Floods lash Bolivia and Peru | News | Al Jazeera. The past few days have seen flooding across parts of South America. Chile has been badly affected. So too have Bolivia and Peru. Central Bolivia has been pounded by torrential downpours which have caused severe flooding, destroying homes and causing at least one injury. La Paz had 24mm of rain on Wednesday, and 37mm in the past two days. This makes up more than a quarter of the January average which is 137mm. The rainfall was a good deal heavier 380km to the east of the capital. The rain fell intensely for 10 minutes, causing rivers to overflow near the town of Villa Pagador in Cochabamba. This is the third time in recent years a severe flood has hit the town. Witnesses said the driver of a minibus was injured when the river dragged his vehicle for more than 50 metres. "The water flipped the vehicle several times. The local government said that emergency crews were deployed to assist affected residents. The areas of Tinguina and Parcona were badly affected.
Source: Reuters news agency. Rush to build new homes will increase flooding, experts warn | Environment. The rush to build one million new homes in England by 2020 is set to increase flooding by overwhelming drains, according to the nation’s building and flooding professionals. The risk could be avoided, however, if the government ends its seven-year freeze on implementing legal requirements for new developments to include sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), such as ponds, green roofs and permeable paving. These slow the flow of water into drains, cutting the risk of floods.
Flash flooding, where heavy rain overwhelms sewers, is already the most frequent type of flooding and costs about £260m a year. Flood risk is also expected to rise as climate change is leading to more intense rainstorms. A law requiring new developments to include SuDS was passed in 2010, but the government put the rules on hold, aiming to save developers money and speed up house-building. The report urges the government to use a current review to finally implement the rules.
Flood prevention being ignored - MPs. Image copyright Getty Images Simple actions to help protect homes in England from flooding are still being ignored by government, MPs say. The Commons environment committee said ministers were not addressing what it called the fragmented, inefficient and ineffective flood management. Areas of concern include flood impact home insurance, building rules and local authority planning decisions.
The government rejected the criticism, saying it had accepted many previous suggestions on flooding from the MPs. The committee’s comments are the latest in a running tussle between MPs and the environment department Defra. The MPs admit that flooding has risen up the government's priority list, and say “considerable work” on flooding is being done across Whitehall. But they complain that ministers are still ignoring reasonable demands. “Defra has failed to give sufficient justification for its rejection of our recommendations for important new measures.” Flash floods kill 18 in southern Thailand | Thailand News | Al Jazeera. Flash floods have killed at least 18 people in Thailand as heavy rains continued to ravage the country's south.
The flooding, which is roof-high in some areas, affected more than 700,000 people since it started a week ago, Thailand's interior ministry said in a statement on Saturday. At least 18 people have died and one is missing, it added, with the rains turning roads into rivers, inundating farmland, and damaging more than 1,500 schools in the region. The downpour is expected to persist for at least two more days, according to Thailand's Meteorological Department, which warned of more flash flooding.
"The situation is very bad today and tomorrow. Military bases across the region were mobilised to help evacuate flood victims, provide temporary shelters, and distribute emergency aid. In hard-hit Nakhon Si Thammarat province, two army helicopters were deployed to airlift food to families trapped inside their homes. "I was so shocked and scared. Source: News agencies. Flood spending decisions 'perverse', Green Alliance says. Image copyright Getty Images England spends nearly four times more on activities that may cause flooding than it invests to combat flooding, the Green Alliance think tank has said.
It says £1.5bn went on subsidies for farm management that ignores or increases flood risk, while help from the EU farm policy for land management that reduces flooding totals £419m. Green Alliance said money was being spent "in ways that are perverse. " The government said natural flood management plays "an important role". Currently farmers get grants based on the amount of land they own. The report wants farmers to be rewarded for: Allowing trees and vegetation to slow water flow Creating healthy soils to absorb water Allowing rivers to meander, to slow the flow Creating wetlands to retain water Keeping floodplains to provide space for rivers to overflow safely The Green Alliance research goes further, though, by calculating the balance between spending on flood prevention and flood repairs.
Thailand's south hit by deadly floods | News | Al Jazeera. Heavy rain continues to cause flooding across southern Thailand after at least eight people lost their lives. Much of the northern Malay Peninsula, including the far south of Myanmar and the Mergui Archipelago, has been hit by continuous rain, which began early on Friday.
