Pakistan bears brunt of Iran earthquake, 34 killed

A major earthquake centred on a border area of southeast Iran killed at least 34 people in neighbouring Pakistan, destroyed hundreds of houses and shook buildings as far away as India and Gulf Arab states on Tuesday.

Communications with the area, a sparsely populated desert and mountain region, were largely cut, leading to conflicting preliminary reports of casualties in Iran. An Iranian provincial governor later said there were no deaths there.

The epicentre was far from any of Iran's nuclear facilities.

Pakistani officials said at least eight people were killed and 20 injured in the town of Mashkeel in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which borders Iran.

Mohammed Ashraf, head of a health centre in Mashkeel, said several hundred houses in the town had collapsed.

Three women and two children were also killed when their mud house collapsed in the Baluchistan district of Panjgur.

"The earthquake has killed at least five people in Panjgur," said Ali Imran, an official at the government disaster-response unit in Quetta, Baluchistan's main city.

Iran appeared to have emerged relatively unscathed. Experts said the depth was the likely reason for the relatively low level of damage from a 7.8 magnitude quake.

Soon after the quake, an Iranian official had told Reuters he expected hundreds of dead and state media quoted unconfirmed reports of 40 fatalities in Iran.

But Hatam Narouyi, governor of Sistan and Iran's Baluchistan province, later told the ISNA agency. "Fortunately, the earthquake resulted in no fatalities."

The U.S. Geological Survey, in a revised bulletin, said the quake hit at 10:44 GMT at a depth of 82 km. The epicenter was 198 km southeast of the city of Zahedan and 250 km northwest of Turbat in Pakistan.

People in the Iranian city of Zahedan poured into the streets when it struck, Fars news agency reported.

Iranian Red Crescent official Morteza Moradipour said emergency crews, including dog teams to sniff through the debris for any buried survivors, had reached the area.

"Because of the strength of the earthquake we had expected to see significant damage in residential areas but the quake was at a depth of 95 km and therefore the extent of the damage was on par with earthquakes measuring magnitude 4," he said.

A Savaran official, Mohammad Sharif Khaleghi, told ISNA that about six or seven people had been injured and buildings were damaged in villages near the towns of Saravan and Gasht.

SECOND IN A WEEK

It was the second big quake to hit Iran in a week. On April 9, a powerful 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to Iran's only nuclear power station, killing 37 people, injuring 850 and devastating two villages.

Most of Iran's nuclear-related facilities are located in central Iran or its west, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast.

"It is far from Bushehr and other nuclear-related facilities," Iran expert Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group think-tank told Reuters. "However, the recent tremors are ominous reminders of how earthquake prone Iran's terrain truly is and how critical it is for the Iranian government to be prepared for a nuclear emergency," Vaez said.



Iran sits on major geological faultlines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that flattened the city of Bam, in Iran's far southeast, killing more than 25,000 people.

This quake also shook tall buildings in India's capital New Delhi, sending people running into the streets. People also evacuated buildings in Qatar and Dubai.

"I was working and my work station was shaking," said Viidhu Sekhri, 35, an underwriter at a New Delhi insurance company. "Then it was a bit shaky so we just rushed outside."

Earlier in the day two smaller tremors were felt in India's Himalayan region close to the Chinese border. An official at India's disaster management authority said the tremors were also felt across northern India.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/pakistan-bears-brunt-of-iran-earthquake-34-killed-2013-04-16-1.502871

12 die as jeep plunges into gorge in Chamba

Twelve persons were killed when the Bolero vehicle (HP-73-2533) in which they were travelling veered off the road and plunged into a 700-m-deep gorge on the Bharmour-Harchhu road, about 16 km from Bharmour tribal township of Chamba district, last night. The vehicle landed in Kuthar nullah that runs across the gorge.

Chamba SSP BM Sharma said the deceased included 11 boys and the driver of the ill-fated vehicle. The boys were on their way back home after playing a cricket match at Badgran.

Local people helped the police in extricating bodies from the nullah. Those killed were: Driver Raj Kumar (29), Yog Raj (23), Amit (15), Laky (16), Ramesh (26), Sarwan (24), Ravinder (15), Santosh (18), Rakesh (24), Anoop (11), Kahan (24) - all residents of Palan village - and Pritam (26) of Dhurainka village.

The deceased were cremated at their villages.

