Monster Snow Storm & Flooding Rips Across NSW And Victoria, Hitting Melbourne, Australia

A MONSTER snow storm continued to cause havoc across much of southern NSW and Victoria on Tuesday night.

Icy winds packing cyclonic strength had begun to ease but blizzard warnings remained in place for the NSW Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes, Canberra and the Victorian Alpine region.

The low pressure system dumped more snow at Thredbo than the region had seen in more than a decade.

For the first time this winter, snow also fell in lying areas of the Blue Mountains.

In Melbourne, the Yarra River had swelled to flooding point on Tuesday, cutting arterial roads and bridges and creating peak hour chaos.

More than 60,000 homes in surrounding suburbs were without power as the system moved across Wilsons Promontory to eastern Bass Strait.

Flights were delayed at Melbourne and Hobart as gale force winds grounded planes destined to cross the Tasman Sea.

Damaging winds were expected ease late Wednesday morning.

Below zero temperatures were expected in the impacted regions overnight.

Northern NSW was also in four a cold night with temperatures tipped to drop as low as four degrees on the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.

http://tinyurl.com/osfjow4

The Highest Ever Recorded Heatwave Kills At Least 127 in V’nagaram, India

Intense heat wave conditions accounted for the highest ever sunstroke deaths in Vizianagaram district, killing a total of 127 people this summer. Though the district is usually cool around this time, continuous hot spell caused sunstrokes across Vizianagaram, claiming many lives.

District collector Kantilal Dande officially confirmed the death toll after acquiring the details from all the 34 mandals. The neighbouring districts of Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam also registered a large number of sunstroke deaths.

Temperatures peaked to the highest ever 44 degree Celsius in Vizianagaram district and hovered over that level in the past three weeks. While a majority of the victims were aged people, some youngsters also succumbed to the simmering heat.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a compensation of `1 lakh from the CM Relief Fund to each of the deceased. He also announced payment of `50,000 to the relatives of the victims from the Apadbandhu scheme.

However, the government has not yet released the guidelines for certifying the sunstroke deaths this year. The guidelines are mandatory for initiating the process of disbursal of compensation. According to the existing guidelines in the government, there is an age limit to certify sunstroke deaths. The officials have stated that they will certify sunstroke deaths of those aged between 18 years and 50 years.

Speaking to Express, a senior revenue official said that 127 deaths have been certified according to the rules and regulations. However, he said that the total death roll in the district is about 190. The administration has written a letter to the government seeking guidelines to process the applications for compensation, he added.

http://tinyurl.com/mvhngpc

Expect 42C – Cyprus braces for heatwave as mercury rises

“Expect a gradual increase in temperatures from tomorrow onwards, and by Saturday it will reach about 42oC”

A scorching heat wave is set to plague Cyprus with temperatures forecast to hit 42oC in Nicosia by Friday.

 

“Expect a gradual increase in temperatures from tomorrow onwards, and by Saturday it will reach about 42oC, maybe more – but around that temperature. In the coastal areas it will be around 36oC,” Meteorological Service official Stavros Vassiliades told Famagusta Gazette.

Meanwhile the Labour ministry will issue written statement to employers that due to high temperatures and humidity levels, no employees should be directly exposed to sunlight until four in the afternoon.

 

Health services advise the following during heatwaves:

 

* Stay well-hydrated and avoid alcohol and coffee (both will dehydrate you)

* Use plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat when outside

* Keep cool – wear light, loose clothes and stay in the shade

* Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest

http://tinyurl.com/pyexdm7

MAGNITUDE 5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=387274

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 1030 km S of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga / pop: 22,400 / local time: 09:07:52.3 2014-06-25
993 km NE of Whangarei, New Zealand / pop: 50,900 / local time: 08:07:52.3 2014-06-25

MAGNITUDE 4.4 ROMANIA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=387269

Subject To Change

Depth: 18 km

Distances: 148 km SW of Bucharest, Romania / pop: 1,877,155 / local time: 22:39:53.8 2014-06-24
45 km N of Pleven, Bulgaria / pop: 118,675 / local time: 22:39:53.8 2014-06-24
4 km NW of Corabia, Romania / pop: 20,047 / local time: 22:39:53.8 2014-06-24

Dust storm cuts off power supply in India

The city did not get uninterrupted power supply on Monday. Dust storm made the situation worse in several localities as power supply remained disrupted for more than two hours.

 

In Prag Narain road, there was no electricity for several hours as a huge tree fell on the transmission line and disrupted power supply. The supply could not be restored till late evening.

 

There were lots of similar complaints received on helplines set up by the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) from other localities of the city.

 

Supply to Sarojinagar, Sringarnagar and Alambagh was disrupted due to breakdown of two feeders. “Lots of complaints were received after 6pm,” said the staff.

 

A breakdown of 33kv line resulted in power failure in Malihabad. Complaints were also received from Balaghat.

 

In Hussainganj, there was no power supply for five hours due to maintenance work. In Kanpur road, sector-H, there was a shutdown to prune roadside trees. In Shruti Vihar, Indiranagar, power supply was disrupted as the feeder was kept on the road instead of being installed on double-poles.

