Latest news with #BenArmstrong
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Horror moment inferno erupts at beach sending tourists fleeing as wildfires hit THIRD Europe hotspot & 4 dead in Turkey
THIS is the horror moment beachgoers were surrounded by smoke as a wildfire hit the Italian hotspot of Sardinia. Sunbathers were sent fleeing after flames reached right up to the sand near Punta Molentis on the southeast of the island. 7 Flames reached right down to the beach in Sardinia Credit: 7 The fire raged as sunbathers tried to flee Credit: 7 Planes and helicopters were sent to help battle the blaze Credit: x/@vigilidelfuoco 7 The island's coast guard evacuated 102 people by sea while a helicopter watched from above during the operation after the sunseekers were blocked from driving off. Some 200 cars and a kiosk were torched and strong winds made the job for firefighters tackling the blaze trickier. Beachgoers filmed the thick black and grey smoke rising into the sky as they gathered their towels and spades and prepared to flee. Footage also showed the motors burned out after flames had ripped through the parking area. Read more on world news Many of those at the beach had driven down near the water to save them walking in the 34C heat. The area of the Sardinian coast is known as Sarrabus - with local media saying a "jewel" had been destroyed in the fire. Firefighters battled the blaze from the air with two Canadair aerial firefighting plane, a firefighting helicopter, aircraft from the regional fleet, and an Italian Air Force vehicle. It comes after Most read in The US Sun Some 3,500 people have been evacuated after the wildfires hit the northwest of the country. More than 1,900 firefighters were drafted in to help save those still trapped and to extinguish the flames. Fresh wildfires engulf Turkey as 1,500 flee their homes and firefighter dies days after raging blazes killed 13 Firefighters have been battling more than 600 fires fuelled by high winds in the drought-hit nation over the past week. Fires have also hit Greece after a week-long heatwave peaked with temperatures surpassing 45 degrees. Thousands of people were evacuated as . A wildfire burned through a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, and some residents were ordered to evacuate, the country's Fire Service reported. 7 The torched cars at Punta Molentis Credit: 7 The fires at Punta Molentis seen from a distance Credit: x/@vigilidelfuoco Firefighters were also battling three other major fires on . Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly and prompting evacuations of several settlements. On the island of Evia, 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles were deployed to put out fires, assisted by six planes and seven helicopters. Cyprus has been hit with its worst wildfires "for 50 years" amid growing fears a 44C heatwave will fuel the blaze even further. One Brit family, Lucy and Ben Armstrong, tragically had their home in the Troodos mountains burned during the fires on the island. Speaking to The Sun, Ben said: "We lost everything that day, there's nothing left. "We had fish tanks in the house and there was absolutely nothing left of what was in the water except melted glass on the floor." Two people were found dead in a burnt car and over 70 houses were destroyed in the fires. 7 The Italian coastguard racing towards the fire in a dinghy Credit: Reuters
The Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Horrified Brits reveal smouldering shell of Cyprus home torn apart by huge wildfire after fleeing with seconds to spare
THIS is the moment a British family returned to their smouldering home in Cyprus after it was destroyed by a deadly wildfire. Lucy, 37, and Ben Armstrong, 38, grabbed their toddler, packed a few bags and bundled their three dogs into the car as flames closed in on their village of Souni. 9 9 9 The Armstrongs, who tied the knot last October, have called the quaint village home for the past four years. When they first saw smoke curling over the mountains, they didn't panic - plenty of wildfires hit the Mediterranean island every summer. But this time was different. It was the worst wildfire Cyprus had seen in half a century. Two people were killed in a car trying to flee the inferno, and over 70 houses were destroyed amid the 43C heatwave. Fires broke out on Wednesday afternoon and tore through 40 square miles of land on the south of the island - mainly in Limassol District, where Souni is located. Speaking to The Sun, Ben said: "We lost everything that day, there's nothing left. "We had fish tanks in the house and there was absolutely nothing left of what was in the water except melted glass on the floor." The couple described the stress of packing in the dark as the flames neared - made worse by the bad luck of having a power cut that day. They told their son Ethan to stuff as many toys as he could into a bag while they raced around the house grabbing what they could. Ben said: "Our son is quite defiant at times and he was so compliant. "He was really scared, because he knew mummy and daddy were panicking, and we were in the dark." Discussing the day their lives were turned upside down, Lucy said it was 'a normal day'. She first noticed the smoke while picking up Ethan from kindergarten. "As I was driving back on the motorway I could see smoke up the hills towards where we live," she said. "The smoke just kept coming, it started getting thicker, covering the sun, and the sun was turning