacuation orders for around 30,000 residents, as more than ...

Three Dead after Seaplane Crashes Near Australian IslandCanberra, 8 Jan (ONA) --- Three people died, and four others were injured following a seaplane crash near Rottnest Island, off Western Australia. Western Australian Police Commissioner said that the plane, privately owned, crashed into the waters near Rottnest Island last night, adding that it is believed that the plane went down shortly after takeoff. Australian police affirmed that seven people were on board the plane, including the pilot. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed ...

Death Toll from China Earthquake Rises to 95Beijing, 7 Jan (ONA) --- The death toll from the powerful earthquake that jolted Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region this morning, rose to 95 with 130 injured. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 9:05 am (Beijing Time), with the epicenter located in Tsogo Township, Dingri County, in the city of Xigaze, Xinhua News Agency said. Official reports noted that in addition to the casualties, homes and accommodations also collapsed in the affected area. Local authorities continue to assess the impact ...

Snow and Freezing Rain Disrupt Parts of UK London, 5 Jan (ONA) --- Heavy snow and freezing rains hit parts of the United Kingdom (UK) this weekend, with the Met Office warning there could be considerable disruption in some areas. Amber warnings are in place for northern England, the Midlands and much of Wales from last night and throughout today. Less severe yellow warnings cover other areas, including Scotland and Northern Ireland. Temperatures fell as low as -8.6C overnight in rural Scotland, with the bitter conditions created by an Arctic wind are expected to ...

Severe Winter Storm Puts Much of US on High Alert Washington, 5 Jan (ONA) --- Tens of millions of Americans are bracing for a huge winter storm that could bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade. The storm, which started in the middle of the US, will move east in the next couple of days, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. A state of emergency has been declared in the states of Kentucky and Virginia, and parts of the US unaccustomed to severe cold, including Mississippi and Florida, have been warned to expect treacherous ...

At Least 177 Killed in Passenger Plane Crash in South KoreaSeoul, 29 Dec (ONA) --- A passenger jet carrying 181 people erupted in flames after going off the runway and hitting a wall at an airport in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan today, likely leaving all but two dead, authorities said. The authorities confirmed 177 deaths from the accident so far. The accident happened when the Jeju Air flight veered off the runway while landing and collided with a fence wall at Muan International Airport in the Muan county, South Jeolla Province, about 288 ...

Cyclone Death Toll in Mayotte Rises to 39Mayotte, 25 Dec (ONA) --- The death toll from cyclone Chido in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has reached 39, according to the latest count from the island's prefect.Meanwhile, France's interior ministry updated the number of wounded to 4,136, of which 124 were serious ...

Seven Dead, 33 Injured in Traffic Collision in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, 24 Dec (ONA) --- Seven people died, and 33 others were injured in a traffic collision involving three vehicles on the North-South Expressway near the Ayer Keroh Rest in Malacca state, Malaysia. Malacca Fire and Rescue Department director Mohammad Pisar Aziz said the accident involved a tour bus carrying 27 passengers, a trailer, and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), adding that preliminary investigations revealed the victims died in the accident included three adult men, three adult women and a child, ...

7 Killed in Plane Crash in Western MexicoMexico City, 23 Dec (ONA) --- At least seven people have been killed after a small plane crashed in a forest area in Jalisco, western Mexico. Mexican authorities reported that the plane, a Cessna 207, was coming from the neighboring state of Michoacan when it was involved in an air accident and crashed in a rugged area. Local authorities on the scene reported an initial toll of seven people killed, though their identities have yet to be determined. In May 2019, Mexico witnessed the death of 13 passengers after a ...

Cyclone Chido Death Toll Rises To 94 in MozambiqueMaputo, 22 Dec (ONA) --- Cyclone Chido caused the death of at least 94 people in Mozambique in rampage through the Indian Ocean last week, the country's disaster management agency said Sunday, raising a previous death toll of 76.The cyclone destroyed 110,000 homes in Mozambique, officials said. ---Ends/Thuraiya/AG ...

Climate Change Slowly Killing Europe’s Beech Forests Bern, 22 Dec (ONA) --- A new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) warned that European beech forests face severe threats from climate change. Researchers found that extreme droughts, like those experienced from 2018 to 2023, have already caused significant damage, with predictions of large-scale dieback and local extinction under both optimistic and pessimistic climate scenarios. Lead researcher Arthur Gessler emphasized the urgency of introducing drought- and ...

25 Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes in DRC Kinshasa, 18 Dec (ONA) --- An overcrowded boat capsized on a river in central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), claiming the lives of at least 25 people, including children, with dozens still missing, according to local officials. The vessel, carrying over 100 passengers, departed from the town of Inongo, northeast of Kinshasa, but sank just a few hundred meters into its journey along the Fimi River. ---Ends/Thuraiya/KH ...

14 Dead, Hundreds Injured in 7.3 Magnitude Vanuatu Quake Port Vila, Vanuatu, 18 Dec (ONA) --- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck off Vanuatu killed at least 14 people, injured hundreds more and caused widespread damage across the South Pacific island nation, local officials said today. Frantic rescue efforts got underway after the quake hit the area, and rescuers worked through the night, trying to reach people screaming for help from under the rubble. The earthquake hit at a depth of 57 kilometers (35 miles) and was centered 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Port ...

