LIGHTNING CLAIMS LIVES OF 13 CHILDREN AT REFUGEE CAMP IN UGANDA

WORLD NEWS

4th NOVEMBER, 2024

By Oyenike

LIGHTNING CLAIMS LIVES OF 13 CHILDREN AT REFUGEE CAMP IN UGANDA

According to police reports, a lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda has led to the fatalities of 13 children and one adult. The victims were attending a church service on Saturday evening when the lightning hit, leaving another 34 individuals injured.

The tragic event took place at the Palabek Refugee Settlement in the northwest region of the country, which has recently experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning. Kituuma Rusoke, a spokesperson for Uganda Police, informed the BBC that the adult who lost their life was 21 years old, although the specific ages of the deceased children were not disclosed.

The Palabek Refugee Settlement houses over 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, as reported by the UN’s refugee agency, with many coming from neighbouring South Sudan. This incident follows a similar tragedy from four years ago when lightning struck in the city of Arua, also in northwestern Uganda, killing 10 children during a break from playing football.

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BANGLADESH INCREASES PAYMENTS TO ADANI TO PREVENT POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION

Bangladesh is increasing its payments to Adani Power after the Indian firm reportedly reduced electricity supply by 50% due to an unpaid $800 million bill. Senior officials confirmed they are processing partial payments, having issued a $170 million letter of credit to the company, which provides 10% of Bangladesh’s electricity.

Adani Power, which operates a 1600-megawatt coal-fired plant in eastern India, has not responded to inquiries regarding the supply cuts. Reports indicate that the company may halt all supplies if the debt is not settled by 7 November. However, officials from Bangladesh believe full supply cuts are unlikely.

Bangladesh is committed to making gradual and regular payments to resolve the crisis. Energy adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan expressed surprise at the supply cuts despite the increased payment efforts, stating they will not allow any power producer to manipulate them.

Payments have risen from $35 million in July to $97 million in October, amid rising power shortages, particularly in rural areas. The country is facing challenges in generating foreign currency to cover essential imports like electricity and fuel, exacerbated by political unrest that has impacted its government and economy.

Bangladesh is increasing its payments to Adani Power after the Indian firm reportedly reduced electricity supply

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SPAIN RESCUE TEAMS EXPLORE SUBTERRANEAN GARAGE AS NEW FLOODING AFFECTS BARCELONA

Spanish rescuers are concentrating their efforts on locating missing individuals in underground garages and a multi-storey parking facility after the severe floods that struck Valencia last week. There are concerns that shoppers and employees may be trapped within the car park of a shopping centre in Aldaia, located on the outskirts of the city, as floodwaters inundated the region.

Authorities have reported that no casualties were found among the first 50 vehicles examined at the scene. However, these cars were located near the entrance, and a significant portion of the parking area remains submerged and unexplored. Meanwhile, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in parts of the northeastern Catalonia region, with Barcelona experiencing flooding on Monday morning.

Catalan media showcased images of vehicles partially submerged on highways and floodwaters entering a bus. Additionally, water has infiltrated sections of El Prat airport, affecting the public area of Terminal 1, leading to the cancellation, delay, or diversion of over 60 flights. Rail services have also been halted, with the death toll from last week’s rainfall now reaching 217, including a missing British couple in their 70s, whose family confirmed they were found deceased in their vehicle days after the floods.

On Monday morning, Spain’s interior minister refrained from providing a specific number of those still unaccounted for. The storm caught many victims in their cars on roadways and in underground locations such as parking lots, tunnels, and garages, making rescue operations particularly challenging. Outside the Bonaire shopping mall in Aldaia, decaying piles of debris lined the streets while loud generators pumped out water, yet thousands of gallons still remain trapped inside the mall’s car park.

Rescuers are concentrating their efforts on locating missing individuals in underground garages and a multi-storey parking facility

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AT LEAST 36 PEOPLE KILLED AS BUS TUMBLES INTO A RAVINE IN INDIA

A tragic incident has resulted in the deaths of at least 36 individuals, with 27 others injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Uttarakhand, India. Authorities reported that there were 44 passengers on board when the driver lost control, causing the bus to fall into a 50-metre-deep gorge in Marchula, located in the Almora district. The state government has initiated an investigation into the incident.

Buses serve as the primary means of transportation in this Himalayan region, and accidents are frequent. The bus was en route to Ramnagar district when the tragedy occurred on Monday morning. Images and footage from the scene depicted the severely damaged vehicle overturned at the base of a hill.

Several passengers died instantly, while the injured were transported to local hospitals. Rescue efforts are ongoing. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his sympathies to the victims’ families and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,378; £1,834) for the deceased’s families and 50,000 rupees for the injured.

Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also pledged financial support for the victims and their relatives. Buses are widely used in India, particularly for travel between smaller towns. However, operators frequently disregard safety regulations and overcrowd vehicles beyond their limits. Approximately 160,000 individuals die in road accidents in India annually, the highest globally, primarily due to speeding and reckless driving.

A bus plunged into a ravine in Uttarakhand, India

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SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE EJECT 540 ILLEGAL MINERS FROM VACANT MINE SHAFT

Police in South Africa have expelled 540 unauthorised miners from an abandoned mine shaft and taken them into custody. Earlier this week, security forces obstructed the delivery of food and water to the miners to compel them to leave the mine.

The miners faced “hunger and dehydration,” prompting them to come back to the surface, according to police reports. Individuals have been emerging from the shaft in the northern town of Orkney since Saturday, although hundreds are believed to still be inside.

On Sunday, the national police chief urged ground forces to “maintain their resolve” and “restore the rule of law,” as stated by the police. Earlier this week, security forces prevented local communities from supplying food, water, and essentials to the illegal miners.

The police indicated that 225 miners had resurfaced by Saturday, but “hundreds if not a thousand” were thought to remain underground. An update on Sunday revealed that an additional 340 miners had emerged and were arrested. Thousands of illegal miners, referred to as “zama zamas” (meaning “those who try their luck” in Zulu), operate in the mineral-rich nation.

Police in South Africa have expelled 540 unauthorised miners from an abandoned mine shaft and taken them into custody

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