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☆ Pakistani rescuers try to free 6 kids and 2 men in a cable car dangling hundreds of feet in the air
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A cable car carrying six children and two adults dangled hundreds of meters (feet) above the ground in a remote part of Pakistan after it broke on Tuesday, trapping the occupants for hours before rescuers arrived in helicopters to try to free them. Army commandos could be seen on local TV trying to lower themselves on ropes from the choppers toward the cable car. An expert warned the rescue was incredibly delicate because the wind created by the helicopters' blades could further weaken cables holding the car aloft. "Let us pray that those trapped in the cable car are safely rescued," Sultan said. In 2017, 10 people were killed when a cable car fell into a ravine hundreds of meters (feet) deep in the popular mountain resort of Murree after its cable broke.

Persons: Taimoor Khan, Haq Kakar, Tipu Sultan, Khan, Sultan Organizations: Army, Helicopters, Twitter Locations: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Battagram district, Murree

☆ Over 50 killed in Indian Himalayas as rain triggers landslides
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Torrential rain in India's Himalayas triggered landslides over the weekend that have killed over 50 people, with the death toll expected to rise as more than 20 remain trapped or missing, officials said on Monday. Television footage from India's Himachal Pradesh state showed houses flattened by landslides, buses and cars hanging on the edge of precipices after roads gave way, and hundreds of people at rescue sites as emergency workers struggled to clear debris. [1/3]Rescue workers remove the debris as they search for survivors after a landslide following torrential rain in Shimla in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, India, August 14, 2023. Schools and other educational institutes were ordered to close in Himachal Pradesh and people in vulnerable areas were being moved to relief shelters, state officials said. Uttarakhand state authorities announced that the Char Dham pilgrimage route would be closed until Tuesday following landslides.

Persons: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Sukhu, Stringer, Praveen Bhardwaj, Bhardwaj, Shivam Patel, Saurabh Sharma, Sakshi Dayal, Robert Birsel, Christina Fincher, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Twitter, Reuters, REUTERS, Uttarakhand Disaster Management, India Meteorological Department, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Himachal Pradesh, precipices, Shimla, Solan, Mandi district, Himachal, Uttarakhand, New Delhi, Lucknow

New Delhi CNN —Nearly half a million people in northeast India have been affected by severe flooding after heavy rains battered the region, turning roads into rivers and submerging entire villages. More than 495,000 people spread across 22 districts in the state of Assam have been impacted by floodwaters, its disaster management authority said in a statement Thursday. Men trying to cross the flooded street in Nalbari district of Assam India on Tuesday June 21, 2023. Assam, a state of more than 31 million people, experiences heavy rain and flooding during India’s unrelenting monsoon season which can last from April to September. A man carries belongings from his partially submerged house in the flood affected Dhamdhama village of Nalbari district, in India's Assam state on June 22, 2023.

Persons: Dasarath Deka, Biju Boro Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, ZUMA Press, Getty Locations: New Delhi, India, Assam, Nalbari district, Assam India, Nalbari, India's Assam, AFP, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar

Islamabad and New Delhi CNN —Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy has made landfall in India’s western Gujarat state, close to the Pakistan border, unleashing powerful gusts of wind that ripped up trees and toppled electricity poles. At landfall, Biparjoy was equivalent to a strong tropical storm with winds of 65 mph (100 kph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Heavy rainfall warnings are expected to remain in place for northwest India through Saturday. Akhtar Soomro/ReutersBefore the storm, both India and Pakistan implemented mass safety measures to ensure minimal damage and loss of life. A man rides a motorcycle through a waterlogged street in Mandvi before the arrival of cyclone Biparjoy in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 15, 2023.

Persons: Biparjoy, Akhtar Soomro, Francis Mascarenhas Organizations: New Delhi CNN —, Typhoon Warning, Reuters, Livestock, PIA, National Disaster Management Authority, Residents, Getty, Shenzhen Institute of Meteorological, Chinese University of Hong Locations: Islamabad, New Delhi, India’s, Gujarat, Pakistan, India, Sindh, floodwater, Mumbai, Karachi, Mandvi, Pakistan's Sindh, AFP, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Asia

[1/3] A police officer patrols Mandvi beach after it was shut because of cyclone Biparjoy in the western state of Gujarat, India, June 14, 2023. Classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy was situated about 280 km (174 miles) from Jakhau Port in Gujarat and was expected to make landfall around Thursday evening. "As of now, our forecast is it will cross as a very severe cyclonic storm. Eight districts in coastal Gujarat are expected to be affected, the state government said. The evacuation operations will continue till today (Wednesday) evening, mainly in Kutch," said Kamal Dayani, a senior official in the Gujarat state government.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Manorama Mohanty, Kamal Dayani, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, India Meteorological Department, IMD, Ships, Wednesday, Disaster Management Authority, Thomson Locations: Gujarat, India, Francis Mascarenhas AHMEDABAD, MUMBAI, Pakistan, Jakhau Port, Kutch, Saurashtra, Mandvi, Karachi, Jakhau, Pakistan's

[1/3] A man with a mobile phone takes a picture of rising waves before the arrival of the cyclonic storm Biparjoy over the Arabian Sea, in Karachi, Pakistan, June 14, 2023. The cyclone is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch, and neighboring Pakistan coasts on Thursday noon with winds of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. "As of now, our forecast is it will cross as a very severe cyclonic storm. After crossing, its intensity will fall and become a cyclonic storm and depression." In neighbouring Pakistan 62,000 people were evacuated from high risk areas, according to the country's National Disaster Management Authority.