Twelve Dead from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Georgia Ski Resort Tbilisi, 16 Dec (ONA) --- Twelve people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a ski resort in Georgia, police have said. The bodies of 11 foreigners and one Georgian national were found in a sleeping area above a restaurant in Gudauri, the largest and highest ski resort in the former Soviet state, according to local officials. Police said "preliminary tests do not indicate any trace of violence on the bodies" and it appeared to be an accident, the AFP news agency reported. An oil-powered ...

Mayotte Cyclone Toll will not be Known for Days and Days: OfficialsMamoudzou, 16 Dec (ONA) --- The full number of deaths caused by Cyclone Chido in the French overseas territory of Mayotte will not be known for some time, local authorities said. "It will take days and days," said France's acting interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, during a visit to the archipelago today. The local prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, told the local radio station that he thought "certainly several hundred" people had been killed in the storm. The French overseas territory of Mayotte ...

At Least 11 Dead as Cyclone Chido Batters French Territory of MayotteMamoudzou, 15 Dec (ONA) --- At least 11 people have died and more than 250 have been injured after Cyclone Chido struck the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, French public broadcaster France Info reported today. BFMTV, citing security sources, reported that the death toll from the storm, which hit the island yesterday (Saturday), could be as high as 14. Acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said that there had been a number of deaths but was unable to say how many. The situation on the ...

Environment Authority Attributes Death of Sperm Whale in Barka to Natural CircumstancesBarka, 12 Dec (ONA) --- The Environment Authority has affirmed that initial information indicated that the recent death of a sperm whale off the coast of Al Sawadi area, in the Wilayat of Barka, was likely to have been caused by natural circumstances.The authority reported that the washed-up whale measured more than 15 metres long and that the autopsy showed the existence of many parasites in its carcass, an evidence that the animal was suffering from a disease. The Authority affirmed that samples ...

US Climate Agency Sees 'Dramatic Changes' in the ArcticWashington, 11 Dec (ONA) --- The Arctic tundra has stored carbon dioxide in the frozen ground and in trees for thousands of years, but now a new report has found that it is releasing more planet-warming CO2 into the atmosphere than it absorbs. The reason for this, according to the report by the US climate agency NOAA, is rising temperatures and more frequent forest fires. The report was co-authored by 97 researchers from 11 countries. It said that over the past 20 years, wildfires in the northern polar region have ...

Mass Evacuation in Philippines After Major Volcanic Eruption Manila, 10 Dec (ONA) --- About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region today after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes. The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur. Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than ...

Floods, Landslides Leave 10 Dead in IndonesiaJakarta, 9 Dec (ONA) --- At least ten people died due to flash floods and landslides that hit hilly villages on Indonesia's main island of Java, officials said today. Two people are still missing. Torrential rains since last week have caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through more than 170 villages in Sukabumi district of West Java province, as mud, rocks and trees tumbled down mountainside hamlets. Landslides, flash floods and strong winds devastated 172 villages and forced more than 3,000 people to ...

Seven Dead, One Missing after Fishing Boat Capsizes in South KoreaSeoul, 9 Dec (ONA) --- Seven people died and one person remained unaccounted for after a fishing boat capsized off South Korea's southeastern coast today. According to the Korean Coast Guard, the eight were crew members aboard the 29-ton Geumgwang when the fishing vessel collided with a 456-ton cargo ship and capsized in waters near Gyeongju, about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported. In February 2023, nine fishermen went missing after their boat capsized off South ...

Death Toll from Uganda Landslide Climbs To 28 Kampala, 3 Dec (ONA)--- The death toll from the landslide in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda, has climbed to 28, even as rescue efforts continue. Police say that five more bodies have been retrieved from the mud after the landslide — triggered by heavy rains — hit multiple villages in Buluganya Sub-County last week. Uganda Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said that all the five victims were residents of Masugu village. Search operations are ongoing as joint teams, including the Red Cross and local ...

Over 30 Dead as Floods Devastate Malaysia, Southern Thailand Kuala Lumpur, 3 Dec (ONA)--- Severe floods caused by monsoon rains have killed more than 30 people and displaced tens of thousands in Malaysia and southern Thailand, officials said today, with both countries preparing shelters and evacuation plans in anticipation of more heavy rain. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said five days of heavier-than-expected rain that battered the country’s east coast last week was equal to the rainfall over the past six months, wreaking havoc in the north-eastern state of ...

Sea Surge Cases Increasing: StudyNew Delhi, 2 Dec (ONA) --- Researchers at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) are seeing a notable rise in sea surge events, threatening vulnerable communities. This, the researchers observed over Kerala’s 593-km coastline, which might indicate similar global trends. The study, which spans 2012 to 2023, provides a comprehensive analysis of the events, identifying key sea surge hotspots, and suggests essential management strategies for safeguarding the coastline.The study recorded 684 incidents, with a three-fold rise in ...

Death Toll from Southern Thailand Floods Climbs to 12Bangkok, 1 Dec (ONA) --- The death toll from the floods hitting several provinces across southern Thailand has risen to at least 12, authorities announced. The country's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said the worst floods in decades have impacted hundreds of thousands of households across 10 provinces and the evacuation of 13,000 ...