March 10, 2016 - U.S. SOUTH - At least three people were killed and thousands forced from
their homes as a second round of severe rains poured down in parts of
the South. The National Weather Service is calling the flash flooding a
historic event.
Rivers rose to near-record levels,
resulting in cars and homes near Shreveport, Alabama being submerged by
several feet of water. Flood conditions are expected to last until early
Saturday in northwestern Louisiana.
Governor John Bel
Edwards declared a state of emergency in 16 Louisiana parishes, with the
National Guard being called in to assist evacuation efforts after the
rains began on Wednesday morning.
Spokeswoman Rebekah Malone says that the Guard evacuated 361 people in Louisiana’s Bossier, Morehouse, and Ouchita parishes, according to Fox News.
Thousands evacuated as historic flooding swamps Louisiana
Twitter: The Weather Channel
A 75-year-old man drowned on Wednesday afternoon near Lucky, Louisiana while attempting to drive through a flooded highway. A female passenger driving with him managed to be pulled to safety, but is suffering from hypothermia, The Weather Channel reported.
Officials ordered the mandatory evacuation of 3,500 homes as a precaution as the water in a nearby bayou was approaching the top of its levee.
“After a while, with more rain coming in, we’re probably not going to be able to get in and out of our neighborhood because a lot of it is under water,” resident Jennifer Williams told KTBS. “A lot of the homes are under water.”
Authorities in the Texas counties of Harrison and Marion, located to the west of Shreveport, also issued evacuation orders due to the severe rains, with flooding expected to continue through Sunday.
WATCH: Widespread flooding in the U.S. South.
“We expect some areas to get 15 inches plus of rain,” National Weather Service forecaster Bob Oravec said, according to Reuters. “It looks like a pretty bad situation.”
A 22-year-old man was killed in southeastern Texas on Sunday night when his kayak capsized, according to AP. He was not wearing a life jacket, police said.
A 30-year-old man drowned in his SUV in Southwest Oklahoma on Tuesday night while trying to cross a bridge covered in floodwaters, according to Reuters. A passenger in the vehicle managed to swim to safety. - RT.
February 23, 2016 - FIJI ISLANDS - Dozens of people have been killed by the powerful cyclone Winston, which
has been ravaging Fiji in recent days. Experts warn that the island
country can suffer possible outbreaks of the Zika and Dengue viruses.
The footage posted on the Fijiian government website shows a massive
scale of destruction on the small island - whole villages have been
flooded amid Winston's destructive winds, which reportedly reached about
325 kph.
"The images emerging from early aerial assessments of affected areas are
truly heartbreaking, leaving little doubt about the ferocity of this
cyclone," said Osnat Lubrani, UN Resident Coordinator in Fiji.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said that the recovery process will take "a long time."
"Almost no part of our nation has been left unscarred. And many of our
rural and maritime areas bore the brunt of Winston's fury," he said.
Aid agencies said that Fiji now may face outbreaks of the Zika and
Dengue viruses, both of which are caused by infected mosquitoes.
"The threat of dengue and Zika in the coming days in Fiji is real," said
Chris Hagarty, senior health program manager at Plan International
Australia. "The period immediately following a disaster of this scale
can be a particularly dangerous one."
WATCH: Cyclone Winston devastates Fiji.
According to the UN, more than 8,100 people "are currently
sheltering in evacuation centers" and 150 houses have been destroyed in
the storm. "The cyclone is estimated to be one of the most severe ever to hit the South Pacific," the organization said.
WATCH: Playlist of the Cyclone Winston's destruction.
According to Alice Clements, a Communications Specialist with UNICEF Pacific, "the
amount of destruction to infrastructure [in Suva, Fiji's capital],
livelihoods and homes that something like this can do is just immense. It can also completely destroy or severely damage school facilities and health facilities." - RT.
February 20, 2016 - FIJI ISLANDS - Authorities in Fiji are assessing the damage after the most powerful storm left at least five people dead.
Cyclone Winston brought winds of over 320km/h (200mph), torrential rain and waves of up to 12m (40ft).
It destroyed hundreds of homes and cut electricity lines. There are reports of entire villages flattened.
The government has imposed a nationwide curfew and 30-day state of
national disaster giving extra powers to police to arrest people without
a warrant.
The Category-five storm - the highest level - moved westward since
making landfall at 18:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Saturday in the north
of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu.
It changed direction at the last minute, sparing the capital Suva the full force of its winds.
The government had opened about 750 evacuation centres.
More than 1,000 people were sheltering in one on the second largest island of Vanua Levu, north-east of Viti Levu, the Fiji Broadcasting Company said.
Among the victims was an elderly man who died on the smaller Koro Island when a roof fell on him.
Some villages reported that all homes had been destroyed, Jone
Tuiipelehaki of the UN Development Programme tweeted after the storm
hit.
WATCH: Extensive damage in Fiji from Cyclone Winston.
He said 50 homes in Navaga village on Koro Island had been reported ruined.
