The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bad Weather Sweeps in as of Saturday Night On High Alert

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

Following the catastrophic thunderstorms that hit Attica, Peloponnisos, the island of Lesvos and other regions, weather conditions have improved. However, meteorologists forecast that more rainfalls and thunderstorms are to affect the western parts of the country, while southerly winds will be strong and will probably be upgraded to gale-force ones in the Aegean Sea. In the Prefecture of Laconia, where a 52-year-old woman was swept away by the swirling waters of a river, the residents are vying to recover from the hit, while in eastern Attica the damages reported in houses, crops and infrastructure are pretty heavy. A government panel headed by the Rural Development Minister visited the flood-stricken areas to record the damages and to pay out compensations.

Recording the Damages

In Attica and especially in its eastern regions, including Marathonas, Lagonisi, Kalyvia and Markopoulo, the residents are trying to restore the damages recorded in their houses and crops, while the municipalities and the Prefecture have deployed men to deal with the problems on the road network.

The flood-stricken residents of the municipalities that belong to the Prefecture of Eastern Attica are invited to petition for a financial aid to replace their destroyed electrical appliances. Petitions should be filed at the Prefectures offices in Pallini, on the 17th kilometer of Marathonos Avenue.

Supporting documents required:

application finding by the Fire Service photostat of the ID card any document proving that the destroyed house was the main house of the petitioner copy of a 2005 tax return copy of E9 document

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Pouring down Problems

[02] A Magnitude 5.7 Quake Hit Jiangxi Province Earthquake Hits China

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-Reuters-AFP-BBC

A strong earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked Jiangxi province in eastern China. The earthquake, which occurred shortly before 9am (local time) on Saturday, left at least 12 dead, hundreds of injured and thousands of flattened buildings in its wake. Its epicentre was located near the border with Hubei province between the cities of Ruichang and Juijang, where casualties and extensive damages were reported. Chinese officials have voiced their fears that the extent of the disaster will prove much greater and that the death toll is to rise, since they have not yet got any reports of the situation in the rural areas.

Wasteland

The biggest problems have been reported in the cities of Ruichang and Juijang.

"Six people were killed in Juijang," a local official told AFP news agency. "247 people were wounded, 8,072 buildings were flattened, while nearly 29,000 ones sustained heavy damages," the official added. The people who have fled their homes fearing aftershocks amount to 420,000.

In Ruichang, the earthquake claimed the lives of six people, while some 130 were reported injured. 500 buildings were demolished and further 100,000 were severely damaged. So far, there have been no reports on the situation in the nearby areas.

Both Hong Kongs Seismological Bureau and the Chinas National Seismological Network measured the same magnitude. The US National Earthquake Information Center, on the other hand, recorded the quake with a magnitude of 5.5, described it as "of moderate strength" and claimed it was 10km deep.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Earthquake strikes central China

Quake in east China kills twelve

[03] For the EuroMed Summit Greek PM Visits Barcelona

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will be travelling to Barcelona on Sunday to attend the EuroMed Summit. On Sunday night, Mr Karamanlis will participate in a working meeting on the theme "Alliance of Civilisations" to be hosted at the CCIB Congress Centre. Then, he will attend a cultural event at the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The Greek Premier will also attend a formal dinner given by King Juan Carlos of Spain in honour of the heads of state participating in the summit.

An address by Spains King and British PM Tony Blair, who is the acting European Council President, will signal the opening of the Summit, which is expected to conclude at midday. The Greek Premier has scheduled his departure from Barcelona for early on Sunday afternoon.

On announcing Mr Karamanlis heavy agenda during the regular press briefing, deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros made it clear that a meeting between the Greek PM and his Turkish counterpart has not been scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the EuroMed Summit.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] PASOK Launches Economy Campaign

By Tina Valaoura

PASOK is launching an economy campaign across Greece. Its leader, George Papandreou, is visiting on Sunday 24 the Prefecture of Karditsa, central Greece. Mr Papandreou is to hold meetings with the farmers from the municipality of Sofades and with the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also expected to deliver a speech at Karditsas Sports Hall at 7.30pm.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] In the Indian State of Tamil Nadu Floods Swept Away Two Buses

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-Reuters-AP

The raging floodwaters swept away two buses killing at least 76 people in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

As per the international news agencies, the first bus was swept away by the raging waters of a river in the jungle near the city of Pattukottai, which is located 30km south west of Tamil Nadus capital. The second accident occurred 570km away when the swirling waters of a river washed away a bus while crossing a river bridge at Sanaveli village. The rescue crews managed to pull a total of 66 people to safety. However, some six are still missing and the authorities fear they have not survived.

Tamil Nadu has been experiencing a deadly wave of inclement weather since last Monday. Extremely heavy downpours have been affecting twelve provinces of the Indian state. Rivers and dams have over flown, many villages and certain cities have lost contact with the rest of the country, more than 20,000 people have fled their homes, while the army has been on high alert and has started distributing food supplies.

Over the last five days, landslides and electrocution due to fallen wires have claimed the lives of 30 people. A total of 2,200 people have been killed by the severe monsoons that have been plaguing India since July.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Four Iraqi Civilians Were Killed Bomb Goes Off in Baghdad

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA-Reuters

Four civilians were killed and further four were wounded when a bomb went off the time a US military patrol was crossing a central interjection of the Iraqi capital. First information spoke of a car bomb, however, the authorities have not ruled out the possibility that it might be a suicide bomber.

Furthermore, three Iraqi troops were killed at 6:30am (Greek local time) while standing watch in a crossing point 70km north of Baghdad.

Over the last days, there has been an outbreak of bomb attacks carried out by Sunnis insurgents resulting in the death of nearly 200 people, most of them civilians. A great deal of the attacks target the Shiite community, fuelling the sectarian conflict and bringing the country on the verge of civil war.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Car bomb kills 4 in Baghdad

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