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The death toll from two storms which battered the Philippines rose to 45 Sunday as several towns remained under water and rain kept falling in northern regions, disaster monitoring officials said. The rain was caused by a cold front, dragged into the country by Typhoon Nona (international name Melor) and Tropical Depression Onyok which hit the Philippines in succession last week. Floods almost three meters deep covered some riverside areas north of the capital Manila as heavy rain kept falling, civil defense offices said. “Our home has been flooded up to the waist. It has been flooded for over two days,” said Mary Jane Bautista, 35, in the industrial town of Calumpit 50 kilometers north of the capital. Her family and several others were forced to take refuge on nearby high ground — in front of a church where their only shelter is the awning over the entrance. “My husband has to wade through the waters to go home to get supplies. If we need water, he has to go to the faucet in our kitchen,” she told AFP, expressing fears the current could wash him away.
Swans
glide by a sandbag barrier on The Strand in Athlone Town, in the
ongoing battle against the rising waters of the Shannon River. Photo:
RollingNews.ie
The Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA) is urging the Government to do more to help farmers affected by flooding.
At
this stage up to 100,000 hectares of land are under water and
communities remain on alert with more rain forecast for this week.
Tonight
the risk of flooding persists along the River Shannon - however
defences are said to be holding steady in Athlone for now.
The
IFA’s Tom Turley says he is concerned about Farmer's mental health and
wants routine Department of Agriculture inspections called off.
“This is just in disarray at the moment,” Mr Turley
“I can’t emphasise this enough, the Department have got to stop these inspections forthwith.
“The
minister just needs to come out and say I’m calling of all inspections
under force majeur circumstances – end of,” he added.
The National Emergency Co-ordination group has said today that water levels in most rivers are falling.
However, water is still rising in the lower half of the River Shannon, although at a lower rate than yesterday.
An
overall view of the River Shannon flowing into Athlone Town: the
National Emergency Coordination Centre has said there is a high risk. Photo by: RollingNews.ie
Towns along the River Shannon are still feeling the effects of recent extreme bad weather, with further rain possibly flooding areas that are not yet under water.
According
to Ireland's national weather service Met Éireann, there may be further
“nasty” weather in the coming week, with the possibility of orange rain
warnings for the south and southwest over the weekend.
Weather
forecaster Gerald Fleming said at a briefing of the National Emergency
Coordination Committee that there is no immediate danger as of yet,
although it may develop into a serious weather event.
Air corps pictures over the Shannon area during Storm Desmond. Image: Air Corps/Photocall Ireland.
“There will be above normal rainfall over the course of the next six or seven days,” Fleming said.
“At
the moment none of the individual events are at the orange status
serious warnings level, but we’ll have to keep a very close eye on that
because a couple of the events have the potential to get there.
“We’re
in a situation where a number of those rain events have the potential
to turn nasty, and potentially they could cause flooding in areas where
there has been no flooding so far if that were to happen.”
Regions along the banks of the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river, are still battling with flooding
caused by Storm Desmond over a week ago, with flood levels in the Lower
Shannon area, from Lough Derg to Limerick City, only expected to reach
their peak on Tuesday.
A
resident walks past big waves spilling over a wall onto a coastal road
in the city of Legaspi in Albay province, south of Manila, on Dec. 14.
More
than 700,000 people in the central Philippines fled to safer areas for
fear of giant waves, floods or landslides as Typhoon Melor slammed into
the archipelago nation Monday, officials said.
Meteorologists
from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) monitor and plot the direction of powerful
Typhoon Melor at their headquarters in suburban Manila on Dec. 14.
Melor
crossed the central Burias Island late Monday, with authorities warning
that traditional thatched homes were unlikely to withstand the strong
winds and that crops may suffer heavy losses. There were no immediate
reports of casualties or damage.
The typhoon brushed the northern
tip of Samar, a farming island of 1.5 million people, early Monday with
winds gusting up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, the state
weather bureau said.
Samar was among areas devastated in 2013 by
Typhoon Haiyan, when giant waves wiped out entire communities and left
7,350 people dead or missing.
Authorities warned that Melor's
powerful winds might whip up four-metre-high (13-feet) waves, blow off
tin roofs and uproot trees. They said heavy rain within its
300-kilometre diameter could trigger floods and landslides.