red." By around 7pm the family of three decided to drive up to a viewpoint at the nearby village of Kyvides. After all they could see "a stretch of fire and smoke", the couple knew they had to get out fast and quickly warned their close-knit community on a WhatsApp group. Ben said: "We didn't realise how little time we had. I'm a filmmaker and photographer, so was upstairs in the office packing all my gear and shouting down to Lucy, 'how's it looking?' "She was saying, 'it's glowing over the hills'. That's when I looked out the window, and thought 'oh my god, you can see flames now'. Adding to the stress, the Armstrongs had been without water or electricity for 24 hours. Ben said: "We were in the dark, so we had to make sure we were keeping an eye on our three-year-old son while running around and still trying to pack stuff. "So I gave him a bag for life kind of thing and told him to grab as many toys as he wants." 9 9 9 They left the house just before 9pm, rushing to Lucy's parents home, which is a 15-minute drive away. "We all stank of smoke and were sweating. Ethan's also been quite ill from the smoke in the last couple of days. "I'm pretty sure he's had some sort of smoke inhalation - or it could just be from the stress of the situation," Lucy said. After a sleepless night, fearing they might have to evacuate again and unsure if their home had survived, Ben set out at 5am. "I followed his location the whole way up and my heart was racing," Lucy said, weeping as she recalled it. "I called him as soon as he got to our home and he said, 'Lucy, it's gone'. "All the other houses on our street were okay, so he had hope he was going to come up to our home and everything would be fine." Lucy, who runs a kids' entertainment business, lost at least £8,000 worth of bouncy castles and bubble houses in the fire. But what upsets her the most is that it's the place where they have "so many memories", including Ethan taking his first steps. The couple said four officials from the Cypriot government showed up on Friday morning, asking them to list everything they'd lost - from white goods and TVs to couches - to claim money from the disaster relief fund. While they said the Cypriot government has been "really organised" in terms of its reparation efforts, the couple believe there were not enough resources to tackle the wildfires. "We didn't see any firefighters in our village, no police, no army. No one told us to evacuate, we were telling people to evacuate," Lucy said. The government has particularly faced criticism by residents and community leaders over its evacuations in Souni and Lofou and Souni. Speaking on state radio on Thursday, Cyprus' justice minister Marios Hartsiotis said the firefighting and rescue effort had been 'enormous' and that he had witnessed first-hand the wildfires' "shifting winds and intensity'. Lucy and Ben, who were told by "brave neighbours" that their house burnt down at around 2am in the morning, believe that it could have been saved if there had been greater assistance on the ground. Lucy said there are other families in Souni who feel the same. But the couple are choosing to focus on the positives, saying they've been deeply moved by the kindness of their community. "You never think you're going to be one of these people that are in need of handouts," Lucy said. "But the Cypriot people are just so kind. I can't speak highly enough of them." She noted that Ethan's headteacher has given him clothes and is even buying him new shoes, while parents from the school have been keen to donate money. Christos, the owner of their local taverna, has opened up despite having no power or water, and taken it upon himself to feed the community, Lucy said. The family plans to eventually move back to the village of Souni and rebuild their home and their lives. "We love the people in that area. It's a beautiful area, it will recover," said Lucy, adding that she hopes to organise re-planting fire-resistant trees. For now, with the village still reeking of smoke and memories of their destroyed home still raw, they're grateful to be living elsewhere - and to be alive. 9 9 9
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oasis tribute act more than DOUBLE their fees since band's reunion
An Oasis tribute act say they have almost quadrupled the price of their gigs since the band announced their reunion. Joe Birchley, who performs as Liam Gallagher in their act Supernova, says that he's been playing four gigs a week since the announcement, compared to their previous three a month. The 42-year-old has gone from charging pubs around £850 per performance to playing in football stadiums and in theatre halls. READ MORE: 5 games released in 2025 guaranteed to take you back to the good old days of gaming READ MORE: 5 retro RPGs you can play right now guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again - you won't have heard of one of them Joe and bandmate, Ben Armstrong, 40, who acts as Noel, now charge up to £3,500. 'The band was already on the up, but when Oasis announced the reunion, there was a massive outcry,' Joe, from Newport, Shropshire, told What's The Jam. 'I always knew a reunion would happen. It was just a matter of when - but it's driven the price up. "Our pricing does fluctuate massively depending on the event and venues. The market was saturated with tributes, but we wanted to be the ultimate. 