November 13, 2024

People in flood-hit areas of Spain are bracing for a new weather front expected to bring heavy rain, two weeks after the worst floods in Spain’s modern history killed more than 200 people. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, issued an orange alert on Tuesday, the second-highest level, for heavy or torrential rains in the eastern Valencia region, which was hit hard by a previous storm on October 29. The official death toll from the floods stands at 222 people, after a year’s worth of rain fell within hours. Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for Valencia’s emergency committee, told reporters that the impact of the expected rainfall could be severe due to the amount of mud already on the ground from the previous floods and the conditions of the sewage system. The emergency committee issued a special warning calling on municipalities and organisations to take preventative measures, including closing schools. Advertisement Tauris also recommended that citizens work remotely when possible and avoid non-essential travel. The town council in Chiva, one of the worst-hit sites, cancelled classes and sports activities, while in nearby Aldaia, workers piled up sandbags to protect the town. “We are placing sandbags to replace the floodgates that the previous floods tore down,” municipal worker Antonio Ojeda said, hoping it will prevent the Saleta ravine from overflowing again. Ditches and drains that are obstructed with trees, tyres and car parts are also being cleaned out in preparation for the rainfall. On Monday, 10,000 tons of furniture, appliances, and clothing were removed, almost as much waste as Valencia disposes of in a year. Weather warnings were also issued for the Balearic Islands and parts of Galicia in the far northwest, Catalonia in the northeast, and Andalusia in the south. Weather forecaster Monica Lopez told the state broadcaster that she did not expect the new storms to be as tumultuous as those in Valencia two weeks ago. Royal visit The preparations come as Spain’s King Felipe VI said he and Queen Letizia would return to the epicentre of the floods “early next week” after survivors heckled and threw mud at the royals during their last trip. The king is due to return to Valencia on Tuesday to meet with soldiers participating in the relief work following the October 29 floods. On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a fresh aid package worth almost 3.8 billion euros ($4bn) to residents, property owners and farmers. The government previously announced more than 10.6 billion euros ($11.3bn) in economic recovery measures to help flood victims and areas. The final bill to recover from the floods is expected to soar to tens of billions of euros. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the authorities’ handling of the floods. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/12/spains-flood-hit-areas-brace-for-new-storms

Lahore has dropped to the second place in global pollution rankings after New Delhi surpassed the Punjab capital, becoming the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday, as the province and surrounding areas remain under the grip of dense smog. According to live data from Swiss-based air quality monitor, the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore and New Delhi stood at 393 and 721, respectively, as of 8am. The dangerously high AQI levels reflect hazardous air conditions, with both cities enduring a prolonged period of toxic smog. The worsening air quality is affecting daily life in both cities, with residents facing serious health risks due to prolonged exposure to hazardous pollutants in the atmosphere. Not only Lahore, but other districts including Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala have also witnessed intense air pollution, leading to the complete closure of schools and ban on all outdoor activities till November 17. The orders for school closure were later extended to five more districts of Punjab, including DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha and Rawalpindi Divisions, in a bid to lower children’s exposure to pollution, especially during the morning commute when it is often at its highest. According to the provincial Environmental Protection Agency, the decision was made due to an “unprecedented rise in patients with lung and respiratory diseases, allergies, eye and throat irritation, and pink eye” across the province. Meanwhile, Multan — home to several million people some 350 kilometres away from Lahore — remains the city worst-hit by smog, where the AQI passed 2,000 last week, a staggering height never seen before by incredulous residents. According to the AQI scale, an index value of 300 or higher results is “hazardous” to health and Pakistan has regularly tipped over 1,000 on the scale. A score of 0-50 is considered good. The southern city’s AQI was recorded at 396 this morning. As the residents in Punjab continue to battle toxic smog, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar and surrounding districts have also been blanketed by the dark haze. However, the smog levels witnessed a slight decline in the provincial capital as the city recorded an AQI of 187. The air quality is reportedly being monitored at five points in Peshawar. However, any measures to curb air pollution are not being witnessed in the province. The drastic deterioration of air quality in the smog-hit regions has caused an increase in health issues like eye and throat infections and respiratory diseases. Authorities advise citizens to avoid stepping out of their homes unnecessarily and keep their doors and windows closed beside ensuring mask-wearing. The persistent smog-crisis has also causing widespread traffic disruptions, as the inter-provincial motorways remain closed at various points to prevent accidents. Bad air quality and consequent low visibility have also caused various road accidents, resulting in multiple casualties. A man was killed and three others were injured in a bus and car collision in Kamalia, Punjab. Cloud of poison A mix of low-grade fuel emissions from factories and vehicles, exacerbated by agricultural stubble burning, blanket Punjab and surrounding regions each winter, trapped by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds. The WHO says that air pollution can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It is particularly punishing for children and babies, and the elderly. In order to bring down smog levels, the government in Punjab has restricted prohibited outdoor activities including sports events, exhibitions and festivals, and dining at restaurants in Lahore and eight other districts. However, “unavoidable religious rites” are exempt from this direction. Outlets like pharmacies, oil depots, dairy shops and fruit and vegetable shops have similarly been exempted from the directions to close by 8pm. UNICEF has called for greater efforts to reduce pollution and protect children’s health in Punjab, saying that more than 11 million children under five years of age are in danger as they breathe the toxic air. Last year, the Punjab government tested artificial rain to try to overcome the smog, and this year, trucks with water cannons sprayed the streets — with no results. For days the concentration of polluting micro-particles PM2.5 in Punjab has been dozens of times higher than that deemed tolerable by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The provincial government has blamed its toxic air this year on pollution wafting in from India, where northern parts have also been battling hazardous air, and has said it will take the issue up with the neighbouring country through its foreign ministry. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1250533-lahore-ranks-as-worlds-second-most-polluted-city

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/13/live-israeli-attacks-kill-dozens-us-finds-israel-is-not-impeding-gaza-aid