Twelve dead, 13 injured in Philippines as bus falls off cliff

A bus carrying supporters of a local politician fell off a cliff in the mountainous northern Philippines on Saturday, killing 12 people, a police spokesman said.

The victims were supporters of the mayor of the town of Buguias, Melchor Diclas, and were being ferried home from a victory party he hosted after he retained his post in last month’s elections, police said.

Rescuers found 10 bodies at the bottom of an 80-metre (262-foot) ravine and two others were declared dead on arrival at nearby hospitals.

Seven passengers were treated for injuries, said local police spokesman Vicente Lim-mong

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/10/12-dead-as-bus-falls-off-philippine-cliff/

Police, army rescuers abandon search for Taplejung landslide victims

Hopes of finding the three missing, including two children, alive have been exhausted after the rescue and salvage operation was called off Friday in the face of continuous mudslides.

All rescue teams of the Nepal Army (NA), Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) returned to their own bases, saying continuing landslips made rescue impossible. Now only the locals are left to search for their missing neighbors.

The locals who gathered to rebuild the pathway wiped out by the landslide at the Thukima area, where a landslide killed nine people on Wednesday, said a putrid odor of rotting flesh has permeated the area.

The locals surmise that the stench is from the bodies of the dead and the livestock carcasses buried in the rubble.

“There is a putrid smell along the way,” said Nani Bahadur Kedem, a local.

Locals said there is no hope of even recovering the bodies of the missing a rescue team from the Nepal Army and police has returned to base at district headquarters and the locals are unable to continue with the salvage work.

Nine people, eight from one family, were killed in the landslide trigged by incessant downpour at Thukima-6 in Taplejung, Wednesday. Tej Bahadur Siba, 28, Kaji Siba, 10, and Ashika Siba, 4, are still missing in the landslide. Over a dozen cattle and other livestock also vanished in the landslide.

The bodies of all nine people were cremated Friday. While the eight dead bodies of the same family were buried in one single grave, Sukmaya Sawa was cremated elsewhere.

Meanwhile, over 250 students from six local VDCs are unable to attend school as the way to school is blocked by the landslide. According to Ishowari Prasad Bhattarai, principal of Tribhuvan Higher Secondary School, the students cannot put their lives at risk as the landslide has destroyed the pathway leading to their school.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55894

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55833

13 dead as truck falls into ravine in Benguet

Thirteen people were killed when a truck fell into a ravine in Buguias, Benguet Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said the truck swerved out of control and fell into an 80-meter deep ravine at around 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ten of the victims were declared dead on arrival at the Abatan Emergency Hospital and Abatan Luthern Hospiral, while the two others died while being treated at the Benguet General Hospital.

Five more passengers were injured, while another, identified as Jerry Bisaya, managed to escape by jumping out of the truck before it fell into the cliff.

The victims were reportedly on their way to Abatan, Benguet when the accident occurred.

The victims were supporters of the mayor of the town of Buguias, Melchor Diclas, and were being ferried home from a victory party he hosted after he retained his post in last month’s elections, police said.

Initial investigations showed there was zero visibility along the road due to strong rain fall.

The driver of the vehicle may face charges of multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries, although the family of the victims have yet to file any charges against him.

All of the victims’ remains have been identified and brought to their families.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/06/08/13/10-dead-truck-falls-ravine-benguet

Fifteen killed as heavy rains lash China

At least 15 people have been killed and another two missing as a bout of torrential rains lashed several parts of China.

According to a statement issued by the National Commission for Disaster Reduction on Saturday, flash flooding caused by heavy rains has affected 4.68 million people, and displaced 62,000 people.

The agency added that floods have also destroyed 2,500 houses, and significantly damaged 21,400 hectares of farmlands.

The natural disaster has also inflicted an economic loss of 1.7 billion yuan (about $280 million).

Rains have so far battered nine regions in southern and eastern China, including Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces since June 5.

