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Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘A needle in a haystack': Hamilton family scours Panama jungle for missing dad and kids
Walking across a narrow bridge in northwest Panama — a low, tea-coloured river to her left and boundless jungle rising to her right — Nagham Azzam-Iqbal pauses to reflect on the task ahead. 'We're searching for a needle in a haystack.' The Ancaster woman is thousands of kilometres from home in a desperate effort to find her brother-in-law, Ghussan Iqbal, who vanished into the dense forests near the border of Panama and Costa Rica with his two young children last week. Azzam-Iqbal said Iqbal, 31, graduated from McMaster University and lived on the Hamilton Mountain before he moved to the Panamanian city of Changuinola about a year ago, just before his wife, Fatima, gave birth to their son. He went missing with his seven-month-old son and two-year-old daughter on May 21, when Fatima woke up to find them gone. 'We just came as quick as we could,' Azzam-Iqbal said over video call Thursday, tilting her phone to show her husband, Sulman Iqbal, as they walked on the bridge Thursday to meet a search team that includes police, firefighters and several members of Fatima's Panama-based family. The couple flew to Costa Rica on the night of May 22 before crossing into Panama by bus and foot the following day. Azzam-Iqbal, 31, said her brother-in-law has untreated mental-health issues. Prior to moving to Panama, he was hospitalized at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton for an episode of psychosis, she added. 'We know Ghussan has psychosis and during psychotic episodes, he tends to disappear,' she said. 'He's someone who's unwell and vulnerable, and he has even more vulnerable children with him.' Despite reported sightings — local authorities have put out multiple Amber Alerts — the search for Iqbal, his daughter Nousaybah and his son Musa has so far turned up naught, with the three believed to be somewhere in the jungle. Azzam-Iqbal said the terrain in the area — tall trees, thick greenery and tangled vines surround a few narrow mountain roads flanked by a river — has made the situation 'dire.' As has the weather: rain and humid heat, north of 30 C, is forecast in Changuinola for the next seven days. There are other things that are out of the family's control. Changuinola is sparsely populated with just over 30,000 residents, many of whom live in remote, tucked away Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, Bocas Del Toro, the province where the city is located, recently declared a state of emergency amid protests against the local government. 'Can you see the blockade right behind me?' Azzam-Iqbal said, pointing to police and barricades at one end of the bridge. While local police are helping with the search, Azzam-Iqbal said they lack resources. She said they don't have any search dogs, night-vision goggles or drones. Instead, they've relied on more traditional means: boots on the ground, megaphones, flashlights and word of mouth. 'The people in the remote Indigenous communities, when they see us, they come running to tell us where they spotted him,' she said. 'It's not a well-resourced search, but it's one where everyone's invested in the well-being of these kids and Ghussan.' 'We have no idea how a seven-month-old and two-year-old would survive. There's a lot of vegetation and farmers in the area — maybe he's stealing fruit to feed them. We don't want to think of the worst outcome,' she added. As they continue the search, the family is also pleading with Canadian officials to step in — Iqbal and his two-year-old daughter are both citizens. Azzam-Iqbal said Global Affairs Canada has assigned them a case manager from Latin America to help liaise with local authorities. They've also provided consular services, 'but they said they can't interfere with a foreign investigation. 'Emotional support, but nothing tangible,' Azzam-Iqbal said. In a statement, Global Affairs said it's aware of the missing-person cases but that local law enforcement is responsible investigating such reports in their jurisdiction. 'Consular officials are actively engaged with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family,' a spokesperson for the agency said. 'The safety and security of Canadian citizens abroad is a top priority for the Government of Canada.' No other information was shared. Azzam-Iqbal said the family is pleading with anyone who might have had contact recently with Ghussan to contact the family or Hamilton police, who she noted have been made aware of the situation. 'Our number-one priority is the children, but we want him to know that we're here for him and we want to support him,' she said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Jersey lawmakers push for Silver Alert notifications on mobile devices