"The images that we're starting to see roll in are terrifying," Alice
Clements, from the UN children's organisation Unicef in Suva told
Reuters news agency. She said she could see a car on a building roof and
a small plane stuck in debris.
In the north coast of Fiji's main island where the cyclone made
landfall, a man told Reuters the damage was so extensive that "it looks
like a different country".
George Dregaso, of Fiji's National Disaster Management Office, told the
Associated Press that about 80% of the nation's 900,000 people were
without regular electricity supplies.
Schools have been ordered to shut for a week even though the main airport has been reopened to receive humanitarian supplies.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described the storm on Saturday as "an ordeal of the most grievous kind".
"When we are able we will provide timelines for the return of water and power," he said.
New Zealand and Australia have promised to send aircraft to assess the damage in remote areas.
Red Cross Pacific office head Ahmad Sami told AFP news agency humanitarian needs were likely to be "very high".
The cyclone has now moved out to sea, although strong winds and heavy rains remained likely, Fiji's Meteorological Office said. - BBC News.
Eye of Cyclone #Winston has made landfall over the north coast of Viti Levu - #Fiji's strongest cyclone on record
Twitter: Met Office Storms
February 19, 2016 - FIJI ISLANDS - Fiji’s South Pacific islands are in emergency lockdown, with all flights
in and out of the country suspended, as hurricane force winds from
Cyclone Winston batter the nation.
The government has declared a 30-day state of natural disaster over the Category 5 cyclone, believed to be the strongest in history to hit the area.
One fatality has been reported - a man died after a house collapsed on the island of Koro, according to the Fiji Times.
Earlier, residents were advised to either seek shelter in one of the 758 government evacuation centers or secure their homes against the storm, and a 6pm curfew was issued.
Winds of over 200km/h have been reported since the tropical storm made landfall Saturday, while there are fears of flooding and landslides.
WATCH: Dramatic Himawari-8 visible and IR Loops of Cyclone Winston Heading for Fiji.
A severe weather warning for the three largest islands Viti Levu, Taveuni, and Vanua Levu - where the majority of the population live - has been issued by the Fiji Meteorological Service.
The cyclone is traveling west over the islands and has already hit the island of Viti Levu, close to the capital Suva.
Fiji’s prime minister, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, has urged people on the South Pacific islands to “stick together” as the country faces “an ordeal of the most grievous kind.”
WATCH: 'Winston' strongest cyclone (hurricane) ever in Southern Hemisphere.
“I ask parents to be especially careful of the young and the elderly.
Do not allow anyone to go outside during the storm itself. The threat of being hit by flying debris is extremely high,” Bainimarama had warned during the storm’s approach.
WATCH: Scenes from Fiji.
Authorities are having difficulty assessing the full extent of storm damage at this point as communications are down across many of the islands’ towns and villages.
Earlier, Fijians shared videos online of the destructive power of mother nature, as the cyclone began to accelerate inland. - RT.
February 4, 2016 - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - More flooding hit Queensland earlier today, 03 February, this time in
the the state's remote north west. Last week, one man died and several
were rescued after floods in the Bundaberg area on 31 January.
More heavy rain this week affected communities in the Mount Isa area.
On February 3, Urandangi recorded 162mm of rain in 24 hours, with most of
it falling in around 3 hours. This is just short of its highest ever of
164mm, recorded in December 1984. Surrounding areas also received large
amounts of rain.
Local police reported that flooding in the township of Dajarra has led
to several people being evacuated from homes this morning.
Police also
reported that a number of vehicles in the area have been impacted by
flood waters.
At least person had to be rescued after he was stranded in
his car by floodwater. Several roads across the region were closed.
Search for 8 Missing
Eight people who were feared missing in floodwaters have been found safe
and well.
The group were traveling between Urandangi and Mount Isa and
were thought to have been caught up in the flooding affecting the area.
Poor weather conditions prevented police from carrying our an aerial
search.
However, late on 03 February, Mount Isa police reported they had
located one of the vehicles and that, following investigations and
enquiries with the occupants of that vehicle and other Mount Isa
residents, police are satisfied that both vehicles and all occupants
have arrived safely in Mount Isa. - Floodlist.
January 28, 2016 - GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - A storm in Geelong, Victoria, Australia on 27 January 2016 dumped more than double the January monthly average rain on parts of the city in just 1 hour.
Avalon, a suburb of the city, recorded 72 mm of rain between 16:00 to
17:00 local time on 27 January. Geelong Racecourse recorded over 40 mm
of rain between 15:00 and 17:00.
The rain caused severe flash flooding throughout the city and
suburbs. Emergency services responded to over 500 requests and had to
carry out 15 flood rescues.The City of Greater Geelong said that "Yesterday's storm was considered a
1 in 100 year event with double the January monthly average rain
falling in just 1 hour".