 

In sector-14, Indiranagar, supply was disrupted for an hour due to maintenance work. Power disruption was also reported from Daliganj.

http://tinyurl.com/m9mp46q

Deadly Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa: 49 New Cases, 12 Deaths

Between June 16 and 18, 2014, a total of 3 new cases and 3 deaths were reported from Gueckedou (3 cases and 0 death), Telimele (0 case and 2 deaths), and Boffa (0 cases and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Guinea to 390 (258 confirmed, 88 probable, and 44 suspected) and 267 deaths.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Conakry, 64 cases and 33 deaths; Gueckedou, 227 cases and 173 deaths; Macenta, 41 cases and 28 deaths; Dabola, 4 cases and 4 deaths; Kissidougou, 8 cases and 5 deaths; Dinguiraye, 1 case and 1 death; Telimele, 26 cases and 10 deaths; Boffa, 18 cases and 12 deaths; and Kouroussa, 1 case and 1 death. Sixteen (16) patients are currently in EVD Treatment Centres in Conakry (4), Gueckedou (11), and Telimele (1).

The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 1253 and are distributed as follows: Conakry, 246; Gueckedou, 527; Macenta, 52; Telimele, 118; Dubreka, 118; Kouroussa 16 and Boffa, 176. So far 70.1% (2950 contacts completed the follow-up period out of 4203 contacts registered since the beginning of the outbreak) have completed the mandatory 21-day observation period.

Sierra Leone

Between June 15 and 17, 2014, a total of 39 new cases and 8 new deaths were reported from Kailahun (34 cases and 7 deaths), Kenema (4 new cases and 1 death) and Western (1 case and 0 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Sierra Leone to 136 (103 confirmed, 19 probable, and 14 suspected) and 58 deaths.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Kailahun, 128 cases and 55 deaths; Kambia, 1 case and 0 deaths; Port Loko, 2 cases and 1 death; Kenema, 4 cases and 1 death; and Western, 1 case and 1 death. Thirty one (31) patients are currently in the EVD Treatment Centre in Kenema.

The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 37 from Kailahun. Community health workers are being trained to do the follow up and contact listing is continuing in Kenema, Kailahun, Kambia, and Port Loko.

Liberia

Between June 16 and 19, 2014, a total of 7 new cases and 1 new death were reported from Lofa (5 cases and 0 deaths) and Montserrado (2 cases and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Liberia to 41 (24 confirmed, 9 probable, and 8 suspected) and 25 deaths.

The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Lofa, 28 cases and 14 deaths; Montserrado, 9 cases and 9 deaths; Margibi, 2 cases and 2 deaths; and Nimba, 2 cases and 0 deaths. Eight (8) patients are currently in the EVD Treatment Centres in Lofa.

The number of contacts currently being followed-up countrywide is 108 and are distributed as follows: Lofa, 95 and Montserrado, 13. So far, 41.5% (108 completed the follow-up period out of a 260 contacts registered since the beginning of the outbreak) have completed the mandatory 21-day observation period.

The World Health Organization (WHO) WHO and its partners continue to provide the necessary technical expertise to the Ministries of Health to stop community and health facility transmission of the virus. This includes, among others, a high-level advocacy meeting with the governments of the three affected countries to enhance coordination, information management, and communication. The WHO Regional Director, in consultation with the Director General, has established a temporary function of WHO sub-regional EVD outbreak response Coordinator to directly support the affected countries. The Coordinator will be based in Conakry, Guinea. In addition, WHO is planning a high-level meeting for the Ministers of Health in the sub-region to be held July 2–3, 2014 in Accra, Ghana, with the objective of ensuring increased political commitment and cross-border collaboration for EVD response activities among the countries in the sub-region. WHO, GOARN, and other partners are also closely supporting the Ministries of Health in deploying additional experts in the various specialties (epidemiology, social mobilization, case management, data management, and logistics, among others) to support the EVD outbreak response efforts. The next cross-border technical meeting among the three countries is planned for 23 June 2014 in Kailahun, Sierra Leone.

WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone based on the current information available for this event.

http://tinyurl.com/now7lw7

MAGNITUDE 5.1 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=387246

Subject To Change

Depth: 2 km

Distances: 1022 km S of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga / pop: 22,400 / local time: 05:53:40.7 2014-06-25
985 km NE of Whangarei, New Zealand / pop: 50,900 / local time: 04:53:40.7 2014-06-25

MAGNITUDE 5.1 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000rl2q#summary

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 75km (47mi) SSE of Raoul Island, New Zealand
994km (618mi) SSW of Nuku`alofa, Tonga
1003km (623mi) NE of Whangarei, New Zealand
1031km (641mi) NNE of Whakatane, New Zealand
1046km (650mi) NE of Tauranga, New Zealand

MAGNITUDE 5.1 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=387188

Subject To Change

Depth: 2 km

Distances: 1040 km S of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga / pop: 22,400 / local time: 22:36:18.5 2014-06-24
1421 km NE of Wellington, New Zealand / pop: 381,900 / local time: 21:36:18.5 2014-06-24
1436 km S of Suva, Fiji / pop: 77,366 / local time: 21:36:18.5 2014-06-24