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Police: No truth to bomb threat at PI’s prayer rally
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has debunked a text message claiming a bomb threat at the People's Initiative (PI) “Unity for One Nation, One Prayer” rally in San Pedro Square. The message warned of possible explosions at Rizal Park, one of the rally venues. Despite the lack of credible threats, the police urged vigilance and cooperation from the public for safety. Approximately 300 police personnel were deployed to secure various rally points, with additional support from volunteers and security clusters. Task Force Davao also activated a high alert status as part of the city's security measures. Captain John Louie Dema-ala confirmed that the circulating threat was unfounded and aimed at intimidating rallyists. Despite this, nearly 17,000 Dabawenyos joined the rally to oppose the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha) movement. The police and security forces remain vigilant and are conducting ongoing investigations into the social media threat......»»
Wildfire on Spain’s Tenerife forces 3,000 people to evacuate
A wildfire raging on Spain's holiday island of Tenerife amid unseasonably hot temperatures forced the evacuation on Wednesday of around 3,000 people from their homes, local officials said. Firefighters backed by six water-dropping helicopters were battling the blaze which broke out on Wednesday afternoon in an area of steep ravines in the northeast of the island that was badly ravaged by a huge wildfire in August, the regional government of Tenerife said. Some 2,400 people were evacuated from the town of Santa Ursula, and another 600 from La Orotava, as a precaution, Lope Afonso, the vice president of the regional government of Tenerife wrote on Facebook. Television images and videos posted on social media showed smoke rising from a hill close to houses in a remote neighborhood and helicopters dropping water on flames. Popular tourist areas on Tenerife, part of the Canaries archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, have so far been unaffected and its two airports have been operating normally. The seat of the fire "has been stabilized, we are seeing how it evolves to determine if in a few hours residents can return to their homes," Blanca Perez, the island's councilor in charge of emergencies, told local radio. The outbreak of the fire comes as Tenerife and the neighboring island of Gran Canaria are under a heat alert, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) across much of the island, levels normally seen during the height of summer. The seven-island archipelago is located off the northwest coast of Africa and southwest of mainland Spain. At their nearest point, the islands are 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Morocco. As global temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned that heatwaves will become more frequent and more intense. The post Wildfire on Spain’s Tenerife forces 3,000 people to evacuate appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Data not compromised on PhilHealth cyberattack
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Wednesday maintained its claim that its members’ data was not compromised by the recent cyberattack on its system. In an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, PhilHealth spokesperson and senior vice president for Health Finance Policy Israel Pargas reiterated that their database remained “intact.” He, however, admitted that hackers behind the cyberattack accessed the data that were stored in the servers affected by the hacking. “We cannot verify that. It can be a possibility because again, checking our database, it is still intact. If we check the database, it appears that no data was compromised or leaked,” he said. “However, since our employees are also working with regard to our members and all, it could be true that there may be data stolen by these hackers. It is uncertain whether any data was stolen or not,” he added. On Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Communications Technology confirmed that the hackers have already started publishing PhilHealth employees’ data on the dark web. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said the stolen data includes details on employees’ identification cards, memorandum, directives and hospital bills. The development came a day after the self-imposed deadline of the hackers on the government to pay a $300,000 ransom for the data expired. Dy said the information posted on the dark web could just be a “teaser” of what the hackers have stolen from the state-run health insurer’s system. At the same time, in an advisory, PhilHealth confirmed that some members’ personal information including names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers were compromised. The corporation said it is “working to notify all affected individuals directly.” The state-run health insurer also urged its members to take precautionary measures in light of the cyberattack on its system. “Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity,” it said. Members were also encouraged to place a fraud alert on their credit reports and change their passwords for their online accounts, especially their financial accounts. Members were also advised to be wary of phishing emails and smishing text messages. No numbers Asked how many members were affected by the incident, Pargas said PhilHealth has yet to know the quantity of the data stolen by the hackers. “There might have been data that were compromised but we don’t have any numbers yet,” he said. In case PhilHealth members receive suspicious calls about their data, they may report it through phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com or phic.dpo@gmail.com, he said. Online Meanwhile, the state-run health insurer said its website, member portal, e-claims, HCI portal, Electronic Premium Remittance System, and electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgment Receipt can now be accessed by the public and their partners. On 22 September, PhilHealth temporarily shut down its website and membership portal due to an “information security incident.” The post Data not compromised on PhilHealth cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Wednesday maintained its claim that its members' data was not compromised by the recent cyberattack on its system. In an interview with Daily Tribune, PhilHealth spokesperson and Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Israel Pargas reiterated that their database remained “intact”. He, however, admitted that hackers behind the cyberattack accessed the data that were stored in the servers affected by the hacking. “We cannot verify that. It can be a possibility because again, checking our database, it is still intact. If we check the database, it appears that no data was compromised or leaked,” he said. “However, since our employees are also working with regard to our members and all, it could be true that there may be data stolen by these hackers. It is uncertain whether any data was stolen or not,” he added. On Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Technology confirmed that the hackers have already started publishing PhilHealth employees’ data on the dark web. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said the stolen data includes details on employees' identification cards, memorandum, directives, and hospital bills. The development came a day after the self-imposed deadline of the hackers on the government to pay a $300,000 ransom for the data expired. Dy said the information posted on the dark web could just be a “teaser” of what the hackers have stolen from the state-run health insurer’s system. At the same time, in an advisory, PhilHealth confirmed that some members' personal information including names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers were compromised. The corporation said it is “working to notify all affected individuals directly.” The state-run health insurer also urged its members to take precautionary measures in light of the cyberattack on its system. “Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity,” it said. Members were also encouraged to place a fraud alert on their credit reports and change their passwords for their online accounts, especially their financial accounts. Members were also advised to be wary of phishing emails and smishing text messages. No numbers Asked how many members were affected by the incident, Pargas said PhilHealth has yet to know the quantity of the data stolen by the hackers. “There might have been data that were compromised but we don’t have any numbers yet,” he said. In case PhilHealth members receive suspicious calls about their data, they may report it through phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com or phic.dpo@gmail.com, he said. Online Meanwhile, the state-run health insurer said its website, member portal, e-claims, HCI portal, Electronic Premium Remittance System, and electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgment Receipt can now be accessed by the public and their partners. On September 22, PhilHealth temporarily shut down its website and membership portal due to an "information security incident." The post PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years
Hong Kong was flooded by the heaviest rainfall in nearly 140 years on Friday, leaving the city's streets and some subway stations under water and forcing its schools to close. Just across the border, authorities in China's tech hub Shenzhen recorded the heaviest rains since records began in 1952. Climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, experts say, with more rain and stronger gusts leading to flash floods and coastal damage. The heavy rains in Hong Kong started on Thursday and in the hour leading up to midnight, the city's weather observatory recorded hourly rainfall of 158.1 millimeters at its headquarters, the highest since records began in 1884. On Friday afternoon, the Hospital Authority said at least 110 people were hospitalized due to injuries, with four in serious condition. A man was found unconscious off the shore of western Hong Kong Island and declared dead at the hospital, though authorities were still investigating if the death was flood-related. The city's highest rainstorm warning level, "black", was hoisted for a record-breaking 16 hours before being lowered at 3:40 pm Friday, with rainfall mostly easing by late afternoon. "It's absolutely shocking," said Jacky, 52, who lives in the Wong Tai Sin district with his elderly parents. "I don't remember floods ever being this bad in our district." "The bottom floor of the mall is completely flooded, the water level is higher than the storefronts... it's turned our day into chaos," he added. Authorities issued flash flood warnings, with emergency services conducting rescue operations in parts of the territory. "Residents living in close proximity to rivers should stay alert to weather conditions and should consider evacuation" if their homes are flooded, the observatory said. It also warned of potential landslips, telling motorists to "keep away from steep slopes or retaining walls". Hong Kong's stock exchange cancelled all trading sessions on Friday. 'Once in a century' Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan described the deluge as "a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm", adding that extreme conditions would continue until midnight local time (1600 GMT). "It's like putting four bathtubs of water into one bathtub... it will spill," Chan said at a press conference, when asked if the government had done enough to prevent flooding. The Hong Kong Observatory said it recorded more than 600 millimeters of rainfall at its headquarters over 24 hours -- roughly a quarter of the city's annual average. Earlier in the day, taxis struggled through flooded roads as commuters attempted to make their way to work, with some cars stranded in the deluge. "It felt like the whole neighborhood was isolated by the floodwater. One of the underground car parks is totally under water," Olivia Lam, who lives on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, told AFP. "The water was almost waist-deep outside my building, and that's not the worst (case) in the neighborhood." An AFP reporter saw boulders and mud from a landslide block off a two-lane road in the Shau Kei Wan district, with mud also spilling over into a nearby basketball court. Residents of a public housing block just 30 meters from the landslide lined up with buckets to collect fresh water after the building's supply was disrupted. Roads were also flooded on the island of Lantau, where rivers swelled over their banks. Southern China was hit the previous weekend by two typhoons in quick succession -- Saola and Haikui -- though Hong Kong avoided a feared direct hit. Tens of millions of people in the densely populated coastal areas of southern China had sheltered indoors ahead of those storms. Hong Kong's weather observatory said the latest torrential rain was brought by the "trough of low pressure associated with (the) remnant of Haikui". Authorities suspended schools and cargo clearance services on the city's border with Shenzhen were paused. The border disruption came hours after Hong Kong authorities announced that Shenzhen was preparing to discharge water from its reservoir, which they said could lead to flooding in northern parts of the city. Hong Kong's subway operator said there was a service disruption on one of its lines after a station in the Wong Tai Sin district was flooded. A handful of other stations were also affected by the rain. Footage posted on social media showed a subway train not stopping at Wong Tai Sin station, which had floodwater on its platform. The flooding could cost Hong Kong at least $100 million, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence estimate, compared to $470 million in damage when the city was hit by typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. The post Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At least 11 killed, 13 missing in Beijing rainstorms