'We started doing one or two gigs a month at local pubs, and we were charging from £800. Now, we're doing bigger and better venues." The band say they now perform at festivals and football stadiums, charging £2,000 on average but netting as much as £3,500 from a single performance. 'Every gig we do turns into four or five more gigs - and our calendar is so full we're filling up 2026 and 2027," Joe continued. 'It's changed the way our weekends work, so there are pros and cons. 'After the announcement, it was chaos, and we were taking eight bookings a day. We had to start turning bookings down because it's a labour of energy.' The Oasis superfans formed the band in 2020 after being introduced by a mutual friend and had their first gig in October 2021. Joe said: 'We've always been Oasis fans. There's a lot of tribute acts, but we set out to be the ultimate and to get the sound and energy completely right. He ditched his job in recruitment to dedicate his time to playing Liam. He now works part-time as a carpenter to keep him busy on his days off from the band, while band-mate Ben still has a full-time job as an education manager. Joe said: 'I could give up carpentry and do the band full time, but it's something to do in the week while recovering from the weekend's exploits. 'When Oasis announced the reunion, I did have to shelve carpentry for a month. 'Performing is very tiring, and there's a lot of travel. We can do two gigs a day that are a 380-mile round trip. It's intense. Joe is convinced that Supernova will continue even after the Oasis reunion hype has died down, as their fan base is getting younger. He added: 'Guitar music has been put back in the forefront of the media, so hopefully we'll see some more young guitar bands and bring that music back. 'We've noticed the crowds are getting younger - that's a sign it could last.
SBS Australia
14-07-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Here's why Australians are being asked to water plants with milk
Utilities urge people not to tip fats, oils or grease down drains - Sydney Water is making clear that includes milk. The fat in milk is a contributing factor to problematic fatbergs that block drains and cost millions to deal with. There is an average of about 1300 'chokes' in Sydney's sewage system each month due to contaminants. The short shelf life of milk means many Australians have came across milk past its prime and chosen to dispose of it rather than drink it. But those who have tipped it down the kitchen sink drain are doing it wrong, according to Sydney Water. Australian residents — not just those in Sydney — are being urged not to pour milk down the drain because of the potential damage it can cause. Milk is part of the 'FOG' problem in drains The key concern are the fats contained in milk. Sydney Water's principal manager environment, Ben Armstrong spoke to SBS News about a new campaign that will focus on fats, oils and grease contaminants that should not go into drains. Source: Supplied "It's all foods or liquids that have fats in that we are keen for people not to put down the drain," Sydney Water's principal manager environment, Ben Armstrong, told SBS News. "It adds to the buildup of fat and what we call 'fatbergs' in the system, and can create a lot of problems." Fatbergs are large accumulations of items that are not designed to be flushed down toilets. Combined with fats, oils and greases — or 'FOGS' — they clump together and can cause blockages in drains. They can weigh in the tonnes and are difficult to pull apart and dislodge. Armstrong said recent Sydney Water survey results showed that 69 per cent of Sydneysiders thought it was okay to tip old milk down the drain. "That's quite a high percentage, so we're quite keen to raise awareness that the only things we want you to put down the sink is really water, soap and detergent," he said. "It's been something that I guess people don't really realise and they've been doing it for quite a while." While disposing of a small amount of milk down the drain might seem harmless, fats in milk contribute to blockages that have cost millions of dollars to deal with in Sydney in the past nine months alone. Source: Getty / Caner CIFTCI Sydney Water suggests people add water to old milk and pour it on plants. Armstrong said only the three 'P's — pee, poo and paper — should be flushed down toilets, and only water, soap or detergent should go down sinks. The fatberg that stopped a concert Armstrong said Sydney Water spent $12 million in the nine months to July dealing with 11,805 "chokes" in the wastewater system. He said the total cost of such blockages would likely be about double that if related costs in terms of the clean-up and repairs of cracked and broken wastewater infrastructure were also taken into account. In February, a blockage caused by a fatberg forced the last-minute cancellation of the concert of Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams, who had been set to play at Perth Arena. Following the cancellation, the Water Corporation said the concert had not gone ahead "due to the risk of sewage backing up within the venue toilets, posing a potential public health risk". The cumulative effect Pouring a bit of milk down a kitchen drain might seem harmless, but the interconnected nature of drainage systems means it's not. Professor Stuart Khan, head of the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, said the two main water drainage systems in cities are storm water and sewage drains, with sewage drains dealing with the wastewater from all parts of the household, including kitchens and bathrooms. "The