Stefan Delatovic, Manager of Emergency Management Communications for Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) said:
"This dramatic storm has been characterised as a "once in a century
event", but it's important to say that this is a measure of magnitude,
as in 'a storm this severe has a one-in-100 chance of occurring in any
given year'. It doesn't mean another storm like this isn't expected for
another 50 years. More rain is forecast for today, another storm like
this could pop up anywhere in Victoria with little warning".
7 People Trapped in Cars
Victoria State Emergency Service personnel were praised for their efforts during the storm by Geelong's mayor.
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) responded to over 520
requests. Amongst these calls for help were 15 people rescued from
floodwater, including seven people who were trapped in cars.
Stefan Delatovic, said that "volunteers from around Victoria flooded in
to help their Geelong peers to clear these incidents overnight. We're
indebted to their service".
Stay Away from Floodwater
Throughout the storm and in the aftermath, VICSES stressed the
importance of staying away from flood water, especially for those in
vehicles. Via social media they said:
"If you can't seen the road, you can't guarantee that it is safe. Never drive through floodwater".
The photos below were taken in North Geelong on 28 January, after the floodwater had receded. Photo credit: VICSES
In a statement earlier today, Mr Delatovic said:
"If you only do one thing, make it an easy one: commit to never entering
floodwater. Floodwater moves quickly, picking up dirt and debris as it
goes. Television news coverage of Geelong's storms shows vehicles being
swept away. Imagine if you were in them and how scary that would be. Our
volunteers will try to save you if you're trapped in a vehicle being
tossed around by floods at obvious risks to themselves, but don't put
their lives in danger by entering it willingly.
TV coverage of last night's storm included footage of people driving
through floodwater, with many neglecting to warn of the severe risk.. Of
chief concern to emergency managers is footage of a man surfing on
floodwater which often cropped up as a light-hearted end to bulletins,
characterised as a bit of fun. Obviously the man in question was having
fun, and it's not the media's job to do anything more than accurately
depict what is occurring, but flood stories including images of "locals
enjoying the water" are common, and they normalise this activity.
Floodwater can include fast-moving sheets of corrugated iron, or a
concealed storm drain creating an inescapable current. If you cut
yourself, you're prone to infection because the water is filthy. Current
images of the receding floodwater in Geelong demonstrate how damaged
roads can become. If you can't see the road, you can't guarantee that
it's safe.
The media shouldn't stop broadcasting images of people playing in
floodwater, or driving through it, but we all need a reminder of how
dangerous it is.
Floods, storms and fires are unpredictable and they will inflict tragedy upon us. Let's not give them any help".
Melbourne Avoids Storm Damage
For a while yesterday it looked like storms were also going to hit
Melbourne and other areas east of Geelong. Australia Bureau of
Meteorology (BoM) warned that very dangerous thunderstorms were detected
on weather radar near Pakenham and the area north of Pakenham. These
thunderstorms are moving towards the southeast. Destructive winds, heavy
rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones are
likely.
WATCH: Heavy rainfall and widespread flooding deluge Geelong.
Fortunately the threat passed and BoM cancelled a severe thunderstorm warning on Thursday afternoon (local time).
"A more general severe thunderstorm warning remains current for the West
and South Gippsland and parts of the Central, Northern Country, North
Central and North East districts," the BoM said. - Floodlist.
January 27, 2016 - ISRAEL - Electric corporation kicks it into high gear as snow starts moving
in ahead of overnight buildup; electricity usage breaks record
Jerusalem was visited by bursts of snow showers on Monday as a three-day
storm continues to set upon Israel, and the Israel Electric Corporation
(IEC) has declared a state of emergency in the capital in anticipation
of the coming deluge.
On Monday the record for electricity usage in winter was broken,
as the 12,200 megawatt previous high was shattered and consumption
continues to rise. A 2.3% increase from the previous record has already
been reached.
A full 47 millimeters (nearly two inches) of rain fell in
Jerusalem on Monday, making it the highest amount of rainfall in the
entire country. While snow also fell down upon the capital, it
did not stick or build up - but that's to change on Monday night, as
Jerusalemites can anticipate to wake to a white morning on Tuesday.
IEC Director Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftah Ron-Tal updated Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu and Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) on Monday
regarding the company's preparations for electricity disturbances in
Jerusalem, after snow began falling earlier in the day.
A situation room has been opened in Jerusalem and an emergency situation has been declared by the IEC.
The corporation is to reinforce its crews on the ground, as well
as its staff on the 103 telephone hotline which is in direct contact
with the Jerusalem municipality and the police, passing out information
to the interested public and fielding reports of power outages.
On Sunday, the IEC deployed a mobile power station to the Atarot
neighborhood in the north of Jerusalem, so as to back-up the power
supply in the capital. It has also dispatched generators to remote towns
where access has been limited due to the weather conditions.
IEC is preparing for unusually high electricity consumption on Monday night due to the rapid drop in temperature over the last day.
While the storm weakened somewhat on Monday, the cold wave blowing in
from Russia continues to move in, and heavy rains and winds blustered
throughout the country, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail. Flood
warnings remain in effect for certain locations.
