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Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
Anxiety runs high across coast after tsunami alert issued
Tensions ran high among residents and visitors after tsunami warnings were issued along Japan's Pacific coast on July 30 following a powerful earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. At least one related death was reported. At around 10:10 a.m., in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, a 58-year-old woman driving a compact car veered off a national road and dropped approximately 20 meters down a cliff. The driver suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead. According to the prefectural police, messages on the woman's mobile phone showed she had been communicating with her family via social media, saying she was 'going to move the car to a higher evacuation point.' Across the Pacific coast, residents and vacationers enjoying their summer holidays were forced to evacuate or change their plans in the scorching heat, while tourism facilities and businesses scrambled to respond. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2,011,038 people in 19 prefectures had been told to evacuate by local governments as of 5 p.m. The situation also had a major impact on air, land and sea transportation networks across the regions. For survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, the warnings brought old fears and anxiety to the surface. The Yuriage district of Natori in Miyagi Prefecture was also devastated in the 2011 disaster and was rebuilt by elevating the land by three meters. At around 9:40 a.m., a tsunami advisory was upgraded to a warning, prompting evacuation orders across much of Yuriage. Before the clock struck 10 a.m., about 30 people had taken shelter on the second floor of the Yuriage Community Center, located roughly one kilometer from the coast. Among them were children on their summer break and factory workers from nearby coastal facilities. A 79-year-old man joined the evacuees there after fleeing from a nearby single-story reconstruction housing unit. He narrowly escaped the raging tsunami 14 years ago. 'When the emergency siren went off, it brought back memories of that day,' he said. 'I still carry the trauma with me.' 130-CM HIGH WAVES ARRIVE At around 8:25 a.m., a powerful earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.7 struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The epicenter was approximately 1,500 kilometers northeast of Nemuro, Hokkaido, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The JMA immediately issued tsunami warnings for areas along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Wakayama Prefecture. In addition, tsunami advisories were issued for coastal regions along the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as the Pacific coasts of Shikoku and Kyushu. In Kuji, Iwate Prefecture, a 130-centimeter-high tsunami was observed at around 2 p.m. Subsequently, tsunami were reported across wide areas along the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Honshu. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba urged people in areas under tsunami warnings to 'evacuate immediately to higher ground or a designated evacuation building or other safe location.' The prime minister also instructed relevant ministries and agencies to thoroughly implement measures to prevent and promptly assess the extent of damage, and work closely with local governments to prevent injuries. The area where the earthquake occurred is known for active seismic activity due to subducting tectonic plates, and a magnitude 7.4 earthquake was also recorded there on July 20. A JMA spokesperson noted at a news conference that 'the epicenter is far from Japan and it is unlikely that this will lead to increased seismic activity here,' but sounded an alarm by saying, 'Tsunami caused by distant earthquakes can last for an extended period, so people should continue evacuating to higher ground.' AIR, LAND, SEA NETWORKS DISRUPTED Land and air transportation networks were also affected by the tsunami alerts. According to the transport ministry, the runway at Sendai Airport was closed at 9:41 a.m., disrupting flight operations. Japan Airlines reported that two flights—one from Itami and one from Fukuoka—that were scheduled to land in Sendai had to return to their departure points due to the runway closure as of 4 p.m. In addition, 20 flights to and from Sendai were canceled, affecting 1,638 passengers in total. All Nippon Airways canceled 19 flights in total as of 3 p.m. The airline said it will cancel at least two flights on July 31. The disruption has affected 2,420 passengers in total. As of 11 a.m., JR Hokkaido had suspended 14 limited express trains and 23 local trains departing from cities such as Kushiro, Obihiro and Hakodate. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, operations on the JR Tokaido Line, Yokosuka Line, Sotobo Line, and others were suspended, and trains already in operation were shifted to elevated stations or other safe locations. Additionally, multiple rail operators suspended services on lines running along the Pacific coast, from the Kii Peninsula through the Tokai and Tohoku regions, up to Hokkaido. According to the ministry as of 2 p.m., some sections of the Do-o Expressway in Hokakido were closed to traffic. Several toll gates on expressways in Miyagi and Mie prefectures were also shut down. Maritime transportation has been also disrupted due to evacuation orders issued for ports. According to MOL Sunflower Ltd., there may be delays in the arrival of four ferries operating between Oarai Port in Ibaraki Prefecture and Tomakomai Port in Hokkaido. Taiheiyo Ferry also announced that ships were temporarily unable to enter the Sendai and Tomakomai ports, and that the departure of a ferry from Sendai bound for Nagoya was expected to be delayed. NUCLEAR PLANT WORKERS EVACUATED The affected regions include coastal areas of Tohoku, which suffered catastrophic damage from the 2011 twin disasters. Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, said it has ordered all workers at the plants to evacuate, and all personnel reportedly fled to higher ground within the plant premises. At the No. 1 plant, the discharge of treated water into the ocean—which has been under way since July 14—was manually halted, TEPCO said. The treated water contains tritium, a radioactive substance that cannot be removed by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). LESSONS, TRAUMA OF 2011 REMAIN For many evacuees along the coast of Tohoku, the memories of 2011 are still fresh. In Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, one of the worst-hit cities in the 2011 disaster, a 38-year-old man was preparing for work near the coast when he heard a siren from the disaster prevention radio. 