Sinkholes, slides endanger entire neighborhood in Tillamook
A
neighborhood of seven homes overlooking the Tillamook River are banding
together after extreme weather has caused their hillside to shift,
sending bits of road, mud and trees onto their homes and barns.
It
began Monday as a few little cracks on Burton Hill Road, just outside
Tillamook. By Wednesday the cracks had collapsed into a quarter-mile
series of sinkholes and creeping mud that put three homes at risk,
pushed a barn off its foundation and left homeowners fearful of what
will move next.
As the rains continue, they say only one thing is clear:
No one is coming to the rescue.
Morgan
Kottre, 27, said she and her neighbors – some of them relatives – have
been told by county, state and federal officials that they don't qualify
for assistance because Burton Hill Road and the lower Hillside Drive
are private roads on private land. Same story from at least one
insurance company. Kottre said a representative told one family the
devastation qualifies as an "act of god," which the insurer doesn't
cover.
"In theory, we could try to fight it," she said, "but right now we're just trying to fight the land." Storms over the past week that have brought flooding and
landslides across northwestern Oregon. On Saturday afternoon, blizzard
conditions closed three highways in Southern Oregon. The extreme weather
has caused at least two deaths in Oregon and federal officials set
early damage estimates at about $15 million.
Tillamook County was
among the 13 counties where Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of
emergency. In fact, not far from Kottre's home on Saturday night, the town of Oceanside was cut off as the only road out of town was closed due to a failed culvert.
Westmeath
County Council has placed two families in alternative accommodation as
flooding continues to threaten parts of Athlone town. While the family's
homes on the west side of town were not flooded, both houses suffered
flooding in 2009 and the families asked to be moved because they found
the current situation too stressful. River Shannon levels in Athlone
rose by about 8cm between Wednesday and Thursday. However, due to the
efforts of locals, council staff, the Defence Forces and the civil
defence, floodwater was kept out of houses. Additional pumps have been
deployed in some of the worst-affected areas. In places such as Deerpark
Road, the water levels appear to have dropped. Despite the flood
defence measures, there are major concerns about the impact further
predicted bad weather could have on the town. Director of services at
Westmeath County Council Barry Kehoe is hoping the forecast provided by
the ESB is not accurate. It suggests a further rise of 31cm which would
see the Shannon at levels just below those of 2009. "There is a bad
forecast for Saturday of heavy rainfall," Mr Kehoe said. "The effect of
it will be to drag out the whole scenario into next week." While some
waste water had mixed with the flood water, Mr Kehoe said there was no
problem with the water supply in the town. "It [the floodwater] always
needs to be treated as dirty water and a hazard," he said, adding that
the council was prepared for evacuations. In the case of the two
families who were provided with accommodation on Tuesday and Wednesday,
Mr Kehoe said "some people have requested alternative accommodation as
it is just too stressful for them". In outlying areas such as Clonbonny
and Carrickobrien, some people were "marooned", Mr Kehoe said. A
transport service was being provided to bring children to school, to
take people to medical appointments and for other essential journeys.
Although areas like the Strand and Wolfe Tone Terrace remain under
threat on the east side of town, and Deerpark Road and The Park and
Parnell Square on the west side, the remainder of the town is continuing
to operate as normal. The Defence Forces has between 30 and 35 troops
filling sandbags and moving heavy pumps in Athlone. A spokesman said the
troops had been on flood defence operations since 7am.
Athlone fearful things will worsen next weekFriday, December 11, 2015
by Eoghan MacConnell
Westmeath
County Council has placed two families in alternative accommodation as
flooding continues to threaten parts of Athlone town.
While
the families’ homes on the west side of town were not flooded, both
houses suffered flooding in 2009, and the families asked to be moved
because they found the situation too stressful.
Flood defence
measures prevented flooding from occurring despite rising water levels
in Athlone, Co Westmeath on Wednesday night. It’s estimated that 90
houses could flood in Athlone if water levels reach those last seen in
November 2009.
River Shannon levels in Athlone rose by around 8cm
between Wednesday and Thursday. However, thanks to the efforts of
locals, council staff, the defence forces and the civil defence,
floodwater was kept out of houses.
By
Thursday morning the wind, which had been driving water towards the
town, had eased as workers continued to battle the floodwater.
Extra
pumps have been deployed in some of the worst affected areas. In places
like Deerpark Road, the water levels appear to have dropped. Despite
the flood defence measures there are major concerns about the impact
further predicted bad weather could have.
