Sustainable Switch: Deadly floods hit Nigeria, India and Bangladesh
Fatal floods have wreaked havoc across Nigeria, India and Bangladesh this week and Romania is dealing with the aftermath of one of its worst floods in 30 years. Meanwhile, in the United States – where hurricane season is underway – the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left his staff baffled by saying he was unaware that the country has a hurricane season. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security later said the comment was a joke.
Countries around the world are experiencing extreme weather events, including in Nigeria, where torrential rains have triggered deadly floods and widespread devastation.
Flooding in Nigeria's Niger State this week has killed 151 people and forced several thousand from their homes, an emergency official told Reuters.
Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, director of information at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, said over 500 households had been impacted and more than 3,000 people displaced.
Heavy rains in India and Bangladesh
In India, at least 34 people have died in the nation's northeastern region after heavy floods caused landslides over the last four days, authorities and media said, and the weather department predicted more heavy rain.
More than a thousand tourists trapped in the Himalayan state of Sikkim were being evacuated on Monday, a government statement said, and army rescue teams were pressed into service in Meghalaya state to rescue more than 500 people stranded in flooded areas.
In neighbouring Bangladesh, at least four members of a family were killed in a landslide in the northeastern district of Sylhet, while hundreds of shelters have been opened across the hilly districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari.
Authorities have warned of further landslides and flash floods, urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
Romania's worst floods in 30 years
Elsewhere, Romanian officials have been rerouting a stream in central Romania to prevent further flooding of the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a popular tourist attraction, after parts of its floor caved in.
Authorities evacuated 45 households near mine areas at risk of collapse after the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita.
The floods are threatening to destroy the livelihoods of people in the town of Praid who have relied on tourism centred around the salt mine for decades, local authority officials said.
FEMA's head unaware of hurricane season
And finally, staff of the U.S. disaster agency FEMA were left baffled on Monday after its head David Richardson said he had not been aware the country has a hurricane season, according to four sources familiar with the situation.
The remark was made during a briefing by Richardson, who has led FEMA since early May. It was not clear to staff whether he meant it literally, as a joke, or in some other context.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA's parent agency, said the comment was a joke and that FEMA is prepared for hurricane season.
The U.S. hurricane season officially began on Sunday and lasts through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast last week that this year's season is expected to bring as many as 10 hurricanes.
Representative Bennie Thompson, the senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee with oversight of FEMA, issued a statement to Reuters that read: 'Suffice to say, disaster response is no joke. If you don't know what or when hurricane season is, you're not qualified to run FEMA. Get someone knowledgeable in there.'
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Business Recorder
2 days ago
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Sustainable Switch: Deadly floods hit Nigeria, India and Bangladesh
Fatal floods have wreaked havoc across Nigeria, India and Bangladesh this week and Romania is dealing with the aftermath of one of its worst floods in 30 years. Meanwhile, in the United States – where hurricane season is underway – the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left his staff baffled by saying he was unaware that the country has a hurricane season. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security later said the comment was a joke. Countries around the world are experiencing extreme weather events, including in Nigeria, where torrential rains have triggered deadly floods and widespread devastation. Flooding in Nigeria's Niger State this week has killed 151 people and forced several thousand from their homes, an emergency official told Reuters. Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, director of information at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, said over 500 households had been impacted and more than 3,000 people displaced. Heavy rains in India and Bangladesh In India, at least 34 people have died in the nation's northeastern region after heavy floods caused landslides over the last four days, authorities and media said, and the weather department predicted more heavy rain. More than a thousand tourists trapped in the Himalayan state of Sikkim were being evacuated on Monday, a government statement said, and army rescue teams were pressed into service in Meghalaya state to rescue more than 500 people stranded in flooded areas. In neighbouring Bangladesh, at least four members of a family were killed in a landslide in the northeastern district of Sylhet, while hundreds of shelters have been opened across the hilly districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari. Authorities have warned of further landslides and flash floods, urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert. Romania's worst floods in 30 years Elsewhere, Romanian officials have been rerouting a stream in central Romania to prevent further flooding of the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a popular tourist attraction, after parts of its floor caved in. Authorities evacuated 45 households near mine areas at risk of collapse after the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita. The floods are threatening to destroy the livelihoods of people in the town of Praid who have relied on tourism centred around the salt mine for decades, local authority officials said. FEMA's head unaware of hurricane season And finally, staff of the U.S. disaster agency FEMA were left baffled on Monday after its head David Richardson said he had not been aware the country has a hurricane season, according to four sources familiar with the situation. The remark was made during a briefing by Richardson, who has led FEMA since early May. It was not clear to staff whether he meant it literally, as a joke, or in some other context. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA's parent agency, said the comment was a joke and that FEMA is prepared for hurricane season. The U.S. hurricane season officially began on Sunday and lasts through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast last week that this year's season is expected to bring as many as 10 hurricanes. Representative Bennie Thompson, the senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee with oversight of FEMA, issued a statement to Reuters that read: 'Suffice to say, disaster response is no joke. If you don't know what or when hurricane season is, you're not qualified to run FEMA. Get someone knowledgeable in there.'
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Karachi hits 27 tremors in 4 days as 7 more felt
Listen to article A series of mild tremors continued to shake parts of Karachi for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, with seismic activity traced to the reactivation of the Landhi fault line, according to officials. Data released by the National Tsunami Center of the meteorological department revealed that 27 earthquakes had been recorded across five locations in the city since Sunday. Though the quakes were of light to moderate intensity on the Richter scale, their shallow depth caused them to be widely felt by residents in several areas. Malir experienced the highest number of tremors, with 11 incidents reported, followed by 11 in Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Three were recorded in Qaidabad, while Korangi and Gadap reported one tremor each. Read more: Geologist claims he predicted Karachi earthquakes four days in advance Officials at the National Tsunami Center attributed the seismic activity to the reactivation of the Landhi fault line, a dormant geological structure underlying parts of the city. Tsunami Center Director Amir Haider Laghari said the tremors were the result of underground energy being gradually released along the fault line. 'This slow discharge of energy is a natural process and helps reduce the likelihood of a major earthquake,' he said, noting that the Landhi fault line had become active after remaining dormant for decades. He added that the shallow depth of the tremors was responsible for the strong vibrations felt at the surface. Providing broader context, Dr Adnan Khan, Associate Professor and Geologist at the University of Karachi, told Express Tribune that these were minor tremors and not a cause for alarm. He explained that Karachi is situated on a passive tectonic margin, far from any major fault line, making large, destructive earthquakes highly unlikely in the region. 'These tremors are classified as mild, resulting from minor tectonic movements and stress accumulation deep within the Earth's crust,' Dr Khan stated. He also linked these movements indirectly to Himalayan tectonic activity, where the northward shift of the mountain range—by 4 to 5 cm annually—can generate distant tectonic pressures, occasionally manifesting as low-intensity quakes even in far-off areas like Karachi. Also read: Murad calls low-scale tremors 'good thing' after 19 mild quakes jolt Karachi Dr Khan further pointed to human factors that may play a subtle role in altering subterranean stability, including industrial waste incineration and excessive groundwater extraction, both of which can influence local seismic behavior over time. While no loss of life or property damage has been reported so far, experts have warned that the tremors may persist for several more days. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have advised the public to remain alert and follow safety precautions.
