The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-08-30

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] At Least 56 Persons Dead Katrina Spreads Death

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET 105.8, ANA, BBC, CNN

Hurricane Katrina turned into one of the two worst natural disasters in US history. After its deadly passing from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and weakened to a tropical storm, Katrina is headed towards Tennessee and Kentucky. Fifty people have died only in Mississippi. In New Orleans, at least six people have been reported dead, while according to the Mayor the number is expected to increase. At least 20 buildings have collapsed in the area, while around 200 people climbed on their houses roofs in order to escape the fury. On the issue of damage caused by the hurricane, financial circles estimate that the US insurance companies will pay up to $25 billion in compensations.

Images of A Biblical Disaster

With winds reaching 95km/h, Katrina is expected to cross Tennessee and Kentucky before approaching the lakes in Ohio and following whirling west of New York en route to Canada

The biggest hit of Katrina was in the coastal cities of Mississippi, Gulfport and Biloxi with 5m waves and 240km/h winds.

Thirty people lost their lives in a housing compound in Biloxi, and another 20 either drowned or killed by trees falls.

In New Orleans, which has declared a state of emergency, many areas of the city have been flooded, and rescue crews with the help of helicopters are fighting to save thousands of residents who have found refuge on their houses roofs.

The Mayor of the city, Ray Nagin stated, "the dead are being swept away from the water" in the flooded areas of the city. At least 20 buildings have been destroyed, while in the old town of New Orleans mud, uprooted trees and rocks have covered roads.

The windows of New Orleans Hotel have been shattered, and the roof of the Superdome, where 10,000 residents have found refuge in, has presented cracks in two parts of the stadium.

The Governor of Louisiana, Haley Barbour, stated that the damage is unprecedented in the coastal area. "The damage has taken the proportion of a catastrophe," he stated.

During his visit in El Mirage, Arizona, the US President called on the residents of the areas in the Gulf of Mexico to remain in shelters until the tropical storm goes away, while he reassured that the Federal government will rush to help the stricken.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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Katrina the Merciless

[02] Dropped to Category 1 Late in the Night Katrina the Merciless

By Annita Paschalinou

Evidently weakened (dropped to category 1 late in the night) and having left behind at least ten dead and enormous destruction, hurricane Katrina is now heading to the state of Alabama. Authorities remain on alert and the meteorological service is issuing emergency bulletins to warn inhabitants on the dangers from strong winds and floods on the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi. "It was like we were bombarded with bricks," said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour describing Katrina passage, while he also voiced fears for dozens of dead.

Swept Through Everything

Katrina afflicted the east part of New Orleans, weakened, with winds blowing at a speed of 170km.

However, that did not stop her from flooding thousands of areas at her passage and forcing hundreds of thousands of inhabitants to flee their homes.

(Only one fifth of the inhabitants remained in the city, as well as rescue crews.)

In many areas of the city (70% of the city is located below the sea level) the water level rose to 2 metres and there were extensive power cuts. Roads turned to torrents, washing away everything at their passage, trees were torn apart and the fire service received more than 100 calls to free inhabitants that had found shelter on the roofs of their homes.

Many of them used their mobile phones in a desperate cry for help. In St Bernard Parish alone, east of New Orleans, 40,000 houses were flooded. Media speak of one of the worst natural disasters that have afflicted the USA. The insurance cost to restore the damages in Louisiana rises from 12 to 26 billion dollars.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] In A Building Resided By African Immigrants Seven Dead in Paris Blaze

By Vivian Papastefanou

According to the latest account of the Fire Brigade, at least seven people lost their lives, three were seriously injured and 11 more slightly by the new fire that broke out last night in an old building where African immigrants resided in, in the centre of Paris. Among the victims is a child that passed away at dawn in Neckers Hospital where it had been taken. The child had plunged from the fourth floor of the building. The fire broke out shortly before 22:00, by an unknown cause, in the historic neighborhood of Marais. According to the Mayor of the 3rd arrondissement, Pierre Aidenbaum, 12 families from the Ivory Coast were residing in the building, and were supposed to be transferred in another building in the next days.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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Paris Aflame