The rain will continue intermittently overnight, with potential snowfall
in the north. That snow is to gather on mountains over 700 meters (just
under 2,300 feet) in height in the center of the country, including in
Jerusalem, and build overnight.
In light of the approaching snow, police are preparing to close Highways 1 and 443 that connect the coastal region and Jerusalem on Monday night. - Arutz Sheva.
Flint hospital finds Legionnaires' bacteria in water
January 23, 2016 - MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES - While a spike in Legionnaires’ disease was occurring in Flint, Michigan in 2014 -- around the same time the city switched its water supply to the Flint River -- testing discovered the potentially deadly bacteria in the water of a local hospital.
The Detroit News reported that the Legionella bacteria was found in the water at McLaren Regional Medical Center. The hospital also hired an expert who told the news outlet that the organism likely came from the Flint River.
In an email to the news outlet, McLaren spokeswoman Laurie Prochazka confirmed the hospital undertook “aggressive testing” in the spring of 2014, after medical officials noted a rise in Legionnaires’ cases not just at McLaren, but also at other facilities.McLaren hired Jane Stout, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering and an expert in Legionnaires’ disease, to analyze the outbreak, The Detroit News said.
She said this week that the bacteria probably made it into the facility in brown water from the city water system. The water itself would have contained matter that the bacteria consume.Governor Rick Snyder and other administration officials disclosed the outbreak last week but said they weren’t sure if the spike could be linked to the ongoing lead-contaminated water crisis.
Health officials said 87 Flint residents were infected in the outbreak from June 2014 until November 2015, nine of whom died. The county containing Flint usually has fewer than 12 cases a year, according to The Detroit News.
Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman told the News a “strain match” would determine whether the source was the Flint River but identifying the strain will be impossible because “samples were never kept from the patients who had Legionnaires’.”
McLaren’s Prochazka said, “All Legionella testing continues to show the McLaren Flint water supply is well within safety and quality standards.”
The disease itself is caused by Legionella bacteria, which can thrive in water systems such as cooling towers, plumbing systems, hot water tanks and even hot tubs.
The bacteria infects people once they breathe in contaminated mist from water containing the bacteria, but it cannot be spread from one person to another, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is fatal 10 to 15 percent of the time. - RT.
Violence on the streets of Kasserine as youth return to protest incomplete revolution. Reuters.
January 22, 2016 - TUNISIA - Tunisia imposed a
nationwide overnight curfew Friday in response to growing unrest as
protests over unemployment across the country descended into violence in
some cities.
The week of increasingly violent demonstrations was triggered Sunday when a young man who lost out on a government job climbed a transmission tower in protest and was electrocuted. The suicide more than five years ago of another unemployed youth set off a popular uprising that overthrew Tunisia's longtime ruler and eventually gave rise to the "Arab Spring" uprisings across North Africa.
Tunisia built the only democracy to survive that movement, which spawned chaos elsewhere in the region. But the country's economy is foundering, and about one in three young people remains without work.
"Are we not Tunisians too? It's been four years I've been struggling. We're not asking for much, but we're fighting for our youth. We've struggled so much for them," said Leila Omri, the mother of an unemployed graduate in Kasserine.
A curfew from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. was declared because the attacks on public and private property "represent a danger to the country and its citizens," the Interior Ministry said.
Overnight into Friday, police stations came under attack and security officers used tear gas to repel protesters armed with stones and Molotov cocktails. In housing projects on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis, roving groups of young people pillaged a bank and looted stores and warehouses.
The previous night, a police officer died after protesters flipped his car, the government said.
Tunisia's prime minister, Habib Essid, cut short a visit to France to deal with the protests. Tunisia's unemployment stands around 15 percent, but is 30 percent among young people.
Tunisia has been under a state of emergency since a suicide bombing in November killed 12 members of the presidential guard in the heart of Tunis - an attack that capped an unusually violent year for Tunisia. That bombing, as well as deadly attacks earlier in the year against the Bardo museum in Tunis and the tourist beach town of Sousse, were claimed by the Islamic State group.
In Paris just before leaving for home, Essid said the problem was not with democracy, but with the economy.
"We have a set of policies to try to solve this issue, which is one of this government's main challenges," he said after his meeting with the French president. "We don't have a magic wand. We can't solve the problem of unemployment in one go."
France promised aid worth 1 billion euros, much of it dedicated to inland regions far from the relatively glamorous coastal areas that include the resort of Sousse. But tourism, the main driver of Tunisia's economy, plummeted after last year's attacks, leaving even the coasts struggling.
"You want a solution? It's easy: give the people jobs, instead of pouring millions into Sousse," said Abid Khadhraoui, another unemployed graduate. "You had five years and nothing happened. All we want are jobs!" - AP.
January 16, 2016 - MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES - President Barack Obama has declared a federal emergency in
Flint, Michigan, after the city’s drinking water became contaminated.
