Category: Evacuation

White House: 3,200 Evacuated From Afghanistan, Pace to Pick Up Wednesday

Military flights have evacuated 3,200 U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and their families from Afghanistan as of Aug. 17, according to a White House official. On Tuesday alone, 13 flights carried 1,100 people out of the capital city of Kabul, the official said, adding that the pace of the evacuation was expected to pick up on…


Hundreds of Thousands of Residents Asked to Evacuate Amid Torrential Rains in Japan

Japan on Friday issued high risk alerts in its southwestern regions, urging residents to prepare and evacuate. Highest risk alerts were issued in the western prefecture of Hiroshima, accompanied by warnings of imminent risk of floods and other disasters amid unprecedented rains. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the warning, urging residents to prepare and act early….


Number of Active Wildfires in BC Drops, One Evacuation Order Lifted

VANCOUVER—The B.C. Wildfire Service says there are 258 wildfires currently burning in the province. That’s down from 275 fires reported in its last update Friday, and down from about 300 earlier in the week. There are 57 evacuation orders in place, down one from Friday afternoon, affecting nearly 5,000 properties. Another nearly 16,500 properties, more…


Size of Oregon Wildfire Underscores Vastness of the US West

PORTLAND, Ore.—The monstrous wildfire burning in Oregon has grown to a third the size of Rhode Island and spreads miles each day, but evacuations and property losses have been minimal compared with much smaller blazes in densely populated areas of California. The fire’s jaw-dropping size contrasted with its relatively small impact on people underscores the…


Thousands of Firefighters Battle Big Blazes Across the West

BLY, Ore.—An army of firefighters labored in hot, dry and windy weather Tuesday to contain fires chewing through wilderness and burning homes across drought-stricken Western states. More than 60 active large blazes are burning in the West and Alaska. More than 14,000 firefighters and support personnel were attacking fires covering close to a million acres…


Damage Forces Evacuation of Miami Beach Apartment Building

A three-story apartment building in South Florida was evacuated after an inspector discovered structural damage in a vacant unit. Fire officials in Miami Beach were called to the residential building Saturday evening, spokesperson Melissa Berthier said in an email. A city building inspector found a flooring system failure and “excessive deflection” on an exterior wall….


Mass Evacuation Underway as Philippines Raises Volcano Danger Level

MANILA—Authorities in the Philippines started evacuating thousands of people on Thursday after the alert status was raised on a restive volcano that spewed a one-kilometer (0.62 mile) high plume of gas and steam. The alert for the Taal volcano, about 70 km (45 miles) south of central Manila, moved to level 3 from level 2…


CCP Prevents Chinese Expats in India From Returning Home to China

As the epidemic in India continues to spread, many countries have made plans to evacuate their citizens. But Chinese citizens working in India are prohibited from returning to China. Chinese expats said the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) told India not to issue travel permits to Chinese citizens. On May 6, Taiwanese media the Central News…


Florida Dismisses 2nd Breach Risk at Phosphate Reservoir

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Engineers and dam safety specialists evaluating the danger of a catastrophic flood from a leaking Florida wastewater reservoir determined that the threat of a possible second breach was “unsubstantiated,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said. Officials had said Monday that a drone discovered a possible second breach in the reservoir, whose east…


Australia to Rescue Thousands as Sydney Faces Worst Floods in 60 Years

PITT TOWN, Australia—Australia was set on Monday to evacuate thousands more people from suburbs in Sydney’s west, battered by the worst flooding in 60 years, with torrential rains expected to continue for another day or two. Reuters images showed submerged intersections, marooned livestock, and cars up to their windshields in water, out of which poked…