INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Nationwide Power Blackout Hits Syria - Cause Not Known?!

The Syrian civil war has claimed more than 270,000 lives (AFP Photo/Youssef Karwashan)

March 4, 2016 - SYRIA - War-torn Syria was hit Thursday by a nationwide power cut, state television reported, but the cause was not immediately known.

"Electricity has been cut across all provinces and teams are trying to determine the reason for this unexpected cut," the station reported, citing a source within the electricity ministry.

Damascus residents said power in the capital had been out since 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) and that mobile Internet connections from some private providers were also not working.

Syria's state mobile provider said its Internet service had been "partially cut due to part of the network unexpectedly malfunctioning".

Since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, various areas across the country have experienced intermittent power outages as a result of clashes or air strikes and many regularly rely on generators for power.

Syria's parliament had on Monday called in electricity minister Imad Khamis for a special hearing on the power sector.

Khamis told parliamentarians that the cost of "direct damage" to the country's power stations and the electricity network from 2011 until the end of 2015 was estimated $3.75 billion.

In statements carried by Syria's state news agency SANA, Khamis said five out of the 13 main power stations in Syria had been "directly damaged" in the war. - Yahoo.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Ferry Capsizes Near Bali, Indonesia - Throwing Passengers Into The Sea; Was Carrying 51 People; Major Rescue Operation Underway! [VIDEO]

Western Embassy officials were on stand by in case any of their nationals were caught up in the disaster  

March 4, 2016 - INDONESIA - A major rescue operation is underway after a ferry carrying 51 people capsized between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java.

Dramatic footage shows the vessel rolling over in calm waters, throwing passengers into the sea, after it was believed to have sprung a leak.

It was not immediately known if tourists were aboard the vessel, but Western embassy officials were on stand by in case any were caught up in the disaster.

Rescue officials said they were confident that most people – if not all – on board had been rescued.

Many are understood to have been picked up by other vessels that were in the vicinity.

The footage shows the ferry on its side after capsizing in calm waters in Bali Strait

But amid confusing reports, it was suggested that up to 10 people were missing including two crew members.

It was not known if anyone had been trapped inside.

'This will not be known until we can send divers down to check the ship,' said Lieut-Col Wahyu Endriawan head of the local naval base.

Rescuers now face the prospect of searching for survivors in the dark.

Added to the confusion was uncertainty as to just how many people were on board the vessel, named the Rafelia II.

Many of those rescued had suffered injuries jumping or falling into the sea, said local media.

The ferry that runs between Gilimanuk port in north west Bali and Banyuwangi on the eastern tip of the main Indonesian island of Java carries both cars and passengers.

The ship was en route from Gilimanuk port in Bali to Banyawangi on Java when it capsized in the Bali Strait

While it is not a route popular with tourists, the ferry is sometimes used by adventurous backpackers island-hopping across the Indonesian archipelago.

Bali is particularly popular among Western tourists at this time of the year, now that most of the severe mid-summer storms have passed.

Over the years, hundreds of people have died in ferry disasters in Indonesia, which has a poor reputation for travellers on land, sea and in the air.

Ferries are often poorly maintained and frequently sail when they are overloaded. - Daily Mail.



WATCH: Dramatic footage - Ferry sinking caught on cam, people jump off deck.

DELUGE: Towering Storm System Forms Over Oman Sea - Bringing Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall And Flash Flooding To The United Arab Emirates! [VIDEOS]

© YouTube / javeed khan (screen capture)

March 4, 2016 - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - System also brings deluge and rain to neighbouring Oman

Heavy rains and thunderstorms have lashed Fujairah since Wednesday evening, with residents reporting waterlogging in the emirate even as a flashflood warning remains in place for surrounding wadis.

The UAE's National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) issued a weather warning: "Chance of towering clouds forming over the Oman Sea and the east coast of UAE, associated with thundery showers and fresh winds."


 WATCH: Flooding in UAE.

Now #Rains and floods and runoff valleys in the eastern region. pic.twitter.com/kHU0U17Mr3

— UAE WEATHER (@NCMS_media) March 3, 2016

The stormy weather has continued into the morning hours of Thursday, with heavy rains reported in Khor Fakkan, Dibba and Masafi this morning, while overflowing wadis have seen some roads blocked for the interim.

NCMS tweeted: "Now #Rains and floods and runoff valleys in the eastern region." Neighbouring Daba, a province of Oman, along with Muscat and surrounding areas have been witnessing thunderstorms since past 48 hours.  - Emirates 24|7.

GLOBAL COASTAL EVENT: Anomalous Giant Waves Strike The Coast Of Chile - Waves Reach As High As 15 FEET HIGH! [PHOTOS + VIDEOS]

Giant waves in Chile.

March 4, 2016 - CHILE - Dangerous and anomalous tidal waves are currently hitting the Chilean coast.

The ports of Iquique, Mejillones, Tocopilla, Chañaral, Hanga Roa, Quintero have been closed. Strong waves in Vina del Mare:

Fuertes marejadas reportadas hoy en ViñadelMar Chile, ordenan evacuación total imagen de @ExtraChile pic.twitter.com/zlcyVSggAn

— FAUSTO ADRIÁN (@fauadrian) March 3, 2016

Destruction in Mejillones:

Esta tarde embarcación menor es destruida por marejadas en #Mejillones. (Vídeo Nicole Navarro) pic.twitter.com/8whvPCKtCi

— Cristhian Acori A. (@CristhianAcori) March 3, 2016

Strong waves in Taltal:

Fuertes marejadas en #Taltal, como todo el verano. @radiomaderofm @ObreroDelMic @GustavoRoldan pic.twitter.com/RzEqpVR1IP
— Alvaro Roldán C. (@aRolasx) March 3, 2016

The event that started on March 3, 2016, has been classified as anomalous by the National Weather service of Chile.

#Marejadas  en la costa de Taltal pic.twitter.com/HJAeHXJTLQ

— Gino Montecinos (@GinoMontecinos) March 5, 2016

Marejadas en @taltal. pic.twitter.com/KmNcKgUpul

— Alvaro Roldán C. (@aRolasx) March 4, 2016

Fuertes marejadas reportadas hoy en ViñadelMar Chile, ordenan evacuación total imagen de @ExtraChile pic.twitter.com/zlcyVSggAn

— FAUSTO ADRIÁN (@fauadrian) March 3, 2016

The dangerous situation is enhanced by strong wind blowing offshore which could finally trigger giant and strong storm surges. Numbers of major ports are now closed.

The giant waves are now already 4.5-meter (14.76 feet) high.

It's a real emergency so don't go out!

- Strange Sounds.