Flash Flood in United Kingdom on Tuesday, 12 June, 2012 at 19:46 (07:46 PM) UTC.
Torrential downpours and turbulent weather wreaked havoc across the city yet again with power cuts, flooding and traffic chaos. And forecasters at the Met Office have said it is not due to improve any time soon with more "wet weather" expected throughout the week. Roads across the city became water logged yesterday afternoon as the heavens opened and the downpour began. Drivers faced problems with surface water on the A38, The Parkway, Marsh Mills roundabout, Embankment Road, Woodford Avenue in Plympton, Plymouth Road and Outland Road to name just a few. A number of businesses in the city also took a lashing from the rain, with firefighters attending floods at Plymouth Homes estate agents, Crownhill, and Broadway Fruit and Veg in Plymstock. Sarah Holland, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: "There is more heavy rain to come - it's not going to be very pleasant in Plymouth over the next couple of days and people need to be aware of the hazardous driving conditions." The Met Office also said to expect between 10 and 15mm of rain an hour while the showers persist.
Flood alerts have been placed on the River Plym and Tory Brook in Plympton as a precaution, but a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said there was "nothing to worry about". Businessman Chris Russell, who was commuting between the city centre and Plympton yesterday, said: "The Woodford Avenue area was horrendous with flooding. There were even cars getting stuck in the water. There must have been at least two feet of water across the road. I've never seen flooding that bad in 30 years of living in Plymouth." Meanwhile, Western Power Distribution were faced with hundreds of angry football fans as a lightning bolt hit an electricity pole in the area causing 462 customers to lose power in St Mellion and St Dominick. Lindsay Hewison, landlady of the Coryton Arms in St Mellion, said: "The electricity cut out at about 4.50pm, just before kick-off of the UEFA Euro 2012 England vs France game. We lost a lot of trade, probably about 40 customers, due to the power cut and the freaky weather." St Mellion Golf Club, which had organised a special hog roast to accompany the screening of the live football match, also suffered the same fate. Bus services were also affected by the treacherous weather and emergency services were called to a couple of minor car collisions.
Flood in Philippines on Wednesday, 13 June, 2012 at 02:47 (02:47 AM) UTC.
Two days of rain has flooded several villages and towns in southern Philippines and forced nearly 700 people to flee their homes on Tuesday. Benito Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head, said parts of Sarangani, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces were flooded after two days of pounding rain set off by a brewing tropical storm. Two men died while a total of 250 houses were destroyed when a flashflood hit two villages in Glan town, Sarangani province Tuesday. The flashflood struck the villages of Big Margus Proper and Pangyan Cross. The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported 50 families were also displaced by flashfloods. Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez identified the victims as Sagapo Cabigding and Rolando Mata. A certain Rani Pregoner is also reported missing. Nineteen fishermen were also rescued by the authorities from the big waves that battered the area for several hours. The governor said that based on the report coming from Ben Solarte of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, about 139 houses were totally damaged while 111 houses were partially destroyed by the floodwaters.
A flashflood also struck four villages in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat on Monday. It started around 9 p.m. and affected barangays Obial, Sta. Clara, Hinalaan, and Himulan. A total of 2,460 families were affected by the flooding, while 23 families were forcibly evacuated by the authorities. In Malaybalay, Bukidnon, a flashflood also struck barangays Cabangahan, Bangkud, Aglayan, and Linabo at 4:45 p.m. after Bugkaon River overflowed due to continuous heavy rains brought about by the shallow low pressure area. Some 44 families whose houses are situated near a riverbank in this city evacuated to higher grounds when floodwaters reached as high as 15 feet at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, residents said. Nurkaya Patadon, 42, one of the flood victims in this city, said many of their appliances and valuables were swept out to the Nuangan River, one of the longest rivers in North Cotabato. Patadon's family, including 43 other families, decided to leave their homes for fear the waters might rise again due to torrential rains. Heavy rains started to pour at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday and continued until Tuesday afternoon, said Psalmer Bernalte, head of the Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unit (KidCeru), one of the groups that conducted rescue operations. Kasan Maruhom, one of the displaced residents, said that Tuesday’s flashfloods was the worst since 2000.
"We never thought the floodwaters could rise as high as 15 feet. What happened was the worst. I've lived in this area for more than 30 years," Maruhom said. Maruhom said he would transfer his family to Mundog Subdivision in Poblacion. Others, however, have problems finding areas for their relocation. "We don't know where to go. We have no place to stay other than the riverbank. Our workplace is here in the Poblacion," said Salik Quila, also one of the flood victims. Bernalte said the waters of Nuangan River, already considered a dead river in Kidapawan City, became turbulent as heavy rains continue to fall across North Cotabato due to low pressure area, which brought widespread rain showers and thunderstorms. Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco has already ordered the immediate evacuation of the families living near the riverbanks, including Lapu-Lapu Street, Cotelco Village, and Licatan Subdivision, all in Poblacion here. "We've already given them orders in the past to leave the place, yet, they won't listen," Gantuangco said. Gantuangco said a relocation site in Barangay Balindog, about five kilometers away from the Poblacion, is set for the victims. He said they will declare this city under state of calamity so they can use a portion of their funds to help the flood victims. He added that he already ordered the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to assess and evaluate the situation and immediately conduct relief operations on Wednesday.
