Fatalities

Mortar Attacks Close to Somalia's Presidential Palace Claim Lives and Devastate Many MOGADISHU, Somalia — As dawn broke over the vibrant city of Mogadishu on a seemingly ordinary Saturday, tragedy struck unexpectedly. Mortar shells descended upon several districts of the bustling capital, punctuating the morning stillness with chaos and sorrow. These attacks tragically claimed the lives of two individuals, including a bright-eyed 12-year-old girl full of dreams, and left five others nursing…

Devastating wildfires are currently sweeping through South Korea, having doubled in size within a single day. Authorities are now calling this disaster the most severe natural fire incident the nation has ever faced, with at least 27 lives lost and historic temples reduced to ashes. So far, over 33,000 hectares have been scorched, predominantly in Uiseong county, marking it as the largest forest fire in South Korea's history. The previous record stood at 24,000 hectares during a fire in March 2000. Acting President Han…

Mogadishu (AX) – In the twilight of Saturday evening, tragedy struck as an aircraft fell from the skies, claiming five lives and leaving an indelible mark on all who heard the news. The ill-fated DHC-5D Buffalo, operated by Trident Aviation Ltd and bearing the registry 5Y-RBA, crashed roughly 24 kilometers southwest of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, as confirmed by Somali aviation authorities. The journey had begun at Dhobley Airport, quaintly coded as HCDB, and was to culminate at Aden Abdulle International…

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 330 individuals, according to Palestinian health authorities. This surge in violence marks the end of a weeks-long stalemate over a ceasefire that had temporarily halted hostilities since mid-January. The Palestinian militant group Hamas has issued a statement accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. According to reports, strikes occurred in various locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City, and the cities of Deir al-Balah,…

Four families in the UK have initiated a profound lawsuit in the United States against the social media platform TikTok, linking the app's content to the untimely deaths of their children. They assert that their loved ones fell victim to a perilous trend known as the "blackout challenge," which they encountered while scrolling through TikTok's endless feed. The heartbreaking allegations include the tragic cases of Archie Battersbee, aged 12; Isaac Kenevan, 13; Maia Walsh, also 13; and Julian "Jools" Sweeney, aged 14. Each…

Tragedy struck at the Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Arizona when a midsize Learjet 35A lost control upon landing and collided with a parked Gulfstream 200. This unfortunate incident, which left at least one individual dead, serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictability inherent in aviation. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, where one person remained trapped within the wreckage. Three others, caught in the turmoil, were promptly transported to local hospitals to receive urgent medical attention. Images…

FILE - Crowds flowed continuously into a displacement camp on the barren outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on a blistering day in September 2022. The searing drought that seemed to endlessly grip the region was palpable, hitting everyone hard and leaving the land as cracked and dry as an old shoe in the corner of a forgotten closet. WASHINGTON — A chilling revelation recently came to light: since the relentless drought saddled parts of Somalia beginning in 2022, it has claimed the lives of a devastating 71,000 souls, over and…

WASHINGTON — It was a grim scene over two relentless days of tumult in Somalia’s Northeastern State territory where recent skirmishes claimed the lives of over 20 individuals and left a further ten nursing battle scars. The security forces clashed with Islamic State insurgents in a fierce showdown, as shared by officials on Tuesday. Speaking to VOA’s Somali Service, the steely Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, who orchestrates Northeastern State's security responses, painted a stark picture of the skirmish. He…

Mogadishu (AX) — A balmy Wednesday evening in Halaalay quickly turned into a harrowing scene of battle, leaving at least six people dead by the time the dust settled. This tiny village, nestled near Halgan in Somalia's Hiiraan region, became the latest stage in the enduring drama of power struggles between local defense forces and the relentless Al-Shabaab militants. It seems Somalia's battle with the militant group shows no signs of ending, as accusations, skirmishes, and whispers of turmoil continue to echo across…

In an urgent response to the raging Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, helicopters dropped water and fire retardant on the steep terrains, aiming to curtail its unsettling eastward advance. The intensity of firefighting on the ground has surged dramatically, especially with wind gusts poised to reach a staggering 113 km/h, posing an additional peril to containment efforts. Tragically, the consequences of these wildfires have already claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals, leaving neighborhoods devastated and pushing…