Authorities said relief supplies have been sent to the disaster-stricken areas, but local residents are still in need of more relief supplies.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/08/307838/heavy-rains-leave-15-dead-in-china/

8 years on, Sarojini blast victim’s kin yet to get dues

It was on October 29, 2005 that Ram Jivan, an employee of the hugely popular Shyam Juice Corner located inside Sarojini Nagar picked up the bomb-laden suitcase lying near the shop. His employer, Lalchand Saluja, suspected something "fishy" in the bag and insisted he pick it up and raise an alarm. Seconds later, Jivan, Saluja and another employee - Babloo were blown to pieces in what remains to be till date one of the worst terror attacks in the city.

Seven years later, when the kin of every other victim has received the mandatory "non-traceable" certificate from the Sarojini Nagar police, Jivan's brother Ram Kishore is still running between the Sarojini Nagar police station and the local SDM office.

Kishore lives in Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh with his family. The certificate can fetch him Rs 4.5 lakh, a huge compensation for a family who work as bonded agricultural labourers. "I waited for the mandatory seven years to pass before the government could declare him dead. Each day has been a battle during which I lost my parents. I found four other families going through the same ordeal. These included the families of Sayan Mukhopadhaya and S Ganeshan. After the high court order was passed certificates were given to everyone but me. How can the police be so negligent," asked Kishore.

Kishore said he had applied in January on behalf of his brother. "Everytime, I visit the police station, they tell me that my case is pending either with the Special Cell or Special Branch and they have no role in it,'' claimed Kishore. The Special Cell denied any pendency regarding the Sarojini Nagar blast case. "As per our records, we have cleared all applications,'' said a senior officer.

Earlier, in the non-traceable report prepared by the SHO of the Sarojini Nagar police station in the case of Sayan Mukhopadhaya, it was stated by cops that the Special Cell has told them that all deceased have been identified except for four dead bodies.

Meanwhile, back at Sarojini Nagar, the mini-market association president Ashok Randhawa said he wants to hand three photographs — those of the juice shop owner Lalchand Saluja and his employees Ram Jivan and Babloo — so as to bolster Kishore's case.

Neighboring shopkeepers remembered the three victims being "good friends." "I am alive because of them. He picked up the bag with the bomb and was about to throw it when it exploded," said Premji, owner of Vicky Selection, a store in the area.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/8-years-on-Sarojini-blast-victims-kin-yet-to-get-dues/articleshow/20500784.cms

Bodies of Russian Mi-8 helicopter crash victims taken to morgue

Five bodies recovered on the site of Thursday’s Mi-8 helicopter crash in a mountainous region of far-eastern Russia were taken to a morgue in Khabarovsk on Sunday, an emergencies service spokesman said.

The MI-8 helicopter, which belonged to Russia’s Voluntary Association of Assistance to the Army, Air Force and Navy (DOSAAF), went missing on Thursday The aircraft was carrying four crewmembers and one passenger. Its wreckage was located on Saturday morning. The cause of the crash is unknown.

“The bodies of the victims were taken to a morgue in Khabarovsk early on Sunday. Investigators are now charged with identification and forensic tests,” the source said.

Investigators have launched a criminal investigation into suspected violation of aviation rules.

This is the fourth deadly crash of this type of aircraft in Russia this year.

In the most recent accident, a Mi-8T helicopter, owned by an Air Force training center crashed while performing a scheduled training flight in the Volga Area in late May. The aircraft’s pilot in command and his trainee, who parachuted before the helicopter crashed, survived. The third crew member, a flight engineer, was unable to leave the cockpit and died.

The Russian defense ministry grounded all its Mi-8 helicopters after the accident.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130609/181582935/Bodies-of-Mi-8-Crash-Victims-Taken-to-Morgue.html

Nineteen dead as monsoon lashes Sri Lanka, 36 fishermen still missing

Monsoon rains and strong winds in Sri Lanka have killed at least 19 people with dozens more missing, most of them fishermen caught in rough seas, officials said on Sunday.