At least 11 people were killed and 13 were missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing, state media said Tuesday, in downpours that have submerged roads and deluged neighborhoods with mud. Storm Doksuri, a former super typhoon, swept northwards over China after hitting southern Fujian province on Friday, following its battering of the Philippines. Heavy rains began pummeling the capital and surrounding areas on Saturday, with nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July dumped on Beijing in just 40 hours. Swaths of suburban Beijing remain badly hit by the rains -- some of the city's heaviest in years. On the banks of the Beijing river, one of the worst affected areas, AFP reporters saw muddy debris strewn across the road. One man told AFP he had not seen flooding this bad since July 2012, when 79 people were killed and tens of thousands evacuated. "This time it's much bigger than that," he said, declining to give his name. "It's a natural disaster, there's nothing you can do," a 20-year-old man surnamed Qi waiting for a taxi with his grandmother outside a hospital told AFP. "(We) still have to work hard and rebuild." On Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV reported that the rains had killed at least 11 people, two of whom were workers "killed on duty during rescue and relief". Thirteen people were missing, but another 14 had been found safe, the broadcaster said. President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for "every effort" to rescue those "lost or trapped" by the rains. More than 100,000 people deemed at risk across the city have been evacuated, according to state-owned Global Times newspaper. Authorities have allocated 110 million yuan ($15.4 million) for disaster relief work in Beijing and surrounding provinces, CCTV said. 'Endure what we can' On Tuesday, around a dozen emergency vehicles, including trucks with water tanks and bulldozers, were spotted on the road between Shijingshan and Mentougou districts. Parts of the road were still closed off and workers in bright orange raincoats were using shovels to clear it. Florist Wang Yongkun, 62, had piled sandbags around the door of his shop, but the floor inside was still coated in mud. He said in 15 years working there he had never experienced anything like the last few days. "We started cleaning up in the afternoon yesterday... and woke up again at seven today to continue," he said. "You just have to deal with it... We will endure what we can." Around 150,000 households in Mentougou were without running water, the local Communist Party newspaper Beijing Daily said, with 45 water tankers dispatched to offer emergency supplies. Cars swept away Further south in Fangshan district, the Dashi River had overflowed, with trees along the riverbank partially submerged, and some sections of the road cordoned off. Roads were caked in mud, foliage and various debris, including an upturned armchair. AFP reporters saw collapsed bridges at two locations, with locals saying the damage had happened during the rains. Earlier social media videos tagged in Fangshan had shown multiple cars being swept along roads turned into fast-flowing streams. Live images from broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday morning showed a row of buses half submerged in floodwater. In the parking lot of a high-rise apartment complex, cars were piled on top of each other, alarms still sounding, while people lined up with buckets and other containers to collect fresh water. Chaotic scenes Local media on Monday published footage of chaotic scenes aboard high-speed rail trains stranded on tracks for as long as 30 hours, with passengers complaining that they had run out of food and water. Authorities "must properly relocate affected people, work quickly to repair damaged transportation, communication, and electricity infrastructure, and restore the order of normal production and life as soon as possible", Xi said on Tuesday. The capital activated a flood control reservoir on Monday for the first time since it was built in 1998, the Beijing Daily said. Parts of neighboring Hebei province remain under red alert for rainstorms, with authorities warning of potential flash floods and landslides. In Handan, Hebei province, rescuers lifted by crane reached a man trapped on his car in floodwaters, lifting him to safety before the car was flipped and washed away by the current. China has been experiencing extreme weather and posting record temperatures this summer, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change. The country is already preparing for the arrival of another typhoon -- Khanun, the sixth such storm of the year -- as it nears China's east coast. The post At least 11 killed, 13 missing in Beijing rainstorms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At least 11 killed, 27 missing in Beijing rainstorms
At least 11 people are dead and 27 missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing, Chinese state media said Tuesday. Military helicopters have been deployed to deliver supplies to stranded train passengers after the deadly rainstorms wreaked havoc in the capital. Storm Doksuri, a former super typhoon, has swept northwards over China since Friday when it hit southern Fujian province after scything through the Philippines. Heavy rains began pummelling the city and surrounding areas on Saturday, with nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July dumped on Beijing in just 40 hours. On Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV updated the overall death toll for the capital, reporting that "heavy rainfalls killed at least 11 people, 27 are missing". A military unit of 26 soldiers and four helicopters launched an "airdrop rescue mission" in the early hours of Tuesday to deliver hundreds of food packages and ponchos to people stranded in and around a train station in Beijing's hard-hit Mentougou district, state broadcaster CCTV reported. "On July 31, areas in Beijing including Fangshan and Mentougou suffered serious damage from water, causing three trains to get trapped on their routes, and road traffic in some areas was completely cut off," CCTV reported. The broadcaster was running live images on Tuesday morning of a row of buses half submerged in floodwater in Beijing's southwest Fangshan neighborhood. Around 150,000 households in Mentougou had no running water, the local Communist Party newspaper Beijing Daily said Tuesday, with 45 water tankers dispatched to offer emergency supplies. Local media on Monday published footage of chaotic scenes aboard high-speed rail trains stranded on tracks for as long as 30 hours, with passengers complaining that they had run out of food and water. Red alert Beijing and neighboring Hebei province were on red alert overnight for rainstorms, with meteorological authorities warning of potential flash floods and landslides. The city activated a flood control reservoir on Monday for the first time since it was built in 1998, the Beijing Daily said. In Handan, Hebei province, rescuers lifted by crane reached a man trapped on his car in floodwaters on Sunday, lifting him to safety before the car was flipped and washed away by the current. China has been experiencing extreme weather and posting record temperatures this summer, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change. Experts had warned that the downpour could prompt even worse flooding than in July 2012, when 79 people were killed and tens of thousands evacuated, according to local media. The country is already preparing for the arrival of another typhoon -- Khanun, the sixth such storm of the year -- as it nears China's east coast. The post At least 11 killed, 27 missing in Beijing rainstorms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catapang warns: reform or face consequences
