MANILA - The Philippines put civil defense personnel on alert for possible deadly volcanic mudflows as a tropical storm began bearing down on a volcano that has been spitting ash for weeks.
Civil defense reports said a ferry sank in rough seas off Sorsogon province, leaving at least two missing and feared dead. More than 40 others were rescued and rushed to hospital, the reports said.
Before leaving on a visit to Europe, President Gloria Arroyo said the civil defense office has prepared contingency plans in case rain from the storm mixes with ash on the slopes of Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon to form deadly mudflows.
Earth Changes
NORWALK, Ohio - Gov. Bob Taft on Saturday surveyed damage from two days of severe storms and declared emergencies in two northern Ohio counties.
Floodwaters had mostly receded in Norwalk, about halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas. Residents continued piling blankets, clothes, carpets and other ruined possessions on the curb to be carted away.
About 800 homes in Huron County were damaged in the storms, including at least 45 with major damage, said Bill Ommert, director of the county's emergency management agency. He estimated the damage at $2 million to homes and businesses and $5 million to farmers' crops.
Floodwaters had mostly receded in Norwalk, about halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas. Residents continued piling blankets, clothes, carpets and other ruined possessions on the curb to be carted away.
About 800 homes in Huron County were damaged in the storms, including at least 45 with major damage, said Bill Ommert, director of the county's emergency management agency. He estimated the damage at $2 million to homes and businesses and $5 million to farmers' crops.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck near the north-eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi early today, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
A moderate earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 jolted southern Nagano Prefecture and surrounding areas in central Japan Saturday night, Kyodo News reported.
LONDON (Reuters) - The southern end of the San Andreas fault near Los Angeles, which has been still for more than two centuries, is under immense stress and could produce a massive earthquake at any moment, a scientist said on Wednesday.
Yuri Fialko, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla, California, said that given average annual movement rates in other areas of the fault, there could be enough pent-up energy in the southern end to trigger a cataclysmic jolt of up to 10 meters (32 ft).
Yuri Fialko, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla, California, said that given average annual movement rates in other areas of the fault, there could be enough pent-up energy in the southern end to trigger a cataclysmic jolt of up to 10 meters (32 ft).
June 20 (Bloomberg) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 jolted Tokyo and surrounding areas of eastern Japan at 6:47 this morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. No tsunami warning was issued.
The tremor was centered 80 kilometers (50 miles) underground in Chiba, east of Tokyo. It registered 3 on the Japanese agency's seismic intensity scale, the agency reported on its Web site.
The tremor was centered 80 kilometers (50 miles) underground in Chiba, east of Tokyo. It registered 3 on the Japanese agency's seismic intensity scale, the agency reported on its Web site.
Another outbreak of bird flu has been reported in China.
The latest outbreak is at poultry farms in the northern province of Shanxi.
The official Xinhua news agency reported Monday the local government has quarantined the area and experts and veterinarians have started disinfection and culling.
The latest outbreak is at poultry farms in the northern province of Shanxi.
The official Xinhua news agency reported Monday the local government has quarantined the area and experts and veterinarians have started disinfection and culling.
A severe thunderstorm swept through Ottawa Monday night, knocking out power to more than 24,000 homes.
DHAKA - Large swathes of northeastern Bangladesh were under water following heavy monsoon rains in neighbouring India.
Around 100 square kilometres (40 square miles) and an estimated 76,000 people were affected in seven sub-districts of the northeastern Sylhet region, said district relief officer Mohammed Mosao-Ir on Friday.
Around 100 square kilometres (40 square miles) and an estimated 76,000 people were affected in seven sub-districts of the northeastern Sylhet region, said district relief officer Mohammed Mosao-Ir on Friday.
WARSAW - Hundreds of people were evacuated from areas of Poland and Slovakia as torrential rain caused flooding, local authorities said.
Some 500 people were forced to leave their homes in the southeastern Polish town of Jaslo, mayor Andrzek Czarnecki said on Polish television station TVP.
Several farms and thousands of hectares of agricultural land were flooded when rivers burst their banks.
Some 500 people were forced to leave their homes in the southeastern Polish town of Jaslo, mayor Andrzek Czarnecki said on Polish television station TVP.
Several farms and thousands of hectares of agricultural land were flooded when rivers burst their banks.