'This might just be a drill,' he thought initially because he did not feel any tremors. However, as the emergency siren kept blaring and levees were closed, he realized, 'Uh-oh, this could be serious.' He fled to higher ground, but continued looking anxiously out at the sea. 'I'm just glad it happened during the daytime,' he said. In the coastal village of Tanohata in northern Iwate Prefecture, evacuation orders were issued just before 10 a.m. for about 600 residents—roughly one-fifth of the village's population of 2,800. At a seaside hotel, tsunami alerts rang out from guests' smartphones throughout the building, and some families with children screamed in fear. The hotel staff called on guests, 'Please get out of here and evacuate to higher ground as soon as possible.' Roads leading to higher ground were briefly congested with residents' vehicles and construction trucks, as local fire brigade members assisted with evacuation efforts. At a nearby fishing port, fishermen were seen hauling small boats ashore or sending vessels out to sea to protect them from damage. 'These boats are everything to us—they're our livelihood,' a fisherman said. A local official said, 'We're in a big trouble. I just hope it doesn't turn into another major disaster like the one (in 2011).' CHILDREN STRANDED ON ROCKS At a rocky area near the tip of the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, a large group of children became stranded shortly after 9 a.m. The group was a youth exploration team from the local town of Rausu, consisting of 36 elementary and junior high school students, accompanied by 29 adult supervisors, including volunteer leaders and a hunter on alert for brown bears. Children were climbing over difficult rocky terrain toward Cape Shiretoko when they were informed via a mobile phone by a town official that a tsunami might be approaching. All 65 members of the group remained on the rocks, sheltering at an elevation of more than 20 meters. BEACH BUSINESS AFFECTED 'The beach is being closed.' It was the last thing a seaside beach house owner wanted to hear during the peak of the busy summer season. But that was the message a 51-year-old women received from the city government of Sammu, Chiba Prefecture, shortly after 9 a.m. It was just about opening time and around five customers had already arrived for a barbecue. But she quickly asked them to evacuate and contacted other guests with reservations, telling them, 'Please don't come—watch the news instead.' About 30 customers were expected that day, but she said, 'People's lives come first.' Aoshima Beach in Miyazaki, the capital of Miyazaki Prefecture, immediately decided to prohibit swimming after a tsunami advisory was issued. The beach also shut it down in August last year when the JMA issued for the first time the Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information (Megathrust Earthquake Alert). 'The weather had already been unstable,' a beach official said with disappointment. 'If the impact (of the tsunami alert) drags on again and customer traffic declines, it could become a serious problem.' Added caption: A car believed to have crashed after falling off a cliff while the driver was evacuating due to a tsunami alert in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, is seen on July 30. (Provided by Nagoya Broadcasting Network) Tsunami warnings are issued over a broad stretch of Japan's Pacific coastline on July 30 after a big earthquake hit near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The runway at Sendai Airport in Miyagi Prefecture is closed. (Masahiro Hirano)
ITV News
24-07-2025
- ITV News
Pregnant teen Bella May Culley appears in Georgia court on drug charges as baby's gender revealed
A pregnant British teenager charged with drug trafficking has appeared in court in Georgia in Eastern Europe where the gender of her baby was revealed. Bella May Culley, from Billingham, was denied bail at the hearing on Thursday (24 July) in Tbilisi which was told the 18-year-old found out yesterday that she was expecting a baby boy. She is accused of drug trafficking, which carries up to 20 years, or life imprisonment, after being arrested in May. Culley denies the offence and her defence told the court that she maintains she was forced into cooperation. They cited a mark on her wrist as evidence of physical abuse while the lawyer claimed that the criminals were intimidating her by threatening the lives of her young brother and mother. Georgian authorities released this footage which they say said in May showed a British citizen being led into a police station It is also their case that she was not the one who checked in the bag containing drugs and that Culley tried communicating with the airport staff but she was being watched. The defence team has handed over names, addresses and descriptions of the individuals who they claim forced her to commit the crimes, the court heard. She was told that somebody would meet her at the airport to grab the bag but the lawyer claims that those involved have already left Georgia. Culley herself spoke briefly during the hearing, which was also attended by her mother who made a heart with her hands. 'Gamarjoba (Hello in Georgian), she said. "I hope you can understand my story through my eyes. "I never thought something like that would happen to me. Madloba. (Thank you in Georgian).' Culley was reported missing in Thailand. An appeal for information was then shared on Facebook by her family and friends. They said they were "worried sick" after not hearing from her for three days and said she had last been seen in the Pattya area of the country where she had been on holiday. It was then confirmed on 14 May that a British citizen had been arrested on charges of drug trafficking by the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. It said she was "charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia". The statement also said: 'Law enforcement officers, as a result of defendant's luggage inspection at Tbilisi International Airport, seized a particularly large amount of the narcotic drug "marijuana", up to 12 kilograms and 2.068 kg of the narcotic drug "hashish" as evidence.' At the hearing today, Culley began to cry as the prosecution said there was no new evidence changing the state of her case. They added that without her being detained, she posed a flight risk and was at danger of repeating offences. The case was adjourned until Tuesday 2 September.
