Latest news with #FireBrigade
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Two dead, homes burn in massive wildfire in Cyprus
NICOSIA, July 24 (Reuters) - Two people were killed and hundreds evacuated as a massive wildfire tore through southern Cyprus, destroying homes and threatening communities amid an intense heatwave. At least 100 square kilometres (39 square miles) was razed to the ground in a wine-producing region north of the city of Limassol after the blaze broke out around midday on Wednesday, with several fronts still active on Thursday morning. Two people were found dead in a burned-out vehicle, trapped by the fire. At least 10 people were injured, two of them seriously, police said. As dawn broke, a red hue hung over Limassol, a sprawling coastal city where development in recent years has spilled over to its surrounding mountains. Firefighting aircraft were redeployed at first light after darkness forced a pause. Authorities said it was too early to give a precise account of damage, or what started the fire. "We are talking about very strong winds, with gusts, which were constantly interchanging," fire brigade spokesperson Andreas Kettis said. Temperatures on the island peaked at 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, triggering an amber weather alert. A new amber warning was in place on Thursday, with highs forecast to hit 44 degrees Celsius - the hottest of the year so far. Cyprus has requested help through the European Union's civil protection mechanism, with Spain expected to send two aircraft on Thursday, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. Jordan has also pledged assistance. Cyprus has struggled with a protracted drought, pushing scarce water resources to critically low levels. The affected area sits just north of Cyprus's Kouris reservoir, the island's largest. It was at just 15.5% of its capacity on Wednesday.
Arab News
a day ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Cyprus struggles to contain wildfire, homes damaged
NICOSIA: Firefighters in Cyprus were battling on Wednesday to contain a huge wildfire forcing the evacuation of at least four villages on the first day of a heatwave which sent temperatures soaring. Authorities said the fire was raging in terrain north of the southern city of Limassol, stoked by strong winds and high temperatures. 'I can confirm that there is considerable damage to some dwellings,' fire brigade spokesperson Andreas Kettis told Cyprus's state broadcaster CyBC. He said 14 aircraft and workers on the ground were trying to extinguish the blaze, which broke out around midday on Wednesday. Temperatures on the east Mediterranean island hit 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) inland on Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue an amber weather warning. It was expected to climb further to 44 C on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year. Although heatwaves and forest fires are common, the impact on human life and the damage have become more pronounced in recent years. Four men from Egypt died in a fire in 2021.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
SH1 blocked in Far North as logging truck rolls
File image. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King A logging truck rolled on State Highway 1 north of Kaitāia, blocking the road in both directions with no diversions possible. The truck tipped over at Waiharara just before 9am, leaving logs strewn across the road and a neighbouring paddock. Police expected the road to remain closed for some time, and urged motorists to avoid the area or delay travel if possible. There were no detours available around the crash site, which is about 25 kilometres north of Kaitāia. No injuries had been reported as a result of the roll-over. Work with heavy machinery to remove the remaining logs form the rolled truck started about 10.30am. Police, ambulance and the Kaitāia and Houhora volunteer fire brigades responded to the crash. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Kanwar Yatra 2025: Delhi-Faridabad Route Closed Till July 23, Check Alternate Routes
Kanwar Yatra 2025: The Kalindi Kunj to Faridabad stretch on the Agra Canal Road will be closed for vehicles between July 21 and July 23 because of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, said Delhi Traffic Police in an advisory. The measures have been taken to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees as a large number of Dak Kanwars are expected during this period. Delhi Traffic Police urged the commuters to plan travel in advance, especially to hospitals, airports, or railway stations and use public transport wherever possible. Emergency vehicles (Ambulances, Fire Brigade, Police) will be allowed movement, though advised to avoid the affected stretches unless necessary. The commuters have been asked to follow the on-ground traffic police instructions and diversion signs, and follow Delhi Traffic Police's official social media handles for real-time alerts. Road To Avoid From July 21 to July 23 Kalindi Kunj-Yamuna Bridge Road Agra Canal Road / Eco Park Road Traffic Advisory In connection with heavy Kanwar Yatra movement, Agra Canal Road (Kalindi Kunj to Faridabad) will remain closed from 21.07.2025 to 23.07.2025. Traffic congestion expected on Kalindi Kunj–Yamuna Bridge Road. Use alternate routes via Road No.13 & Mathura… — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) July 20, 2025 Travel Advisory Issued For NCR Commuters "In connection with heavy Kanwar Yatra movement, Agra Canal Road (Kalindi Kunj to Faridabad) will remain closed from 21.07.2025 to 23.07.2025," Delhi Traffic Police shared the advisory on X (formerly Twitter) on July 20. The advisory also noted that the Yamuna Bridge Road in Kalindi Kunj is likely to experience intermittent closures and heavy congestion because of the devotees. The commuters travelling from Noida towards Faridabad or Delhi are "strongly advised" to avoid both the Yamuna Bridge Road and Agra Canal Road from July 21 to 23, the advisory mentioned. The Agra Canal Road (Eco Park Road) will be completely closed for vehicular movement. Meanwhile, Kalindi Kunj-Yamuna Bridge Road may experience intermittent closures and heavy congestion. Here Are The Alternate Routes Delhi Traffic Police said that vehicles coming from Noida towards Delhi or Faridabad may use:
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Spain? What to know after severe floods hit the country
Torrential rain and strong winds have caused mass flooding across the northeastern region of Spain, turning streets into rivers and damaging homes. Cars were captured on camera floating down the El Cardener River in Catalonia after it swelled, while other vehicles were completely submerged. Two people are reportedly missing after witnesses said they saw them fall into the Foix River in Cubelles, around 50km from Barcelona, with local reporters saying that the fire brigade believes they were swept away by the river. A search is being conducted to try to find the pair. Meanwhile, at least 71 patients were evacuated from a hospital near Barcelona amid the flash floods. The floods have affected popular holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. Here's what you should know about the recent floods in Spain and the latest travel advice. Where in Spain has it flooded? Several holiday hotspots and residential areas were first hit by severe flooding at the end of last week, with alerts issued for regions such as Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón on Saturday 12 July. The flooding has reached parts of northeastern of Spain, with some areas seeing 100mm of rain in one hour, the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet said. Red and orange warnings were issued by Aemet on Saturday, with warnings that the 'danger is extraordinary' and urging people to take extreme precautions. Residents in the Ribera del Ebro region were advised to refrain from travelling and avoid basements, cellars, and underground spaces over the weekend. Footage captured by emergency services shows some streets transformed into rivers, while vehicles were submerged by water after they were pelted by heavy rain and thunderstorms. By the evening on Saturday, the red and orange alerts were slowly downgraded until Aemet deemed that warnings no longer needed to be in place as the storm receded. Rain continued on Sunday, but not nearly as severe as on Friday and Saturday. Are flights to Spain disrupted? Flights in and out of Barcelona El Prat Airport have been running as normal over the weekend and into Monday, aside from a few cancellations to and from Manchester, Porto and Spanish domestic destinations. Sunday night saw some longer delays, including a 3.50pm Ryanair flight to Bristol that left at 7.15pm. One Delta Air Lines flight on its way to New York was forced to divert back to Barcelona on Saturday shortly after take-off due to damage to the aircraft caused by hail. 'The flight landed safely in Barcelona and customers were reaccommodated on alternate flights to their final destinations,' the airline said. If the cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund. If the passenger received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, they may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline's fault. Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Government advice on travelling to Spain As of Monday morning, there is no specific travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regarding the recent floods. The FCDO does give general advice about flooding in Spain: 'Flash flooding can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Spain's meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.' Can I cancel my holiday and get a refund? As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Spain, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes. In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