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. made a stern warning after another BuCor personnel was caught yesterday while trying to smuggle eight packs of cigarettes to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Caught red-handed was CO1 Jerome San Gabriel assigned at the NBP hospital supply. He was caught by an alert BuCor guard assigned at the inner gate control of the NBP upon checking the belongings of San Gabriel which yielded the contraband hidden in a rice plastic bag. San Gabriel was turned over to the commander of the guard at the maximum unit for further investigation and disposition. Earlier, two BuCor personnel were also caught while trying to sneak in some contraband which were placed inside their underwear and pouch bag for cosmetics. “I am giving everybody here a chance to do the right thing and what is mandated of us to do. It is either they change their bad habits and join me in my call to reform the bureau or be caught and face the consequence of their actions,” Catapang said. The BuCor will be relentless in its drive to rid the bureau of undesirable employees, Catapang added. Meanwhile, another person deprived of liberty (PDL) turned over to authorities’ contraband being peddled inside the detention cell. Based on the initial investigation submitted by BuCor Officers 1 Jonathan Tolentino and Andrew John G. Valleser, it was disclosed that around 12:30 p.m. yesterday, PDL Rodeo Ramos went to the Office of Director General - Extension located inside the maximum security compound and personally surrendered a suspected illegal liquidized marijuana e-cigarette (vape type) to Cezar Oracion, chief of Intelligence and Investigation Section. Ramos said when he learned that suspected illegal drugs are being peddled within his area of responsibility, he bought one piece from a PDL seller who has yet to be identified. He tasted the said product and found out that it has the same taste as marijuana prompting him to report the matter to Christian Chavez, BuCor ODG - Technical System Specialist. Ramos surrendered the contraband for documentation and further investigation. The contraband will be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. The post Catapang warns: reform or face consequences appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Temperature reaches new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe
Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming. From North America to Europe and Asia, people gulped water and sought shelter from the sweltering heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days. Europe, the globe's fastest-warming continent, was bracing for its hottest-ever temperature this week on Italy's islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) is predicted, according to the European Space Agency. "We're from Texas and it’s really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it’s even hotter here," Colman Peavy, 30, said as he sipped a capuccino at an outside terrasse in central Rome with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week Italian vacation. With June already having been the world's hottest on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, Mother Nature seemed intent on July not falling far behind. China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperature reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago. In nearby Turpan city, where ground surface temperatures sizzled at 80C in some parts, authorities have told workers and students to stay home and ordered special vehicles to spray water on major thoroughfares, the meteorological body said. In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalized, health officials said. In Japan, heatstroke alerts were issued in 32 out of the country’s 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions. At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media reported, including 51 who were taken to hospital in Tokyo. The heat was enough for at least one man to dispense with social mortification in Hamamatsu city. "It’s honestly unbearable without a parasol, although I have to admit it is a bit embarrassing," he told national broadcaster NHK of the umbrella in his hand. Japan's highest-ever temperature was 41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city in 2018. 'Oppressive' US heat In western and southern states in the US, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region. California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon. In Arizona, the state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon. "We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) ... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt". Southern California was fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders. Historic highs forecast In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time," with the health ministry sounding a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence. Temperatures were due to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007. Nevertheless, visitors thronged to tourist hot spots like the Colosseum and the Vatican. "I'm from South Africa. We're used to this heat," said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, a civil engineer from Cape Town. "You have to drink lots of water, obviously wear your hat and that’s about it." Greece saw a respite on Monday, as temperatures eased a bit and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its regular opening hours after shutting for a few hours during the previous three days. But a new heatwave was expected from Thursday and meteorologists warned of a heightened risk of wildfires amid strengthening winds from the Aegean Sea. In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across most of the country. Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where meteorologists warned that "abnormally high" temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in the southern Andalusia region in what would be a new regional record. Killer rains Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain. South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday. In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat. Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity. It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is behind the intensification of heatwaves. The post Temperature reaches new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Record heatwaves sweep the world from US to Japan via Europe
