7 d. 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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7 d. 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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8 d. 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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8 d. 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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8 d. ago Rescue operations at Hong Kong apartment complex ‘almost complete’, as death toll reaches 94

By Friday morning the fires had been mostly contained, after burning for more than 24 hours, officials announcedAnger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 yearsHow the Hong Kong fire unfolded – visual guideRescue operations inside the Hong Kong apartment complex that was engulfed by fire on Wednesday are “almost complete”, fire officials have said, as the death toll reached 94 early on Friday with scores more missing.Firefighters were combing though through the high-rises on Friday, 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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8 d. ago Disney cancels Zootopia 2 premiere in Hong Kong ‘out of respect’ for fire victims

City sees number of entertainment and cultural events cancelled or pared back as rescue operations continue

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9 d. ago Hong Kong fire: three reportedly arrested with dozens dead and hundreds missing in housing complex blaze – follow updates

At least 36 killed and hundreds missing after huge blaze at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po district on Wednesday. Follow the latest updates live Full report: Death toll in Hong Kong tower block fire rises to 36 with 279 reported missingBamboo scaffolding may be to blame for spread of Hong Kong tower block fireFirefighters have received calls from trapped residents, but are battling difficult conditionsFirefighters have struggled to reach the upper floors of the high-rise buildings, even after hours battling the blaze.The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped. The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we’ll launch a thorough investigation.Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings [is] falling down. The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Major boost for floating offshore investment in the Celtic Sea

The Crown Estate has confirmed Ocean Winds is set to award for the third site under its leasing round five

Politics

2 w. ago Tragedy as fin whale dies after becoming stranded on Cornish coast despite massive rescue operation

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: The female fin, which was 6.2m (20ft) in length, was reported stranded yesterday morning at 7am in the shallows at Pentewan Sands near Mevagissey.

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2 w. ago Man falls into Manchester City Centre river at 2am sparking huge emergency response

In the early hours of Sunday morning Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene to aid with the rescue, operating their crane and turntable ladder to save the man

Politics

2 w. ago Woman, 20, dies while kayaking on River Tees at Barnard Castle

The woman’s body was recovered after a huge rescue operation on Saturday afternoon

Events

2 w. ago Flooded and forgotten: the UK’s waters are rising and we’re being kept in the dark | John Harris

Rescue operations in Wales, submerged railway lines in Cornwall – these events are ever more common. So why have we utterly failed to prepare?As autumn blurs into winter, the news is once again filling up with a familiar story: overflowing rivers, inundated streets and overwhelmed infrastructure. Since Friday, England, Wales and Ireland have been hit by the storm the Spanish meteorological agency has elegantly named Claudia, with grim results. One place in particular massively bore the brunt of it all: the Welsh border town of Monmouth, where the raging River Monnow spilled into the streets, people had to be rescued from their homes and drones captured aerial views of the scene, showing fragile-looking buildings suddenly surrounded by a huge clay-brown swamp.Claudia and her effects made it into the national headlines – but mostly, local and regional floods now seem too mundane to attract that kind of attention. Eleven days ago, Cumbria saw submerged roads, blocked drains and over 25...

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3 w. ago Sailing boat sinks 300 miles out to sea as five passengers beg for help

The Virginia Coast Guard said rescuers coordinated with one of the world's biggest warships in an operation to rescue five people stranded after their 'Magic Bus' boat took on water

Politics

3 w. ago Search for trapped worker inside a West Virginia coal mine is a rescue operation, governor says

West Virginia's governor says the search for a trapped worker inside a flooded coal mine remains a rescue operation

Events

3 w. ago Turkey military plane crash sees 20 killed after footage shows aircraft fall in Georgia

The Turkish military has confirmed that all 20 personnel on board a cargo plane that crashed in Georgia were killed in the incident yesterday following a search and rescue operation

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3 w. ago Rescue operation launched after bloke seen floating in sea on inflatable mattress

The chap was out on the sea simply for 'pleasure' according to the rescue team after he was clocked by an oil tanker some 22 miles off Estepona in the Costa del Sol

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3 w. ago Turkish plane crash: Military aircraft plummets over Georgia as rescue teams rush to scene

A search and rescue operation is underway in Georgia after a Turkish military cargo aircraft crashed this morning after the the C130 plane plummeted to the ground

Events

3 w. ago Dozens of cruise passengers are left floating in the Caribbean Sea after 40ft catamaran sinks during excursion

Some 55 holidaymakers had been taking part in a sailing activity as part of their cruise holiday on Saturday in the Dominican Republic before the incident took place.

Politics

3 w. ago A boat from Myanmar with hundreds of migrants capsizes off Malaysia, 1 body found and 10 rescued

Malaysian authorities say a boat carrying about 300 migrants from Myanmar capsized last week in the Indian Ocean close to the border between Thailand and Malaysia, with at least one body recovered floating in the sea, 10 rescued and dozens missing

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4 w. ago Civil rescue groups in Mediterranean cut ties with Libyan coastguard

Accusations of violent interceptions and human rights violations levelled at EU-funded Libyan services by NGOsMore than a dozen NGO rescue vessels operating in the Mediterranean have suspended communication with the Libyan coastguard, citing escalating incidents of asylum seekers being violently intercepted at sea and taken to camps rife with torture, rape and forced labour.The 13 search-and-rescue organisations described their decision as a rejection of mounting pressure by the EU, and Italy in particular, to share information with the Libyan coastguard, which receives training, equipment and funding from the EU. Continue reading...

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