MAGNITUDE 5.1 NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=393072

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 2069 km SE of Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon / pop: 6,200 / local time: 20:04:44.8 2014-07-29
2391 km NW of Laâyoune / El Aaiún, Western Sahara / pop: 188,084 / local time: 23:04:44.8 2014-07-29
2450 km W of Lisbon, Portugal / pop: 517,802 / local time: 23:04:44.8 2014-07-29

MAGNITUDE 5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=393070

Subject To Change

Depth: 52 km

Distances: 242 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands / pop: 56,298 / local time: 05:04:54.4 2014-07-30
38 km SW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands / pop: 1,122 / local time: 05:04:54.4 2014-07-30

Plane crashes in Runcorn, south of Brisbane, Australia

A light plane has crashed in a field about 20 kilometres south of Brisbane, narrowly avoiding homes in Runcorn.

Two men in their 50s have been taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with minor head injuries, the Queensland Ambulance Service said.

Emergency services were called to the scene near the corner of Nathan Road and Dew Street in Runcorn about 7.25am, following reports of a plane crash.

 

The crash site is surrounded by homes and is close to the Runcorn train station. It is also about a kilometre away from the Runcorn State High School.  

Fire crews remain on the scene.

Local traffic diversions have been put in place while crews clear the damaged plane.

http://tinyurl.com/jwx9tgy

Devastating EF2 Tornado with winds up to 120 mph strikes, Revere, USA

“Nobody here has ever seen damage like what we’ve seen this morning,” Mayor Daniel Rizzo said

Revere residents will be recovering for days after an EF2 tornado with wind gusts up to 120 mph left sections of the city ravaged, with multiple building collapses, possible gas leaks, power lines down, trees uprooted and cars overturned.

“Nobody here has ever seen damage like what we’ve seen this morning,” Mayor Daniel Rizzo said. “There was no warning at all. People were terrified.”

Fire Chief Gene Doherty said 65 buildings were damaged, with 13 now uninhabitable.

As of late this afternoon, 2,800 home were without power. Repairs are not expected until midnight. But no serious injuries are being reported after roofs were torn off homes and a baby was injured by glass when a tree fell on the car the infant was in on Mountain Avenue.

“We’re fortunate when this did occur most people had already left for work,” Doherty said.

The National Weather Service said the twister lasted from 9:32 a.m. to 9:36 a.m. and was three-eights of a mile wide and two miles long as it cut through Chelsea and mostly Revere.

The tornado did drop to an EF1, but there were pockets of severe damage from the winds that whipped from 100 to 120 mph making it an EF2 on the Fujita Scale, according to the weather service. The worst tornado is an EF5.

The worst-hit areas were Taft Street, Revere Beach Parkway and Vinal Street. Two iron workers were also caught in the storm and had to hang on for their lives as the tornado passed the James Hill Memorial School they were working on.

The tornado moved across the Chelsea River directly across the Paul Cronin Memorial Skating Rink with portions of its roof were blown across Route 16, the weather service said.

Residents described a terrifying scene.

“I was in my house and the house started shaking. Then I heard the trees coming down and then the roof blew off,” said Revere resident Mary Carrabes, whose home was destroyed this morning.

“I was home and getting ready to go out. It was raining then I heard a horrible sound,” said Gerry Iovanna, a resident of Revere Beach Parkway, whose car was crushed by a tree. “There was a massive tree that fell right in front of and directly on top of her house. In front the tree a car had picked up and thrown onto the sidewalk. When I looked out my front door you couldn’t see the street. It was all gray, Then within a second I heard this horrible crash. I ran to the middle of my house and shut the bathroom door and crouched down. I was really scared. Then after about 20 seconds it stopped and I went to the front door again that’s when I saw the tree. The whole roof was caved in and water was pouring in. My car is in the driveway under the tree.”

Another Revere resident said she believes the tornado touched down before the National Weather Service issued its tornado warning this morning.

“We lived in a beautiful area and all the trees are gone now,” the resident told Boston Herald Radio’s Morning Meeting in an interview from the devastated section of the city.

