Heavy storms in northern Vietnam leave 1 dead, as Wipha weakens into a tropical depression
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
4 hours ago
- RTHK
Thousands moved as heavy rains hit Beijing and nearby
Thousands moved as heavy rains hit Beijing and nearby Two residents of Hebei province were dead and two missing in the wake of the deluge. Photo: CCTV via Reuters Heavy rain intensified around Beijing and nearby provinces in northern China on Monday, exacerbating the risks of disasters such as landslides and flooding, authorities said, as they relocated more than 4,400 people. Colossal rain continued to pound the northwestern suburban area of Miyun in Beijing causing flash floods and landslides and affecting many villages, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Images circulated on China's Wechat app showed areas of Miyun where cars and trucks were floating on a flooded road and water levels had risen so high that it had submerged part of a residential building. Northern China has seen record precipitation in recent years, exposing densely populated cities, including Beijing, to flood risks. Xiwanzi Village in Shicheng Town, near Miyun Reservoir, was severely affected, CCTV said on Monday with an additional 100 villagers transferred to a primary school for shelter. It comes after the maximum flood peak flow into the Miyun reservoir reached a record high of 6,550 cubic meters per second, Beijing authorities said on Sunday. In neighbouring Shanxi province, videos from state media showed roads inundated by strong gushing currents and submerged vegetation including crops and trees. In Beijing's Pinggu District, two high-risk road sections have been sealed, authorities said. Authorities are carrying out search and rescue work across cities including Datong, where a driver in a Ford car has lost contact while driving in the floods, the People's Daily reported. China's Water Resources Ministry has issued targeted flood warnings to 11 provinces and regions, including Beijing and neighbouring Hebei, for floods from small and midsize rivers and mountain torrents. Two were dead and two missing in Hebei province, CCTV said on Sunday morning. Overnight rain dumped a record 145 millimetres per hour on Fuping in the industrial city of Baoding. China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Monday that it was urgently arranging 50 million yuan to support Hebei. The funds would be used to repair damaged roads and bridges, water conservancy embankments, schools and hospitals in the disaster area. The NDRC said it was "promoting the restoration of normal life and production as soon as possible." (Reuters)
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: BMW iX xDrive45 hits Hong Kong with its greener, more sophisticated ride
For anyone looking for a greener, more intelligent, more thoughtfully made vehicle, with zero compromise on performance, interior comfort or exterior dash: your prayers have been answered. A luxury electric SUV that ups the bar and breaks new ground on numerous fronts, the BMW iX xDrive45, newly introduced in Hong Kong, offers a more powerful engine, a more refined profile, a dramatically longer range and a more sophisticated line-up of technology than any other vehicle in its class. The business end of the BMW iX xDrive45. Photo: Handout It certainly packs a punch, generating 408hp, 82hp more than previous generations of the iX, alongside 700Nm of torque, which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. The power comes from drive units on both the front and rear axles, part of the brand's first chassis created specifically for electric vehicles. Advertisement The BMW xDrive45's distinctive hexagonal steering wheel. Photo: Handout That power is allied to exceptional range – between 490 and 602km, about 160km more than previous iXs, with the Max Range function adding up to another 25 per cent to that. That incredible stamina comes from a 94.8kWh battery that offers 30 per cent more energy. The new BMW iX xDrive45 also brings the looks. Showing off minimalist lines, it features a redesigned BMW kidney grille at the front, frameless glass doors and body-coloured lower trim at the sides, and a seamless rear. High-spec speakers in the doors are sited next to controls for the locks and seat belt. Photo: Handout A similarly restrained aesthetic extends to the interior. An innovative layout, with the battery deep in the floor and the drive units on the axles, makes for a generous cabin, which also features seats with heat and massage functions. Seated behind the hexagonal steering wheel, drivers have dual information and control displays in reach, both with easy-to-use touch and voice control. Navigation is a cinch thanks to the BMW Head-Up Display with its Augmented View function, along with the BMW Maps system. When it comes to avoiding collisions, Driving Assistant technology enhances the car's safety. The seats include heating and massage functions. Photo: Handout The BMW iX xDrive45's sophistication also allows it to be kinder to the environment. For the first time, BMW has used silicon carbide semiconductor components to make it more efficient and it is also highly aerodynamic, with a svelte drag coefficient of just 0.25.
South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Why did a Hong Kong government aircrew risk chasing after Typhoon Wipha?
Hong Kong was able to collect critical information on Typhoon Wipha thanks to a three-strong government aircrew that flew close to the tropical cyclone's centre to deploy seven meteorological data detectors, despite the adverse weather and communication troubles. Just a day before Wipha hit Hong Kong and triggered a seven-hour No 10 hurricane signal, the Government Flying Service crew steered a Challenger 605 plane to approach the typhoon on Saturday afternoon. Their mission: to deploy dropsondes, cylindrical weather devices packed with sensors, and equipped with parachutes, to collect data on the typhoon's wind speed, wind direction, air pressure and humidity on behalf of the Hong Kong Observatory. The wind speed at the centre of the typhoon was around 110km/h (68mph) at the time. 'Dropsondes are the most important parts of the mission,' said Jeffrey Chan Kin-hang, an assistant manager for flight safety with the service who acted as the mission's air crewman officer. 'If they do not work properly, the whole mission will fail.'
