rescue

At least 6 missing after Mount Maunganui landslide hits New Zealand campsite; urgent search continues TAURANGA, New Zealand — Rescuers are digging through deep mud for at least six missing people after a landslide from Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano, ploughed into a crowded campsite in northern New Zealand, destroying caravans, camper vans and a shower block. Police said a 15-year-old is the youngest person unaccounted for after the slide struck following heavy rain that drenched a large swath of the North Island.…

Irish trainee field guide rescued by helicopter as deadly floods swamp Kruger National Park PHALABORWA, South Africa — In the pitch black and pouring rain on a hillside above the Olifants River, Kim McNaughton waited for the thump of rotor blades. The trainee field guide from County Monaghan had scrambled to higher ground with colleagues after floodwaters cut off their safari lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, washing away a nearby bridge and turning escape routes into impassable mud. “Survival mode just kicked…

Search-and-rescue teams from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have launched an emergency operation after heavy downpours and rising water levels caused severe flooding in the South African province of Limpopo, officials said Friday. The floods have killed 19 people and caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, authorities reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who inspected flood damage in the area, described what he saw as "catastrophic." The South African Weather…

Release of Abducted Schoolchildren in Niger State: A Fragile Victory Nigerian authorities announced that they have successfully secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger state. This incident, which unfolded on November 21, saw 315 pupils and staff taken by gunmen from the co-educational facility located in north-central Nigeria. Following the chaos of the attack, around 50 students managed to escape, but the fate of another 165 children and staff remains unknown.…

Mogadishu (AX) — A father and his son faced a heartrending fate in Wajir County, Kenya, attempting to save their family's goat from a treacherously narrow, air-starved well. This sorrowful event acts as a poignant reminder of the dangers hiding within the region's exposed water sources, igniting urgent appeals for enhanced safety measures. The grim scenario began when the family’s goat plummeted into a slender, deep well. In an act of heroic impulsivity, the young son descended to rescue the animal but was swiftly overcome…

The civil defense agency in Gaza recently reported a devastating airstrike carried out by Israel in a residential neighborhood, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 73 Palestinian lives in Beit Lahia, located in the northern part of the territory. Israel, however, contended that its military action was aimed at a "Hamas terror target." Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defense agency, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP), “Our teams have retrieved the bodies of 73 martyrs and many others injured due to the…

During a lively drill in Mogadishu, Somali authorities diligently track seafaring vessels from their Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). This exercise is part of an ongoing effort to enhance search and rescue operations. Credit/ EUCAP Somalia Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is amping up its game to improve SAR, or search and rescue, initiatives in both the aviation and maritime sectors. Partnering up with EUCAP Somalia and a bunch of European allies, they're working hard to patch up challenges that have gnawed at them for…

Recently, tragedy struck in KwaZulu-Natal when two individuals succumbed to the perilous effects of hypothermia after being ensnared by a relentless snowstorm on the N3 highway. This heartbreaking incident unfolded over the weekend, showcasing the unforgiving nature of winter weather. As snow blanketed the roads, rendering them treacherous, many motorists found themselves caught in an unexpected deluge of white. The sudden onset of severe weather can often catch drivers off guard, emphasizing the critical need for caution…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a heart-wrenching incident, a Somali mother and her four-year-old daughter tragically lost their lives after drowning in the Loing River in northern France this past Monday, according to local sources. The heartbreaking event took place in Nemours, a town situated in the Seine-et-Marne region. The young girl had tumbled into the river by accident, and her mother met a tragic fate while trying to rescue her.The authorities were alerted by nearby residents who had been stirred by the mother's frantic cries…

They all arrived in Gao on Tuesday, March 15, in the evening or on Wednesday. Mali's Minister for National Reconciliation, Colonel Ismaël Wagué, and Northern Armed Forces signatories to the 2015 peace agreement held initial talks on Wednesday, but the meeting…