Showing posts with label explosion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label explosion. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Terrorist attack suspected in Russian train blast

11/28/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The blast in the Russian passenger train which left a crater on the ground and killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 50 is alluded to be the workings of terrorism. In August 2007, a similar detonation suspected to be done by Chechen rebels and ultranationalist groups injured about 60 victims.

The Nevski Express was cruising between Moscow and St. Petersburg on Friday, November 27, when it was disabled by the violent explosion.

Four train cars out of 14 went out their tracks. Their mangled steel wreckage was shown in television. Emergency rescue teams rushed to the scene to assist the wounded victims and bring them to the hospital. Anti-terrorism experts were sent to the crash site to investigate the bloody incident. (Photo Credit: Pravda) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Coal mine blast in China points to the cost of development for 1.3 billion people

11/23/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Out of the 528 people working in XinXing coal mine, 420 survived the predawn blast on Saturday, Novermber 21, 2009. A total 104 died after gas levels suddenly went up and triggered a huge explosion. At least 4 were still unaccounted for and about 40 were brought to nearby hospital for treatment of burns and injuries.

According the survivors, some of their friends were not able to escape in spite of the warning they relayed on the impending explosion. Soon after the fatal blast, fearful mine workers in an adjacent site of the accident were hesitant to come down the shaft, but they had no choice for they need to work. Otherwise, they will be jobless and have no means of livelihood.

The blast is the worst in 2 years as China tries to generate its energy source for fuel for its 1.3 billion people. Coal is the source of ¾ of China’s electricity. The communist country, accelerating to grow and attain development, wants to achieve 8% economic growth for this year. This is part of their desire to boost their economy and have prominence among the world's influential nations.

In 2007, shafts at two neighboring mines suffered flooding which killed 181 miners in eastern Shandong province. A massive landslide caused by heavy mining led to deaths of 277 people in mud in Shanxi province.

Residents were awakened by the latest blast in the early morning in Hegang province, an old city with snow which often is dark-gray resulting from coal contamination---a big issue in environmental pollution. Despite closure of about 1,000 dangerous mines last year, accidents and deaths of miners still happen. (Photo Credit: Niklausberger) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Mayon Volcano shows signs of possible eruption

11/09/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


There are signs that Mayon Volcano in Albay is on the verge of an eruption. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) last week described magma to be rising on its rim and the build-up of the material continues.

“Phivolcs scientists are closely monitoring the volcano's abnormalities displayed by fluctuating incidence of volcanic quakes, sulfur gas emissions, building of a lava dome at the crater rim, crater glow, ash explosion and bulging of the volcano's edifice...

Scientists observed that sulfur dioxide gas emitted by the volcano continues to swing ranging from 252 to 206 tons per day the past three days. Instruments, however, failed to read sulfur gas emission rate on Wednesday because of cloudy skies on top of the volcano.” ---Vox Bikol /PNA (11/08/09, Arguelles, M

The alert level in the areas surrounding Mt. Mayon is kept at level 2. Series of tremors was felt in at the slopes. Police officers watching the 12 checkpoints around the volcano is inaccessible--- a 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast end. This has to be enforced to avoid injuries or death if explosions, lava flows, landslides and rockfalls occur. (Photo Credit: Norkfam) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Another deadly bomb blast in Peshawar kills about 100

10/28/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




As Sec. of State Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan, a car bomb blew in the city of Peshawar killing almost 100 people and wounding about 200 innocent victims in a busy market. Plumes of smoke, broken concrete. and scattered rubble were observed in the crime scene.

The car explosion was part of the step-up offensive by Taliban insurgents against Pakistani forces as the latter continued their attacks in South Waziristan, a border community near Afghanistan where Taliban fighters had taken foothold.

"I want you to know this fight is not Pakistan's alone," Clinton said. "These extremists are committed to destroying what is dear to us as much as they are committed to destroying that which is dear to you and to all people. So this is our struggle as well."--- AP/ Yahoo.news.com (10/28/09, Khan, R.)

In October, three bombs blasted as part of the deplorable attacks across the country claiming the lives of about 250 people. The focus of the attacks by Islamic militants had been the military forces charged with security and innocent civilians who had been caught negotiating their daily lives in public places of a chaotic country.