An immediate relief of Rs 10,000 was given to the next of kin of each deceased and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Governor Urmila Singh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, who represents the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency, have expressed grief over the accident and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal have also mourned the death of the youths.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130416/main6.htm

“Mass burial for accident victims is almost inevitable”

For victims of fatal accidents, mass burials are often inevitable. Recently, the authorities of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), held a mass burial for the over 60 persons burnt to death in a road accident which occurred along the Benin-Ore expressway on April 5.

With different burial rites and traditions overlooked and the feeling of having to choose the burial site of a family member neglected, many victims are often buried alongside other bodies, because of circumstances of identifying the victims’ bodies. The Nigerian Tribune conducted an opinion poll, asking Nigerians if they supported mass burial for accident victims. Respondents commented on our Facebook page and Doyin Adeoye brings the excerpts:

Ojoawo Iyanuoluwa: No, I don’t support it because I feel it is not honourable and befitting, except for security forces who were killed on duty or those who died in the course of serving the country, but for ordinary citizens, I don’t think it is appropriate. Corpses should be given to family members of the deceased and should only be given a mass burial if no family member was found.

Ahmed Medlat Olatidoye: I feel it is a two way thing. If the family members could be present to identify their deceased, then they should be handed the corpse. However, at times, the deceased might not be easy to identify due to extreme burns and at other times, no family member may come forth to claim the body, so in such situation, mass burial is inevitable.

Ogedengbe Muhammed Sikiru: Where the body of the victim could still be identified either by the government agent or the deceased’s family members, such body should be released to the family, but if otherwise, mass burial is the only option. Blessing Adewale: Mass burial for accident victims is not really proper if the victims could be identified by their relatives, because various tribes have their own means of carrying out burial rites. So the issue of mass burial is not really appropriate, unless if the accident is extremely fatal to the extent that victims cannot be identified.

Adeyinka Aremu: I don’t believe in mass burial, so far family members of the deceased are still alive. No matter what, the families should be contacted and handed over the corpse.

Grace Ebunoluwa Ameh: No, in the sense that the deceased have their own family members who may want to take the corpse to their village. So if bodies could still be identified, then the families should be given the corpses.

Peterside Ajakaiye Omo Ajakaiye: Yes, I would support mass burial if the bodies cannot be recognised, or not claimed.

Samson Sepete Kunle: I do not support giving people mass burials.

Abefe Ayodeji Ismail Adelani: Yes, I support it because, the best thing is to give them mass burial so as to avoid wrong disposition of corpses to family members, where people would be given bodies of victims that do not belong to them.

Victoria Ayo: Mass burial for accident victims that could not be recognised is appropriate.

Egbeleke Ademola: If they cannot identify their victims, then I think a mass burial is the only option.

Gbenga Olayiwola: I don’t support mass burials in any way because some cultures require that their sons and daughters should be buried on their land or in some cases, burial rites are highly important. Mass burial obviously would not put this into consideration and some cultures are highly traditional.

Salau Lukman Isaac: I think it depends on the nature of the accident. If the accident is very fatal and the bodies of the dead could not be identified, then a mass burial is the best option. But if the identity of the dead can be recognised, then I don’t think mass burial is necessary. Mass burial for accident victims should be conditional.

Quadri Balogun: I think mass burials are almost inevitable in most cases, because when a victim is burnt beyond recognition, then there is no other choice than to bury the victims in mass graves.

Comrade Immunity: Yes, I support mass burials for accident victims on two occasions, first, if the body is not complete or damaged beyond recognition, and secondly, if their relations could not be contacted.

Tunmise Diamond: I think giving mass burials to accident victims is the best way to sort them out, especially when there is no one to claim the bodies. I believe that would be a relief, even to the families, from the shock of the gory sight of the corpses and the emotional stress of the burial. Comrade Akorede Sha

kir: Talking from the religious perspective, a man’s soul is highly valued by the creator. Hence, there should be an extreme sympathy and human feelings for accident victims, by giving immediate attention to their bodies. For instance for a hit and run victim, attending to such person, shows a sense of humanity. So for accident victims, I totally support mass burial.

Tony Clement: Whoever dies, knows nothing about how he or she is buried or whoever he or she is buried with. In my opinion, accident victims with no form of identity or whose people could not be contacted, have automatically become the state’s property. So, such victims should be given mass burial. I don’t believe it is awkward.

