Tag: Disaster

TOKYO - Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor. In a sign of desperation, the police will try to cool spent nuclear fuel at one of the facility's reactors with water cannon, which is normally used to quell riots.
Early in the day another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled

KARACHI - The KSE 100 index plunged 1.8 percent following massive declines in regional markets after the Japanese bourse plummeted. Rumors of foreign institutional investors selling off key oil and fertiliser stocks also dampened the morale of investors and dragged the index to touch a low of 11,768.
The KSE-100 index closed at 11,829.24 levels with a loss of 216.14 points, while total volume stood at 78,084,274 along with the total value of 4,982,157,632. KSE-30 index lost

GENEVA - The international community started to send disaster relief teams on Saturday to help Japan after it suffered a massive earthquake and tsunami, with the United Nations sending a group to help co-ordinate work. "We are in the process of deploying 9 experts who are among the most experienced we have for dealing with catastrophes.
They will help evaluate needs and coordinate assistance with Japanese authorities," Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman of the UN Office for the

The Sindh and Balochistan coasts are considered to be at risk of possible tsunami hits in future due to the presence of Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ) along the Balochistan coast, which was hit by a deadly tsunami in 1945, completely washing away the human population of Pasni. Karachi lies about 150 kilometres east of the triple junction between the Arabian, Indian, and Asian plates. Recorded history reveals that residents of Karachi felt tremors of the 1945 earthquake in Makran

KARACHI - The Sindh government has started various projects to meet the challenges of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and droughts in the country and the formation of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is part of these efforts, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information Sharmila Farooqui said on Wednesday.
She said that the country, particularly Karachi, faces the risk of natural calamities like earthquakes and cyclones, however, the government is

TERESOPOLIS - Brazil is suffering its worst-ever flood disaster after mudslides near Rio de Janeiro this week killed more than 500 people, media compiling the deaths said Friday.
Municipal officials in the Serrana region just north of Rio said at least 506 people were killed, surpassing the 437 killed in a 1967 mudslide tragedy that had been previously considered Brazil's biggest disaster. More bodies were expected to turn up as rescuers finally reached villages cut off because

HOBART - French top seed Marion Bartoli was upset by Czech starlet Klara Zakopalova in the quarter-finals of the Hobart International on Thursday. The Czech fifth seed followed on from winning her second round match earlier in the day in the rain-hit tournament to bounce out the world number 17, 6-4, 6-2 in 1hr 18min.
Zakopalova will play Australian sixth seed Jarmila Groth in Friday's semi-finals. Bartoli praised the determination of her opponent in a tough quarter-final. "She

KARACHI - The first solar eclipse of 2011 on Tuesday (today) that will also be witnessed in the city will harbinger a sea-related natural disaster that will hit the city in the next few months, predicted Hindu pundit Maharaj Premchand Giyanchandani.
There is a silver lining, however, as the pundit foretold more jobs and better business for most Karachiites. "Karachi comes in the Makar Rasi or Capricorn zone, which means the influence of the sea-goat. The fall of the partial solar

KARACHI - Even as Pakistanis displaced by devastating floods stream back to their homes, many of which were destroyed by the deluge, the humanitarian needs remain enormous amid dwindling resources, a UN report said.
In Sindh, people continue to return to villages as floodwaters recede and access improves but some areas are still under water, while 325 camps out of the 4,800 set up for internally displaced persons are still accommodating roughly 130,000 people, the report said.