Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 9-4-2013

Massive blackout paralyzes Venezuela

A major power cut has left more than two-thirds of Venezuela without electricity including most of the capital Caracas.

The blackout disabled stoplights in the capital, and disrupted the subway causing chaos.

Venezuelan President Maduro has accused the far-right opposition of “sabotaging” the power lines.

“Everything seems to indicate that the far-right has resumed its plan for an electrical strike against the country,” he said.

Critics blame poor management and the failure to upgrade the infrastructure, reports said.

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Japan Tornado

The twister that struck near Tokyo on Monday has been rated as an F2 tornado, Japan’s Meteorological Agency reported.

The tornado left a 19km-long path of destruction, measuring up to 200m wide and extending from the eastern part of Saitama City to Bando City in Ibaraki Prefecture, the agency said.

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Tropical Storm TORAJI  Made Landfall in SW Japan

Severe Tropical Storm TORAJI, the 17th typhoon of the season, made landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture early on Wednesday, said Japan’s Meteorological Agency.

The powerful storm is moving through southwestern Japan, bringing heavy rain and high winds.

The authorities have issued flood and mudslide warning in the affected regions.

Toraji dumped more than 80 mm of rain per hour on the island of Shikoku, and at least 250mm over Kagoshima Prefecture by Wednesday morning local time.

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The Iraq Insanity

At least 60 people were killed and and scores more wounded in a series of car bomb attacks and shootings in several districts of Iraq’s capital Baghdad, officials have said.

Some 804 Iraqis were killed and another 2,030 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in August, said United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

“Despite the decrease in casualty figures in August, compared to July, the impact of violence on civilians remains disturbingly high, with almost 5,000 civilians killed and 12,000 injured since the beginning of 2013,” the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Ms. Jacqueline Badcock, warned.

Baghdad was the bloodiest governorate in August with 1,272 civilian casualties (317 killed and 955 injured), followed by Salahuddin, Ninewa, Diyala, Anbar, Kirkuk, Babil, Wasit and Basra, said UNAMI.

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