[04] Investigation in Cyprus Over Grammatiko Tragedy Verdict in Six Months

By Annita Paschalinou

On Tuesday, a team of the Air Accidents and Incidents Investigative Committee, led by Mr Akrivos Tsolakis, who arrived in Nicosia on Monday, will hold meetings with the Cypriot Air Accidents and Incidents Investigative Committee, and will hear the testimonies of Civil Aviation Authority and the Helios airline company employees, and victims relatives. Yesterday, Mr Tsolakis estimated that the verdict will be announced in six months, and asked the Mass Media representatives to allow the Committee to conduct its search in Cyprus "as calmly as possible." Today, Mr Tsolakis with the team of the Air Accidents and Incidents Investigative Committee met with Cypriot Transport Minister Charis Thrassou and President Papadopoulos. After his meeting with the Transport Minister, Mr Tsolakis reassured that all the necessary investigations will be conducted in order to vindicate the victims. On his part, Mr Thrassou noted that all the departments of the Transport Ministry and other Ministries will be in the service of the Investigative Committee, which will have full access to all documents and evidence asked for, stating "responsibilities will be sought for, whatever they are." Commenting on the criticism against him by the Mass Media, concerning the competence of the Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Transport, after saying that the accusations will be examined, added that no one is guilty until proven so.

In Cyprus Until Friday

The aim of the Committees team visit in Cyprus, noted Mr Tsolakis, is to meet the prerequisites enforced by international air accident regulations, the European Union and the Greek laws. Mr Tsolakis advised the journalists to encourage people to fly, saying, "This air tragedy is not the end of aviation."

"Unfortunately accidents do happen," he said, and added "the aim is to investigate them and find the causes, which will prevent similar incidents in the future." The team of the Air Accidents and Incidents Investigative Committee, led by Akrivos Tsolakis, will stay in Larnaca until Friday, while they will hold meetings with the Cypriot relevant authority. The reenactment of the Helios flight is expected to take place when the team returns to Greece.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Licensing Department, Charalabos Chatzigeorgiou, speaking to Cypriot television RIK made new accusations over the operation of the Civil Aviation Authority underlining "the ones responsible are well aware of the gaps but meticulously conceal them." Mr Chatzigeorgiou stated that the three main security departments of flights operate without a formal organisation chart "with a ghost-like structure."

Successful Inspections in Two Helios Boeings

In the meantime, Helios Airways announced that the independent inspections of two 737 Boeings by experts were successfully completed in Sweden. In its announcement, the company states: "The experts of the maintenance facilities of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in Arlanda, Stockholm, conducted thorough inspections to two B737s, after the manufacturing companys suggestions. The verdict was that the airworthiness of our aircrafts was reconfirmed." Moreover, it adds that the first aircraft returned to Larnaca last Thursday, the second on last night, and are performing their routes as planned.

It also reassures that its top priority is security and that its aircrafts are "maintained according to the procedures included in the manufacturing companys maintenance programme and are approved by the Cypriot Civil Aviation Authority." Moreover, it states "Cyprus is a full member of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and "all parts used in our aircrafts, are original equipment manufactured according to Boeings standards."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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Searching for Answers

[05] A Few Days After the August 26 Tragedy Paris Aflame

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: French News Agency

A building in the centre of Paris caught on flames in the early morning hours of Tuesday. Around 100 firemen are batting the flames. According to initial information, there are four seriously injured persons. Up to now, the causes of the fire have not been made known. Just last Friday, a fire in an apartment building boarded by African immigrants caught on fire, costing the lives of 17 people, 14 of which were children.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Stressful Beginning

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

With evident signs of stress and pressure, Atromitos and AEK failed to score and had to suffice with a null draw in the first round of the new football season. Without taking any chances, both teams preferred to cover their backs and go for a goal with counterattacks, but failed to do so in the end. Fair outcome, although many were surprised by Fernando Santos lineup, which proved all predictions wrong with the system he used. With a 4-5-1 recipe, which he also used with Chalkidona, Giorgos Paraschos preferred to stick to the single point of draw in Atromitos first match in A National after 24 years, leaving the chase of victory for the matches to come.

Referee: Koukoulakis (Irakleio)

Yellow cards: Dagas, Malbasa, Pliatsikas, Mikes

Lineups

ATROMITOS: Michailidis, Sotirchos, Mikes, Geladaris, Karadimos (73 Katemis), Dagas, Chalaris (84 Georgiou), Koutsis, Korakakis (76 Dimos), Petkov, Zacharopoulos

มลส: Sorentino, Georgeas, Malbasa, Alexopoulos (46 Kontis), Moras, Sapanis (54 Ivic), Pliatsikas, Katsouranis, Lymperopoulos, Lakis (72 Julio Cezar), Venlinski

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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