The navy and airforce are searching for 36 fishermen who have been missing at sea since the monsoon hit early on Saturday, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, deputy minister of disaster management, told reporters.

The bodies of 18 fishermen have so far been found, while the body of another person was discovered on land, the minister said.

“A joint rescue operation is underway,” the minister said.

“The navy and the airforce have deployed several craft to look for survivors. At least 21 injured fishermen have been rescued so far and admitted to hospital,” he said.

On Saturday, officials confirmed five people died as a result of the monsoon which hits annually, bringing much-needed rain, but also frequently causing loss of life and property damage.

Heavy showers were expected in many parts of the island on Sunday with winds already reaching speeds of over 70 kilometres (43 miles) an hour, the meteorological office said. Security forces were deployed to clear fallen trees and power lines strewn on several key highways, military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said.

Several trees at Sri Lanka's main zoo, just south of the capital Colombo, were also uprooted by strong winds, but the animals were unharmed, a zoo official said.

A 20-foot (17-metre) long whale washed ashore in Colombo on Saturday while a stranded giant sea turtle was rescued by locals at a suburb of the coastal capital, police said.

The authorities opened sluice gates of four major hydroelectricity reservoirs in central Sri Lanka late on Saturday to prevent damage to dams.

Seven people were killed in Sri Lanka last month when a tropical cyclone brushed the island's eastern coast.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://beta.dawn.com/news/1017077/nineteen-dead-as-monsoon-lashes-sri-lanka

More bodies found after asylum seeker boat sinks near Christmas Island

At least 13 people are dead after an asylum seeker boat capsized near Christmas Island.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says authorities are continuing to search for survivors 74 nautical miles west of the island.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Mr Clare said about 55 people were earlier seen on the deck of the vessel in waters off Western Australia's north coast.

He said they were mostly adult men, but included a small number of women and children.

Mr Clare also revealed Australian Federal Police (AFP) had received a call for assistance from a second boat last night, but HMAS Warramunga has been unable to locate the vessel.

The suspected asylum seeker boat reported engine troubles about 110 nautical miles north of Christmas Island last night and HMAS Warramunga was sent to its location. Asylum seeker boat sinking timeline (times in AEST)

Mr Clare says 13 bodies from the first boat have been located, but they are yet to be recovered from the water.

"This is another terrible tragedy. Another terrible reminder how dangerous these journeys [are]," Mr Clare said during a press conference.

"Let me take this opportunity to thank the men and women of Border Protection command for their bravery and for the dangerous work that they do."

Authorities first spotted the boat on Wednesday, Mr Clare confirmed.

"The vessel was stationary but did not appear to be in distress. The advice to me is that Australian authorities did not receive a distress call from this vessel," he said.

"HMAS Warramunga was tasked that evening to intercept the vessel."

However, the Navy ship was unable to find the boat.

On Friday, a submerged hull was sighted in the water 65 nautical miles north-west of Christmas Island.

HMAS Warramunga arrived at the location later that afternoon.

Mr Clare said the crew were unable to find the hull, but they did find debris, including pieces of wood and a number of life jackets.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are involved in the massive air and sea search.

Two merchant ships are also involved, along with two Border Protection planes and a private aircraft.

HMAS Warramunga has been retasked to search for a second boat approximately 110 nautical miles north of Christmas Island.

Mr Clare said that vessel has not yet been located.

New boat arrivals

This afternoon, 78 asylum seekers rescued from a stricken vessel 500 nautical miles west of Cocos Island three days ago arrived at Christmas Island.

A British merchant vessel picked up the people after the boat ran into trouble.

Meanwhile, another asylum seeker boat was stopped north-west of Christmas Island on Saturday.

The boat was picked up with 130 passengers on board, who are being sent to the island for initial checks.

Another asylum seeker boat was intercepted off Christmas Island with 69 people on board on Friday.

Sunday 9 June 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-09/search-continues-for-survivors-of-capsized-asylum-seeker-boat/4742300