Singer Fred Panopio died at 71 of a heart attack.
Fred was popular in the 60's, was a favorite of the jukeboxes. He was popularly known for his "Pitong Gatang" and "Ang Kawawang Cowboy".
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Edwin Valero, boxing champ hanged himself
In my March 2010 posting in http://mannypacquiao-zeny.blogspot.com, it was mentioned that Edwin Valero could be another match for Manny Pacquiao. Now he's dead.
As John Calub (the noted Pinoy motivational speaker) said, "life is like a pendulum, sometimes you're up and at times you are down. Prepare for the down. And don't forget the Almighty when you are up.
Below is a story on Edwin Valero's hanging in jail.
Police: Boxing champ commits suicide in jail
USA TODAY
Former boxing champion Edwin Valero committed suicide in his jail cell today just hours after he was arrested in his wife's murder, according to police in Venezuela.
The former lightweight champion used his own clothes to hang himself in his cell, Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters. He said Valero tied his clothes to a cell bar to hang himself.
Valero was found by another inmate and still showed signs of life, but jail personnel was unable to save him, Flores said.
Valero was jailed yesterday on suspicion of killing his wife, Jennifer Viera, who was stabbed to death at a hotel. Prosecutors had said yesterday they intended to charge Valero.
In March, Valero was accused of assault in an alleged attack on his wife, who went to a hospital with bruises and a damaged lung. Valero denied any wrong-doing, and said his wife had stumbled from a stairway. His wife corroborated that story, but investigators expressed doubt, in part because she had come to the same hospital twice before with similar injuries.
As John Calub (the noted Pinoy motivational speaker) said, "life is like a pendulum, sometimes you're up and at times you are down. Prepare for the down. And don't forget the Almighty when you are up.
Below is a story on Edwin Valero's hanging in jail.
Police: Boxing champ commits suicide in jail
USA TODAY
Former boxing champion Edwin Valero committed suicide in his jail cell today just hours after he was arrested in his wife's murder, according to police in Venezuela.
The former lightweight champion used his own clothes to hang himself in his cell, Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters. He said Valero tied his clothes to a cell bar to hang himself.
Valero was found by another inmate and still showed signs of life, but jail personnel was unable to save him, Flores said.
Valero was jailed yesterday on suspicion of killing his wife, Jennifer Viera, who was stabbed to death at a hotel. Prosecutors had said yesterday they intended to charge Valero.
In March, Valero was accused of assault in an alleged attack on his wife, who went to a hospital with bruises and a damaged lung. Valero denied any wrong-doing, and said his wife had stumbled from a stairway. His wife corroborated that story, but investigators expressed doubt, in part because she had come to the same hospital twice before with similar injuries.
Friday, April 16, 2010
China's dead from quake reached 1,100
Let's share our resources to help China's quake-stricken people.
China's dead hass reached 1,100.
For more of the story, read below:
China quake death toll tops 1,100
By the CNN Wire Staff
Jiegu, China (CNN) -- The death toll in the China earthquake now stands at 1,114, relief officials said on Friday as rescuers continued to race against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble.
Earlier, Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to the earthquake-devastated zone to inspect the damage and assure victims that the search would continue.
"Your suffering is our suffering," Wen said. "We are going through the same pain as you are. The family members you lost are also our family members, and we grieve for them as you do."
Wen surveyed the rubble of buildings and spoke with residents in the predominantly ethnic Tibetan region -- where anti-government sentiment is simmering -- to drive home Beijing's concern.
Ethnic Tibetans have accused Chinese soldiers of not doing enough to help in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday's 6.9-magnitude earthquake. That's an allegation the Chinese government denies, but Wen's visit could help boost morale -- at least among rescuers, some of whom are battling high altitude sickness.
"As long as there is a slight hope, we will never give up," he said. "We need to unite as one, to do a good job in our rescue work. At the same time, I assure everyone, that we will definitely make life good here again."
Wen and Chinese President Hu Jintao postponed planned foreign trips because of the disaster.
The premier postponed a scheduled visit to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar. Hu called the presidents of Chile and Venezuela to postpone his mid-April visits to those countries.
How to help: Impact Your World
"During this difficult time, I need to be home as soon as possible together with our people providing relief," he said.
More than 11,000 have been injured, according to state media. The powerful quake struck the impoverished county of Yushu in China's southern Qinghai province.
The powerful quake toppled about 15,000 homes in and around Yushu county, and caused more than 100,000 people to flee the area, said Zou Ming, director general of Disaster Relief Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
In Jiegu, the town closest to the epicenter, people were taken to a sporting field serving as a makeshift hospital -- there are no hospitals in the town.
More than 85 percent of Jiegu's poorly constructed mud and brick houses collapsed. They were homes for ethnic Tibetans, among China's poorest people making a living as farmers and herdsmen.