Families request evacuation as flood threatens town
Locals,
council staff, Defence Forces and Civil Defence keep floodwater out of
Athlone houses with additional pumps deployed in worst-affected areas
Thu, Dec 10, 2015, 22:00
Eoghan MacConnell
Flooding this week along the banks of the Shannon river near Athlone town. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times
Westmeath County Council has placed two families in alternative accommodation as flooding continues to threaten parts of Athlone town.
While
the family’s homes on the west side of town were not flooded, both
houses suffered flooding in 2009 and the families asked to be moved
because they found the current situation too stressful.
River
Shannon levels in Athlone rose by about 8cm between Wednesday and
Thursday. However, due to the efforts of locals, council staff, the Defence Forces
and the civil defence, floodwater was kept out of houses. Additional
pumps have been deployed in some of the worst-affected areas.
In
places such as Deerpark Road, the water levels appear to have dropped.
Despite the flood defence measures, there are major concerns about the
impact further predicted bad weather could have on the town.
The
village of Glenridding, which had been cut off since Sunday, was hit
with a deluge of water after the river burst its banks. A "multi-agency"
response, which includes the military and fire services, got under way
last night amid concerns that the latest flooding may endanger lives.
"Although the flood water is starting to recede, it is still extremely
unsafe and would ask any members of the public not to walk or travel
through any flood water". "Cumbria police would like to urge the people
of Glenridding to stay inside their properties to keep themselves and
their families safe", police said. The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015
is created to assist any individuals or families who suffer financial
hardship as a result of the flooding caused by Storm Desmond. The
military has been called in to the village to help deliver food and
water. Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West,
said: "We have now restored power to the vast majority of homes in
Cumbria". Local farmer Joe Taylforth said he witnessed "folk holding
hands" as they attempted to get out of their flood-ridden homes and
businesses adjacent to the river. "This community is strong and will
pull together again to make sure everything returns to normal as quickly
as possible". Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community
Foundation, said: "It is hard to assess the scale of the need, but we
know that the flooding will cause significant financial hardship and
emotional distress". John Bibby, 36, feared he would not be able to get
wife Katharine to hospital because the Backbarrow bridge was destroyed
and the only other road was under 3ft of water. The video shows the
hugely swollen River Eamont rushing past the remains of Pooley Bridge
following its collapse. He said work done after floods six years ago was
not enough to help when the latest rain hit. This morning Liberal
Democrat leader Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, described
the situation as "absolutely horrendous" and said lessons must be
learnt. There are reports that the water is 3ft deep in places, after
flood defences were overtopped in two places. "They definitely need to
do some upstream flooding rather than just waiting for it all to come
down". "Events like this serve as a harsh reminder of the finite
capacity of our flood defences, and the destructive impact extreme
flooding has on our communities", says Professor David Balmforth, Flood
Expert and Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The
Glenridding Hotel was under water again prompting the owners to issue an
online appeal for people to bring sandbags to help cope with the
problem.
...........
Storm Desmond
claims its THIRD victim: Pensioner, 70, hit by sign blown over in high
winds dies in hospital - as new aerial pictures show the awesome scale
of the floods that have hit Cumbria
Pensioner, 70, has become the third person to die from Storm Desmond after he was hit by a falling sign in Berwick
Residents of Cumbrian village Glenridding are facing further torment after flooding hit the region for a second time
As homeowners began huge clean-up operation from weekend's floods, nearby River Beck broke its banks again
Police warning residents to stay indoors amid fears floods could 'endanger lives' and homes remain without power
The Met Office has also issued a weather warning about the risk of snow in parts of northern England on Saturday
George Osborne has announced additional £51million to support households and businesses affected by flooding
The Mail has launched an appeal to help those affected by the floods. See the information below on how to donate
Published: 19:09 EST, 9 December 2015 | Updated: 01:57 EST, 11 December 2015
A
70-year-old man has become the third person to die because of Storm
Desmond after he suffered fatal injuries when he was hit by a falling
sign which was blown over in high winds.
The
pensioner was struck by the sign as he walked along a street in
Berwick, Northumberland, as more than 13.5 inches of rain lashed the
region on Saturday – bringing widespread flooding which has devastated
entire communities.
He was taken to
hospital but police today confirmed he died from his injuries last
night, making him the third person to be killed as a result of the
storm.