Record heat is forecast around the world from the United States, where tens of millions are battling dangerously high temperatures, to Europe and Japan, in the latest example of the threat from global warming. Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna, and Florence. The meteo center warned Italians to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time". The thermometer is likely to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Rome by Monday and even 43C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C, the European Space Agency warned -- "potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe". Greece is also roasting. "Parts of the country could see highs as much as 44C on Saturday," according to the national weather service EMY. The central city of Thebes sweated under 44.2C on Friday. The Acropolis, Athens's top tourist attraction, will on Sunday close during the hottest hours for the third day running. In France, high temperatures and resulting drought are posing a threat to the farming industry, earning Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau criticism from climatologists on Saturday for having brushed aside conditions as "normal enough for summer". June was the second-hottest on record in France, according to the national weather agency, and several areas of the country have been under a heatwave alert since Tuesday. There is little reprieve ahead for Spain, as its meteorological agency warned Saturday that a new heatwave Monday through Wednesday will bring temperatures above 40C to the Canary Islands and the southern Andalusia region. Killer rains Parts of eastern Japan are also expected to reach 38 to 39C on Sunday and Monday, with the meteorological agency warning temperatures could hit previous records. Meanwhile, the northern city of Akita saw more rain in half a day than is typical for the whole month of July, Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported. The downpours also triggered at least one landslide, forcing 9,000 people to evacuate their homes. Torrential rains described by the meteorological agency as the "heaviest rain ever experienced" have also hit southern Japan in recent weeks, leaving at least 11 people dead. Relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people in northern India, after burning heat. The Yamuna River running through the capital New Delhi has reached a record high of 208.66 meters, more than a meter over the flood top set in 1978, threatening low-lying neighborhoods in the megacity of more than 20 million people. Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity. Americans are watching as a powerful heatwave grip stretches from California to Texas, with its peak expected this weekend. In Arizona, one of the hardest-hit states, residents face a daily endurance marathon against the sun. State capital Phoenix recorded 15 straight days above 109F (43C), with Saturday expected to reach well above that mark. Deadly danger Authorities have been sounding the alarm, advising people to avoid outdoor activities in the daytime and to be wary of dehydration. The Las Vegas weather service warned that assuming high temperatures naturally come with the area's desert climate was "a DANGEROUS mindset! This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat". "Now the most intense period is beginning," it added, as the weekend arrived with record highs threatening on Sunday. California's Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks Sunday, with the mercury possibly rising to 130F (54C). Southern California is fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders. Further north, the Canadian government reported that wildfires burned a record-breaking 10 million hectares this year, with more damage expected as the summer drags on. Morocco may be used to hot weather, but it was slated for above-average temperatures this weekend with highs of 47C in some provinces -- more typical of August than July -- sparking concerns for water shortages, the meteorological service said. River Tigris shrinking Water-scarce Jordan was forced to dump 214 tonnes of water on a wildfire that broke out in the Ajloun forest in the north amid a heatwave, the army said. In Iraq, where scorching summers are common, along with power cuts, Wissam Abed told AFP he cools off from Baghdad's brutal summer by swimming in the Tigris river. But as Iraqi rivers dry up, so does the age-old pastime. With temperatures near 50C and wind whipping through the city like a hair dryer, Abed stood in the middle of the river, but the water only comes up to his waist. "I live here... like my grandfather did before me. Year after year, the water situation gets worse," said the 37-year-old. While it can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, scientists insist global warming -- linked to dependence on fossil fuels -- is behind the multiplication and intensification of heat waves in the world. The heatwaves come after the EU's climate monitoring service said the world saw its hottest June on record last month. The post Record heatwaves sweep the world from US to Japan via Europe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
El Niño-threatened supply of water closely monitored
The National Water Resources Board or NWRB remains on high alert for any drastic changes in the metropolitan water supply due to threats of El Niño that can dry up dams. In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the agency has decided to cut the water allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System or MWSS to 50 cubic meters per second or cms in July from this month’s 52 cms. “For the water allocation in Metro Manila, the Board decided to grant the allocation of 50 cms for July and a maximum of 28.5 cms for irrigation in Bulacan and Pampanga,” David said, adding that the water share ratio may change depending on the situation. “We want to remind you that the fear of El Niño is still there, we need to manage the supply and prepare for this weather phenomenon,” he said. Banking on historical occurrences, David said the rains expected this July are projected to ease up the dam situation. “We need to monitor the development. If it is necessary to have an adjustment to manage the supply, we are not discounting that it can happen. But right now, it is 50 cms for July, but subject to adjustment if necessary,” he explained. In a separate interview, Engineer Patrick Dizon, a division manager at the MWSS site operations management, said that if the water supply dwindles next month, about 632,000 water service connections in Metro Manila and nearby areas will experience water service interruptions. The NWRB started to implement the higher water allocation last April, at the height of dry months due to threats of water shortage amid spiking demand and the El Nino phenomenon. Normally, the Water Board only allocates 48 cms for the MWSS. The post El Niño-threatened supply of water closely monitored appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Water still needs to be monitored, fear of El Nino persists