Along the town's main street, all that was left of two hotels was a pile of rubble. Residents and monks used hand shovels and ropes to clear debris in hopes of reaching survivors.
Thursday's rescue effort was hampered by unstable bridges and collapsed roadways, making it difficult for heavy equipment to get to hard-hit areas, including Jiegu.
But after five hours of digging, rescuers were able to pull four survivors from a guest house in the area Thursday afternoon, state television reported.
Authorities have said more than 1,000 people were saved in similar rescues.
Qinghai province
Population: 5 million
People: 44 ethnic groups, including Tibetans and Mongols
Average elevation: Over 3,000 meters above sea level
Geography: Qilian Mountains, the Qingnan Plateau and the source of the Yangtze, Mekong and Yellow Rivers
GDP: US$3.2 billion; average GDP per capita US$639
Industries: Agriculture, hydropower, oil and natural gas
Officials have sent 20,000 cotton tents, 50,000 items of winter clothing and 50,000 quilts to victims.
Can buildings be made earthquake-proof?
The quake shook the region shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday (Tuesday 8 p.m. ET), when many residents were still at home and schools were just getting started for the day.
Qinghai province in northwestern China, home to about 5 million people, is considered a gateway to Himalayan Tibet. About half its people are Han Chinese, but the area is home to more than 40 ethnic groupings, including Tibetans, Hui and Mongols.
The region, rich in natural gas and marked by copper, tin and coal mines, has a long history of earthquakes. Since 2001, 53 quakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater have occurred, according to China's Earthquake Administration.
World's biggest earthquakes since 1900
The Chinese government has allocated 200 million yuan (US$29 million) to aid the relief effort, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr. presented two checks worth a total of $100,000 to the Red Cross Society of China and the Qinghai Provincial Red Cross.
CNN's John Vause, Licia Yee and Jo Ling Kent contributed to this report.
China's dead hass reached 1,100.
For more of the story, read below:
China quake death toll tops 1,100
By the CNN Wire Staff
Jiegu, China (CNN) -- The death toll in the China earthquake now stands at 1,114, relief officials said on Friday as rescuers continued to race against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble.
Earlier, Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to the earthquake-devastated zone to inspect the damage and assure victims that the search would continue.
"Your suffering is our suffering," Wen said. "We are going through the same pain as you are. The family members you lost are also our family members, and we grieve for them as you do."
Wen surveyed the rubble of buildings and spoke with residents in the predominantly ethnic Tibetan region -- where anti-government sentiment is simmering -- to drive home Beijing's concern.
Ethnic Tibetans have accused Chinese soldiers of not doing enough to help in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday's 6.9-magnitude earthquake. That's an allegation the Chinese government denies, but Wen's visit could help boost morale -- at least among rescuers, some of whom are battling high altitude sickness.
"As long as there is a slight hope, we will never give up," he said. "We need to unite as one, to do a good job in our rescue work. At the same time, I assure everyone, that we will definitely make life good here again."
Wen and Chinese President Hu Jintao postponed planned foreign trips because of the disaster.
The premier postponed a scheduled visit to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar. Hu called the presidents of Chile and Venezuela to postpone his mid-April visits to those countries.
How to help: Impact Your World
"During this difficult time, I need to be home as soon as possible together with our people providing relief," he said.
More than 11,000 have been injured, according to state media. The powerful quake struck the impoverished county of Yushu in China's southern Qinghai province.
The powerful quake toppled about 15,000 homes in and around Yushu county, and caused more than 100,000 people to flee the area, said Zou Ming, director general of Disaster Relief Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
In Jiegu, the town closest to the epicenter, people were taken to a sporting field serving as a makeshift hospital -- there are no hospitals in the town.
More than 85 percent of Jiegu's poorly constructed mud and brick houses collapsed. They were homes for ethnic Tibetans, among China's poorest people making a living as farmers and herdsmen.
Along the town's main street, all that was left of two hotels was a pile of rubble. Residents and monks used hand shovels and ropes to clear debris in hopes of reaching survivors.
Thursday's rescue effort was hampered by unstable bridges and collapsed roadways, making it difficult for heavy equipment to get to hard-hit areas, including Jiegu.
But after five hours of digging, rescuers were able to pull four survivors from a guest house in the area Thursday afternoon, state television reported.
Authorities have said more than 1,000 people were saved in similar rescues.
Qinghai province
Population: 5 million
People: 44 ethnic groups, including Tibetans and Mongols
Average elevation: Over 3,000 meters above sea level
Geography: Qilian Mountains, the Qingnan Plateau and the source of the Yangtze, Mekong and Yellow Rivers
GDP: US$3.2 billion; average GDP per capita US$639
Industries: Agriculture, hydropower, oil and natural gas
Officials have sent 20,000 cotton tents, 50,000 items of winter clothing and 50,000 quilts to victims.