TRENTON, N.J. – State lawmakers are working on a bill to protect those who can't protect themselves. Many of us are familiar with the notifications we get on our phones in the event of an Amber Alert—usually accompanied by a long, drawn-out audio and haptic notification. Lawmakers here envision the same thing for Silver Alerts. More Local News 'That individual needs our help immediately,' said Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-NJ 20th District). 'Not two days later, but immediately… We must protect all our members of our families – young and old.' A Silver Alert goes out in the event of a missing person who is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairment, regardless of age, and is believed to be in danger. Silver Alerts are often seen on highway message boards and on social media, but aren't automatically sent to the masses like Amber Alerts. New legislation from Quijano looks to change that. 'As we all age and our parents are aging, I think individuals are now grappling with 'what do you do?' and this is one answer to that question,' said Quijano. Republican Assemblyman Antwan McClellan voted to advance the bill in Thursday's Public Safety and Preparedness Committee. 'Time is crucial so you never know — especially if somebody has dementia — if it's cold, you don't know how they left the house and what elements they're walking into,' said McClellan (R-NJ 1st District). 'We want to make sure that we get to them before they cause any physical harm to themselves.' 'Within the first 24 hours statistically, most people are found safely,' said Ken Zaentz, President and CEO of Alzheimer's New Jersey. 'But in the second 24 hours, about 50 percent of those who have wandered, when they are found, they've succumbed.' Zaentz says at least 60 percent of people with Alzheimer's will wander at some point, oftentimes out of confusion, frustration, or fear. 'Maybe they're looking for a place that was familiar, like a place they used to live,' said Zaentz, 'or if they worked nearby they could be traveling towards that workplace.' The bill advanced through the committee on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
B.C. emergency alert system will be tested Wednesday afternoon
Relax: This is a test. This is only a test. On Wednesday, May 7, at precisely 1:55 p.m., British Columbia residents will receive an emergency alert on cellphone, TV and radio in a twice-yearly test of the national warning system. (The other test is scheduled for November.) It's part of Emergency Preparedness Week and the national public alerting system, a collaboration among federal, provincial and territorial governments and their industry partners. Anyone with a compatible cellphone — it must be connected to an LTE cellular network to work, and it can't be in 'do not disturb' or airplane mode — will be sent a message that reads: ADVERTISEMENT 'This is a TEST of the B.C. Emergency Alert system. This is ONLY a TEST. In an emergency, this message would tell you what to do to stay safe. This information could save your life. Click for more info: This is ONLY a TEST. No action is required.' The alert will also interrupt radio and television broadcasts at the set time, said the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Readiness in a news release. The test is designed to 'assess the system's readiness for an actual emergency and identify any required adjustments.' The real alerts aim to 'rapidly warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards and threats to life and safety.' B.C. first launched its emergency alert system in April 2018. In 2022, the alerts were expanded beyond tsunami warnings to include imminent threats from flood, wildfires and extreme-heat emergencies. Last year, the federal government launched an earthquake early-warning system in B.C. In the event of a quake that meets an established threshold, the system automatically issues an 'intrusive alert message' to cellphones in areas that might be affected. Ideally, it is triggered before strong shaking is felt, providing 'precious seconds of warning for people to better protect themselves and others.' ADVERTISEMENT Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for sending alerts to cellphones for tornados, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and storm surges. Police are in charge of alerts for civil emergencies and Amber Alerts. In both the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons, tens of thousands of people were asked to evacuate on short notice as wildfires threatened their communities. 'B.C. emergency alerts were an important tool to provide people with timely, life-saving information,' said the ministry. Anyone interested in doing a short online survey to let system administrators know how it worked can do so in English or French. More information about emergency alerts in B.C. and what to do in a real one is available at Tips on creating a plan in a real emergency are at jruttle@
Vancouver Sun
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. emergency alert system will be tested Wednesday afternoon