“There was no warning at all,” Rizzo said. “We don’t have a local tornado warning system. It took everybody by surprise.

The mayor asked people to refrain from calling 911 unless they have an emergency such as fallen power lines or trees blocking roads.

“Right now, we’re most concerned with safety issues,” he said. “I am so grateful we have no reports of major injuries…. Given the magnitude of the storm, it’s really a miracle.”

The city has teams out doing damage assessments, Rizzo said.

“There are many homes to the east and the west of Broadway that sustained damage,” he said. “Nobody here has ever seen damage like what we’ve seen this morning.”

Rumney Marsh Academy on American Legion Highway will be available to any residents who need shelter, the mayor said.

City Hall had to be evacuated and may be closed for the next few days because windows and doors were blown out, he said.

The mayor said the city is working with National Grid and Verizon, as well as MEMA and the National Weather Service, which is assessing the strength of the tornado.

Updates will be posted on the city’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account, Rizzo said.

“This is going to be a little bit of a process as we dig ourselves out,” he said.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo pledged the city financial aid from the state.

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado struck shortly after 10 a.m., and the Revere Fire Department told the Herald they were “swamped” with emergency calls after it struck

“There are multiple building collapses, high-wires and power-lines are down. There are partial collapses all the way down Broadway Revere and multiple side streets,” a Revere Fire Department spokeswoman told the Herald. Additional workers were called in to assist with the crisis.

“I’m unaware of any major injuries at this time, but right now people should stay where they are,” the spokeswoman said. “Stay home because you can’t get around in the city and it hinders emergency vehicles and might be a danger especially with the downed wires.”

The windows of the MGH Revere Health Care Center were blown out and neighbors reported damage to numerous roofs.

There was no flooding visible in the area affected, but major structural and wind damage was visible in the section of Revere going down Broadway cornering the Chelsea line.

“We had a monumental storm come to our city this morning,” said Rizzo. “I think the worst of it is over. If anybody sees any downed power-lines please call 911 and stay away. If you have trees that are blocking roads, please call 911.”

Rizzo said he has received calls of support from Liz Warren, Gov. Patrick, and Deleo, as well as Mayor Walsh, the Mayors of Lynn and Everett.

“I’m appreciative of all the resources that are being offered to the city,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Nobody here has ever seen damage like we experienced this morning. We are doing all we can to get the city fixed up. Right now we are taking one steps at a time. I’m asking residents to be calm. It was a pretty traumatic experience for a lot of people. We are working on it, the worst is behind us.”

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America said residents who experienced damage should contact their insurers as soon as possible and take photographs of the damage.

Most tornado, windstorm, hail and similar severe weather-related losses are covered either by, homeowners, renters, commercial, or automobile insurance policies, said Frank O’Brien in a statement.

http://tinyurl.com/mejn8c8

Severe flash flooding in north-west after Tasmania cleans up from ‘tornado-like’ winds

Homes have been inundated by flash flooding in northern Tasmania just hours after the north-west was pounded by severe winds that left a trail of destruction and caused widespread power cuts.

 

The State Emergency Service (SES) has confirmed houses have been flooded at Windermere, Lilydale and Gravelly Beach near Launceston.

 

However, Jim Bolzenello from the SES said water levels have peaked.

 

“A number of houses have flooded, but the water is receding at this stage,” he said.

 

“We’ve got crews there at the moment placing preventative sandbags in case water does flood again, and the crews are helping the locals cleaning up.”

 

There have also been a number of road closures as a result of the flooding.

 

Weather forecasters are urging residents to be prepared for the water to rise again, with severe weather expected to continue.

 

SES workers have been handing out sandbags to help people fortify properties.

 

Mr Bolzenello said the SES headquarters has been flooded with calls for help.

 

“The main flooding has been happening around the Windermere area, we have had some minor flooding around the Newstead area,” he said.

 

“The Kings Meadows area is often prone to flooding and some areas around Amy Road.

 

“So we’re not expecting any major flooding at this stage, but we’re just asking residents to be aware.”