Flash Flood in United Kingdom on Wednesday, 13 June, 2012 at 03:03 (03:03 AM) UTC.
Sewers were overwhelmed during the flash-floods on Monday afternoon. NIW said Sicily Park, off Belfast's Upper Lisburn Road, was closed for a time after water blocked the road. Meanwhile in Lisburn there were reports of bad flooding in Ashmount Gardens, Wallace Park and Magheralave Road, and another incident at Greenfield Park in Newry. The water company said it has dealt with eleven reports of blocked sewers and eleven reports of external flooding since 4pm on Monday afternoon. Its staff and contractors have been working on the clean-up operation and trying to assist residents in the affected areas. A spokesperson said: "All our sympathies are with the residents affected in what is clearly a distressing experience for everyone. "Every effort was made to alleviate the flooding in the affected areas as quickly as possible and assist with the clean-up operation." Local MLA Conall McDevitt, who was in Sicily Park during the flooding incident, said an outdated sewage network is to blame.
"It's the second time in under a week residents along this part of Finaghy have been subjected to flash flooding," the SDLP representative told UTV. "It's a consequence of a water and sewage infrastructure that's really past its best and which is not able to cope with the increased number of homes and increase in water. "We need to do something about it." Meanwhile the Public Health Agency has issued a warning about the potential public health risks that can arise from flash-flooding. "The risk of contracting illness is generally low," a statement said. "However, as it is not always clear whether water is contaminated or not, the public are urged to exercise caution and assume that flood water is contaminated." It added that other risks can relate to injuries caused by hidden dangers under the water such as missing manhole covers, or people falling into fast flowing waters.
Environment Pollution in United Kingdom on Wednesday, 13 June, 2012 at 03:10 (03:10 AM) UTC.
Scientists have discovered a third "significantly radioactive" particle at a Fife beach. It was found outside the cordoned-off area at Dalgety Bay where more than 2,000 radioactive objects and particles have been unearthed since October 2011. The latest particle, believed to date from a time when aircraft were scrapped at the bay, was found in April. Radium from wartime aircraft is thought to have been in landfill which was used when the foreshore was reclaimed. The radioactive material was found in front of the headland at Dalgety Bay beach, outwith the section of foreshore which remains cordoned off to the public. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the particle was the third one measuring about 2MBq which had been found in the area. The level of activity was "significantly higher" than was usually found at the beach, but lower than the two "very high activity" particles which had previously been discovered. They measured 76MBq and 13MBq. "It was not in the cordoned off area, but was in a section of the beach that is not often used and is covered over at high tide," said Sepa. "The source, which further demonstrates the need for a comprehensive investigation of the contamination, is currently undergoing testing." Sepa informed the Dalgety Bay Forum of the latest finds on Monday. Sepa believes the waste has come from previous Ministry of Defence activities because radium luminised dials with numbers on the back can be traced back to military aircraft. Dalgety Bay beach avoided becoming the first in the UK to be designated radioactive contaminated land after the MoD agreed to carry out a detailed investigation of the area. A report is due next May, after which a plan is to be put in place to clean the beach.
Tornado in Italy on Tuesday, 12 June, 2012 at 18:43 (06:43 PM) UTC.
At around 11am today, a tornado hit Venice in Italy. Initial reports indicate that trees were damaged, market stalls overturned and some buildings were damaged. No injuries have been reported, One of the worst hit areas was the Sant'Elena island where an open air market was in progress. The tornado caused terrified shoppers to dash for cover. A water bus ticket office had its roof ripped off by the tornado which some reports stated was a waterspout. A number of boats were capsized. Around one hundred trees on Certosa Island were knocked down by the tornado and the outdoor dining area of the island's restaurant was completely destroyed. On Sant'Erasmo island, the roofs were removed from around a dozen houses, according to reports from emergency services in the area. In the interests of safety, the cemetery on Sant'Erasmo island has been closed.
Landslide in Italy on Tuesday, 12 June, 2012 at 18:58 (06:58 PM) UTC.
Downpours hit Alto Lario, in the area of the Lake of Como. During the last few hours a mudslide fell towards a group of houses in Porlezza, (Como) and the Local Police immediately evacuated two buildings for precautionary reasons. Six people were evacuated. The mudslide hit the Cima hamlet and the two houses are in Via San Giorgio. One was only just brushed by the river of mud and debris, the other had the whole ground floor flooded. The family was sleeping on the first floor.
- RSOE Edis
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