The National Water Resources Board or NWRB remains on high alert for any drastic changes in the metropolitan water supply either due to threats of El Nino that can dry up dams or typhoons that can force reservoirs to discharge water. In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David, Jr. said the agency has decided to cut the water allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System or MWSS to 50 cubic meters per second or cms in July from this month’s 52 cms. “For the water allocation in Metro Manila, the Board decided to grant the allocation of 50 cms for July and a maximum of 28.5 cms for irrigation in Bulacan and Pampanga,” David said, adding that the water share ratio may change depending on the situation. “We want to remind you that the fear of El Nino is still there, we need to manage the supply and prepare for this weather phenomenon,” he said. However, banking on historical occurrences, David said the rains expected this July are projected to ease up the dam situation. “We need to monitor the development. If it is necessary to have an adjustment to manage the supply, we are not discounting that it can happen. But right now, it is 50 cms for July, but subject to adjustment if necessary,” he explained. In a separate interview, Engineer Patrick Dizon, a division manager at the MWSS site operations management, warned that if the water supply dwindles in the coming weeks, about 632,000 water service connections in Metro Manila and nearby areas will experience water service interruptions. The NWRB started to implement the higher water allocation last April, at the height of dry months due to threats of water shortage amid spiking demand and the El Nino phenomenon. Normally, the Water Board only allocates 48 cms for the MWSS. The post Water still needs to be monitored, fear of El Nino persists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
19 dead, thousands seek shelter in South Asia monsoon floods
At least 19 people are dead after floods triggered by South Asia's annual monsoon, with a week of relentless rains forcing thousands of people to seek shelter in India. Floods are common and cause widespread devastation during the treacherous monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency, ferocity and unpredictability. The toll from flooding and landslides last weekend in Nepal had risen to 14 by Friday, with more than two dozen still missing, according to officials. "Search and rescue teams are still on the ground," Dhruba Bahadur Khadka, a spokesman for the country's national disaster authority, told AFP on Friday. Four others were killed after flooding in landslides in India's remote Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh near the Chinese border, disaster management authorities there said Thursday. Authorities in neighboring Assam state said one person had died in flood waters by Thursday evening, with more than 1,300 villages inundated. Around 14,000 people had left their homes for emergency shelters, Assam's disaster agency added. Bangladesh is also on alert after forecasters warned of potential floods in northern districts bordering India. At least 20,000 families had so far been affected by flooding in low-lying areas around the northern district of Kurigram, authorities said. "The major rivers in the region are swelling," district administrator Mohammad Rezaul Karin told AFP. "The situation may worsen anytime if the flow from upstream increases." The Asian Summer Monsoon is essentially a colossal sea breeze that brings South Asia 70-80 percent of its annual rainfall between June and September every year. It is vital for agriculture and therefore for the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security in a region of around two billion people. But it also brings destruction every year in landslides and floods. A 2021 study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research tracking shifts in the monsoon from the mid-20th century suggested it was becoming stronger and more erratic. Last year catastrophic monsoon floods put a third of Pakistan under water, damaging two million homes and killing more than 1,700 people. Bangladesh saw record flooding the same year that killed more than 100 people and cut off seven million others, with relief efforts continuing for months. The post 19 dead, thousands seek shelter in South Asia monsoon floods appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alert Level 4 in Mayon Volcano possible—Phivolcs
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or Phivolcs is not ruling out the possibility of raising Mayon Volcano’s status to the alert level 4 category amid its increasing “magmatic unrest” on the summit dome. In an interview, Phivolcs officer-in-charge Director Teresito Bacolcol said the danger zone in the sector—where the crater rim is low—will also be expanded to eight kilometers or more once the alert level has been further raised. Bacolcol said they are monitoring two scenarios that may happen in Mayon, including the 2014 eruption and the 2018 explosion. “The 2018 scenario [is] the rockfall events progress into a magmatic eruption which ah would include which included lava flows fountaining or 2014 scenario may also happen which is the rockfall activity progress into a very slow rate dome exclusion then followed by a short lava flow so we are hoping for the second scenario,” he explained. Phivolcs has logged 199 rockfall events and six pyroclastic density currents. The crater glows in the volcano and is monitored but can’t be seen by the naked eye with its edifice currently inflated. Mayon also spewed 332 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and emitted 800 meters tall of volcanic plume drifting south of the province. From Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest), the Phivolcs raised Mayon’s status to Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption) on Thursday, following a continuous increase in its rockfall events. Mayon’s Level 3 category means it is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flow and hazardous pyroclastic density currents, affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days. Entering to six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and flying aircraft close to the volcano remained prohibited as rockfalls, landslides or avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows and lava fountaining, pyroclastic density currents, and moderate-sized explosions could be very dangerous. If raised to alert level 4 category, Mayon may pose hazardous eruptions, with intense unrest and persistent tremor and many low frequency-type earthquakes are possible. While SO2 emission levels may show a sustained increase or abrupt decrease. Level 4 category in Mayon likewise indicates intense crater glow, incandescent lava dome, lava fountain, and lava flow in the summit area. Mayon Volcano has erupted more than 50 times since 1616, with the most destructive eruption recorded in 1814, when the town of Cagsawa was buried killing 1,200 people. Its eruption in 1993 caused 79 deaths, while subsequent eruptions in 2000, 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018 forced tens of thousands of residents in nearby villages to evacuate. In December 2006, rains from powerful Typhoon Durian caused mudslides and floods at the foot of the volcano that killed more than 1,000 people. In 2014, a new lava dome growth of 30 to 50 meters height was observed in Mayon but there was no crater glow. In 2018, the Mayon status was raised to Alert Level 4 after it exhibited a five-kilometer tall phreatomagmatic eruption that lasted 8 minutes and logged explosion-type earthquakes corresponding to the vertical column eruptions, 15 tremor events, some corresponding to lava fountaining episodes, 35 rockfall events and two pyroclastic density currents or PDCs from lava collapse. This event has affected more than 54,000 people of Albay and displaced 1,300 families or 5,016 individuals residents nearby the volcano. Bacolcol said Mayon’s eruption interval is usually three to 10 years with the most recent being five years ago, in 2018. He said the Mayon’s unrest as of this time is “shaping up to be similar to the 2018 event.” Nonetheless, he hopes that the Mayon’s imminent eruption will change course. “We’re hoping it would be a 2014-like event,” he said. The post Alert Level 4 in Mayon Volcano possible—Phivolcs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Under the surface