Persons: Akhtar Soomro, gusting, Sherry Rehman, Manorama Mohanty, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Mohapatra, Alok Kumar Pandey, Sumit Khanna, Rajendra Jadhav, Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, India Meteorological Department, IMD, Gujarat's, Disaster Management Authority, Ships, Rajendra, Thomson Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, Akhtar Soomro AHMEDABAD, MUMBAI, Jakhau Port, Indian, Gujarat, Pakistan's, Saurashtra, Kutch, Mandvi, Jakhau, India, Ahmedabad, Mumbai

[1/2] A lifeguard patrols Juhu beach, during a red flag alert due to rough seas caused by cyclone Biparjoy, in Mumbai, India, June 12, 2023. Eight districts in coastal Gujarat are expected to be affected, the state government said. Gujarat is home to many offshore oil installations and major ports in the country and most have been forced to suspend operations. Two of India's largest ports - Kandla and Mundra - located in Gujarat, have suspended operations, the state government said. Other ports including Bedi, Navlakhi, Porbandar, Okha, Pipavav and Bhavnagar have also closed due to the cyclone, according to shipping sources.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Kamal Dayani, Bedi, Navlakhi, Jamnagar, Sumit Khanna, Rajendra Jadhav, Mohi Narayan, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, India Meteorological Department, Force, Reliance Industries, Adani, Indian Coast Guard, Key Singapore, Oil, Gas, Vedanta Ltd, National Disaster Management Authority, Rajendra, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Francis Mascarenhas AHMEDABAD, MUMBAI, Gujarat, Pakistan, Mandvi, India's Gujarat, Karachi, Kutch, Rajkot, Pipavav, Bhavnagar, Mundra, Tuna, Kandla, Key, Dubai, Ahmedabad

☆ Severe cyclone likely to hit India's west coast, south Pakistan on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, June 12 (Reuters) - A storm off India's west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit India's western state of Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week, the weather department said. India's weather office has advised fishing communities to halt operations and the evacuation of people from the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat. Officials from the Sindh provincial government also said they are preparing to evacuate people from three districts likely to be affected. A 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Gujarat. Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bhupendra Patel, Biparjoy, Rajendra Jadhav, Sakshi Dayal, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: India Meteorological Department, Reliance Industries, Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited, Force, State, National Disaster Management Authority, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Gujarat, Pakistan, Mandvi, Karachi, Saurashtra, Kutch, India, Gulf, Saurashtra ., Gujarat Pipavav Port, Sindh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

☆ Cyclone likely to hit India's west coast, south Pakistan on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] A lifeguard patrols Juhu beach, during a red flag alert due to rough seas caused by cyclone Biparjoy, in Mumbai, India, June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasMUMBAI, June 12 (Reuters) - A storm off India's west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit India's western state of Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week, the Indian weather department said on Monday. "Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept ready on standby," it said. In neighbouring Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority said instructions were being given to take precautionary measures in southern and southeastern parts that may be affected. A 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Gujarat.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas MUMBAI, Biparjoy, Rajendra Jadhav, Asif Shahzad, Sumit Khanna, Sakshi Dayal, Shivam Patel, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Philippa Fletcher, Jonathan Oatis, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, India Meteorological Department, Adani, Indian Coast Guard, Key Singapore, Oil, Gas, Vedanta Ltd, Response Force, Coast Guard, Army, Navy, National Disaster Management Authority, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Gujarat, Pakistan, Mandvi, Karachi, Fishermen, Mundra, Tuna, Kandla, Key, Dubai, Gujarat Pipavav, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Overnight, the death toll from the earthquakes, the most powerful of which struck at the dead of night on Feb. 6, rose to 44,128 in Turkey. That took the overall number of deaths in Turkey and neighbouring Syria to more than 50,000. More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in Turkey by the disaster, the worst in the country's modern history. Many Turks have expressed outrage at what they see as corrupt building practices and flawed urban developments. Turkey and Armenia are still at odds over the 1.5 million people Armenia says were killed in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor to modern Turkey.

More than 105,000 people were injured in the quake, he said, with more than 13,000 still being treated in hospital. Afterwards, Gungor's relatives hugged the rescue team, made up of military personnel and members of the disaster management authority AFAD. Families in both Turkey and Syria said they and their children were dealing with the psychological aftermath of the quake. A first convoy of U.N. aid entered rebel-held northwest Syria from Turkey via the newly-opened Bab al-Salam crossing. Russia also said it was wrapping up its search and rescue work in Turkey and Syria and preparing to withdraw.