Notorious fanatical killers aim to lessen the people’s resolve to fight lawlessness and lessen government support from the people. (Photo Credits: Reuters/ Yahoon.news.com/ Asis, F.) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Grenade explodes in Sulu Cathedral

10/28/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


An M72 grenade detonated at the back of the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu Southern Philippines on Tuesday October 27, 2009. Although no one claimed responsibility, Armed Forces spokesman Ramon David Hontiveros thought terrorists could be behind the blast which did not involve casualties and damage to property.

"The explosion could be a test by the terrorists to see the reaction of the AFP/PNP (Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police) in the area," Hontiveros said in a text message to reporters.”---GMA.news TV (10/27/09, Sisante, J C. )

Jolo, Sulu is one of the troubled spots in Mindanao where the militant Abu Sayyaf with links to Al Qaeda operate. In July 7, 2009, an explosion in Jolo killed two people and injured at least 30 civiliians. (PHoto Credit: Charlie Saceda) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Two massive suicide bombings rock Baghdad

10/26/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




At least 140 people were killed and more than 500 were injured in two suicide bomb explosions detonated last Sunday. October 25, 2009 in Central Baghdad, Iraq. The blasts which shattered buildings occurred outside the Green Zone, the heavily guarded area where government facilities are located.

According to the police the first bomb struck near the justice ministry. It was immediately followed by a strong car blast at the provincial government headquarters. At least 25 employees of the Baghdad Provincial Council were among those who died.

These bombings were the most severe after the August suicide bombing which claimed the lives of about 100 innocent victims. The bombing this weekend occurred at a time when the Iraqi parliament is deliberating whether to pass a law that will allow national elections to be held in January.

Although Pres. Barack Obama reiterated America’s commitment to keep troops in Iraq during his meeting with Prime minister Nouri al Maliki, the United States is contemplating withdrawal of combat forces by August next year.

No one has claimed responsibility for the twin bombings though blasts of this scale are usually attributed Al Qaeda and to Sunni insurgents who want the overthrow of Shiites who dominate the management of the Iraqi government. (Photo Credits: AFP/ al Rubaye, A; AFP) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Suicide bomber kills 16 military recruits in Swat Valley

8/31/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


A suicide bomber who trespassed a training compound for military recruits blew himself, killing 16 would-be police officers in Swat region of Pakistan. The bloody attack which wounded an undetermined number of trainees came three days after 27 security men died in another attack in the country’s Khyber region.

The violence in unstable Mingora, Swat’s major village may be an attempt of Taliban militants to reclaim the area they control after their stronghold of three years was disrupted by military forces early in May 2009.

It was estimated 1,800 Islamic rebels and suicide bombers died during the offensive. A million civilians escaped the area, but returned when some measure of stability was achieved by the anti-Taliban forces.

Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the attack, vowing to continue the fight against the Taliban insurgents who caused the senseless deaths of about 3,000 people in the last two years. (Photo Credit: Nizam Khan) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Iraq bloodbath kills 95

8/20/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Iraqis who have been used to killings that average about 200-300 per month are alarmed by the recent carnage that brought 95 dead and more than 500 injured. The deaths come from coordinated detonation of cars, trucks, and mortars on key targets in Baghdad---among the deadliest this year. One such bomb has exploded near the finance ministry wounding at least 200 people, mostly innocent civilians. Two Al Qaeda militants were arrested in connection with the senseless blasts.

“I am saddened that the violence continues, including an appalling string of attacks today in Baghdad which took the lives of scores of innocent people," UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon ABCNews (08/19/09, Barker, A.)

A Sunni politician Falah Hassan Zeidan condemned the terrorist attacks in the city where the parliament, national government, and international community are located. Admitted by government officials, he complained of the laxity of the security men tasked to keep peace in the area.

The cowardly attacks have increased since the partial withdrawal of US forces last June. However, the decision to keep for about 2 years American military forces in the capital city remains. (Photo Credit: minnimarg) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Russian hydroelectric plant workers missing in an explosion

8/19/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




Rescuers were racing against time to find about 70 workers trapped in a big hydroelectric plant where an explosion occurred. Russia’s largest hydroelectric facility located in Sayano-Shushenskaya, in a Siberia town of Cheryomushki suffered damage which caused electrical outages in several villages and factories.

