BREAKING NEWS

India on red alert as "super cyclone" nears east coast

By REUTERS

OCTOBER 12, 2013 07:45

BHUBANESWAR, India - Rain and wind lashed India's east coast and nearly 400,000 people fled to cyclone shelters after the government issued a red alert and warned of severe damage when one of the largest storms the country has ever seen makes landfall later on Saturday.

Muslims and Hindus gathered at mosques and temples in Odisha state, praying Cyclone Phailin would not be as devastating as a similar storm that killed 10,000 people 14 years ago. Heavy rain pounded coastal villages in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Phailin was packing winds of at least 220 kph (137 mph) on Saturday morning and was expected to cause a 3.4-m (11-foot) surge in sea levels when it hits the coast in the evening, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

"The storm has high damage potential, considering windspeed," Lakshman Singh Rathore, head of the weather department, said on Friday.

Families walked through the rain to shelters, television images showed, as gusts of wind snapped branches from trees. Tourists left popular beach resort Puri. Officials broadcast cyclone warnings through loudspeakers, radio and television.

Pentagon chief Austin discusses Iran, Gaza aid with Gallant

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 03:29 AM

Russian air defence intercepts 25 airborne targets over Belgorod region

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 02:03 AM

US officials say Ukraine will get weapons in weeks once aid approved

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 01:07 AM

Saudi Arabia placed this condition on normalization with Israel

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/18/2024 10:34 PM