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Toronto Sun
05-08-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Sun
Flash floods kill at least 4 and trap others under debris in northern India
Published Aug 05, 2025 • 2 minute read This handout photograph taken on Aug. 5, 2025 and released by Uttarakhand's State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) shows muddy water running past residential buildings following a massive mudslide in India's Uttarakhand state. Photo by Uttarakhand's State Disaster Response Force / AFP via Getty Images LUCKNOW, India — Flash floods swept away several homes and shops in northern India, killing at least four people and leaving many others trapped under debris, officials said Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Local television channels showed flood waters surging down a mountain and crashing into Dharali, a Himalayan mountain village in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state. The flood waters inundated homes, swept away roads and destroyed a local market. 'About a dozen hotels have been washed away and several shops have collapsed,' said Prashant Arya, an administrative officer, adding that rescuers, including the Indian army and police, were searching for the missing. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue agencies were working 'on a war footing.' 'We are doing everything possible to save lives and provide relief,' he said in a statement. India's National Disaster Management Authority said it had requested three helicopters from the federal government to assist in the rescue and relief operations as rescuers struggled to access the remote terrain. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Officials have not provided a figure for those trapped or missing. India's weather agency has forecast more heavy rains in the region in the coming days. Authorities have asked schools to remain closed in several districts, including Dehradun and Haridwar cities. Sudden, intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in Uttarakhand, a Himalayan region prone to flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season. Cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, impacting thousands of people in the mountainous regions. Over 6,000 people died and 4,500 villages were affected when a similar cloudburst devastated Uttarakhand state in 2013. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Experts say cloudbursts have increased in recent years partly due to climate change, while damage from the storms also has increased because of unplanned development in mountain regions. The flooding in northern India is the latest in a series of disasters that have battered the Himalayan mountains, which span across five countries, in the last few months. Flooding and landslides as a result of heavy rains and glaciers melting due to high temperatures have killed over 300 people in Pakistan, reported the country's disaster agency. In 2024 alone, there were 167 disasters in Asia — including storms, floods, heat waves and earthquakes — which was the most of any continent, according to the Emergency Events Database maintained by the University of Louvain, Belgium. These led to losses of over $32 billion, the researchers found. A 2023 report by Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountain ranges. The study found that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream. — Associated Press writer Sibi Arasu in Bengaluru contributed to this report. Sunshine Girls Opinion Columnists Relationships Sunshine Girls
eNCA
27-06-2025
- Climate
- eNCA
Government declares Eastern Cape floods a national disaster
GQEBERHA - A National Disaster has been declared in the Eastern Cape, unlocking much need assistance for flood affected communities. READ: Search efforts continue as cold front hits Eastern Cape Provincial government says over R5-billion is needed to repair damaged infrastructure. At least 101 people have been killed and nearly 5,000 others are homeless. Meanwhile, the search for two missing children continues. Eastern Cape Cogta MEC Zolile Williams discussed this with eNCA.
The South African
18-06-2025
- Climate
- The South African
National state of disaster declared in South Africa
An emergency worker searches for bodies in a pond after deadly floods in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Image: EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has declared a national disaster in South Africa following weeks of devastating weather that has battered several provinces. ADVERTISEMENT Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, said the scale and severity of the adverse conditions – marked by snowfall, heavy rain, floods and damaging winds – warranted a coordinated national response. When South Africans connect, we don't just network; we build a community. The Lekker Network is a professional network where every conversation starts with, 'How can I help you?' Come join us & be a part of a community of extraordinary Saffas. 'In terms of Section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, I classified the impact caused by this severe weather system in the provinces listed above as a National Disaster,' said Sithole. The worst-affected areas include the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, where severe flooding, loss of life, and large-scale damage to infrastructure and property have been reported. ADVERTISEMENT Heavy toll on lives and infrastructure The Eastern Cape has suffered the most, with at least 90 lives lost and more than 2 600 residents left homeless. In KwaZulu-Natal, 58 homes were destroyed and 137 others partially damaged, impacting over 960 people. Government buildings, roads, hospitals and schools have also sustained significant damage. The declaration allows the national government to deploy broader resources, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), to support relief and recovery efforts. The state of disaster will remain in effect until lifted by the authorities. A pattern of recurring disasters President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the growing frequency of such disasters, warning that these severe weather events are becoming South Africa's 'new reality.' KwaZulu-Natal, in particular, has suffered repeated devastation in recent years – most notably the April 2022 floods, which killed over 400 people and caused R17 billion in damages. The trend continued into 2024 with another R3 billion in flood damages, followed by snowstorms, and has worsened again in 2025. Criminal exploitation As flood-hit communities struggle to rebuild, there have also been disturbing reports of criminal activity targeting victims and aid providers. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that a so-called 'water mafia' has intimidated relief workers attempting to deliver clean drinking water. There have also been reports of theft from the homes of deceased flood victims, prompting police to step in to protect vulnerable households. 'The SAPS has been deployed to ensure the safety of property and prevent further trauma to grieving families,' said Mchunu. The national disaster classification paves the way for a more robust, coordinated response to both the humanitarian crisis and the growing security threats in its wake. Fair decision to declare a national state of disaster in South Africa? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
