Rainstorms Battering Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Southern Italy

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Extreme Rain Events trigger severe flooding, landslides in Indonesia

A landslide triggered by flooding in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has left at least a dozen people dead and many injured, officials said.

a low-pressure zone residing over southern Thailand and northern Malaysia has dumped more than 300mm of rain in some areas, causing flash flooding.

Thailand

Several southern provinces in Thailand have been ravaged by heavy rains and flash floods since Sunday. Many residents have been evacuated.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, torrential rains since Sunday have caused floods in the oil palm growing states of Johor and Pahang, forcing about a thousand evacuations so far, Reuters reported local media as saying.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, as high winds and heavy rains batter the island country.

“The atmospheric disturbance has intensified into a low pressure area and is located very close to the East coast of Sri-Lanka. Under it’s influence, Showery and windy weather is expected over the country and the suburb sea area.

“Very heavy rain falls (more than 150mm) are also likely at some places.”

Extreme Rain Events Battering Southern and Central Italy

Storms and flooding in central and southern Italy have killed at least two people and forced thousands of evacuations since Sunday.

A train jumped tracks near the town of Cervaro in Italy’s central Lazio region, critically injuring several people.

Other affected regions included Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, and Pescara, reported ANSA.

A migrant boat was reportedly adrift in rough seas off the Calabrian coast with more than 140 people aboard.

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• Sardinia Declares a State of Emergency due to Cyclone CLEOPATRA Posted on November 19, 2013

Dozens Killed as Yet Another Migrant Boat Sinks

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – October 12, 2013

Yet another migrant boat sinks off Italy in last week’s Déjà vu

At least 36 people were killed when a boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized and sank in the Mediterranean sea, said reports.

The boat capsized about 120km off the Italian island of Lampedusa, where at least 339 people drowned on October 3, when their boat capsized and sank less than 600 meters from the island.

Last week’s disaster occurred when a boat similar to the one above caught fire as it headed toward Lampedusa Island, south of Sicily. Source: UNHCR

Today’s incident was the third migrants boat disaster in the Mediterranean in two weeks. Thirteen people drowned off the southern coast of Italy on Monday September 30 after they attempted to swim ashore from a foundering vessel, said UNHCR.

In August, six migrants drowned after they jumped out of a boat off the coast of Sicily and attempted to swim ashore.

In July seven immigrants drowned as they held on to a fishing cage that was being towed to shore.

13 immigrants drowned off the coast of Sicily on Monday after they attempted to swim ashore from a foundering vessel. Photo credit: Reuters.

Sicily and the surrounding islands are ideal portals for desperate refugees and illegal immigrants from Libya, Tunisia, sub-Saharan Africa in search of employment and a better quality of life, said UNHCR.

Related Links

• Dozens Killed in Yet Another Migrants Boat Disaster October 3, 2013

Dozens Killed in Yet Another Migrants Boat Disaster

Migrants Boat Capsizes Near Lampedusa, Italy, Killing Dozens

A boat carrying hundreds of immigrants capsized near the Italian island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, killing at least 96 people.

There were at least 450 people on board when the boat capsized, Ansa news agency reported. Italy’s Coast Guard has reportedly rescued about 147 people so far.

“Of the estimated 500 passengers on the boat, believed to be Eritreans, only 147 have been rescued so far. The boat, which originated from Libya, caught fire half a mile from the coast.” UNHCR  reported.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has described the incident as an “enormous tragedy.”

Thursday’s disaster occurred when a boat similar to the one above caught fire as it headed toward Lampedusa Island, south of Sicily. Source: UNHCR

Today’s incident was the second migrants boat disaster this week off Italy’s coast. Thirteen people drowned off the southern coast of Italy on Monday after they attempted to swim ashore from a foundering vessel, said UNHCR.

In July seven immigrants drowned as they held on to a fishing cage that was being towed to shore.

13 immigrants drowned off the coast of Sicily on Monday after they attempted to swim ashore from a foundering vessel. Photo credit: Reuters.

Sicily and the surrounding islands are prime targets for desperate refugees and illegal immigrants from Libya, Tunisia, sub-Saharan Africa in search of employment and a better quality of life.