Oluwatosin Olatunji: When the bodies are badly burnt beyond recognition. Then there is no way the bodies can be identified. And also, the hospitals cannot continue to hold on to the bodies of victims, so mass burial is, in some cases, appropriate. Tuesday 16 April 2013

Eight killed in Nandi Uasin Gishu flooding

Floods continue to cause havoc in the North Rift sweeping crops away, destroying roads and displacing hundreds of residents. The most affected areas are Kerio Valley, parts of Pokot, Turkana, Marakwet and Nandi counties.

Health officials have been sent to carry out disease surveillance following fears the heavy rains may cause an outbreak of water borne diseases. Police in Uasin Gishu recovered four bodies of victims killed by the floods.

"The victims have been missing for four days. We suspect they were swept away by the floods," said area Deputy Police boss Charles Mutua. In Nandi the floods have killed four people and the Red Cross wants those living in hilly areas to vacate for safety. Transport has been paralysed on most routes and bridges have been swept away.

Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Muhammed Birik says farmers are unable to move farm produce from Kerio Valley to markets in Eldoret and other towns.

"Most roads have been damaged and can not be repaired until the rains subside. Roads from Marakwet and parts of Keiyo have been rendered impassable. Business has been low for farmers along with matatu operators,"said Birik.

Two small bridges were swept away by floods in Marakwet, cutting off communication between in some locations. Meanwhile, hundreds of families displaced by floods in parts of Rift Valley have not received tents and food.

Pokot South DC Kigen Kipkorir said they are working with Kenya Red Cross for the supply of tents, food and medical kits to the displaced families. He said several families in areas likely to be hit by floods have been given three days to vacate to safer areas.

"Many more people are still in areas which we have classified as dangerous and we have sent officers to help move them because the rains and increasing and the effects of the floods may be more," said Kipkorir. More than 10,000 people have been displaced by floods in Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet and parts of Baringo.

About 8,000 residents are still marooned in areas classified as risky that are likely to be hit by landslides while others are trapped in the Kerio Valley escarpment even after they were ordered to move out. Birik said they are working with the Red Cross to help families to move out of the areas.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-116877/eight-killed-nandi-uasin-gishu-flooding

Central Region to ban 'Galamsey' after Kyekyewere disaster

Central Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong has vowed to end illegal mining activities in the region.

Subsequently, he has scheduled an emergency meeting of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) next week, to discuss and fashion implementation of necessary measures to curb the alarming situation.

Mr. Sarpong disclosed this to Nhyira News after 17 bodies of illegal miners popularly called “galamsey operators” were retrieved from an abandoned mine pit which caved in on them, on Monday.

Five other persons were rescued by a combined team of personnel from the Police, Immigration and Fire Services as well as the National Disaster Management Organization, (NADMO).

The collapsed pit is one of many abandoned by the God First Enterprise Mining Company at Dunkwaw-Kyekyewere.

The victims consist of 15 males and two females, including a couple. Seven of the deceased are natives of Amoafo while the remaining nine are from Kyekyewere.

A Second year student of the Dunkwa Secondary Technical School, Clement Abugri, and his mother identified only as Ayishetu, were among the victims.

According to Mr. Sarpong, the effects of illegal mining unlike the legalized one cannot be countenanced.

The Minister who visited the scene to sympathize with the bereaved families also visited the Dunkwaw Municipal Hospital mortuary where bodies of the deceased are being kept for autopsy.

He told Nhyira News the time had come for the Regional Coordinating Council to take a bold decision on illegal mining, describing it as unacceptable.

“They know what they are doing is wrong, and nobody supervises them and for that matter, they do it haphazardly, and then get away with it. We will make sure that, we disband illegal mining in the Central region in the first place.

“I am very serious about the whole case because if we are not careful, we would lose a lot of people who would be able to work and sustain this economy,” Mr. Sarpong stressed.

Nhyira News checks at the Municipal Minerals Commission revealed that God First Enterprise is owned by one Alhaji Abubakari, also known as Abuu. Though the company’s operations have been publicized in the Municipality, its environmental permit has not been renewed since May 6, 2011.

Officials of the commission are however surprised the company has mined and abandoned the pit on part of its 17acre Kyekyewere concession.

Meanwhile, Municipal Chief Executive, Kofi Ashia, says the matter has been referred to the police for further investigations and four officials of the company have been invited for questioning.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201304/104526.php