Meanwhile, Democrat Socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says
Michigan’s governor should resign due to his slow response to the
crisis.
The US president’s decision to declare a federal emergency will free up $5 million of federal aid so it can be used to combat the health crisis. The city’s drinking water supply has become contaminated with lead.
The money will be able to cover 75 percent of the costs needed to provide filters, filter cartridges and other items residents need in order to ensure they have a safe supply of drinking water
However, Obama stopped short of granting Governor Rick Snyder’s request of a disaster declaration, which under federal law, is only granted following natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes. Had the US president announced a disaster declaration, Flint would have been able to receive a much greater aid sum.
"I have pledged to use all state resources possible to help heal Flint, and these additional resources will greatly assist in efforts under way to ensure every resident has access to clean water resources," Snyder said Saturday.
Snyder had asked for as much as $55 million to repair damaged pipes and a further $41 million to help to pay for water distribution services, whilst the restoration work is taking place.
However, Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has hit out at Snyder’s handling of the crisis and has called on the Michigan governor to resign, adding that, “The people of Flint deserve more than an apology.”
“There are no excuses,” Sanders said. “The governor long ago knew about the lead in Flint's water. He did nothing. As a result, hundreds of children were poisoned. Thousands may have been exposed to potential brain damage from lead."
Protesters have also been gathering outside Flint’s city hall to express their anger against Snyder. They were joined by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who is from Flint and has called on the US Attorney General’s Office to arrest and prosecute the Michigan governor because he "knew that toxins, pollutants, and eventually lead was leaching into the water and being sent into the taps of people's homes."
Moore also alleges that Snyder did nothing to try and solve the problem after it was evident that the water supply had been poisoned.
“Once they were informed, they decided to keep letting the people of Flint drink poisoned water,” Moore said. “In the back of their heads they knew these people had no power, no political power, no lobbyists, no money, nothing.”The problems arose after the Michigan authorities decided in April, 2014, to switch the source of Flint’s drinking water from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The move was projected to save the financially struggling city between $5 million and $7 million a year. Although the river water was sent to a treatment plant in the city, its salt levels were ignored. This caused the lead pipes transporting the water to corrode.
Local residents noticed the changes almost immediately, complaining of the water’s bad taste and smell. However, it took the Department of Environmental Quality until October 2015 to realize a mistake had been made, as previously, they had failed to add the necessary chemicals to prevent corrosion in the pipes. This meant that the water dissolved the lead, which is a poisonous metal.
Flint’s water source was eventually switched back to Lake Huron in October 2015. Governor Snyder declared a state of emergency on January 5, and called in the National Guard a week later, but the damage appeared to have already been done.
There is a “strong correlation” between high lead water levels in Flint and blood lead levels in children, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha told RT. A pediatrician at the Hurley Medical Center, Hanna-Attisha added that the highest readings she and the state recorded for elevated blood levels in Flint were 38 micrograms per deciliter.
This figure is more than seven times higher than the level classified as “elevated” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (5 micrograms).
Meanwhile, the contaminated water supply has also led to a spike in the number of cases of Legionnaires Disease in the city. Between June 2014 and November 2015, there were 87 cases, 10 of which proved to be fatal. Michigan health officials are currently investigating whether the growth in cases of Legionnaires is connected to the increased lead levels in the water supply. - RT.
January 11, 2016 - CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - It has been a stormy week across California with several El
Niño-enhanced storms slamming the state, resulting in widespread
flooding and road closures.
Southern California has been one of the areas hit the hardest by the
train of storms with inches of rain falling in the major metropolitan
areas of Los Angeles and San Diego.
"Drainage systems have been unable to handle the deluge, forcing partial
closures of roads and major interstates, including Interstate 5,"
AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
"Mudslides, evacuations, power outages and even a couple
of weak, short-lived tornadoes have also been reported over the past
few days," Duff added.
The weakened, scorched earth left behind after an active wildfire season
in California has turned into a major issue across the state, making
areas near the burn scars more susceptible to mudslides and debris
flows.
WATCH: El Nino rains cause massive flooding in California.
WATCH: Driver shows quick thinking as he sees oncoming floods on highway in Ventura County, California.
The 101 Freeway in Ventura County was one of these areas as mud spewed
across the highway from the burn scar left behind by last month's
Solimar Fire.
The southbound lane is open for traffic, but for a period of time on Thursday, the northbound lane was closed due the mud flow. - Accuweather.
January 8, 2016 - UNITED KINGDOM - The River Don reaches record levels and has already burst its bank in
places with another three inches of rain expected before 8am on Friday
morning.
More communities are expected to wake up to flood misery in the morning as further parts of Scotland reach saturation point .
The River Don in Aberdeenshire has hit its highest level on record and is expected to burst its banks in several places tonight - threatening even more properties after days of heavy rainfall brought devastation for many.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Met Office have warned of
another three inches of rain expected before 8am on Friday morning.
