65 m. ago Thai prime minister acknowledges flood response failures as death toll rises to 162

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has outlined recovery and compensation plans for the southern part of the country, where severe flooding has killed at least 162 people

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2 h. ago Hong Kong mourns 128 dead in deadliest fire in 70 years as hundreds remain missing

Dozens of police officials enter charred building to find remains of missing people

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3 h. ago Indonesia and Thailand flooding death toll tops 350 as rescuers struggle to reach worst

More than 100 still missing on Sumatra island, where authorities to start cloud seeding to reduce rain, as Thailand sees one of worst floods in a decadeThe death toll from devastating floods and landslides in south-east Asia climbed past 350 on Saturday as clean-up and search and rescue operations got under way in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.Heavy monsoon rain overwhelmed swathes of the three countries this week, killing hundreds and leaving thousands stranded, many on rooftops awaiting rescue. Continue reading...

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3 h. ago Russian attacks kills 2 in Kyiv as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine gain momentum

Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv killed at least two people and wounded 15 Saturday, officials said, as renewed U.S.-led peace negotiations gathered momentum

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3 h. ago Death toll from floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka rises to 123, with 130 people still missing

Sri Lankan authorities say the death toll from heavy floods and mudslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah has risen to 123 with 130 people still missing

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7 h. ago Hong Kong begins three days of mourning after deadly apartment fires

Families are combing hospitals hoping to find their loved ones as about 200 people still listed as missing, and at least 128 killedAn outpouring of grief was set to sweep Hong Kong on Saturday as an official, three-day mourning period began with a moment of silence for the 128 people killed in one of the city’s deadliest fires.City leader John Lee, along with senior ministers and dozens of top civil servants, stood in silence for three minutes on Saturday morning outside the government headquarters, where the flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half-mast. Continue reading...

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17 h. ago Death toll reaches 69 as Sri Lanka is hit by rising flood waters

Heavy rain from Cyclone Ditwah has left people stranded, with more than 18,000 evacuated to temporary sheltersTroops in Sri Lanka were racing to rescue hundreds of people marooned by rising flood waters on Friday as weather-related deaths rose to 69, with another 34 people declared missing.Helicopters and navy boats carried out rescue operations, plucking people from treetops, roofs and villages cut off by flood waters. Continue reading...

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18 h. ago How a stranger stopped me from taking my own life as a missing child

A musician and public speaker who disappeared from home multiple times has opened up about the moment a stranger stopped him from taking his own life as a missing child.

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25 h. ago Rescue efforts end at Hong Kong tower block fire as death toll reaches 128

Firefighters comb through high-rises with as many as 200 people still missing, according to officialsAnger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 yearsHow the Hong Kong fire unfolded – visual guideThe death toll from the Hong Kong apartment complex fire that began on Wednesday has risen to 128 with as many as 200 missing, officials have said, as rescue operations were declared over.Firefighters were combing through the high-rises on Friday morning, attempting to find anyone alive after the massive fire that spread to seven of eight towers in one of the city’s deadliest ever blazes. Continue reading...

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27 h. ago Rescue operations at Hong Kong apartment complex ‘almost complete’, as death toll reaches 128

Firefighters comb through high-rises with as many as 200 people still missing, officials announceAnger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 yearsHow the Hong Kong fire unfolded – visual guideThe death toll from the Hong Kong apartment complex fire that began on Wednesday has risen to 128 with as many as 200 missing, officials have said, as rescue operations were declared over.Firefighters were combing through the high-rises on Friday morning, attempting to find anyone alive after the massive fire that spread to seven of eight towers in one of the city’s deadliest ever blazes. Continue reading...

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30 h. ago ‘My undiagnosed ADHD was biggest catalyst in going missing – why aren’t we talking about it?’

As The Independent launches SafeCall – a new service to help bring missing young people to safety – Tara Cobham speaks to support worker J Grange, who is calling for tailored support for neurodivergent children at risk of disappearing, just as he once was

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31 h. ago Sri Lanka closes offices and schools as death toll from landslides and floods rises to 56

Sri Lankan authorities say they have closed government offices and schools Friday as the death toll from landslides and floods across the country rose to 56

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35 h. ago Flash flooding in Sumatra kills 69 as rescue crews search rivers for survivors

Monsoon rains cause devastation on Indonesian island, sparking landslides and flash floodingFlash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island have killed 69 people, with 59 missing as emergency workers search in rivers and the rubble of villages for bodies and possible survivors.Monsoon rains over the past week caused rivers to burst their banks in North Sumatra province on Tuesday. The deluge tore through mountainside villages, swept away people and submerged more than 2,000 houses and buildings, the National Disaster Management Agency said. Nearly 5,000 residents fled to government shelters. Continue reading...

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36 h. ago Hong Kong police say unsafe scaffolding and foam may have spread fire that killed at least 94

Three construction employees arrested as firefighters battle to reach trapped people, with many still missingHow the fire unfolded – visual guideHong Kong police have alleged unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work may have been behind the rapid spread of a devastating fire at a group of residential tower blocks that has killed at least 94 people and left scores missing.Firefighters were still battling to reach people who could be trapped on the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Thursday due to the intense heat and thick smoke generated by the fire. Late in the day, a survivor was rescued from a stairway on the 16th floor of one of the towers, the South China Morning Post reported. Continue reading...

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42 h. ago Hong Kong police say unsafe scaffolding and foam may have spread fire that killed at least 83

Three construction employees arrested as firefighters battle to reach trapped people, with more than 250 still missingHong Kong fire – latest updatesHow the fire unfolded – visual guideHong Kong police have alleged unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work may have been behind the rapid spread of a devastating fire at a group of residential tower blocks that has killed at least 83 people and left more than 250 missing.Firefighters were still battling to reach people who could be trapped on the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Thursday due to the intense heat and thick smoke generated by the fire. Late in the day, a survivor was rescued from a stairway on the 16th floor of one of the towers, the South China Morning Post reported. Continue reading...

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43 h. ago Hong Kong fire: Jockey Club closes meeting to public and donates £9.7m after deadly blaze

At least 75 people are reported to have died and nearly 300 are missing as a result of the fire at a residential tower block complex in Hong Kong

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45 h. ago BREAKING: Sri Lanka mass evacuation as brutal storm triggers fatal flooding and landslides

At least 31 people have already been killed and 14 others are missing after the powerful monsoon brought 100 millimetres of rainfall - and another 250 are expected today

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50 h. ago Good Morning Britain interrupted as Kate Garraway delivers 'horror' breaking news

Good Morning Britain was halted on Thursday as Kate Garraway reported breaking news about a devastating Hong Kong fire that has claimed at least 44 lives with 279 people missing

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54 h. ago Dara Ó Briain becomes latest star to back The Independent’s SafeCall campaign for missing children

Appeal alongside Missing People charity to launch lifeline for young people in crisis hit more than £75,000 in donations over the weekend

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59 h. ago At least 44 dead and 100s reported missing after fire raged through Hong Kong high

At least 36 people have died and 279 are reported missing after a fire raged through a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong.

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