They say that Mayon — that perfectly shaped volcano in the Bicol region — only shows her full glory to those arriving in the city of Albay if (and only if) those people are truly “welcome.” It’s just a fun little myth, of course, which invites visitors to look at the volcano first thing, as soon as they land at the airport where an aerial first view is possible before a full-on feast for the eyes on the ground. I dare say it is still the most glorious-looking volcano in the world, with cracks, dents, and all. It was a sight I took for granted growing up, however. But never again after I saw it shed fiery tears some years ago. By a highway leading to my mother’s hometown, we stood awestruck at its destructive beauty. A lava flow in 2018 brought tourists to the province and we saw the vehicles parked at the same vantage point. It was some other reason that compelled me to visit that year. Should hot lava feel like the tears that fell then, the sear is nothing compared to the pain of loss. Under the surface, cracks form and create wounds that never quite heal. A report on Mayon that year by the Global Volcanism Program described the volcano as being in a “new eruptive episode.” Bicolanos heaved a sigh of relief when the situation did not worsen. For residents, every “episode” means a run of some anxiety, though I personally feel that those who had felt its occasional rumble through the decades are not so easily shaken by the prospect of an earthquake. An eruption is another matter, as Bicolanos have seen gigantic rocks flatten houses in their path. Some of those boulders are still around to remind us all that life is transitory. That we should all blaze a path and not care too much for gathering dust. This and other wisdom are worth gaining from mother nature. This week, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised to number two the alert level on Mayon Volcano. This means, Phivolcs said, “increasing unrest.” The Phivolcs statement went: “This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.” The term “hazardous” is giving me worries I never felt before. Perhaps it is the thought of rocks falling increasingly “from the volcano’s summit lava dome.” Such seismic activity has been noted since the last week of April, reports say. Phivolcs also said, “Mayon’s lava dome increased in volume by approximately 83,000 square meters (m3) since 3 February and a total of nearly 164,000 m3 since 20 August 2022.” Vigilance is an understatement, as I believe experiences from the past should make residents of the province more proactive. Gone should be the extra effort to evacuate forcibly those within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. The animals will warn farmers within the area, but the local government may need to assure people of a safe haven, provisions, and the hope of having future sources of income. That last bit is iffy, to say the least — more like a dream, perhaps. Meanwhile, Taal Volcano remains at alert level 1 although “an increased degassing activity in the volcano, which produced steam-rich plumes that rose 3,000 meters above Taal volcano island,” has been noted. There is heat beneath the surface, aggravated by extreme weather due to climate change. Mother nature can be destructive, yes, but its volatility can often be read or measured ahead. The danger in human actions and reactions is that they are volatile, the destruction measured and felt over time. The post Under the surface appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heavy rain triggers evacuation warnings in Japan
Hundreds of thousands of residents in Japan were urged to evacuate on Friday as tropical storm Mawar brought heavy rain and caused several rivers to overflow. The eye of the storm, which has weakened from a typhoon, was 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of the country's southern Amami island by the afternoon. A non-compulsory evacuation order was issued to more than 410,000 people in Toyota in central Aichi region, as well as in other parts of western and central Japan. The highest evacuation alert -- which urges residents to immediately secure safety -- was issued to some 130,000 people in Toyohashi, also in Aichi, according to public broadcaster NHK. Western Wakayama region saw several rivers burst their banks, and NHK footage showed a brown-colored river in a Wakayama town covering railway tracks. "We urge residents (in the affected areas) to be extremely vigilant against landslides, flooding and rising and overflowing rivers," top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. "Extremely heavy rainfall with thunderstorms are expected over a wide area from western to eastern Japan over the next three days" due to the storm, he added. Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended between Tokyo and Osaka, according to Japan Railway. NHK said more than 200 flights were cancelled in the afternoon. Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and elsewhere, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water. Strong rain in 2021 triggered a devastating landslide in the central resort town of Atami that killed 27 people. And in 2018, floods and landslides killed more than 200 people in western Japan during the country's annual rainy season. Earlier this week, Mawar -- then a typhoon -- passed just north of the Pacific island of Guam, uprooting trees and leaving tens of thousands of homes temporarily without power. The post Heavy rain triggers evacuation warnings in Japan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Water resources management office timely
Senator Lito Lapid on Tuesday stressed the need to establish a comprehensive water resources management office amid the raising of the El Niño Alert in the country. In a statement, Lapid expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order 22, directing the creation of the Water Resource Management Office in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He said the EO is very timely as The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned about the massive impacts of the dry season in the country, which includes the looming water crisis. Hence, Lapid urged his colleagues to support the passage of Senate Bill 268, an act pushing for the creation of the Water Resources Authority of the Philippines — to address the water crisis caused by the ballooning population and the effects of climate change. SB 268, authored by Lapid, targets to impose a regulation on water extraction and distribution within the national and local government units. The post Water resources management office timely appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bringing people gov’t services