North-west cleans up after severe winds

On Monday night, winds described as “tornado-like” by emergency workers left a trail of damage in the north-west, injuring one man and causing widespread power cuts.

 

Crews spent the night repairing damage after strong winds knocked down trees, blew off roof tiles and downed powerlines at Burnie, Devonport and Turners Beach.

 

TasNetworks crews were busy restoring power but several areas including Devonport and Wesley Vale were still out just before 4pm (AEST).

 

The weather bureau issued a flood watch for all northern rivers and there was a severe weather warning for most north and north-west districts.

 

Forecaster Melanie Webb said conditions would worsen overnight in the north and west, but the south was expected to escape the worst of it.

 

During the Monday night storms, a man was taken to hospital from a business at Round Hill in Burnie, while boats were blown around at a commercial marine business.

 

SES north-west duty officer Anthony Dick said businesses at Round Hill suffered significant damage.

 

“There was a tornado-like severe destructive wind and there was four or five commercial buildings in that area which … had significant structural damage,” he said.

 

“There were roofs blown off, there was windows blown out, there was a boat shop in the area that had boats blown around the yard.”

‘When she went bang I hit the floor’: resident

Residents of the north-west told of sudden destruction caused by severe weather that lashed the coast on Monday night and continued throughout Tuesday.

 

Burnie real estate agent Chris Stafford said the storm hit suddenly.

 

“When she went bang, I hit the floor and glass went into the paperwork,” he said.

 

The business that Helen Breaden grew up in had its roof blown off and walls toppled.

 

“I was devastated, just totally devastated. It’s just shocking to see it all just gone,” she said.

 

“It was a solid brick house.”

 

Police Inspector Kim Steven said he was surprised by the extent of the damage.

 

“We’re lucky we came out with only minor injuries to one of the occupants.”

Road caution urged as wild weather continues

Police are advising motorists to avoid driving on flooded roads in the north.

 

Several roads have been affected by flooding and local councils are putting up warning signs.

 

Sergeant Brenda Orr said police in Devonport were still responding to reports of damage.

 

“We’ve responded to a number of trees that have fall across the road and large amounts of water on the road,” he said.

 

“Police have attended a semi-trailer that’s been blown over on to it’s side by the wind, and there’s a been a number of damaged and destroyed sheds and some damage to houses.”

 

A car also hit a fallen tree on the Bass Highway at Leith, causing traffic delays.

 

Acting sergeant Adam Forest advised motorists to take care and stay off the road if possible.

 

“Take a bit longer, or allow a bit longer, to get to (your) destination,” he said.

http://tinyurl.com/ohyu4cz

Chikungunya virus targets 20 New Jersey residents, USA

Twenty New Jersey residents have tested positive for the chikungunya virus, according to the state Health Department.

The mosquito-borne virus has spread through the Caribbean, and the first two cases in the U.S. were reported last week in Florida.

Health officials say the virus is not contagious from person to person, is typically not life threatening and will likely resolve on its own.

If a person tests positive for chikungunya and is then bitten by a mosquito, that mosquito may later spread the infection by biting another person.

Infection with chikungunya virus is rarely fatal, but the joint pain can often be severe and debilitating. Other symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain and rash.

Symptoms appear on average three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, the health department says. Most patients feel better after a few days or weeks, however, some people may develop long-term effects. Complications are more common in infants younger than a year old; those older than 65; and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

The state Health Department says the residents who came down with chikungunya had returned to New Jersey from the Caribbean. Chikungunya causes a high fever and severe pain in the joints.

http://tinyurl.com/qyy8an5

Plane crashes in north-central Idaho, USA

A small, home-built airplane has crashed in the Clearwater National Forest near the Idaho-Montana border, killing the pilot.

The Clearwater County sheriff’s office says a crew with Two Bear Air Helicopter of Whitefish, Montana, spotted the wreckage Monday west of Lolo Pass. The sheriff’s office identified the pilot as 72-year-old Milon Meyer, of Richland, Washington. No one else was on board.