Police Scotland said it is dealing with a "major incident"
across the north-east as two severe warnings of potential danger to life
are issued for Kintore and Inverurie, along with 37 more flood warnings
across the country.
Parts of Grandholm in Aberdeen are on evacuation alert tonight as
experts monitor river levels and a rest centre has been set up at Bridge
of Don Academy.
Rest centres have also been set up at Inverurie Academy, Kintore
Community Hall, and Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, where flood barriers
have been erected amid fears the River Carron will burst its banks
overnight.
Other areas at risk include Maryculter, Brechin and Ballater .
Aberdeenshire Council said both the Deveron and Banff Bridges may have
to be closed as road conditions throughout the area are changing
rapidly.
The River Don has burst its banks in places due to the recent heavy rainfall
More than 20 Aberdeenshire schools will be closed or partially closed on Friday due to the severe weather.
The A90 has been reduced to one lane each way at Stracathro and is
severely flooded at Brechin while railway lines are now impassable
between Aberdeen and Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverurie and Aberdeen and
Inverness.
In Huntly residents at The Meadows Care Home were evacuated as a precaution as river levels rose.
Roads across the north-east were flooded and closed while ScotRail
warned of major disruption on the Glasgow to Inverness and Edinburgh to
Inverness lines caused by flooding.
Meanwhile, dozens of flights were redirected at Aberdeen Airport tonight
after heavy rain caused a hole to open up on the runway.
Arrivals were cancelled from around 5pm and departing flights were significantly affected after the runway had to be shortened.
An airport spokeswoman said the problem was expected to be fixed
overnight but urged passengers to check flight details with airlines.
In parts of Aberdeenshire children were sent home early from school as transport routes were swamped by heavy rain.
Local councillor Geva Blackett said: "We've been praying for an end to
it for a week and our prayers aren't being answered - it's bring on
the ark."
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "The situation in Kintore and
Inverurie and along the River Don in particular is extremely serious,
with severe flood warnings now in place. The impact of this latest round
of flooding is causing transport difficulties and putting properties at
risk of flooding.
"The Scottish Government's resilience committee is monitoring the
situation very closely and we have discussed the unfolding events and
work to mitigate the impacts and ensure the safety of people in local
communities.
"People in affected areas should keep a close eye on the latest
information from SEPA and Traffic Scotland and take heed of the warnings
that are issued.
"We will continue to work with responders and ensure they have the
support they need to manage the developing situation this evening."
A SEPA spokesman said river levels were expected to peak early Friday morning.
He said: "Particular concern is focused on flood prone areas close to
the River Don and River Deveron, which could potentially see severe
flooding impacts. Other areas at risk of significant flooding impacts
today include the River Isla, the lower Tay and Angus rivers."
Police in the north east have warned people top avoid travelling by road tonight.
WATCH: Scotland floods Homes evacuated as River Don burst its banks.
They tweeted: "Please don't travel by car tonight. Folk are getting
trapped in their cars in flooded areas. Check weather reports overnight
and in the am."
Storm Desmond hit the country at the start of December bringing gales of more than 112 mph in places.
It was followed by Eva which brought wind, rain and flood warnings across Christmas.
But it was Frank, which hit before Hogmanay, which brought the most chaos to Scotland causing flooding in many parts.
Audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers calculated our massive £700m storm bill by estimating the effect on the economy.
They say insurance losses were between £175m and £300m and smaller
businesses not covered will have to fork out between £35,000 and
£100,000 each.
Closing businesses early, power outages, encountering road closures that
delay or halt deliveries as well as employees taking time off for
childcare issues were all factored in to the economic loss. - Scottish Daily Record.
Flooded Lana river flows past homes in the Albanian capital Tirana following a heavy rain on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016.
January 7, 2016 - ALBANIA - Two days ofheavy rain in Albania has caused flash floods, river overflow and landslides in several parts of the country,including the counties of Tirana, Durrës, Lezhë, Shkodër and Dibër.
Civil emergency teams, including police and military personnel, carried
out around evacuations in Tirana, Dibër, Durrës and Lezhë.
Yesterday the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a warning that heavy
rain and thunderstorms were expected in several areas including Tirana,
Lezhë, Shkodër and Dibër. The ministry warned that people should keep
travel to a minimum.
Between 05 and 07 January, 2016, around 700 people are thought to have
been evacuated in total. The country's Deputy Prime Minister, Niko
Peleshi, described the response as timely and no deaths or serious
injuries have been reported.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said major and regional roads have been
temporarily blocked following landslides caused by the heavy rain.
Flooded houses are seen in the Albanian capital Tirana following a heavy rain in Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016.
In Dibër County yesterday, around 200 people were evacuated in the
municipality Bulqizë of after the Drini river overflowed. The Ministry
of Internal Affairs said today that after efforts by civil emergency
teams, the situation has since returned to normal.
In Tirana county, around 25 families were evacuated yesterday in the
village of Babrru after the Tirana river overflowed. Local media also
reported flooding in the Laprakë district of the Tirana city.
