Stories about Disaster from May, 2013
Syria Untold: Raqqa Lessons, From Freedom to Creativity in State Building
After the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Raqqa in March 2013, the city suffered a tremendous power vacuum, especially in public services. Syria Untold speaks to activists on the ground who describe a number of campaigns and initiatives led by young people to build the Syria millions dream of.
Bangladesh's Planned Coal Power Plant Threatens Sundarbans Mangrove Forest
A plan to erect a coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh next to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world which straddles Bangladesh and India, is drawing fire from activists in the country who say it would destroy the world heritage site.
Twin Suicide Car Bombings in Niger Kill 23
Benjamin Roger for Jeune Afrique reports [fr] that 18 soldiers, one civilian and four terrorists were killed early morning in an suicide car bombing in Agadez, Niger on May 23. He adds that military school students are currently being held hostages by another attacker following the bombing. Simultaneously, another car...
PHOTO: Locusts Invade Madagascar After Cyclone
Locust swarmed many regions of Madagascar and even a few of its cities. This disaster comes as a result of the humid conditions[fr] that remained after cyclone Haruna's landing. The FAO states that 60% of rice production will be affected by the invasion.
PHOTOS: Guerrilla Art Project Captures Japan's Northeast in Portraits
Photographs of about 400 people collected from Japan's tsunami-devastated northeastern Tohoku region make up an exhibition at Tokyo's Watari Museum of Contemporary Art by French artist JR as part of his "Inside Out" participatory art project.
Italy: Art Historians Rally in L'Aquila
Four years after the devastating earthquake that hit L’ Aquila, in Abruzzo, Italy, little or nothing has been rebuilt and the picturesque old town remains largely uninhabited, while many residents live in much debated [it] new towns. On May 5, 2013 almost a thousand art historians rallied together [it] in the historical center...
Woman Rescued from Bangladesh Factory Rubble After 17 Days
The same day that the death toll of a nine-story factory collapse in Savar in the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka rose to 1,055, now the deadliest building collapse since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a female worker named Reshma Begum was found alive after being trapped in the rubble for 17 days.
Schools Close in Panama Due to Energy Crisis
The severe drought that is affecting Panama has motivated the government to take several measures, including suspending classes in public and private schools.
Gas Tanker Explosion in Mexico Leaves at Least 19 Dead
The alleged accidental explosion of a gas tanker caused the death of at least 19 people in the Greater Mexico City.
Savar Tragedy: Where Humanity Shines Amidst Rubbles
A long and difficult rescue operation has been going on since the factory building collapse on April 24, 2013 in Savar, Bangladesh. 397 people have died, and 2834 workers have been rescued alive so far from the rubble. This post tells the stories of the ordinary people who came forward to rescue the victims along with the professionals.
