Stories about Disaster from February, 2008
Bolivia: Relief for Flooding Victims
Many residents from other Bolivian cities are chipping in to provide relief for the victims of the flooding in the Beni region. Kevin of Travieso [es] writes about the cooperation with a local Santa Cruz radio station to collect supplies.
Ecuador: Google Maps and Flooding
Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] writes about the new Google maps mashup that provides locations of the heaviest flooding around Ecuador.
D.R. of Congo: Plane wreckage has become part of the urban landscape
In October, Du Cabiau Kinshasa wrote about an Antonov plane which went down in Kinshasa, killing three dozen people. This week, he posts a photograph of part of the wreckage, which casually sits somewhere along the road to the airport. “No one is interested in it anymore. The urban jungle...
Vietnam: Hanoi in Winter
Experience the winter in Hanoi and neighboring places with Vietnamese God.
Myanmar: Mandalay YadanarPon Market Fire
Myanmar bloggers are posting photos and reports of fire outbreaks in two major cities, Yangon and Mandalay. Nearly 3000 people have become homeless due to fire at Hlaingthayar, Yangon and damages are yet to estimated for Mandalay's YadanarPon Market fire.
Russia: 1977 Fire at Hotel Rossiya
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about “the Big Fire” at Hotel Rossiya in Moscow in 1977.
Peru: Stray Dogs in Iquitos
Juan Arellanos of Globalizado [es] introduces the organization called Amazon Care, which takes care of stray dogs and attempts to find new homes for them in Iquitos, Peru.
Trinidad & Tobago: Assisting Guyana
“Perhaps…this can be the precursor to a properly organised Caribbean-based defence initiative which…moves us one step closer, even through tragedy, to a single pan-Caribbean nation”: Keith in Trinidad shares his thoughts on T&T's offer of assistance to Guyana.
Guyana: The Reality of Distance
“The murders at Lusignan and Bartica are outside my realm of reality…”: Signifyin’ Guyana tries to make sense of the recent massacres and bridge the gap between the Guyanese disapora and those still living at home.
Ecuador: Government Declares Emergency Due to Flooding
Many parts of Ecuador are suffering from heavy flooding, which led the government to declare a national emergency. Some bloggers write about what this will mean for those affected and the work by some sectors that prepared themselves for this disaster and states, “it is better to prevent, than to lament.”
Madagascar: After the storm Ivan, the aftermath
Tropical Cyclone Ivan has now left Madagascar leaving behind several regions in shambles and thousands of people without homes. The official account by the authorities reports 2 deaths and 15,000 people without homes. Considering that Ivan was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds at up to 137 km/h, many people are wondering what might be the final count of actual casualties and damages.
South Korea: Dark Tourism
Korea Beat translated a local report on the phenomenon of “dark tourism” to the scene of the Namdaemun/Sungnyemun fire.
Guyana: State of Insecurity
“It seems like only yesterday the Government said they had a plan, today 13 more souls lay cold as gunmen strike bold”: Guyana 360 experiences deja vu, saying: “This is the worst ever state of insecurity.”
Bolivia: The Real Causes of the Flooding
Bolivida [es], a blog devoted to environmental topics, asks, “What are the causes of the increases in severe floodings, which are affecting thousands of families..?” He points out that some government leaders blaming global warming, but studies by two independent universities are placing blaming on deforestation.
Madagascar: Cyclone Ivan Wrecking Havoc.
Tropical Cyclone Ivan has landfalled in the Northeastern region of Madagascar on February, 17th and it is now categorized as a category 4 Hurricane. (via meteo france) Even though Madagascar is better prepared for cyclone season, having already taken the blunt of many cyclones (most recently cyclone Fame), the region...
Guyana: Massacre in Bartica
As reports of another massacre – this time in Bartica – reach bloggers, Living Guyana asks “How many more?”
Kyrgyztsan: Kyrgyz Authorities Cut Off Tajikistan
Ayan Dane writes that the Kyrgyz authorities have decided to stop supplying electricity to Tajikistan, which, according to the Kyrgyz officials, refused to comply with its commitments. Tajikistan is in grave humanitarian condition now because of the harsh energy deficit.
Korea: Burning of Namdaemun
Namdaemun, the Great South Gate (called Namdaemun or Sungnyemun), which was established in the 14th century, was ravaged by a fire that broke out on the 10th of February. It was was the city’s main entrance from the south when Seoul became the capital of Korea more than 600 years...
China: Darfur, a reason to say No?
Is the Darfur issue a reason to say No to the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Spielberg nodded recently, while Mr. Bush shrugged, and Beijing frowned. But how about the common people in China?
China: Squeezed To Death On Train
Xici.net posts a note by the family of a rural migrant worker. The 46 years old Sichuan rural migrant was squeezed to death on a train when she was travelling back home during lunar new year. The family hopes reporters can write about the case as the railway department should...
Peru: Earthquake Area Abandoned
Six months after the earthquake destroyed a large part of the Peruvian cities of Pisco, Ica and other nearby cities, Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] states that most of the area has been forgotten and abandoned.