Authorities say that around 4 families were affected by a landslide in
Bërzhitë, although no casualties were reported.
In Fier County, the Shkumbin river has overflowed affecting several villages in the municipality of Divjakë.
In Durrës County around 80 families were evacuated from the
municipalities of Shijak (50 families) and Sukth (30 families) after
flooding caused by the overflowing Erzen river.
WATCH: Flooding in Albania.
Lezha county was one of worst affected areas yesterday. Families were
evacuated after floods in the village of Plana in Zejmen municipality as
a result of the overflowing Mat river and nearby streams. Earlier today
the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the situation has since
returned to normal in the area, although there are still some problems
on the roads which are still blocked after several minor landfalls.
Flood Mitigation Plans
The Deputy Prime Minister, Niko Peleshi visited the affected areas of
Lezhë yesterday. There he set out plans for central and local
governments to work together on numerous irrigation and drainage
projects across the country in order to mitigate flooding. He said that
2016 will mark a qualitative development in terms of irrigation works
and drainage in preventing similar flooding in the future. He also
proposed to tackle issues such as uncontrolled forest exploitation and
the illegal building in floodplains and riverbeds, which he said have
exacerbated recent floods in the country.
Kosovo
Local media are also reporting that the heavy rain, combined with snow
melt, has caused some flooding in parts of Kosovo. Prizren district is
said to be the worst hit, in particular the town of Mališevo. Some road
and surface flooding was also reported in Pristina.
Rainfall
According to WMO figures,198 mm of rain fell in Shkodër, Shkodër county, in 24 hours to 06 January.The next day Tirana saw 63 mm of rain and Kukës in Kukës County, saw 57 mm.
Neighboring Macedonia has also seen some heavy rainfall over the last 2 days. In Mavrovo 51.6 mm fell in the past 24 hours to 07 Jan 2016. Just over 60 mm fell in Lazaropole in the same period. - Floodlist.
Residents across New South Wales have been
evacuated and rescued as heavy rain continues to batter the east coast.
Above is an emergency crew member wading out to a car caught in flood
waters in Newcastle
January 6, 2016 - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA - Newcastle has faced its wettest January day in more than 150 years after
torrential rain batters the east coast forcing residents to abandon
their homes, as flash flooding hits Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Newcastle, north of Sydney,
experienced the most rainfall on a January day since records started
back in 1862, also logging its wettest day since June 2007.
In the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Wednesday, Newcastle record more than 200mm of rain.
Major flood warnings have been issued across the state's east
after the town of Dungog, in NSW's Hunter region, was inundated with
water and locals were told to leave their homes, the ABC reported. An
evacuation order has been issued for 30 homes in nearby Raymond
Terrace, with SES volunteers doorknocking residents telling them to
leave.
Up to 130mm of rainfall was recorded in a 24-hour period at nearby
Bulga, resulting in major flood warnings for Wollombi Brook, with the
State Emergency Service (SES) responding to more than 1,400 calls since
Tuesday and carrying out 21 flood rescues since the deluge started.
NSW Ambulance paramedics have been called to almost 100 motor
vehicle-related incidents since Tuesday morning, with 14 of these
happening from midnight to 10am on Wednesday.
'With the heavy rains predicted to continue, paramedics are calling on
people to slow down and take extra care. Wet weather can result in
reduced visibility, slippery road surfaces and flooding, all of which
create hazardous driving conditions,' NSW Ambulance's Jamie Vernon said.
Williamtown, also in the Hunter region, recorded a 220mm rainfall in 24 hours.
Newcastle airport closed its runway for just over four hours after it was inundated with flood waters but it reopened at midday.
'Flights will recommence this afternoon. Please contact your airline re your flight status,' the airport's Twitter page said.
Further south, emergency crews are trying to reach a group of at least 21 campers who have become trapped by flood waters.
Bendethera Valley campground, west of Moruya, has been isolated by heavy
rains and flooding with at least 16 adults and five children trapped at
the site, an SES spokesman told AAP.
'There has been no direct contact since Sunday... they have been isolated since then,' he said.
The campsite is also without mobile phone reception, making it hard for
crews to understand the conditions in the site but it is likely they
will be running low on food.
Search crews could not reach the campground on Tuesday and difficult
weather was causing problems for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to land
in the area.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Peter Znijewski told Daily Mail Australia
the wild weather was expected to end later on Wednesday.'We're
expecting the low to move to the mid-north coast. We should be seeing
improvement in the weather this evening and overnight,' he said.
Blue skies have been predicted for this weekend.
