by Dave Clark Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United Stated (AFP) – In flooded resorts and storm-ravaged beach hotels dotted along the Caribbean archipelago, hundreds of US tourists are waiting for news from the State Department crisis task force. More than 2,000 Americans left stranded by the passage of Hurricane Irma have been flown out of the holiday island of Saint Martin by the Air National Guard — or loaded onto passing cruise ships. As many more […]
North America
Aid arrives for homeless families following massive earthquake in Mexico
JUCHITAN, Mexico (CCTV) — Help arrived for some homeless families in Mexican town of Juchitan in Oaxaca State after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s southern coast. Many are resting at the Technological Institute of the Isthmus that has become a temporary shelter for families left homeless following Thursday’s massive earthquake. Private citizens have brought food from a neighboring state, enough to feed hundreds. On the night of the earthquake, Jocelin Gomez and her family […]
Hurricane Irma downgraded to Category 1, to weaken further as it moves over Western Florida — NHC
(Eagle News) – Irma has now been downgraded into a Category 1 hurricane as it continued to weaken while moving over the Western Florida Peninsula, according to the United States’ National Hurricane Center (NHC) In its 2 a.m. EDT Monday, (2 p.m. Manila time) Sept. 11 update, NHC said that Irma’s sustained winds are only about 85 miles per hour. In its latest update, NHC said: “IRMA WEAKENING AS IT MOVES OVER THE WESTERN […]
Economic cost of Harvey, Irma could be $290 billion
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The combined economic cost of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma could reach $290 billion, equivalent to 1.5 percent of the US gross domestic product, US forecaster AccuWeather said in a report Sunday. “We believe the damage estimate from Irma to be about $100 billion, among the costliest hurricanes of all time,” said the firm’s CEO and founder Joel Myers. Harvey, which battered Texas and parts of Louisiana in late August, […]
Death toll from Mexico earthquake jumps to 90: official
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The death toll from a major earthquake that struck southern Mexico earlier this week has risen to 90, authorities reported Sunday, after 25 new deaths were confirmed in Oaxaca state. “The number of people who lost their lives amounts to 90, of whom 71 were in Oaxaca, 15 in Chiapas and four in Tabasco,” the interior ministry said in a statement. Mexican seismological authorities measured Thursday night’s quake at magnitude […]
Trump approves emergency federal aid for Florida
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump approved Florida’s request for emergency federal aid on Sunday to help with the recovery from destructive Hurricane Irma. The federal funding includes “grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” the White House said. © Agence France-Presse
Irma makes landfall for 2nd time in Florida, eye passes over Naples; now a Category 2 hurricane
(Eagle News) — Hurricane Irma made landfall for a second time near Marco Island in Florida and is now near Naples where dangerous storm surges are expected, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Because of its encounter in the Florida landmass, it has weakened and is now a Category 2 storm. As of 5 pm in Florida Sunday, Sept. 10 (5 a.m. Monday Sept 11 Manila time), the center of […]
Hurricane Irma downgraded to Category Two storm
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Hurricane Irma slowed to a Category Two storm after making its second landfall in Florida on Sunday, US forecasters said, warning it still had “dangerous” winds causing “life-threatening” storm surges. At 5:00 pm (2100 GMT), the hurricane had top winds of 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour — at the top end of the Category Two storm range — with the eye of the storm located just five miles (eight […]
After landfall, Irma heading for Southwest Florida Coast as winds continue to increase — NHC
(Eagle News) – Category 4 Hurricane Irma is now “headed for the Southwest Florida Coast” as of 11 a.m. EDT (11 p.m. Philippine time) with maximum sustained winds of about 130 miles per hour, and the winds will still “continue to increase,” according to the latest update from the United States’ National Hurricane Center. An hour earlier, at 10 a.m. EDT Sunday, September 10,NHC said that Irma’s eye is now “beginning to move away […]
Irma now whipping Florida; NHC warns of “life-threatening” winds, storm surges, floods
(Eagle News) – Hurricane Irma — which has already killed 24 people in the Caribbean region — is now bearing down on Florida as the northern eyewall of this monstrous Category 4 hurricane is now affecting the Lower Florida Keys as of 7 a.m. EDT (7 p.m. Philippine time) on Sunday, Sept. 10, according to the latest update from the US’ National Hurricane Center (NHC). “NORTHERN EYEWALL OF IRMA REACHES THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS… […]
Irma strengthens to Category 4 Hurricane as it nears Florida Keys: NHC
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Hurricane Irma strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it closed in on the island chain known as the Florida Keys, the US National Hurricane Center said early Sunday. The storm was churning about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south-southeast of Key West, menacing Florida with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. Its eye was expected to cross the Lower Florida Keys within hours before moving “near or along” […]
Irma weakens to Category 4 hurricane as it heads for Florida
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Hurricane Irma weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm early Saturday, according to the US National Hurricane Center, after making landfall hours earlier in Cuba with maximum-strength Category 5 winds. The fierce storm was zeroing in on Florida, churning some 245 miles (395 kilometers) away from Miami and packing still powerful maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. “Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, […]