It comes after Ernie Crouch, 90,
died when he was blown into the side of a moving bus by strong winds
near Finchley Central Tube station in London on Saturday, and the body
of a 78-year-old man was recovered after he fell into fast-flowing
floodwater in the swollen River Kent in Kendal, .
Meanwhile,
incredible aerial photographs taken today show the vast extent of the
flooding which forced thousands of people out of their homes and left a
wake of deluge and devastation.
The
images show how much of Carlisle remains besieged by floodwater more
than five days on from the record rainfalls which saw the worst flooding
across the region in decades.
Incredible
aerial photographs taken today show the vast extent of the flooding
which forced thousands of people out of their homes in Carlisle and left
a wake of devastation after Storm Desmond brought record amount of
rainfalls including 13.5 inches in just 24 hours
These
aerial photos show how Carlisle United Football Club's ground has
finally dried out after being besieged by waist-high floodwater
Storm Desmond has brought a waterfall back to life at a famous beauty spot for the first time in living memory.
While
they last, the falls at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales are believed
to be the highest in England, thundering off a cliff 260ft (80m high).
Local residents
and tourists gathered on Sunday to see the phenomenon, which is
believed to be the first time the falls have flowed in hundreds of
years.
Stu
Gledhill, who filmed the scene, wrote on YouTube: “Talking to two
neighbours who are both around 80 and have both lived in Malhamdale all
their lives.
"They
have never seen this happen before, and some suggestions are that it
could be nearly 200 years since it was last recorded.”
A rescue team helps to evacuate people from their homes after Storm Desmond floods Carlisle Getty
Hundreds
of people have been made homeless and thousands more left without power
by Storm Desmond, which is thought to have broken the rainfall record
set in 2009.
46 severe flood warnings remain in place in north-west England, where Cumbria was declared a major incident.
The
army has been drafted in to help evacuate people from their homes and
rescue those stranded after the river Eden burst its banks at
Appleby-in-Westmorland, sweeping away bridges and sinking some
properties under a metre of water.
About 350 soldiers were dispatched
from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment to Carlisle,
one of the worst affected towns. A Chinook helicopter and mountain
rescue teams were also sent out to assist victims.
11,000 homes in Lancaster have had electricity restored, with 44,000 more expected to have power back by Monday evening.
According to the BBC,
provisional figures suggest more than 340mm of rain fell in 24 hours in
the Lake District, breaking the record of 316.4mm previously held by
Seathwaite, Cumbria, in 2009.
STORMS UPDATE: Army drafted in to deal with Storm Desmond chaos
Crook O Lune near Lancaster
16:42Sunday 06 December 201512:43Saturday 05 December 2015
The
extent of the devastating flooding from the torrential rain and gale
force winds that have hit Lancashire in the last 36 hours is being
revealed.
Army trucks have been stationed at a hospital in
Lancaster to act as ambulances after flooding cut the city off from the
power grid and blocked all but one access route.
Crook O Lune near Lancaster
The
hospital has also cancelled all non-emergency operations tomorrow and a
number of clinics as emergency services struggle to deal with the scale
of the incident.
The north of the county - in particular Lancaster and surrounding areas - has been by far the worst hit.
From
domestic electrical faults to people stuck in cars in flood water,
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has been inundated with calls for
help.
A spokesperson for the service said this morning: “In the
last 24 hours we’ve had approximately 300 calls, and we’ve attended
probably 200 incidents.
Storm Desmond: Homes flooded and thousands without power
6 December 2015
Tens
of thousands of homes are without power after Storm Desmond caused
severe flooding and travel disruption across northern England and parts
of Scotland.
Power at about 55,000 homes could be off for "days" following flooding at an electricity substation in Lancaster.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the government was doing all it can to help people and prevent further damage.
Mr Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra contingencies committee on Monday to co-ordinate the emergency response.
"I
would like to pay a huge tribute to all those emergency workers and
troops who have worked tirelessly to respond to this weekend's events,"
he said.
"There has been a tremendous response from local communities too, with people taking in families affected by the flooding."
Storm
Desmond has lashed large areas of England and Scotland as severe
flooding and winds of up 80mph caused police to declare a major
incident.
More than 30 severe storm warnings – indicating danger
to life – were issued in Cumbria and Northumberland, and two severe
storm alerts were issued in south-west Scotland as heavy rain
continued well into Sunday.