But in the lead up to the sunny weather, some suburbs in Sydney
have been drenched in rainfall usually seen over a month in two days,The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Parramatta has received 135 mm since Monday with 86mm of rain falling in just the last 24 hours until 9am on Wednesday morning
SES volunteers are doorknocking residents telling
them to leave. Above are emergency crews use a blow-up boat to get
around on flood waters
SES captured shocking images of flood waters rising around Maitland, north west of Newcastle
Rolling green paddocks quickly morphed into large brown lakes as water pooled in lower ground
Ponies are being stranded amid the flash flooding
on Salt Ash in the Hunter Region of New South Wales as they wait
patiently to be rescued, with one resident claiming she has never seen
bad weather in 44 years
A park in Wallsend, near Newcastle, has been inundated with water as heavy rain continues
The new year has kicked off with some wild weather
after a water spout was spotted off the coast at Sydney's Northern
Beaches on Sunda
Over three days, the city's metropolitan areas have had up to 80mm of
rain, while Frenchs Forest, in Sydney's north, and the Hills District
have recorded rainfall of up to 150mm.
In the west, Richmond and Penrith have seen 120mm.
Meanwhile in Parramatta, the wharf was closed after 68mm of rain had
fallen by 9am on Wednesday, with 127mm drenching the suburb in three
days.
'For the wettest suburbs in Sydney, it's the heaviest rain they've had since April, and it's pretty unusual for January. This is more than the monthly average in less than 48 hours,' Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke told the Herald.
A resident in Hawkesbury, Penelope, told Daily Mail Australia the flood waters had risen quickly behind her property.
'Yesterday morning [we] saw paddock fully [when we] came home last night no paddock,' she said.
In photographs from Penelope's house, which she described to be up on a
hill just outside of Sydney, her paddocks look to be completely under
water.
She and her neighbour have spent Wednesday morning moving their livestock away from the water's edge, fearing more deluge.
In regional NSW, around Bulga, waters are expected to exceed the
major flood level of 4.6m by 9am and reach 5.1m by 3pm on Wednesday,
with further rises still possible.
In Dungog, the Williams River peaked at 8.05m in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A total of 22 people were evacuated in Dungog - an area that has been
cleared for the second time in 10 months, according to 7News.
Rainfall has eased but BoM predicts the Mill Dam Falls will peak close
to major flood level (9.1m) by 9am, while the Paterson River near
Gostwyck is tipped to peak close to moderate flood level.
A severe weather warning remains in place for the mid-north coast and Hunter region following relentless rainfall on Tuesday.
'Most of the weather will affect the Hunter, particularly the lower
Hunter, before the low decides to move to the north-east probably later
in the day,' BoM forecaster Christopher Webb told the ABC.
'There may be some gale force winds associated as well.
'It's not over as yet. There's still the possibility of a burst of really very heavy rain.'
SES crews from Sydney have geared up to help out volunteers in the
region on Wednesday, but some are staying to deal with flash flooding in
Sydney.
North of Sydney, roads turned into rivers at Newcastle when
flash floods hit the area, sparking an alert to residents at Wallsend to
prepare for a potential evacuation.
SES deputy commissioner Greg Newton told ABC radio about 260 volunteers
were out in force across NSW helping people as winds pick up, with
forecasters predicting gales of up to 90km/h.
'That may cause further issues, particularly with trees that may have
been affected by the wet ground falling over through the course of the
day,' he said.
WATCH: Major flood warning issued for parts of the Hunter region in NSW.
'Our main message for people is if they see flood waters they should
never enter those regardless of the vehicles they are driving or what
they think might be going on.
'There's been 21 instances in the past two days where emergency services
crews have had to go rescue people who have become trapped in flood
water.'
Mr Newton said most of the people who were freed were driving cars and of those most of them were in four-wheel-drives.
NSW Police fined a man $425 at Murrah on the far south coast after he attempted to drive across a flooded bridge on Monday.
On the Central Coast, four tourists were rescued after their car became bogged on a bush track.
The men, believed to be from Germany, called triple-zero about 4.30pm on
Tuesday after they realised their four-wheel-drive got stuck in the mud
in the Olney State Forest, following heavy rain in the area.
Members of the Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) began
searching for the men and about 11pm they found the group on a track
known as Lemon Tree Road.
BoM meteorologist Dmitriy Danchuk said there was more rain to come, with
the heaviest rainfall expected to affect the coast between Taree and
Newcastle.
Authorities have pleaded with the public to avoid driving across flooded
roads as the number of rescues climbed to at least 21 across NSW.
The men were taken to Wyong Police Station where police verified they were not injured and did not require medical attention.
A Westpac Life Saver Helicopter airlifted a heavily pregnant woman from
an isolated property on the far south coast and took her to Bega
Hospital.
Campers have also been warned to stay in contact with the SES as a group remains stranded on the south coast.
They have enough food to last a few days, Westpac Life Saver CEO Stephen Leahy told AAP.
The new year has kicked off with some wild weather after a water
spout was spotted off the coast at Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday.
Pamela Pauline, from Pamela Pauline Photography, snapped a picture of the spout at Bungan Beach in the afternoon.
'I estimate the funnel would have been about 500m to 1 km out to the
ocean. There were several sailboats out and about,' she told Daily Mail Australia. - Daily Mail.