Some areas have recorded up to half a metre of rain (500mm). This compares to an average rainfall for the entire month of December of 150 to 200mm. On Sunday morning, 1,245 villages in 18 districts in southern Thailand were hit by flooding, affecting around 234,000 people. Road and rail networks were badly affected. In Nayong district, roads were impassable, lying under 80cm of water. Heavy rain also hit the Gulf of Thailand area, and flooding on the holiday island of Koh Samui was widespread. The rain is the result of an area of low pressure circulating to the west of the country, above the Andaman Sea. Source: Al Jazeera And Agencies Weather Asia Thailand.
Last winter's flooding 'most extreme on record' in UK. Image copyright Getty Images Flooding across parts of the UK last winter was the most extreme on record, experts have said. Gales and heavy rain swept across large parts of the UK, causing devastating flooding in Cumbria and Lancashire, as well as parts of southern Scotland. On the first anniversary of Storm Desmond, experts say November to January were the wettest three months since UK records began in 1910. Review author Terry Marsh said flooding was "extensive and repetitive".
Storm Desmond began battering parts of the UK on 5 December, depositing a record month's worth of rain on Cumbria in just one day. More than 700 families in Cumbria have still not been able to return to their homes. About 5,200 homes were flooded in Cumbria and Lancashire, while tens of thousands more lost power after an electricity sub-station in Lancaster was flooded. The storm caused an estimated insurance bill of more than £1.3bn. The aftermath of Turin floods. Outcry over lack of cash for flood defences as storm hits south UK | Environment. The government has been accused of being “all talk and no action” on flood defences, as the first named storm of the season brought flooding and power cuts to the south of England. Storm Angus saw gusts of up to 106mph recorded 23 miles off the coast of Margate, while gusts of 80mph hit Langdon Bay, also in Kent. While Met Office weather warnings connected with Storm Angus expired at 1pm on Sunday as the storm moved out to the North Sea, a new series of warnings were issued for Monday and Tuesday for heavy rain in south-west England, parts of northern England and Wales.
Andy Page, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said Devon was likely to be most affected. “Although the more persistent rain should clear from Devon by early afternoon, heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to follow,” he said. “Around 20-30mm of rain is expected fall in a three- to six-hour period in places, with as much as 40-60mm possible locally through the whole of Monday. Storms bring flooding to Mexico - News from Al Jazeera. A trough of low pressure lying north-south through Mexico, and a cold weather front moving southwards across the United States, coincided to bring the severe weather conditions.
Tampico, a port city in the state of Tamaulipas, some 10km inland of the Gulf of Mexico, received 129mm of rain during the day. This compares with average monthly rainfall of around 40mm. Drains were unable to cope with the sudden downpour and photographs from the scene show a collapsed wall and vehicles struggling to make headway against the rising waters in the city’s streets. The risk of storms is expected to continue, moving slowly northwards across the border with the US, into the state of Texas. Linked to the same weather system, storms are also expected to develop in southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona in the coming days. Source: Al Jazeera And Agencies Weather Latin America. Fatal flash floods hit Johannesburg - News from Al Jazeera. Early summer storms in South Africa have caused fatal flash floods in Johannesburg.
At least six people are reported as dead in Gauteng, and more may be still missing. Heavy rains caused national roads and the OR Tambo International Airport to flood on Wednesday afternoon. On approach roads and, indeed, other roads, many cars were washed away while drivers looked on helplessly. The term “flash flood” was appropriate as the water level rose so quickly that people were trapped in their cars while on the highway. About 100 cars were reported as having been swept off the N3, the major freeway joining Johannesburg with Durban.
Hail fell in abundance around Johannesburg, ranging in size from small pellets to marbles. On Thursday, thunderstorms bloomed further west, over Free State, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Lesotho. The average rainfall for Johannesburg in November is 117mm. Thunderstorms developed again on Friday and the South African Weather Service issued a warning for Gauteng. SurgeWatch. See at a glance how rewilding reduces flooding risk with our new infographic □□□ Post-heatwave storm brings flash floods causing widespread disruption. Flash flooding has caused travel chaos in parts of England as thunderstorms dumped almost half a month's rain in some parts within hours. A train from Milton Keynes to Euston derailed in a landslip near Watford Junction, injuring two people. The worst-hit areas are across the east, south and south-east of England, with disruption due to continue into the weekend.