Read more
Man, 90, dies after ‘gust of wind blows him against moving bus’
Homes
in the Cumbrian towns of Appleby and Keswick were evacuated and drivers
were rescued from stranded cars as flood waters breached defences,
submerged streets and disrupted road and rail services.
In London,
a 90-year-old man died near Finchley Central station after he was blown
into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind.
The storm also
caused disruption in north Wales, Northern Ireland and North Yorkshire,
where thousands of homes were left without electricity.
Wettest day in Portland history causes landslides, floods
KGW.com Staff 8:14 p.m. PST December 7, 2015
PORTLAND,
Ore. -- Monday was the wettest calendar day in recorded history in
Portland, and the rain is expected to stick around for days.
KGW
meteorologist Matt Zaffino said nearly 2.7 inches of rain on Monday tied
a record for one day, from 12:01 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. The previous record
was set on Nov. 19, 1996. More rain is forecast for Monday night, and
Zaffino said the record is sure to break.
The storm that caused
floods, landslides, road closures and even a sinkhole is expected to
bring its next wave of heavy rain on Tuesday, possibly during the
evening commute.
People should expect delays in every mode of
transportation in the metro area for the next several days, according to
the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Authorities were offering sand bags to any area residents who need them.
At
a news conference Monday afternoon, Portland Bureau of Transportation
spokesman Dylan Rivera called the weather an "extraordinary event that
had extraordinary impacts."
Rivera said 5.61 inches of rain have fallen so far this month, with three inches falling within a 12-hour period.
The December average for rainfall in the metro area is 5.49 inches.
KGW
Meteorologist Rod Hill said said the worst of the storm has not even
hit yet. That will likely happen on Tuesday night and continue into
Thursday.
Severe flooding has been reported in parts of southern Norway
after heavy rain brought by storm Synne between 04 and 06 December
2015. Maudal in Gjesdal, Rogaland saw just under 300 mm of rain in 3
days.
No injuries or deaths have been reported. However the flooding
has caused some damage to roads, bridges and homes in Rogaland,
Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder counties. Around 100 families had to be
evacuated from their homes in Eigersund, Rogaland county. Norway’s state
broadcaster, NRK, reports that around 30 farms have also been severely hit, suffering major damage. Floods in Eigersund, Norway, December 2015. Photo: Eigersund KommuneThe
rain has now stopped but river levels remain high. Authorities in
Sweden also report high river levels in western parts of Götaland and
nothern part of Halland.
Parts of southern Norway saw flooding earlier this year after 97 mm of rain fell in Melsom during a 24 hour period between 01 and 02 September 2015.
Britons are braced for more lashing rain as flood warnings were issued for parts of the country as Storm Clodagh wreaked havoc.
Flights
were diverted, trains delayed and traffic held up on motorways at the
weeknd as heavy rain and strong winds hit Scotland and the north west of
England.
There is little sign of
respite with the Environment Agency issuing yellow flood warnings for
Wales and the north of England for Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, two
days of rain could leave parts of north Wales under 60mm of
precipitation.
The north of England
could see 30-40mm of rain during the same period, say the Met Office. A
spokeswoman also warned that parts of Scotland, which is on a yellow
snow warning, could have 2.5cm of snow on Monday.
A
Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat recovers a small boat in the mouth of the Tyne
after rescuing its participants following its capsizing in gale force
winds Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA
On Sunday in Ireland, thousands of properties were left without electricity after Storm Clodagh battered the republic.
Meanwhile,
coastguards had to pull a windsurfer out of the water at Seaburn Beach,
Sunderland, after he was separated from his board in 60 mph winds. Two
people were rescued from the Tyne by the RNLI after their boat was
capsized by the wind.'
Storms
in the US Midwest have claimed at least 14 lives as temperatures
plunged below freezing point over the holiday weekend. Tens of thousands
of homes have been left without electricity, while driving conditions
are treacherous due to icy roads.
A
wintry storm system that has been moving through parts of the Great
Plains and the Midwest since Thursday has brought extremely cold weather
to the region. Eight people have lost their lives in Texas, with a
further six dying in the state of Kansas.
The icy conditions are
also causing havoc for local residents. Some 78,000 people in parts of
Oklahoma have been left without power after trees collapsed onto power
lines, according to Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.
