Tag: flooding

New York: State of emergency declared as ‘life-threatening storm’ causes flooding

Approximately 23 million people were under flood watches across parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Friday morning, as extreme rainfall shut off subway lines and flooded streets.

A state of emergency has been declared in New York City and two other surrounding areas after “extreme rainfall” caused widespread flooding in the northeast region.

Up to 13cm (five inches) of rain fell in some areas overnight, and as much as 18cm (seven inches) more was expected throughout the day, New York governor, Kathy Hochul, said.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning, she declared a state of emergency in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, due to the weather.

Earlier on Friday, Ms Hochul said: “This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm. Count on this for the next 20 hours.”

She said her message to New Yorkers is that the “water is deadly”.

Pic: AP

Approximately 23 million people were under flood watches across parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut on Friday morning, with flash flood warnings in effect for parts of Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and New Jersey, according to NBC.

Footage posted on social media showed water pouring into underground stations and streets that had been turned into small lakes.

Pic: AP

Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, warned people against attempting to travel in the conditions until it clears.

Chaos during rush hour saw some drivers abandon their cars as traffic came to a standstill on a stretch of FDR Drive – a major road along the east side of Manhattan.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/new-york-state-of-emergency-declared-as-life-threatening-storm-causes-widespread-flooding-12972511

Jaishankar, US Secy of State Antony Blinken discuss global developments amid India-Canada standoff

India and the US agreed to continue their cooperation in the areas of defence, space and clean energy as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Secretary of State Antony Blinken, amid a simmering diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Washington, US.

India and the US agreed to continue their cooperation in the areas of defence, space and clean energy as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Secretary of State Antony Blinken, amid a simmering diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.

Jaishankar is currently on a five-day official trip to Washington DC. This is the highest-level interaction between the two countries after the recent G20 Summit in New Delhi.

“Great to meet my friend US Secretary of State @SecBlinken at State Department today. A wide ranging discussion, following up on PM @narendramodi’s June visit. Also exchanged notes on global developments. Laid the groundwork of our 2+2 meeting very soon,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.

The two top diplomats “discussed a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, and the creation of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

The two leaders did not take any questions from the media.

“The Secretary and the External Affairs Minister also emphasised the continued importance of cooperation ahead of the upcoming 2+2 Dialogue, in particular in the areas of defence, space, and clean energy,” Miller said in a statement after the meeting.

New Delhi will host the fifth edition of India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Jaishankar announced on Thursday. Although he did not reveal the dates of the meeting, it is learnt that the ministerial dialogue would be held in the first half of November.

The US delegation would be represented by Blinken along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation.

“I actually look forward to seeing you in Delhi for the 2+2,” Jaishankar told Blinken, as the latter welcomed him at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department for the meeting.

The last 2+2 ministerial was held in Washington DC on April 11. Started during the previous Trump administration, the first 2+2 ministerial was held in New Delhi on September 6, 2018.

“Focused discussion on India-US collaboration on critical and emerging tech and creating resilient supply chains at discussion convened by @USISPForum,” Jaishankar said in another post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/eam-s-jaishankar-meets-us-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-amid-india-canada-diplomatic-row-2705479

Hong Kong shuts schools as it issues heavy rain warning

A view of a flooded area after heavy rain in Hong Kong, China, Sept. 8, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

Hong Kong closed schools on Thursday after authorities issued the second-highest rain signal and warned of extensive flooding, just days after the Asian financial hub was drenched by the heaviest rain since records began 140 years ago.

The city’s weather observatory issued the “red” signal before 6 a.m. local time, saying rain exceeding 50 millimetres in an hour is falling and likely to continue.

“Heavy rain will bring flash floods and flooding is occurring or expected to occur in watercourses,” it said.

Hong Kong’s stock market will remain open unless the highest “black” signal is issued.

The heavy rain comes as the city is still repairing damage caused by torrential rain linked to typhoon Haikui which passed nearby in recent days. Many areas of the mountainous city still have a high landslide risk after the unusually wet weather.

Some areas of the city such as Tsueng Kwan O and Sai Kung were still struggling with flooding from earlier in the week. A luxury house in the affluent Tai Tam area overlooking the ocean was ordered to be evacuated on Saturday due to risk of collapse.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-shuts-schools-it-issues-heavy-rain-warning-2023-09-14/

Libya floods: Number of deaths in Derna could reach 20,000, mayor says

The King has sent a message of condolence to Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, and said “I know that my government stands ready to support your needs”.

The number of deaths in the Libyan city of Derna could range from 18,000 to 20,000 following catastrophic flooding, according to the city’s mayor.

Abdulmenam Al-Ghaithi told al-Arabiya TV yesterday this could be based on the number of wiped-out districts in the city.

It came as the King sent a letter of condolence to the chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi.

The message read: “My wife and I are so desperately saddened by the devastating impact and loss of life caused by Storm Daniel and the subsequent floods.

A general view of the city of Derna following Storm Daniel and catastrophic flooding

“We mourn with all those who have lost their loved ones, and continue to pray for everyone whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the horrific floods.

“I admire greatly all those who are engaged tirelessly in the rescue efforts in such dire conditions, and praise their selfless bravery.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the UK government announced an initial aid package worth up to £1m to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the catastrophic flooding in Derna.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a tweet it is “shocking to see the scale of the loss and devastation caused by the floods in Libya”, adding that the UK is “working to provide immediate assistance to the Libyan people”.