Roads, homes and a hospital are flooded and lightning has damaged buildings. Train derailed by landslide In pictures: Flash flooding For key updates see BBC Weather and BBC Travel. Image copyright Felicity Baker The disruption includes: Image copyright Ben Thompson 'Major disruption' Network Rail said CrossCountry, Great Western Railway and South West Trains were all affected with severe delays on dozens of services. London Midland said the derailment had a knock-on effect on it trains, with hours of delays expected to last throughout the day and into the weekend. Image copyright Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Image copyright Robin Purser. North Korea floods: Tens of thousands displaced. Image copyright AFP Aid agencies have warned that North Korea is facing a humanitarian disaster after tens of thousands of people were displaced by flooding. The UN and the International Red Cross say the government has reported 133 deaths with nearly 400 people missing and homes and crops destroyed.
Rescue teams have been unable to reach some of the worst-hit areas. North Korea already has chronic food shortages and is heavily dependent on foreign aid to feed its population. The UN has allocated $8m this year for humanitarian aid in the isolated country. The flooding, triggered by the recent Typhoon Lionrock, comes as North Korea faces global anger for conducting its fifth nuclear test. Friday's detonation, believed to be the North's biggest test so far, is expected to lead to a tightening of sanctions. Floods 'destroyed everything' The worst flooding is along the Tumen river, which borders China. North Korean state media said people are experiencing "great suffering" in the region. More than 130 people dead in North Korea floods - News from Al Jazeera. Torrential rain has caused severe flooding in the northeast of North Korea. According to the UN, 133 people have died and another 395 are currently missing. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) quoted Pyongyang government figures, saying that around 107,000 residents had been forced from their homes in the area along the Tumen River.
OCHA added that more than 35,500 homes had been destroyed along with 8,700 public buildings. The past few weeks have seen bands of heavy rain sweeping across North Korea. The heaviest downpours fell over the eastern side of the country. July to September represents the country's wettest time of the year. The heaviest downpours have taken place in Wonsan. The North Korean meteorological department said that the flooding was "the most devastating natural disaster since the liberation of Korea in 1945. Drier weather has now set in over the peninsula, and soldiers have been called in to help civilians with the clear-up operation. Hundreds of key sites in England at risk of floods. Image copyright Owen Humphreys As many as 530 key infrastructure sites across England are still vulnerable to flooding, according to a government review.
The report commits a total of £12.5m to new temporary flood defences in England. The review was commissioned after 16,000 houses across northern England were flooded during the wettest December in a century last year. Critics at the time said defences were not up to the job. The £12.5m means the Environment Agency would have four times as many temporary flood barriers than in 2015. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said the review set out "clear actions so we are better prepared to respond quickly in the event of future flooding and can strengthen the nation's flood defences".
She added: "Work is already underway towards £12.5 million of new temporary defences stationed around England, better protection for our infrastructure and new flood modelling that makes better use of data and technology. " Image copyright PA. Louisiana struggles a month after devastating US floods - News from Al Jazeera. Baton Rouge, United States - Beyond an immense mound of destroyed belongings and rotting wood sitting in the yard across from her home, Mary Mercado puts out food and water for her neighbour's cat. It has been a month since this part of Louisiana was submerged by floods, and Mercado has been coming back daily to feed pets and check on her home.
Like most other houses on the block and throughout the Sherwood neighbourhood, hers was so badly damaged that it is still uninhabitable. "Losing everything and stuff - it was just horrible," Mercado told Al Jazeera, lifting up her mobile phone to show an image of her water-filled home after historic rainfall hit Baton Rouge on August 12. Thirteen people died in the disaster and upwards of 100,000 homes were damaged. Much like in other neighbourhoods across eastern Baton Rouge and in nearby towns, both sides of the streets are lined with damaged cars, immense piles of debris and moulding mountains of rubbish.
Flooding: the problem that will not go away | News. The route of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. Focus on flood rescue and relief efforts in Wuhan, China.