Ten people were on Sunday morning killed after a matatu they were traveling in was swept away by raging floods in Gatundu, Kiambu county. The ten who are are believed to be from the same family were traveling back from a dowry ceremony when the journey turned tragic. Seven people among them a ten year old boy were rescued. This as more than a hundred and twenty households in Migori county were displaced by raging floods.
..........
Ten killed as a 14-seater matatu is swept by floods in Gatundu, Kiambu County
By Cyrus Ombati
Ten people were Sunday morning killed when a they were travelling was swept away by raging water in Nyakibai, Gatundu North, Kiambu County.
The ten, who are believed to be from the same family, drowned while seven survivors were taken to the local health centre, treated and discharged.
This gave an indication the van had 17 passengers at the time of the accident.
Traffic commandant Jecinta Kinyua said the victims were from a dowry ceremony in Nyahururu and were headed for Kandara in Murang’a County when the accident happened.
Ms Kinyua say the accident happened at about 1 a.m. Among the survivors was a ten-year-old boy, she said. “We suspect the driver was tired at the time of the accident because he had driven for long and it was heavily raining,” said Ms Kinyua who had visited the scene.
Floods, landslides hit West, North Sumatra, cut off access
Photo: Reuters
Torrential rain has caused landslides in parts of West and North Sumatra, cutting off access and disrupting economic activity.
A
150-meter stretch of the highway connecting West Sumatra and Riau in
Jorong Sopang, Pangkalan Koto Baru, Limapuluh Kota regency, was engulfed
by up to a meter of floodwater on Sunday at 5 a.m. local time.
Limapuluh
Kota Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Nasriyanto said the
flooding was triggered by the overflowing Batang Manggilang River.
"Only
large trucks were able to pass, resulting in other vehicles from
Pekanbaru and Payakumbuh backing up 2 kilometers for eight hours,"
Nasriyanto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said the heavy rain
that had drenched the region in the past three days had triggered
floods and landslides in a number of locations in the regency. At least
500 homes were engulfed by over 50 centimeters of floodwater and eight
homes were reportedly damaged by a landslide on Sunday morning.
Floating cars, people in boats: Havoc as Qatar, Saudi Arabia ravaged by heavy rains (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Published time: 26 Nov, 2015 08:45
Cars
floating in rivers that were once streets, water gushing through
ceilings and people sailing to work on boats – that’s the current
picture in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both desert countries, which should
be dry and sunny for the whole year.
Qatar’s
capital Doha was apparently unprepared for the deluge and flooding that
damaged many buildings in the city. The area near the capital’s Hamad
International Airport was hammered with around 66mm of rain in just a
few days, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department. For the record,
Doha has 75mm of rain on average a year.
Many
buildings at the multibillion-dollar airport failed to hold up to the
torrent: pictures and videos on social media show water flooding into
the passenger terminal.
Cascades of water fell from a ceiling inside Ezdan Mall in Doha, Doha News reported. “Inclement weather” prompted the closure of schools across the country as well as the US Embassy in Qatar on Wednesday.
Southern
Addu City has suffered the worst storm damage in 40 years after 12
continuous hours of torrential rain left streets inundated and flooded
some 200 households.
“This is the worst flooding I’ve seen in
decades. The water is knee-deep in most areas, and a majority of houses
are under a foot of water,” saud Abdulla Thoyyib, the deputy mayor.
The
Feydhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo wards suffered the most damage. According
to the Maldives Red Crescent, some 32 houses in Feydhoo and 11 houses in
Maradhoo-Feydhoo suffered major damage. A majority of household
appliances were destroyed, a spokesperson said.
Residents are now
worried of water contamination as sewers are full and overflowing. The
city, home to some 20,000 people, and the second most populous region,
is out of chlorine, according to Thoyyib.
The Maldives National
Defence Forces have set up water pumps in the three worst affected
wards. Sand bags have been piled up to stop water entering into 17
houses in the Feydhoo ward.
The rain, which started at
3pm on Tuesday, continued for 12 hours. The department of meteorology
recorded 228mm of rain, the worst in 40 years in the Maldives.
“This kind of rain is not common and it has damaged houses that are normally safe,” Thoyyib said.
Flooding this week along the banks of the Shannon river near Athlone town. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times
A rescue team helps to evacuate people from their homes after Storm Desmond floods Carlisle Getty
Homes
in the Cumbrian towns of Appleby and Keswick were evacuated and drivers
were rescued from stranded cars as flood waters breached defences,
submerged streets and disrupted road and rail services.
A 