sewage takes all of the indoors water, so everything that we flush down toilets that comes from the kitchen sink, the bathtub, the showers, they all connect within the household, within the property and then that water then is directed into a municipal sewer, which is the larger pipes that run ... often under the backyards or under the street out the front, and take the water to a sewage treatment plant," Khan told SBS News. "It's a cumulative effect, so it's not so much what a single person does, it's the impact of everybody in a city. Sydney has 5.5 million people — if we're all discharging fats, including the fats in milk down drains, then yes, that can lead to part of the problem further downstream where they all come together and you have the sewage of hundreds of thousands of people accumulating." Many Australians would have poured spoiled milk down the sink without a second thought in the past, but the fats in milk are combining with other pollutants in our waste water to form blockages. Source: Getty / Robin Gentry Khan said the issue was not specific to Australia . "All of the big cities around the world are dealing with this problem," he said. "It does have a huge impact on maintenance needs, therefore it has a big impact on the water utility costs, and they all flow back to customer bills. "So it's in all of our interests to try to minimise the need for maintenance, to try to minimise sewage spills and overflows which blockages can cause." Greater public awareness While utilities may not have specifically articulated milk in the past as one of the things not to be put down drains, Khan said it was a good way to get the message across to the general public. "One of the advantages of talking specifically about milk, is that it has the reaction that I think it's caused here, which is to go, 'oh, right, so that contains fats, what else might contain fats?', so thinking about some of the less obvious sources of fat going down the drain," he said. "I think it is a way of sort of broadening our perspectives on what is okay and what's not okay to flush down the toilet or down the kitchen sink." Sydney Water will launch its campaign focused on increasing awareness of the potential issues that fats, oils and greases can cause sewer systems on the weekend.
New York Post
29-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
The product you didn't know was clogging your pipes
There are a few things we all know we're not supposed to pour down the sink, or flush down the toilet. Think, oil and wet wipes specifically. Since it's fairly common knowledge, the amount we do it – if at all — is fairly limited. But, we just found out there's another thing you're not supposed to pour down the sink =- and chances are you do it every day. 5 Sydney Water's TikTok exposes some of the things you shouldn't pour down the sink – but probably do. Tiktok/@sydneywater 'PSA incoming!' Sydney Water has taken to TikTok to share a funny clip, exposing some of the things you shouldn't pour down the sink — but probably do. 'PSA incoming,' they wrote. 'No oil down the sink.' And yes, we knew that. But then it gets a little weird. 'And don't pour milk,' it said. 5 'Don't pour milk,' the video said. Tiktok/@sydneywater The video went on to discourage people from pouring coffee grounds down their sinks, but I'm still stuck on the milk thing. Am I not supposed to tip the end of every bottle down the sink?? 'WHERE DOES THE MILK GO' And, it seemed commenters were on the same page, with just about everyone questioning their entire lives. 'WHERE DOES THE MILK GO,' said one commenter. 'Then what am I meant to do with half a jug of milk?' another asked. 5 The video also discouraged people from pouring coffee grounds down their sinks. Tiktok/@sydneywater 'Milk as well? Whoops, how do I get rid of spoiled milk? Lol,' a third agreed. 'Wait, why not milk???' another person asked. 'Seriously question though, why no milk?' said another. 5 'Milk as well? Whoops, how do I get rid of spoiled milk? Lol,' a third commenter said. Tiktok/@sydneywater Here's the situation Speaking to Kidspot, Sydney Water's Principal Manager Environment, Ben Armstrong, confirmed that these commenters are aligned with the majority of Aussies, with the vast majority of people having no idea you aren't supposed to pour milk down the sink. 'Our latest data shows that 70 per cent of Sydneysiders think it is ok to pour leftover milk down the sink,' he said. 5 'Other items, such as milk, oil and grease can solidify in pipes and cause blockages, leading to expensive repairs,' Ben Armstrong, Sydney Water's Principal Manager Environment, said. Tiktok/@sydneywater Instead, only water, detergent and soap are allowed, otherwise your pipes are at risk of blockages. 'Other items, such as milk, oil and grease can solidify in pipes and cause blockages, leading to expensive repairs,' he said. 'When fats, oil and grease hit the cool water in your wastewater pipes, they harden. They then combine with other waste like wet wipes to form a hard blockage known as a 'fatberg'. 'These blockages can cause overflows which can be a health and environmental nightmare, with wastewater backing up and overflowing into homes, backyards and local waterways.' As for what you're supposed to do with your milk instead, Ben said it might be better off in your garden. 'We recommend disposing of milk by diluting it with tap water and using it to water your plants – it's a great source of nutrients for your garden,' he said.
