Mass Evacuation Ordered in Puerto Rico Due To “Significant Rupture” in Dam

Guajataca Dam: “Stay away, or be swept away”

More than 70,000 people living downstream from Guajataca Dam northwest of Puerto Rico are under order to evacuate, as the retaining wall threatens to collapse.

A fissure caused by heavy rains from Hurricane MARIA has become a “significant rupture,” the island’s governor told reporters.

Life-threatening flooding would occur, if the dam collapses, warned the National Weather Service (NWS).

“Stay away, or be swept away,” NWS warned.

Deadly Storm System Slams Southern US

Tornadoes kill or injure up to 50 people

A powerful storm system pummeled southern U.S. spawning deadly tornadoes that left at least eight people dead and dozens more injured.

At least 27 tornadoes have raked across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida  and Georgia, destroying homes, businesses and just about anything else standing in their paths.

The deaths occurred in Louisiana and Mississippi. A tornado destroyed 90% of the homes in a trailer park in Convent, southern Louisiana.

“These travel trailers were picked up, thrown a considerable distance and just mangled,” Louisiana Gov. Edwards said.

At least 27 tornadoes have hit Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida  and Georgia, according to the reports received by SPC.

Severe weather continues on Wednesday

The NWS Storm Prediction Center expects severe weather to continue on Wednesday. For the early morning hours, the greatest risk will be in the Southeast. By Wednesday afternoon, the threat shifts to the Eastern United States, particularly the Carolinas, where strong tornadoes are possible.

Deadly Tornado Levels Illinois Town

Dozens of Tornadoes Attack U.S. Midwest

At least 35 tornadoes have whipped through the Midwest since Tuesday, April 7, causing devastation to multiple areas in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

At least one person was reported dead and a dozen others injured after a massive storm system spawned several tornadoes in Illinois for a second day, devastating the town of Fairdale in central Illinois, authorities said.

Tornadoes have destroyed or severely damaged scores of homes and businesses across the region.

There are also reports of extensive damage to buildings and vehicles caused by large hail on Wednesday night in several areas across Missouri including Farmington, Sullivan, Potosi…, according to reports.

“A monster storm peppered a 1,500-mile arc with 10 reported tornadoes, grapefruit-sized hail and winds of up to 80 mph,” NBC reported.

The “risk” region, as forecast by National Weather Service (NWS) for Friday, covers an area of about 1.7 million km (660,000 square miles) with a population of about 100 million, including the larges population centers in Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee and St Louis.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has received a total of about 760 severe weather reports since Tuesday, including about 50 of large hail and 15 of high winds from across the affected region.

Unusual News Items?

Link submitted by blogger TEAA

Angry Chinese Mob KFC Joints in China

Angry Chinese mobbed Kentucky Fried Chicken joints in China, kicking over chairs and tables at a Beijing joint, amid a row over a coupon promotion gone wrong, AFP reported

Angry customers wave their coupons at a Beijing KFC joint. Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.

“The trouble flared on Tuesday as the US restaurant chain launched a promotion in which coupons downloaded from the Internet could be exchanged for food at KFC outlets, the Global Times newspaper said.”

As the trouble escalated, police were called in to disperse the mobs, the report said.

The report did not mention any injuries or damage.

Customers were enraged because staff refused to redeem their coupons for the Super Tuesday promotion, saying they were fake.

“Crowds also gathered in at least one Shanghai branch, the newspaper said, adding that complaints were reported in at least four other major cities.”

“It is with great regret that the promotion activity caused trouble for some consumers. This was not the original intention of the activity we designed and for this we are deeply sorry,” said a KFC statement.

KFC  chain has more than 2,100 fried chicken joints in 450 cities throughout China, the report said.

‘Woman strangled to death go-karting’

A woman in her 20s was strangled to death by her own clothing while driving a go-kart in Port Stephenson, NSW, Australia, police said, AAP reported.

The scarf she was wearing became caught in the go-kart wheels and tightened around her neck like a noose.

Emergency services tried to revive her, but decided to the nearest John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where she later died.

Serial No  1,557. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by the authorities/Google in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).