Tag: flood

US storms kill one, disrupt flights

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Flooding caused by heavy rains on Wednesday claimed one life and led to evacuations and travel disruptions in the central United States. From Texas to Wisconsin, flooding affected various communities along a north-south path more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) in length. Evacuations were reported in Kansas and one person was killed by floodwaters in Austin, Texas. “This is a long haul event, so be prepared for more rain and […]

38 killed as floods worsen in Mozambique after second cyclone

by Gregory WALTON PEMBA, Mozambique (AFP) — Heavy rain battered northern Mozambique on Monday as residents and relief workers confronted devastation wrought by Cyclone Kenneth, the strongest cyclone to ever hit Africa, which killed 38 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Roads have been washed away, fields submerged and many buildings wrecked by the storm, which came weeks after Cyclone Idai struck the Mozambican city of Beira, 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the south. Cyclone […]

10,000 evacuated in Canada floods as rescuers search for pets

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in eastern Canada in recent days as spring floods broke record levels set in 2017, officials said Monday, warning that it could take weeks for the waters to recede. Meanwhile, an operation is underway to rescue pets from homes in the area that had to be abandoned during evacuations. Hardest hit was the town of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, west of Montreal, where more […]

Torrential rain triggers flooding, evacuations in Indonesia’s capital

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Torrential rain triggered flooding in parts of the Indonesian capital Jakarta overnight, the disaster agency said Friday, forcing the evacuation of residents. Heavy rain pounded the greater Jakarta area, causing the Ciliwung river to burst its banks, and prompting flash flooding in at least 17 communities. Dozens of residents in parts of the capital’s east, where flooding occurs frequently during rainy season, were forced to wade through streets filled with 1-metre […]

Canada capital declares flooding state of emergency

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Ottawa’s mayor declared a state of emergency in the Canadian capital on Thursday in anticipation of rising flood waters and heavy rains. No homes have been evacuated, but authorities expect waters along the Ottawa River to rise above levels in 2017 that saw the worst floods in Eastern Canada in half a century. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement predicting up to 35 millimeters (1.3 inches) of rain by Saturday […]

51 killed, 1,000 people displaced by floods in S.Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Devastating floods in South Africa have left 51 dead and forced more than a thousand people from their homes, according to an updated toll issued Wednesday as President Cyril Ramaphosa flew to the deluged region. Heavy rains have lashed the southeast of the country, tearing down homes and ravaging infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. Speaking to the affected Amanzimtoti community in Durban, after returning from emergency African Union […]

Amid intense drought, deadly rains lash Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) — Torrential rainstorms have lashed drought-stricken Afghanistan in recent days, bringing widespread flooding that has killed at least five people and washed away homes including in the capital Kabul, officials said Tuesday. While some welcomed the wet weather after the punishing dry spell of recent years, residents complained about the lack of infrastructure and government assistance to help them clear up from the deluge. Sixteen of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces were hit in […]

Iran orders over 60,000 to evacuate flood-hit oil city

by Amir HAVASI AHVAZ, Iran (AFP) — Authorities ordered tens of thousands of residents of the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as floodwaters entered the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, state television reported. The province’s governor, Gholamreza Shariati, said he ordered the evacuation of five districts as a “precautionary and preventive move to avert any danger”, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported. Residents in two of the districts were reluctant to […]

Iran floods death toll reaches 70

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Floods in Iran since March have killed 70 people the head of the emergency services said on Friday according to the official IRNA News Agency. “The floods also injured 791 persons of which 45 are still hospitalized,” Pirhossein Koolivand, the head of the national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Organisation said. A report published on the EMS website showed the southern Fars Province had the highest fatalities with 23 dead. The report […]

23 dead as Iran battles heavy rain and floods

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran battled torrential rain and floods across most of the country on Tuesday, warning citizens to stay vigilant after unprecedented flash flooding killed 23 people. The authorities also announced for the first time that seven people were killed a week ago in separate floods that swept the northeastern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran. The latest deluge claimed the lives of 19 people and injured 98 in the worst-hit southern city of […]

At least 19 dead in unprecedented Iran floods

by Kay Armin Serjoie TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Major floods across much of Iran have left 19 people dead and more than 90 injured, blocking roads and triggering landslides with warnings of more heavy rain to come, emergency services said Monday. Such a widespread flood threat is unprecedented in arid Iran, which until 2018 was dealing with decades of drought. Seventeen people were killed and 94 injured in the southern city of Shiraz, one person […]

Indonesia flood death toll tops 100, dozens still missing

  SENTANI, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from flash floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s Papua region has topped 100 with dozens more still missing, the disaster agency said Wednesday. Nearly 10,000 people have moved to shelters while at least 104 victims are confirmed to have died and 79 are unaccounted for in the aftermath of the disaster, triggered by heavy rain on Saturday. Scores have suffered injuries, including cuts and broken bones, […]