Fire Earth

Earth is fighting to stay alive. Mass dieoffs, triggered by anthropogenic assault and fallout of planetary defense systems offsetting the impact, could begin anytime!

Archive for May 19th, 2015

Deadly Landslide Devastates Colombian Town

Posted by feww on May 19, 2015

Up to a 100 dead or missing, many injured, 1,000 evacuated after landslide

Mudslide tore through the town of Salgar in SW Colombia’s Antioquia department killing at least 65 people and leaving many more  injured, said officials.

Torrential rains flooded river Liboriana causing it to burst its banks, triggering the mudslide, which swept away the neighborhood of Santa Margarita, said local reports.

Meantime, the Colombian President declared a state of Emergency after touring the disaster area on Monday.

  • Antioquia Governor said the number of dead was expected to rise, adding that he had no idea how many residents were missing.
  • At least 1,000 people have been evacuated.
  • More rain is forecast for the region this week.

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – May 19, 2015

Posted by feww on May 19, 2015

Egyptian authorities behaving like animals

Egyptian security forces are using sexual violence against detainees on a massive scale, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Men, women and children are being raped “to eliminate public protest,” said a report. Detainees are routinely subject to virginity tests, rape and gang rape after arrest.

“The study notes a surge in sexual violence after the Egyptian military takeover in July 2013.”

Time running out for thousands in distress at sea: UNHCR

Time is running out for thousands of people in distress at sea, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday warned, urging governments in the Southeast Asia region to urgently rescue the vulnerable people.

“We estimate that nearly 4,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh remain stranded at sea with dwindling supplies on board. This includes some 2,000 men, women and children stranded on at least five boats near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts for more than 40 days. Unconfirmed reports suggest the number could be higher,” UNHCR spokesman told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday.

Chadians Fleeing Boko Haram

An estimated 32,000 Chadians and other internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled Boko Haram attacks and crossed the border from Nigeria into Chad’s Lac Chad region since the beginning of January 2015, said IOM.

Islamic State terrorists take control of Ramadi, Iraq

Islamic State terrorists have taken control of Ramadi. At least 500 have been killed and 42,840 people fled fighting in the city over 16–17 May, adding to the 180,000 already displaced in Anbar since early April. Access to new IDPs in Habbaniyah, Khadiyah district, is limited due to insecurity, and health concerns are growing, reported Acaps.

Sudan: Fighting between Southern Reizeigat and Maaliya tribes in Abu Karinka, East Darfur, has reportedly displaced up to 24,000 households – 168,000 people. Those who remain have been cut off from water, food, and fuel aid. Measles cases have climbed to 4,127 so far this year, with West Darfur the worst-affected state. http://geo.acaps.org

Burundi: Displacement has increased sharply with the worsening political crisis. 105,000 people are seeking asylum in neighbouring countries, including 78,000 in Tanzania, where living conditions are worsening rapidly. Political protests continue in Burundi, despite the President warning that protesters will be considered accomplices of perpetrators of the attempted coup. http://geo.acaps.org

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Earthquake Strikes N of Irving, Texas

Posted by feww on May 19, 2015

Shallow earthquake rattles residential area north of Irving, Texas

Centered at32.868°N, 96.957°W the quake occurred at a [signature] depth of 5km, USGS/EHP reported.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 3.3Mw
Location: 32.868°N, 96.957°W depth=5.0 km (3.1 mi)
Time: 2015-05-18 18:14:29 (UTC)
Nearby Cities:

  • 6km (4mi) N of Irving, Texas
  • 8km (5mi) SW of Farmers Branch, Texas
  • 11km (7mi) SSW of Carrollton, Texas
  • 17km (11mi) NNW of Dallas, Texas
  • 292km (181mi) S of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Abbott Signs “Denton Fracking Bill”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation that would preempt local authorities to regulate fracking  and a wide variety of oil and gas-related activities, preventing environmentally harmful oil and natural gas production.

Voters in Denton, a university town near Dallas, banned hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the area in November 2014.

Abbott said, Texas needs to avoid a “patchwork of local regulations” that threaten oil and gas production.

House Bill 40 does a “profound job of protecting private property rights,” said Abbott.

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