The dry season has brought not only uncomfortably higher temperatures across our country but also a slew of “summer diseases” that range from sore eyes to skin conditions and heat stroke. These health problems are not trivial matters. Heat stroke, in particular, poses a significant threat, especially to our kababayans whose work requires them to stay under the blistering heat of the sun. Most of them are our fellow Filipinos in underserved areas who do not have access to electricity and worse, the health services that they need. Following our state weather bureau’s recent announcement that it may issue an El Niño alert by next month, all the more we must prioritize our health as we brace for warmer days ahead. This is why, we also continue striving to bring public healthcare services closer to our fellow Filipinos, especially the needy, the helpless, and the hopeless who have no one else to turn to but our government. Part of these initiatives are the Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers which we initiated and continue to provide to communities in need. Each Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance from different government agencies. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which I principally authored and sponsored, institutionalized the program. The program has so far helped over seven million particularly poor and indigent Filipinos through the 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide, according to the Department of Health. We have also been supportive of the establishment of Super Health Centers in areas identified by the DoH as the lead implementing agency. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I took the time last week to visit some of these Malasakit Centers and SHC in various parts of the country to check on their operations or the progress of their construction. On 17 April, we kicked off the week with a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, Capiz where we also checked on the ongoing construction of the new building of the hospital which I supported for funding the previous years as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. I likewise personally led the distribution of aid to 218 indigent patients and 666 front liners of the hospital while representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to the qualified patients and 59 utility workers. We attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Centers in Panay and Panitan towns in Capiz where we also aided indigent residents from each town. We then proceeded to Bacolod City in Negros Occidental to visit another Malasakit Center at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital where we aided 375 patients and 1,877 hospital front liners, including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. Indigent patients, 148 qualified security guards, and hospital utility workers also received financial assistance from the DSWD. In Bacolod City, we joined the Panaad Festival celebration and assisted 1,000 struggling residents. The following day in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, we witnessed the groundbreaking of the city’s Super Health Center and provided aid to 1,000 of its residents. A visit to the Malasakit Center at Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center was meant to assess the continuing services to the public and aid 573 patients and 1,550 front liners. A team from the DSWD also extended financial assistance to the patients and 119 qualified hospital workers, including housekeeping and security guards. We witnessed the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center in Umingan, Pangasinan on the same day, and helped 709 persons with disabilities. The inspections of other centers and aid distributions continued for the rest of the week. On 21 April, we flew to Samar where we inspected the SHC in Santa Margarita and assisted 1,000 town residents. In Calbayog, we aided 216 fire victims and 1,000 indigents. During our visit to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines in Camp Alano, Davao City, we expressed support for their endeavors in recognition of their role in women empowerment and nation-building. On 22 April, we conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Quirino Province Medical Center in Cabarroguis where we helped 101 patients and 830 front liners while the DSWD aided the patients and 317 qualified front liners. We joined the town’s 6th Quirino Motorismo. A total of 500 residents in Saguday, Quirino received aid before we inspected the ongoing construction of the SHC. My teams assisted 100 indigent families in Casiguran, 100 in San Luis, and 100 in Dipaculao, Aurora; 100 in La Paz, 200 in Talacogon,100 in Sibagat, 100 in Bayugan, 100 in Esperanza, 100 in Prosperidad, and 550 in Sta. Josefa and Trento, Agusan del Sur; 1,427 in Iba, Zambales; 33 in Sta Rita, Pampanga; 495 households affected by separate fire incidents in Cagayan de Oro City and Tagoloan, and 500 in Binuangan, Misamis Oriental; and 54 fire victims in Maramag, Valencia City, Malaybalay City and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. I was also honored to be able to attend the Philippine Councilors League — Quezon province chapter seminar in Davao City on 20 April, and the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas-National Cluster Barangay Congress in Pasay City yesterday. Our jobs are no different from each other; we have the same mandate to serve our people. Local leaders are our partners in ensuring that their constituents are well supported to effect real positive change from the local to the national level. Amid the challenges we face, let not these trials beat and hinder us from doing our duties and reaching out to more of our struggling Filipinos in their times of need. Let us all strive to bring public services, particularly healthcare, closer to our people. The post Bringing people gov’t services appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP chief: High alert for AFP change of command, Black Nazarene feast very normal
Azurin added that heightened alert over the weekend was "very normal" when there is a change of command in the PNP and in the Armed Forces of the Philippines because the commander-in-chief is usually present......»»
TF-Davao raises alert amid recent blasts in nearby areas
DAVAO CITY - The Task Force Davao (TF Davao) has increased patrols within the borders of the city to ensure the safety and security of Dabawenyos amid recent blasts in nearby provinces.TF-Davao commander Col. Darren Comia said they have also strengthened the bus border operations, thoroughl.....»»