OC Media
23-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
North Ossetia tightens security over alleged threats of Ukrainian assassinations and drone attacks
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Authorities in North Ossetia have imposed strict security measures in response to what they describe as 'information about a planned assassination attempt on members of the Russian armed forces and their relatives' by Ukrainian intelligence services in Vladikavkaz, according to a statement from the regional government. All public events have been suspended, filming of military facilities has been banned, and checks on transit vehicles and private cars have been intensified, including personal searches of drivers. Residents of Vladikavkaz have been officially urged to avoid crowded areas due to 'credible intelligence about the threat of drone attacks'. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also warned citizens of potential criminal liability for participating in unauthorised public gatherings. In an official statement, the ministry said that 'law enforcement agencies will immediately suppress attempts to hold unauthorised public events as well as any provocative actions by participants'. A local blogger from Vladikavkaz, Alik Pukhaev, reported that a local police officer came to his home and made him sign a warning about participating in unauthorised protests. The officer also asked whether the blogger had any information about planned rallies — a sign that local authorities are actively monitoring civic activity. In North Ossetia, police are pressuring bloggers and activists over rumors of a potential protest. Officers from the Center for Combating Extremism have been making preventive visits to bloggers, public figures, and activists across the republic. The trigger? Rumors circulating… — Alik Puhati (@rajdianos) July 22, 2025 Due to the ongoing threat posed by drones, the region has also repeatedly restricted mobile internet and cellular networks. These measures are officially intended to prevent remote control of drones. North Ossetia is not the only region affected: nearly all parts of Russia have faced some level of internet disruption in recent months. The worst outages are being reported in the regions bordering Ukraine. In April 2025, North Ossetia was the target of a major drone attack. According to officials, 15 drones were shot down in the Mozdok district. Debris from one of the drones reportedly landed on an uninhabited building. There were no casualties or serious damage. The attack was the most significant drone incident in the region to date. Advertisement The previous drone attack on North Ossetia occurred on 25 December 2024, resulting in the death of a civilian woman, 57-year-old Ida Chivaeva. A drone had struck a shopping centre where Chivaeva worked before opening hours, killing her. Drone strikes against North Ossetia began in the summer of 2024. In July 2024, North Ossetia was reportedly attacked twice by drones. According to North Ossetian Head Sergei Menyailo, during the first attack, 'minor destruction and fires' were recorded at the airfield. He later deleted his post about the damages on Telegram. During the second attack, Menyailo claimed that 'there were no casualties or damages'. On 12 December 2024, Menyailo reported another drone attack on Mozdok district. He specified that the Mozdok district was attacked, but claimed there were no casualties or damages as a result of the incident.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia
A FORMER Ukrainian official has been found dead at the same spot where a defected Russian chopper pilot was assassinated. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was mysteriously Spain . 8 Maxim Kuzminov was a Russian who defected to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia 8 A swimming pool in the residential area of La Cala de Villajoyosa, where both Hrushevsky and Kuzminov were found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 The chopper pilot is said to have been assassinated by thr Russians 8 Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper and defect to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia Ihor was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of It is the same building where was apparently shot dead after he defected to Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter. The Kremlin was accused of carrying out Hrushevsky was found face down in the water, with no signs of life. more on Russia Though he was bleeding from one ear. Locals rushed to pull him out of the water and performed CPR, but failed to save his life, according to local media outlet The cause of death has not been revealed yet. Hrushevsky's death comes just 18 months after Russian defector Kuzminov was killed inside a garage allegedly by Putin's hitmen. Most read in The US Sun Ruben, a local worker, told The Sun he discovered the army captain, 28, in a pool of blood soon after what is believed to have been a brazen Kremlin-ordered hit job. The ruthless despot's hitmen are said to have Ukraine in August 2023. From 'moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick 'suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister The Sun was given access to the eerie murder scene yesterday, where He was dispatched in cold blood by six shots from a pistol believed to have been fitted with a silencer just a 10 minute drive from Benidorm's party strip. We walked his final steps around 50 metres to the spot where his body was found just short of the parking garage's electrically-operated metal doors. Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper in a major propaganda coup for Ukraine . He had been given a new identity and joined a large community of Russian speakers living in and around Benidorm using a Ukrainian passport with the name Igor Shevchenko. Ukraine's military intelligence later confirmed it had courted him to defect, as Kuzimov appealed to other pilots to follow his lead. In an interview broadcast by Ukraine's authorities, Kuzimov said: "I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: 'Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward.'" 8 The garage where Kuzminov was found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Cops at the scene where the pilot was found dead Credit: Reuters 8 Kuzminov fled Russia in a £15million helicopter after killing his two co-pilots, according to Russian media Credit: East2West The defector is believed to have moved to a flat which he was renovating and hoped to start a new life in the Benidorm suburb of Villajoyosa. Despite the continuing carnage between their nations in Eastern Europe , Russians and Ukrainians live side-by-side in Spain alongside British ex-pats and trippers. But Spanish police believed a Kremlin death squad had infiltrated the community and is standing by to liquidate more Putin enemies. Russian state media sensationally claimed Kuzminov shot and killed two of his crewmates who did not support him before he touched down in Ukraine. Their names were Nikita Kiryanov, 28, and Khushbat Tursunov, 35. Reports also alleged Putin's GRU military intelligence agents had orders to 'eliminate' him, no matter how long it took. The same GRU unit was allegedly behind the botched nerve agent attacks on 8 Russia's threats to Kuzminov's life were aired on Russian TV Credit: East2West
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia
The Kremlin was accused of carrying out the defector pilot's assassination back in 2024 HITMAN FEARS Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Ukrainian official has been found dead at the same spot where a defected Russian chopper pilot was assassinated. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was mysteriously found dead at a residential complex in Spain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Maxim Kuzminov was a Russian who defected to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia 8 A swimming pool in the residential area of La Cala de Villajoyosa, where both Hrushevsky and Kuzminov were found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 The chopper pilot is said to have been assassinated by thr Russians 8 Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper and defect to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia Ihor was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of Valencia. It is the same building where Maksim Kuzminov was apparently shot dead after he defected to Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter. The Kremlin was accused of carrying out Kuzminov's assassination back in 2024. Hrushevsky was found face down in the water, with no signs of life. Though he was bleeding from one ear. Locals rushed to pull him out of the water and performed CPR, but failed to save his life, according to local media outlet El Español. The cause of death has not been revealed yet. Hrushevsky's death comes just 18 months after Russian defector Kuzminov was killed inside a garage allegedly by Putin's hitmen. Ruben, a local worker, told The Sun he discovered the army captain, 28, in a pool of blood soon after what is believed to have been a brazen Kremlin-ordered hit job. The ruthless despot's hitmen are said to have tracked down and executed the Russian helicopter pilot who fled to the Costa resort after defecting to Ukraine in August 2023. From 'moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick 'suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister The Sun was given access to the eerie murder scene yesterday, where Kuzminov was found gunned down. He was dispatched in cold blood by six shots from a pistol believed to have been fitted with a silencer just a 10 minute drive from Benidorm's party strip. We walked his final steps around 50 metres to the spot where his body was found just short of the parking garage's electrically-operated metal doors. Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper in a major propaganda coup for Ukraine. He had been given a new identity and joined a large community of Russian speakers living in and around Benidorm using a Ukrainian passport with the name Igor Shevchenko. Ukraine's military intelligence later confirmed it had courted him to defect, as Kuzimov appealed to other pilots to follow his lead. In an interview broadcast by Ukraine's authorities, Kuzimov said: "I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: 'Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward.'" 8 The garage where Kuzminov was found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Cops at the scene where the pilot was found dead Credit: Reuters 8 Kuzminov fled Russia in a £15million helicopter after killing his two co-pilots, according to Russian media Credit: East2West The defector is believed to have moved to a flat which he was renovating and hoped to start a new life in the Benidorm suburb of Villajoyosa. Despite the continuing carnage between their nations in Eastern Europe, Russians and Ukrainians live side-by-side in Spain alongside British ex-pats and trippers. But Spanish police believed a Kremlin death squad had infiltrated the community and is standing by to liquidate more Putin enemies. Russian state media sensationally claimed Kuzminov shot and killed two of his crewmates who did not support him before he touched down in Ukraine. Their names were Nikita Kiryanov, 28, and Khushbat Tursunov, 35. Reports also alleged Putin's GRU military intelligence agents had orders to 'eliminate' him, no matter how long it took. The same GRU unit was allegedly behind the botched nerve agent attacks on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.
