Deadly Earthquake in Southwestern China
Chinese officials say an earthquake in a remote mountainous region of the country's southwest has killed hundreds of people.
They say more than 1,400 people were injured in Sunday's quake. Many people are still missing.
The quake's epicenter was in Yunnan province. It caused several buildings to collapse, including at least one school.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Sunday's earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1. Chinese authorities said the magnitude was higher.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the earthquake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years.
The official Xinhua news agency said that the epicenter was in Longtoushan town in Yunnan's Ludian county.
It says the government is sending thousands of tents, folding beds, quilts and coats to the affected area.
Southwestern China is frequently struck by earthquakes. In 2012 an earthquake in the Yunnan region killed at least 80 people.
ALERT #17 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA
…TROPICAL STORM WATCH WAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS …
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
AT 11:00 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.2 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 72.6 DEGREES WEST OR OVER MAYAGUANA, 96 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAMANA CAY, 174 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR, 360 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU, AND 46 MILES NORTHWEST OF GRAND TURK IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 21 MILES PER HOUR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-ORTHWEST, NORTH AND NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK BERTHA WILL BEGIN MOVING AWAY FROM THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS LATER TODAY, AND PASS EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND MAYAGUANA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES AND SHOULD REMAIN
INDOORS DURING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. BOATERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT. HOWEVER RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILENT AND BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FORECASTED TRACK.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER MAYAGUANA AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH MONDAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 3:00 PM EDT SUNDAY.
ALERT #16 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA AS IT NEARS TCI
…BERTHA IS NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS …
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN 12 TO 24 HOURS.
AT 8 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.5 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 71.8 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT, 45 MILES WEST OF GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 120 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF INAGUA, 95 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MAYAGUANA AND 430 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 21 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND THEN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED BY TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF BERTHA WILL MOVE NEAR OR OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND MOVE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATE TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TODAY. STRENGTHENING IS TO BEGIN ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL AFFECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON AND MAYAGUANA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE COMPLETED AND SHOULD REMAIN INDOORS DURING HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. BOATERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT. HOWEVER RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILENT AND PREPARED IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FORECASTED TRACK.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH MONDAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT NOON EDT SUNDAY.
ALERT #15 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED AT 6AM
…BERTHA IS MOVING AWAY FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND TOWARD THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS, IN THIS CASE, WITHIN 12 TO 24 HOURS.
AT 5 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.9 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 71.1 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT, 40 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 165 MILES EAST OF INAGUA, 155 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MAYAGUANA AND 490 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 21 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND THEN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED BY TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF BERTHA WILL MOVE NEAR OR OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS BY THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATE TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TODAY. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST TO OCCUR ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL AFFECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON AND MAYAGUANA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES ARE COMPLETED, AND BOATERS ARE IN SAFE HARBOUR. BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PASS TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS TONIGHT. HOWEVER RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILENT AND PREPARED IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE FORECASTED TRACK.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH MONDAY WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 9:00 AM SUNDAY.
ALERT #14 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED SUNDAY 03RD AUGUST, 2014.
…BERTHA REMAINS DISORGANIZED AS SHE APPROACHES TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SE BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 2:00 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.2 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 70.5 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT, 95 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 179 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 544 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 21 MILES PER HOUR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY, TAKING BERTHA NEAR OR OVER THE SE BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS BY THIS AFTERNOON, AND MOVE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATE TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TODAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL BE OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY EARLY MORNING. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES, AND BOATERS ARE ASKED TO SEEK SAFE HARBOUR.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 6:00 AM SUNDAY.
Tropical Wind Speeds Captured by Met Office for TCI
THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ADVISE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW IN REGARD TO THE BEGINNING AND ENDING TIME OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS FOR TCI
|
ISLANDS |
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS |
|
|
BEGIN TIME |
END TIME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SALT CAY |
2:00AM |
9:00AM |
|
GRAND TURK |
3:00AM |
9:30AM |
|
SOUTH CAICOS |
5:00AM |
10:30AM |
|
MIDDLE CAICOS |
6:00AM |
12:00PM (NOON) |
|
NORTH CAICOS AND PROVIDENCIALES |
7:00AM |
12:30PM |
ALERT #13 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED AT 12 MIDNIGHT
…BERTHA REMAINS DISORGANIZED AS SHE APPROACHES TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SE BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 11:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.5 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 69.7 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT, 165 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 246 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 615 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY, TAKING BERTHA NEAR OR OVER THE SE BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS ON SUNDAY, AND MOVE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATE SUNDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES, AND BOATERS ARE ASKED TO SEEK SAFE HARBOUR.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 3:00 AM SUNDAY.
US issues new customs declaration form for Caribbean travellers
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has issued a new customs declaration form “in print and online” that expands the definition of family members for arriving Caribbean and other travellers.
CBP said the definition expands to “members of a family residing in the same household who are related by blood, marriage, domestic relationship, or adoption.”
The agency said it has accepted this family definition since the final rule became effective on January 17.
The new form – CBP Form 6059B – provides the expanded definition in the first paragraph.
CBP said the recent regulation change allows more returning US citizens, residents and international visitors to file a joint customs declaration for items acquired abroad.
“This produces less paperwork for people travelling together as a family and streamlines passenger processing, thereby increasing efficiency for CBP, airline personnel and the travelling public,” the statement said.
“Travellers may complete the declaration form online, print it and bring it on their trip to present to CBP when they arrive in the US or at a CBP preclearance site,” it added.
CBP said air and cruise lines also will hand out the declaration forms for travellers to complete before disembarking in the US.
In addition to clarifying the definition of family members, the final rule also clarified the term domestic relationship, which includes foster children, stepchildren, half-siblings, legal wards, other dependents, and individuals with an “in loco parentis or guardianship relationship”.
The definition also includes two adults who are in a “committed relationship including, but not limited to, long-term companions and couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships where the partners are financially interdependent, and are not married to, or a partner of, anyone else.”
Source- Caribbean Media Corporation
Lebanon Condemns Syrian Rebel Attack
Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam is calling Saturday's raid on a border town by Syrian rebels an attack against Lebanon and its people.
Salam says his government will not tolerate chaos and let matters get out of control, adding that the army is working to restore security and stability to the town of Arsal.
It was one of the most serious incursions into Lebanon in the three-year-old Syrian civil war.
Lebanese officials say the violence began when security officers arrested a member of the Nursa Front rebel group at a checkpoint.
Rebel gunmen stormed into Arsal, demanding his release. They seized the police station and briefly held a number of soldiers hostage.
Masked gunmen and Lebanese army vehicles were reported to be seen in the streets of Arsal during much of the day.
Reports say the fighting has killed at least seven Lebanese soldiers and two civilians.
The U.S. State Department is strongly condemning Saturday's attack and says it supports Lebanon's security, sovereignty and policy of staying out of regional conflicts.
Violence stemming from the fighting in Syria often spills over into Lebanon.
Lebanese-based Hezbollah extremists have fought alongside Syrian government forces against the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Some information for this report comes from AP and Reuters.
China Plant Blast Kills 65
Chinese officials say 65 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in an explosion at a factory in eastern Kunshan City.
Authorities say the explosion occurred at 7:30 a.m. Saturday (1130 Friday UTC) in an automobile wheel hub grinding workshop owned by a Taiwanese firm.
A preliminary investigation showed that the blast was probably caused when dust in an enclosed room was exposed to a spark or flame.
The local city government said 45 bodies were pulled from rubble and another 20 people died later in hospitals. Many of the injured had severe burns.