Relax: This is a test. This is only a test. On Wednesday, May 7, at precisely 1:55 p.m., British Columbia residents will receive an emergency alert on cellphone, TV and radio in a twice-yearly test of the national warning system . (The other test is scheduled for November.) It's part of Emergency Preparedness Week and the national public alerting system, a collaboration among federal, provincial and territorial governments and their industry partners. Anyone with a compatible cellphone — it must be connected to an LTE cellular network to work, and it can't be in 'do not disturb' or airplane mode — will be sent a message that reads: Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'This is a TEST of the B.C. Emergency Alert system. This is ONLY a TEST. In an emergency, this message would tell you what to do to stay safe. This information could save your life. Click for more info: . This is ONLY a TEST. No action is required.' The alert will also interrupt radio and television broadcasts at the set time, said the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Readiness in a news release. The test is designed to 'assess the system's readiness for an actual emergency and identify any required adjustments.' The real alerts aim to 'rapidly warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards and threats to life and safety.' B.C. first launched its emergency alert system in April 2018. In 2022, the alerts were expanded beyond tsunami warnings to include imminent threats from flood, wildfires and extreme-heat emergencies. Last year, the federal government launched an earthquake early-warning system in B.C. In the event of a quake that meets an established threshold, the system automatically issues an 'intrusive alert message' to cellphones in areas that might be affected. Ideally, it is triggered before strong shaking is felt, providing 'precious seconds of warning for people to better protect themselves and others.' Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for sending alerts to cellphones for tornados, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and storm surges. Police are in charge of alerts for civil emergencies and Amber Alerts. In both the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons, tens of thousands of people were asked to evacuate on short notice as wildfires threatened their communities. 'B.C. emergency alerts were an important tool to provide people with timely, life-saving information,' said the ministry. Anyone interested in doing a short online survey to let system administrators know how it worked can do so in English or French . More information about emergency alerts in B.C. and what to do in a real one is available at . Tips on creating a plan in a real emergency are at . jruttle@
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Amber Alert founder says system is being misused
The Brief The woman who helped to create the Amber Alert believes it's now oversaturated and misused. Former Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Andreson said some law enforcement agencies are misusing it, causing it to be less effective. They're calling for changes to the nearly 30-year-old emergency alert system. ARLINGTON, Texas - For nearly 30 years, the Amber Alert has helped locate abducted children. But its founder believes changes should be made to make the emergency alert system more effective. Diana Simone is the person whose simple idea in 1996 became what is known today across the globe as the Amber Alert. It followed her own feelings of helplessness as Arlington police and the community desperately searched for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was the victim of a kidnapping. What they're saying Simone believes the Amber Alert today is oversaturated and misused. "I don't mean to minimize the importance of a missing child report, but there is a very, very distinct difference between an Amber Alert and a missing child," she said. "That's the thing that people have lost sight of is the imminent danger, serious, bodily injury or death. That's how we wrote it. That's how we sold it. That's how it was brought up and how we put it into place," added former Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson, who worked alongside Simone to create the Amber Alert. Andersons said the criteria for the alert was always intended to be the highest level of a threat to a child. But some law enforcement agencies have strayed from that recently. He recalled a conversation with one officer. "He admitted. He said in those child custody cases it scares that custodial, non-custodial parent into bringing the kid back. That's what happens. They'll go, 'God they're looking for me.' And they take the kid back. They'll say we're not filing any charges, and they just use it as a tool. That's not what it was designed for. That's not what it should be used for," the former sheriff said. What's next Simone hopes an effort gets underway to lobby lawmakers for changes to the criteria and technology. She believes the current sound effect of the alert on cellphones is too jarring. While some sense of urgency is necessary, many people have turned off the blaring notifications. The alert also disappears and is nearly impossible to find again after people unlock their cellphone screens. "We're using 30-year-old technology for a current problem. I mean, Sprouts texts me that mushrooms are on sale. Certainly we can find a way to text the Amber Alerts to where they do not disrupt and jar people's life where they have the information available," she said. "It's what we feared from day one. We said if it gets to be routine, routine kills it. It's a shell of what it was when we started," Anderson said. The Source FOX 4 reporter Dionne Anglin talked to Diana Simone and Dee Anderson to gather details for this story. The pair worked together following Amber Hagerman's kidnapping to develop the Amber Alert.
