Thursday, 12 April 2018

India`s Taj Mahal minarets damaged in storm







A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.


Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse.


The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact.


The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.


One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.


The other was located at the southern gate.


Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.


India`s Taj Mahal minarets damaged in storm


A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.
Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse.
The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact.
The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.
One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.
The other was located at the southern gate.
Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.

Sinkhole in northwest Indiana swallows car








HOBART, Ind. — A sinkhole swallowed a car in northwest Indiana Wednesday, prompting emergency repairs and a warning from police to avoid the road.


The Hobart Police Department posted a photo on its Facebook page showing a car wedged in a hole on the deteriorating road.


“Traffic Alert,” the department wrote. “Steer clear of the area of 9th & Lincoln Street (State Road 51). Vehicle in sinkhole and road will need to be repaired.”


It was unclear if the driver was injured, although she was taken to a local hospital.


According to the Times of Northwest Indiana, the city was alerted about problems with the road two weeks ago. City Engineer Phillip Gralik said a sewer collapse was responsible for the sinkhole.


Gralik told the publication that they were “moving as fast as we could” and didn’t believe there was any imminent danger from the reported problem prior to Wednesday’s collapse.


The department issued a request on April 5 for bids for an emergency sewer repair project. The company that won the bid was scheduled to start work on April 16, but given the large sinkhole in the road, work began Wednesday.

Read more - http://fox59.com/2018/04/12/sinkhole-in-northwest-indiana-swallows-car-prompts-emergency-road-repairs/

Sinkhole in northwest Indiana swallows car



HOBART, Ind. — A sinkhole swallowed a car in northwest Indiana Wednesday, prompting emergency repairs and a warning from police to avoid the road.
The Hobart Police Department posted a photo on its Facebook page showing a car wedged in a hole on the deteriorating road.
“Traffic Alert,” the department wrote. “Steer clear of the area of 9th & Lincoln Street (State Road 51). Vehicle in sinkhole and road will need to be repaired.”
It was unclear if the driver was injured, although she was taken to a local hospital.
According to the Times of Northwest Indiana, the city was alerted about problems with the road two weeks ago. City Engineer Phillip Gralik said a sewer collapse was responsible for the sinkhole.
Gralik told the publication that they were “moving as fast as we could” and didn’t believe there was any imminent danger from the reported problem prior to Wednesday’s collapse.
The department issued a request on April 5 for bids for an emergency sewer repair project. The company that won the bid was scheduled to start work on April 16, but given the large sinkhole in the road, work began Wednesday.

Read more - http://fox59.com/2018/04/12/sinkhole-in-northwest-indiana-swallows-car-prompts-emergency-road-repairs/

Volcano in Vanuatu spills heavy ash sparking evacuation fears for 11,000 residents


A state of emergency has been declared for Vanuatu's Ambae Island as a volcano continues to spill thick heavy ash.
Thousands of residents who call the island home have been warned they may need to evacuate after up to 1cm of ash has fallen in some areas north of the island on Tuesday night. 
The situation was described as 'becoming critical in some areas' and national EMT coordinator Dr Basil Leodoro told Vanuatu Daily Post they had 'received reports of houses collapsing due to the weight of the ash.' 

Medical assistance teams arrived on the island on Thursday to 'provide medical support...sanitation, surveillance and public health services support to the people of Ambae,' Dr Leodoro said. 
'I am confirming that heavy ash fall has caused skin and eye irritations, and exacerbated breathing conditions like asthma,' continued Dr Leodoro.
'We are also working very closely with our disease surveillance teams to monitor reported cases of Mumps, acute gastroenteritis and dengue in all Ambae residents but particularly those at evacuation centres.'
'I am grateful to the Australian government ... for supporting these teams to deploy and provide medical, surgical, mental health, psychosocial support, logistics, water, sanitation, surveillance and public health services support to the people of Ambae,' he said.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5606491/Volcano-Vanuatus-Ambae-Island-spills-heavy-ash-acid-rain-falls-

Hawaiian Volcano’s Lava Lake Bubbles to Record Height since sept 2017






On April 9, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park volunteer Russell Atkinson captured breathtaking footage of activity in Halema‘uma‘u Crater's lava lake.


The crater sits atop Kīlauea, the most active shield volcano in the Hawaiian islands. According to the Hawaii National Park Service, this is the lake's highest level since September 2017.

Read more and watch Video - https://sputniknews.com/videoclub/201804121063498757-kilauea-volcano-lava-lake-bubbles-heights/

Hawaiian Volcano’s Lava Lake Bubbles to Record Height since sept 2017


On April 9, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park volunteer Russell Atkinson captured breathtaking footage of activity in Halema‘uma‘u Crater's lava lake.
The crater sits atop Kīlauea, the most active shield volcano in the Hawaiian islands. According to the Hawaii National Park Service, this is the lake's highest level since September 2017.

Read more and watch Video - https://sputniknews.com/videoclub/201804121063498757-kilauea-volcano-lava-lake-bubbles-heights/