Libyan officials appealed for international help on Monday, warning the country doesn’t have the necessary experience to deal with a disaster of this scale.

Source:https://news.sky.com/story/libya-floods-number-of-deaths-in-derna-could-reach-20000-mayor-says-12960801

Libya flooding: More than 5,300 feared dead after dams burst

Emergency workers have uncovered more than 1,500 bodies in the wreckage of the eastern city of Derna.

More than 5,300 people are feared dead after devastating flooding struck Libya.

A quarter of the eastern city of Derna was wiped out by floodwaters after dams burst as Storm Daniel hit the country, the local administration said, with more than 1,500 bodies recovered so far.

There are fears the number of those killed will rise further, with 10,000 people reported missing after entire neighbourhoods were washed away.

More than 5,300 people in Derna alone have been killed, according to Mohammed Abu-Lamousha, a spokesman for the east Libya interior ministry.

Cars stacked on top of each other. Pic: Libyan government via AP

Derna’s ambulance authority earlier put the number at 2,300.

Images showed a mass grave piled with bodies.

Pic: AP

Disaster zone

Derna has been declared a disaster zone.

Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) in Libya, said: “We can confirm from our independent sources of information that the number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far.

“The death toll is huge and might reach thousands.”

https://x.com/CIRA_CSU/status/1701657066627293503?s=20

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/libya-flooding-10-000-people-thought-to-be-missing-after-dams-burst-12959679

Greece flooding: ‘Scared’ British family told they cannot leave their hotel after ‘biblical’ rainfall

A “scared” British family have been told they cannot leave their hotel on Skiathos after the Greek resort island was hit by torrential rain and flooding.

Becky Taylor, her mother Emma Taylor and her grandfather, who is aged in his late 70s, have been there for a couple of days on holiday.

But they said that over the past 24 hours there had been constant rainfall from Storm Daniel as well as thunderstorms and lightning, with power cuts.

Pictures from the island showed torrents of water gushing through streets and sweeping cars away.

(L-R) Emma Taylor and her daughter Becky Taylor

At least one person has been killed after record rainfall hit Greece.

The man died near the port city of Volos on the Greek mainland when a wall fell on him, according to the fire service.

Five people were reported missing, possibly swept away by floodwaters.

Ms Taylor told Sky News all the roads on Skiathos had been shut, with police advising everyone through alerts to stay in their hotels.

She said it was a “scary situation”, with all the flights at the airport being cancelled – with 300 tourists reportedly stranded there.

Speaking from the Skiathos Palace Koukanaries hotel, Ms Taylor said: “We’ve had flooding, the hotel’s full of buckets of water leaking from the ceilings… and the bottom floor rooms have experienced flooding.”

She added: “The levels of water just keep getting higher.”

“We can see down to the beach where numerous sunbeds are floating out to sea, they have been completely abandoned.”

She also said she felt sorry for the local people whose homes and businesses had been “completely devastated”.

Her mother Emma said the situation was “literally off the scale” and “it’s just been biblical”.

“We’ve been to many places in the world and we’ve never experienced a storm like this,” she said.

“We have witnessed a hurricane in the Azores, we have witnessed storms before, this is out there with the most really dramatic, intense storm.”

She continued: “It is quite a big disaster out here.”

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/greece-flooding-scared-british-family-told-they-cannot-leave-their-hotel-after-biblical-rainfall-12955802

Hurricane Hilary floods could threaten lives – US

Hurricane Hilary is moving towards Mexico’s Baja California peninsula

Hurricane Hilary, heading to Mexico’s Pacific coast, has weakened but can still cause “life-threatening” flooding, US meteorologists warn.

With winds up to 100mph (175km/h), it is now a Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Center says. Hillary is due to make landfall later on Saturday.

The NHC is already reporting heavy rain in parts of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and the south-western US.

Hilary will weaken to a tropical storm before it reaches southern California.

It would be the first tropical storm to hit the US state in more than 80 years.

In its latest update at 21:00 GMT on Saturday, the NHC says the hurricane is now roughly 285 miles (459km) south-east of Baja California’s westernmost point of Punta Eugenia.

“Hilary appears to be weakening quickly,” John Cangialosi, a senior hurricane specialist at the NHC, is quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency on Saturday.

“The eye is filling and the cloud tops in the eyewall and rainbands have been warming during the past several hours,” he adds.

Hilary was earlier a powerful Category 3 storm with winds up to 130mph.

Rainfall could reach 10in (25cm) in some areas of southern California and southern Nevada, the NHC says. “Dangerous to catastrophic flooding is expected,” it adds.

In San Diego, the National Weather Service (NWS) earlier issued a warning for the “high potential” of flash flooding. Nearly 26 million people in the south-western US were under flood watch.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) had “pre-positioned personnel and supplies in the region.

“I urge everyone in the path of the storm to take precautions and listen to the guidance from state and local officials,” he said.

Parts of Mexico are under a tropical storm watch and its government has placed 18,000 soldiers on standby to assist in rescue efforts.

As the storm bears down, Major League Baseball has rescheduled three games in southern California, while SpaceX has delayed the launch of a rocket from its base on the central California coast until at least Monday.

The National Park Service also closed Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve, both in California, to prevent visitors from being stranded in the event of flooding.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66499946

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