Homes evacuated as crews called to 'major fire' near Bromsgrove
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Hospital evacuated as half of Spain hit by heavy rain
Dozens of patients were forced to evacuate a hospital in Spain as the country was battered by heavy rain and flooding. At least 71 people fled Penedès Regional Hospital, south west of Barcelona, as streets across Catalonia turned to rivers following flash floods on Saturday, according to Spanish media. More than half of Spain's 50 provinces were under weather warnings over the weekend as torrential rain brought chaos to streets, businesses and holiday plans. Spain's weather forecaster AEMET issued severe storm warnings for Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. Health minister Olga Pané told Catalan News: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' Ms Pané said the hospital's electricity supply was cut off after a wall collapsed during the torrential downpour. In Cubelles, a town 30 miles from Barcelona, a witness claimed to have seen a woman and child swept away by floodwater after they fell into the swollen Foix river. Firefighters rushed to searched the river overnight, with underwater units, helicopters and drone teams scouring the area. At least 155mm of rain fell in Barcelona on Saturday in just two or three hours, according to AEMET. In Navarra, 97mm of rainfall was recorded. Heavy rain was also recorded in Zaragoza and Girona. Footage showed vehicles trapped under murky water, with some vehicles swept away by rivers flowing down streets. One video captured cars drifting along the swollen El Cardener river after it burst its banks, while others were seen completely submerged. Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), a branch of the army responsible for disaster relief, was also deployed to Zaragoza to assist with emergency response efforts. Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles, said: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles'. She added that 200 cubic meters per second flowed through the town. Ms Fonoll said some residents were still without electricity or running water, and others were unable to leave their homes. At the peak of the storm, emergency services received 1,200 calls. The storm was caused by a DANA (High-level Isolated Depression). They can cause sudden shifts in weather, bringing intense rainfall and storms within minutes. Last year, a similar weather event caused devastating floods in Valencia, leading to the death of 227 people.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Texas floods latest: Death toll climbs to 132 as dozens rescued after new round of flash floods
A new round of flash floods tore through Central Texas, triggering dozens of rescues as the death toll climbed to 132. Emergency crews resumed some recovery efforts Sunday afternoon after heavy rain brought renewed flood threats to Kerr County, temporarily halting operations in a region still reeling from the July 4 flash floods when the Guadalupe River burst its banks. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday that rescue operations were underway in San Saba – where more than nine inches of rain fell – as well as in Lampasas and Schleicher counties. Evacuations were ongoing across Central Texas, with authorities closely monitoring rising waters in Kerrville. Later Sunday, Abbott wrote on X that 'dozens' of people had been rescued in the Lampasas area, after the Lampasas River surged by 23ft in under four hours. It comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Federal Emergency Management Agency 's response to the deadly floods, asserting that her department acted swiftly and received commendation from state officials. 'Dozens rescued' in Lampasas County as river surges to 33ft in hours Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday the state was making rescues in San Saba – where more than nine inches of rain fell – as well as in Lampasas and Schleicher counties. Evacuations were taking place in Lampasas, Menard, Kimble and Sutton counties, he said. By the afternoon, Abbott wrote on X that 'dozens' of people had been rescued in the Lampasas area, after the Lampasas River swelled to 33ft in under four hours. 'Texas Task Force 1 has already rescued dozens of Texans in the Lampasas area,' Abbott he tweeted 'They and other first responders will continue operations to prioritize saving lives.' James Liddell14 July 2025 09:06 Flash floods possible as thunderstorms sweep through western Hill Country Torrential rains and thunderstorms continue to sweep through portions of the western Hill Country. The region could see up to three inches of rain per hour, which is expected to 'result in some renewed flooding concerns,' according to the National Weather Service. James Liddell14 July 2025 08:57 Recovery efforts resume after fresh wave of flash floods delay searches Emergency crews resumed recovery efforts Sunday afternoon after heavy rain brought renewed flood threats to Kerr County, temporarily halting operations in a region still reeling from the July 4 flash floods when the Guadalupe River burst its banks. Officials said recovery efforts in western Kerr County were expected to resume around 3 p.m. local time. James Liddell14 July 2025 08:48 Noem denies report she held up FEMA response to floods Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to the deadly floods that ravaged Texas last week, asserting that her department acted swiftly and received commendation from state officials. Speaking on NBC News' Meet the Press, Noem vehemently denied claims that a directive she issued in June — requiring her approval for FEMA expenditures exceeding $100,000 — had impeded the agency's response speed. 'Those claims are absolutely false,' Noem stated. 'Within just an hour or two after the flooding, we had resources from the Department of Homeland Security there.' Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 07:00 National Weather Service flood watch extended to Monday morning Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 06:15 FEMA let Camp Mystic operate in 100-year flood zone despite deadly warnings for years: 'Particularly disturbing' Federal regulators repeatedly approved appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, easing oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a hazardous floodplain in the years leading up to the central Texas flash floods of July 4, according to new reporting by The Associated Press. Oliver O'Connell has more: FEMA let Camp Mystic operate inside 100-year flood zone despite deadly warnings Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous floodplain Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 05:30 Trump calls reporter 'evil' for asking Texas flood question Trump calls reporter 'evil' for asking Texas flood question Donald Trump branded a reporter 'evil' after he was asked if warnings could have prevented a high death toll in the Texas floods. The US president lashed out during a press conference on Friday (11 July), when a journalist from CBS News Texas asked him what he would say to grieving families who believe 'warnings didn't go out in time'. Mr Trump applauded the efforts of all involved in the rescue effort, before sternly stating: 'Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you, I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that. This has been heroism.' Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 04:30 Heavy rain stalls ongoing search efforts in Texas Torrential rain and strong winds hit central Texas Sunday, forcing rescuers to halt search operations for victims even one week on from the first of the devastating floods in the region. A slow-moving storm set off flood warnings in several places along the Guadalupe River. Officials and local residents are still ready for further disaster. However, the rain began to ease up in some parts by midafternoon, meaning some flood warnings were downgraded to flood watches. Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 03:30 Watch: Hundreds of Texas pets rescued following deadly floods Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 02:30 Recap: Texas floods mapped – the affected areas as death toll rises At least 170 people are still missing in Central Texas, as death toll rises to 129 Mike Bedigan14 July 2025 01:37
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Earthquake hits south-east Spain with tremors 'felt in 50 towns including Alicante'
An earthquake has hit southern Spain this morning, with reports that buildings were shaken by the force of the tremors. The 5.5-magnitude quake was felt in more than 50 towns including the popular tourist resort of Alicante. The quake struck at a depth of two kilometres off the coast of Almeria in south east Spain at 7.13am today, according to the country's National Geographic Institute.
