Latest news with #Red Cross
LBCI
6 hours ago
- LBCI
Faqra fire disaster: Rescue efforts save many, two tragically perish — the details
Faqra fire disaster: Rescue efforts save many, two tragically perish — the details Report by Abdullah Malaeb, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian A widening fire broke out in a building near the Faqra roundabout in Kfardebian. Residents, alongside civil defense and Red Cross teams, rushed to rescue those trapped amid the flames. The fire engulfed a residential hotel and a construction materials warehouse on a hot summer afternoon. Rescuers managed to save eight injured individuals but failed to rescue a woman and a child, the wife and daughter of a truck driver employed by the owning family. The driver survived despite severe injuries. All victims are Syrian nationals. By what was described as divine intervention, the fire reached shops containing highly flammable construction materials. Injuries were numerous and severe. LBCI spoke to two building owners, Joseph and Antoine Salameh, who declined to speak on camera pending ongoing investigations launched by the Aayoun el-Siman police unit. They said the fire was intentionally set. According to their account, the blaze began when nylon bags covering insulation materials caught fire, destroying most of the insulation. The building's security cameras were destroyed, but the electrical generator, which the owners said was not in use, remained intact. The building's power is supplied by solar energy and was not interrupted. The owners explained the fire started on the lower floor, where insulation materials were stored and then spread to the first floor, which houses a construction warehouse adjacent to the Syrian family's apartment that lost two members. Divine intervention protected residents from a greater disaster. But questions remain: Who protects citizens? Who regulates the construction sector and determines which warehouses meet public safety standards and can be located within residential buildings? Such incidents happen repeatedly. With today's extreme temperatures, stronger and more effective oversight is needed to prevent threats to public safety.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Israel to allow gradual, controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants
Palestinian and UN officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet humanitarian needs. (EPA Images pic) JERUSALEM : Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said today. 'This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the UN and international organisations,' the agency said. On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers. Palestinian and UN officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet the humanitarian requirements – the number Israel used to allow into Gaza before the war. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in an attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas, thus far, has barred humanitarian organisations from having any kind of access to the hostages and families have little or no details of their conditions.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
Rescuers in Norway resume search for journalist missing in wilderness
Rescuers in Norway have continued the search for an award-winning environmental journalist who has gone missing in bad weather during a solo hike in the remote Folgefonna national park, home to one of the country's biggest glaciers. Alec Luhn, a US-born reporter who has worked for the New York Times and the Atlantic, and was a regular Russia correspondent for the Guardian from 2013 to 2017, was reported missing on Monday after he failed to catch a flight to the UK from Bergen. Norwegian media said Luhn, 38, was holidaying with his sister in Norway and had set out on the four-day hike alone on 31 July from the outdoor centre of Ullensvang on the northern edge of the park, a 550 sq km wilderness in the west of the country. Local police told the public broadcaster, NRK, that a 30-strong volunteer search and rescue team from the Red Cross, dogs, drones and police were all involved in the search on Tuesday after the operation had to be suspended late on Monday night. 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight,' when a rescue helicopter was recalled amid strong winds and heavy rain, said Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager from Vestland police. 'It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' Police said late on Tuesday afternoon that volunteer rescuers had been pulled out because of fast-deteriorating weather conditions but the search would continue into the evening. 'We have to put rescue teams' safety first,' the police chief Svein Buer told VG newspaper. Luhn is an experienced mountain walker, fit and well-equipped, police said. His wife, the Emmy-award winning journalist Veronika Silchenko, posted on social media on Tuesday asking anyone who had seen him or had information to contact her. This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Luhn, who among numerous awards also has two Emmy nominations, was based for many years in Moscow, then Istanbul and now lives in the UK. Specialising in climate journalism, he is a Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow. Folgefonna, the third largest icecap in Norway, is on a peninsula famed for its fjords, mountains, rivers, lakes and icefalls. It has been a centre for wilderness adventure since the 19th century, but parts are desolate and can be treacherous especially in poor weather.
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Journalist missing while on hiking holiday in Norwegian National Park
Rescuers are searching for a journalist who went missing on a hike in the remote Folgefonna national park, home to one of Norway 's largest glaciers. Alec Luhn, 38, was last seen on 31 July - the same day he left the park, which stretches 545 square kilometres in western Norway. He had been on a family holiday before setting out on a solo backpacking trip last Thursday from the town of Odda, according to information shared by friends online. Mr Luhn was reported missing on Monday after he missed his flight from Bergen, police said. Folgefonna National Park, known for its dramatic glacier tongues, wild valleys, and fast-flowing rivers, has drawn adventurous tourists since 1833. However, its remote and rugged terrain can turn perilous in harsh weather conditions. The search was suspended earlier due to severe weather, including heavy rain and strong winds, police told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight,' said Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager from Vestland police. 'It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' However, police said they were hoping there would be a potential weather window to allow helicopter support and volunteer crews to resume the search, despite forecasts predicting another strong gale on Tuesday. Red Cross volunteers were back on site Tuesday morning, according to NRK. The US-born journalist is believed to be fit, well-equipped and an experienced hiker, police said. According to information shared by friends online, Mr Luhn planned to visit two DNT cabins - Holmaskjer and Breidablikk - before planning to end his journey at the Årsnes Kai bus station on Monday morning. His wife, journalist Veronika Silchenko, made a public appeal on social media on Tuesday, urging anyone with information or who may have seen him to get in touch. The UK-based reporter is a Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow and has had two Emmy nominations. Formerly based in Moscow and Istanbul, he has reported for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and was a regular Guardian Russia correspondent from 2013 to 2017.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
Rescuers in Norway resume search for journalist missing in wilderness
Rescuers in Norway have resumed the search for an award-winning environmental journalist who has gone missing in bad weather during a solo hike in the remote Folgefonna national park, home to one of the country's biggest glaciers. Alec Luhn, a US-born reporter who has worked for the New York Times and the Atlantic and was a regular Russia correspondent for the Guardian from 2013 to 2017, was reported missing on Monday after he failed to catch a flight from Bergen. The Norwegian broadcaster NRK said Luhn was holidaying with his family and had set out on his hike alone on 31 July from the outdoor centre of Ullensvang on the northern edge of the park, a 550km-squared wilderness in western Norway. Local police told the public broadcaster a volunteer search and rescue team from the Red Cross, sniffer dogs, drones and police were all involved in the search on Tuesday after the operation had to be suspended late on Monday night. 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight,' when a rescue helicopter was recalled, said Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager from Vestland police. 'It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' Knappem added that a strong gale was forecast again on Folgefonna on Tuesday but police hoped there would be 'a possible window both for a helicopter search and for getting volunteer crews in to search the area, which is very large'. Luhn is an experienced mountain walker, fit and well-equipped, police said. His wife, the Emmy-award winning journalist Veronika Silchenko, posted on social media on Tuesday asking anyone who had seen him or had information to contact her. This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Luhn, who among numerous awards also has two Emmy nominations, was based for many years in Moscow, then Istanbul and is now based in the UK. Specialising in climate journalism, he is a Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow. Folgefonna, the third largest icecap in Norway, is on a peninsula famed for fjords, mountains, rivers, lakes and icefalls. It has been a centre for wilderness adventure since the 19th century, but parts are desolate and can be treacherous especially in poor weather.