☆ Istanbul bourse suspends trading after main index drops 7%
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 8 (Reuters) - Turkey's Borsa Istanbul suspended trading on its equity and derivatives markets after two market-wide circuit breakers failed to stop a slide in the main index, which fell 7% within the first hour of trading. "Trading in Equity Market and Single Stock & Index Futures and Options Contracts in the Derivatives Market has been suspended," it said in a statement. The stock market operator did not say when trade would resume. The first market-wide circuit breaker was issued within minutes of opening on Wednesday after the benchmark index (.XU100) dropped 5%, continuing losses after a devastating earthquake in the south of the country on Monday. The benchmark BIST-100 index opened down 0.52% and was suspended at 7.09% down, while the banking sub-index (.XBANK) was down 6.03% as trading was suspended.

☆ Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 3,400
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

A man carries a girl following an earthquake, in rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria February 6, 2023. People search through rubble following an earthquake in Diyarbakir, Turkey February 6, 2023. Rescuers carry out a girl from a collapsed building following an earthquake in Diyarbakir, Turkey February 6, 2023. He said their shared four-story building collapsed just as he, his wife and three children ran toward the exit. Rescuers stand on rubble of a collapsed building, following an earthquake, in Latakia, Syria, February 6, 2023 in this handout image.

☆ Cracks begin to show in India's Himalayan building spree
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Krishn Kaushik | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

"Modern connectivity is also a guarantee of national security," Modi said at an election rally at a border village in October, where he said the new transport links would bring development to remote regions. India's ministries of highways and railway, which own the state-run companies building the road and rail projects, also did not respond. Hundreds of homes have sunk and cracked in an Indian tourist town close to the Himalayan border with China. Eight of the families neighbouring Butola have now left the village, their homes riven with cracks, villagers told Reuters. Officials halted road construction work near the town, fearful of a bigger collapse.

☆ Collapse of Overcrowded Suspension Bridge Kills 68 in India’s Gujarat State
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Krishna Pokharel | Tripti Lahiri | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rescue operations continued Sunday night after the bridge, which had spanned over the Machchhu River for over a century, collapsed earlier in the evening. A suspension bridge collapsed and killed at least 68 people in the western Indian state of Gujarat after the more-than-century-old structure was crowded with hundreds of visitors on Sunday, according to the state disaster management agency. Officers managing emergency operations for the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority said that as of late Sunday night, 68 bodies had been recovered. Some 170 people had been rescued and taken to a local hospital in Morbi district, where the incident occurred. Rescue operations are continuing, the disaster agency said.

☆ The UAE is scrapping its Covid mask requirements after 2.5 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The UAE is doing away with its mandatory mask requirements in nearly all public indoor spaces after 2.5 years. The ruling officially applies to just the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, but the country's six other emirates, including Dubai, are expected to follow suit. Masks will now only be required in hospitals, on public transport, and in places of worship, NCEMA said. In Dubai, mask-wearing was required in public indoor spaces but permitted to be taken off while sitting, eating, drinking and performing physical exercise. By the summer months, enforcement in many of the other emirates had relaxed and it was common to see people in public places not wearing masks.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) "Super floods" in Pakistan have left 3.4 million children in need of "immediate, lifesaving support," according to UNICEF. The floods -- caused by record monsoon rains and dubbed by one minister as "the worst humanitarian disaster in a decade" -- have impacted 16 million children in total, UNICEF's Pakistan Representative Abdullah Fadil said following his visit this week to the country's southern Sindh Province. That estimate came as the country's National Disaster Management Authority updated the death toll from the floods since mid-June to 1,545 people, 552 of them children. Meanwhile, officials in the country warn that toll is likely to rise as deaths are being under reported and diseases like dengue fever are on the rise. Azra Pechuho, health minister for the southern Sindh Province -- one of the hardest hit areas where many schools and other facilities remain shut, said there was now a "state of emergency" caused by the vast amount of standing water, which provides the perfect breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes to spread the dengue virus.

☆ Deadly floodwaters begin to recede in Pakistan’s south worst hit by the disaster
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Floodwaters are receding in Pakistan’s worst-hit southern Sindh province, officials said Friday, a potentially bright sign in an ongoing crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless in the impoverished South Asian country. Volunteers from the Saylani Welfare Trust distribute food among flood-affected families, in Pakistan's Sindh province on Tuesday. Authorities say it will take months to completely drain the water in Sindh. Nationwide, floods have damaged 1.8 million homes, washed away roads and destroyed nearly 400 bridges, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. The deluge has killed 1,508 people since mid-June, inundated millions of acres of land and affected 33 million people.

☆ Pakistan Sees Climate-Fueled Floods, Barely Contributes to Emissions
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-31 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Rising temperatures due to climate change lead to heavy rainfall and floods in many parts of the world. Wealthy industrialized countries have pumped far more greenhouse gas emissions — a key driver of climate change — into the air than Pakistan, a low-emitting nation. Children swim in flood waters along with buffalo on the outskirts of Sukkur, Sindh province, on August 30, 2022. Brick kiln workers carry their belongings and move following flash flood in Hyderabad southern Sindh province Pakistan, on August 30, 2022. "Let's stop sleepwalking towards the destruction of our planet by climate change," he said, adding, "Today, it's Pakistan.

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