Twelve people were confirmed dead and more than 70 were reported missing in the blast on August 18, 2009. There are others who were trapped in flooded rooms close to faulty turbines which could be the cause of the blast.

Though the dam of the electric plant was not destroyed, an oil slick developed after the explosion stretching about 50 miles in Yenisei River The plant serves about 10% of the total energy needs of Siberia. (Photo Credits: AFP; Reuters/ Naymushin llya) =0-=
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PostHeaderIcon Manila oil depot poses risk to Pandacan residents

7/22/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


For a long time the oil depot in Pandacan at the heart of Manila seemed safe. There were no complaints to the presence of the fuel facility right beside congested residential and commercial areas.

“The depot, a 36-hectare cluster of harbor tanks containing 330.5 million liters of gasoline, crude oil and other flammable substances, was built in Pandacan in the 1910s by the “Big 3" oil companies: Chevron (then Caltex), Pilipinas Shell, and Petron Corporation (then Esso). At present, the Pandacan oil depot supplies around 1,800 retail stations in Metro Manila and outlying provinces. The oil depot is also said to supply around half of the country’s total demand for fuel and other petrochemical products.”----GMANews Tv (07/04/09, Calonzo, T.)

Yet, the threats of an environmental accident, natural disaster, earthquake damage, sabotage, and terrorism have grown. It is easy to understand why people started questioning the oil depot's safety. The facility is considered a disaster waiting to happen and concerned citizens, church leaders, and community groups are apprehensive and up against it.

The order of the Supreme Court in 2001 to relocate the fuel site was in recognition of such threats. But through a city ordinance, Mayor Alfredo Lim was able to reverse the decision. Thinking that the oil facility was bringing jobs (10,000 workers) and revenue (P100 million in annual taxes) to the city, the mayor and his supporters, ignoring the danger, believed it was better to keep the depot for the “common good.”

It is hardly for the common good if people's lives are at risk and a fire caused by oil explosion may bring death and destruction to residents who live in the area.

In averting disaster, it is better to err on the side of prudence. As the saying goes, a pound of prevention is better than a ton of cure. (Photo Credit: Etang) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon North Korea detonates an underground nuclear bomb

5/26/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


As if to tell the world, that countries can defy the United Nations (UN,) North Korea exploded an underground atomic weapon which was as powerful as the one that leveled Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. The 10 to 20 kiloton bomb generated an earthquake of about 4.5 in the northeastern part of North Korea. It was picked up by seismologists worldwide as Pyongyang officials affirmed the successful nuclear test on May 25, 2009.

Kim Jong Il’s nuclear bomb test, the second since 2006 is in defiance to the United Nation’s resolutions forbidding his country to develop nuclear weapon. A danger to world peace, the nuclear detonation followed last month’s launching of a ballistic missile which has the capacity to reach the US territory.

The UN expressed disapproval against the test-launch and North Korea was punished with greater sanctions. In retaliation, the communist regime of Kim Jong Il asked that the international nuclear inspectors leave the country. The North Koreans threatened to resume operation of Yongbyon nuclear reactor and refused participation in the six-party nuclear talks. Ignoring global condemnation,
Pyongyang insisted its nuclear activities serve to beef up its self-defense and are intended for “peaceful” purposes.

In a reaction to the recent bomb test, Pres. Barack Obama lamely speaks of the recklessness of North Korea whose growing belligerence he hopes to manage with diplomacy. He plans to seek help from allies and friendly nations to stop the North Koreans from producing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

But as the leaders of the communist dictatorship have learned, they have the power to ignore the world community. Having a nuclear arsenal is their bargaining chip----an effective tool to gain leverage, a way of catching the attention of the world.

The reclusive impoverished regime of Kim Jong Il has shown that it cannot be dictated by civilized countries in spite of attempts to isolate the country for violating international law and endangering the planet. The same message is what other nations with nuclear ambitions are learning. It appears provoking a crisis brings dividends because UN and its member nations aren’t ready to impose international covenants on errant governments like North Korea. A significant number of UN resolutions, no matter how well they are worded don't work. This may well be with the unanimous UN condemnation of North Korea for exploding the atomic weapon.

It is said that majority of nations approve of the international treaty to stop nuclear weapons testing. However, there are countries like North Korea, India, and Pakistan with nuclear capabilities which oppose the ban.(Photo Credit: cbv.ns.ca) =0=

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