The pilot contacted another airplane Monday morning and reported there was oil on the plane’s windshield. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says the pilot was unsure if the plane would make it to its next planned stop in Helena, Montana.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the airplane was a single-engine LancAir Legacy traveling from Richland, Washington, to Baker, Montana. Meyer was headed to Wisconsin for a convention.

http://tinyurl.com/qdgzla2

Plane crashes in Benghazi, Libya

A Libyan military plane crashed and exploded in the restive eastern city of Benghazi after it engaged Islamist militants, a military source and a witness said.

General Sagr al-Jerouchi, chief of air operations for dissident general Khalifa Haftar, said it was not immediately clear if the plane was shot down or suffered a malfunction. He added that it had just attacked Islamist positions.

 

Weekend fighting in Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 revolution that ousted Muammar Qaddafi, killed dozens of people, mostly soldiers.

 

Combat erupted Saturday when Islamists attacked the headquarters of a special forces unit near the city center. One of the few regular army units located in Benghazi, it backs an anti-Islamist campaign launched by Haftar in May but has not placed itself under his command.

In the capital Tripoli clashes set fire to two major oil depots on Monday threatening to spill an environmental disaster.

Several countries have closed their missions in Libya and withdrawn their diplomatic staff amid fears of possible attacks.

On Tuesday France said it will evacuate its nationals after similar moves by other European nations.

 

There are less than 100 French nationals in Libya and they will be taken out of the country by ship, the source said, adding that the operation would be over by the afternoon.

http://tinyurl.com/m9ftu6r

The deadly Ebola virus will spread to the 4 corners of Earth

****EXTREMELY URGENT****

The deadly Ebola virus will spread to the 4 corners of Earth

****BE ALERT****

Two tropical systems are forming & heading towards Japan/Philippines

Fresh on the heels of Typhoon Matmo, portions of Eastern Asia will need to keep an eye on a developing cyclone currently spinning in the Western Pacific Ocean.

This large area of low pressure currently sits several hundred miles south of Okinawa, Japan, and east of the northern Philippines producing widespread showers and thunderstorms along with gusty winds.

Showers and thunderstorms remain disorganized around this large area of low pressure, preventing development into a named cyclone at this time.

This feature is currently over an area of very warm water; however, moderate easterly wind shear combined with the large size of the unsettled weather has hampered development thus far.

Wind shear is expected to weaken later this week as the low moves northwest, allowing further development and strengthening as it moves toward Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

Anyone living in or visiting areas from Taiwan, through eastern China and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan should closely monitor this potential cyclone as heavy rain and locally damaging winds are possible later this week.

Conditions will deteriorate across the Ryukyu Islands Wednesday night into Thursday, with some outer rain bands potentially reaching northern and eastern Taiwan during this time as well.

Areas from eastern China into South Korea and southern Japan need to be on alert for worsening weather with locally heavy rain and gusty winds possible from Friday into the weekend.

Current forecasts are for the developing cyclone to move northwest, tracking between Taiwan and Okinawa from Thursday into Friday before advancing farther northwest over the weekend.

While the future intensity of cyclone remains unclear due to the amount of wind shear it will encounter along its northwest track, heavy rainfall and flooding are expected regardless of strength.

With the status of this developing complex subject to change, please be sure to check with the West Pacific Typhoon and Tropical Storm Center for the latest information.

Another area of concern is Tropical Storm Halong which continues to strengthen to the east of Guam. A general west to northwest track of this storm will bring heavy rain and strong winds to Guam Tuesday night, Wednesday and Wednesday night, local time.

Rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) with locally higher amounts could lead to flooding across Guam and the surrounding Mariana Islands just to the north. Winds over 110 kph (70 mph) may cause some power outages and some instances of structural damage.

Further strengthening is expected as the storm moves northwestward, and it could reach typhoon strength before moving through the Mariana Islands just north of Guam.

In the longer range, this cyclone could target Japan with another round of heavy rain and damaging winds next week.

As this cyclone tracks northward late this week and early next week, the potential exists for rapid strengthening and a Halong could become a very dangerous and powerful typhoon prior to reaching Japan.

http://tinyurl.com/ktn76yk