Can buildings be made earthquake-proof?
The quake shook the region shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday (Tuesday 8 p.m. ET), when many residents were still at home and schools were just getting started for the day.
Qinghai province in northwestern China, home to about 5 million people, is considered a gateway to Himalayan Tibet. About half its people are Han Chinese, but the area is home to more than 40 ethnic groupings, including Tibetans, Hui and Mongols.
The region, rich in natural gas and marked by copper, tin and coal mines, has a long history of earthquakes. Since 2001, 53 quakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater have occurred, according to China's Earthquake Administration.
World's biggest earthquakes since 1900
The Chinese government has allocated 200 million yuan (US$29 million) to aid the relief effort, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr. presented two checks worth a total of $100,000 to the Red Cross Society of China and the Qinghai Provincial Red Cross.
CNN's John Vause, Licia Yee and Jo Ling Kent contributed to this report.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
6.9 quake in China injured 10,000 and killed 400.
About 10,000 injured and 400 dead in the 6.9 quake in Quinghai, China.
Read full story below
BEIJING (AFP) - – Chinese rescuers dug with their bare hands through the rubble of a devastating quake which hit a remote area on Wednesday, killing 400 people and injuring thousands as it toppled mud-and-wood houses and school buildings.
Among the dead were children buried when the quake measuring at least 6.9 rocked a predominantly Tibetan region in the northwestern province of Qinghai, in scenes that brought back memories of a massive killer quake two years ago.
There was a glimpse of positive news after it emerged rescuers pulled out more than 900 people alive from ruined buildings over the course of the day, state television said.
About 10,000 people were injured in the quake, which disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity, toppled temples and triggered landslides, hampering rescue efforts in the mountainous area.
State media spoke of panicked residents fleeing their homes while others hunted for loved-ones trapped in the ruins in Yushu prefecture, the epicentre of the latest disaster to strike the world's most populous nation.
President Hu Jintao called for all-out efforts to save as many people as possible, with over 5,000 rescuers including soldiers rushing to the disaster zone while the government said it would provide over 29 million dollars in aid.
Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama offered his prayers for those who lost their lives while Pope Benedict XVI called for "solidarity" with the victims and nations including Japan and France offered help.
About 400 people have been confirmed dead, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Huang Limin, a top official in Yushu, who said many people were still buried in the rubble as aftershocks rumbled on.
"There are 10 people in my family and only four of us escaped. One of my relatives died. All the others are buried under the rubble," Samdrup Gyatso, 17, told Xinhua after his two-storey home crumbled.
The US Geological Survey put the quake at a magnitude of 6.9 while the China Earthquake Administration measured it at 7.1.
Meteorologists are predicting strong winds and sleet in coming days and seismologists warned of further aftershocks, adding to the trauma of the victims facing a night in the high-altitude zone without shelter.
Zhuohuaxia, an official in Jiegu, seat of the Yushu government, reported a a lack of tents, medicines and medical equipment for the survivors.
The quake wreaked havoc on the flimsy earth and wood houses near the epicentre, which lies around 800 kilometres (500 miles) or at least 12 hours by road from the provincial capital.
"The injured are everywhere in the street, a lot of people are bleeding from head wounds," Xinhua quoted Zhuohuaxia as saying, adding that more than 85 percent of houses collapsed in Jiegu.
Some sturdier concrete structures were also toppled, and Xinhua reported that a reservoir was cracked, sending workers scrambling to prevent any outflow of water.
Among the casualties were children trapped under the rubble of at least one collapsed school in Jiegu, with Xinhua reporting that at least five pupils had died.
"Some pupils ran out of dorms alive, and those who had not escaped in time were buried," said one teacher.
The scene was reminiscent of the huge quake in May 2008 in Sichuan province, where thousands of children died when their shoddily constructed schools fell on them -- an issue that caused big controversy in China.
Nearly 87,000 people were killed or missing in the 2008 disaster, the worst in China in more than three decades.
Kang Zifu, a local fire department official, was quoted as telling state television that about 20 children were buried .
Rescue teams including 700 soldiers and more than 5,000 other people are being rushed to the disaster zone, Xinhua said, while the civil affairs ministry was to send 5,000 tents, 50,000 coats and 50,000 quilts.
State television broadcast images of dogs being led into huge planes going to the scene to help with the search for survivors.
"We have to mainly rely on our hands to clear away the debris as we have no large excavating machines," said Shi Huajie, a paramilitary police officer. "We have no medical equipment either."
A series of aftershocks rattled the area, and the quake was also felt strongly in neighbouring regions, including Tibet, Xinhua said.
The remote high-altitude region is prone to earthquakes. Its economy is based heavily on farming and livestock herding by its overwhelmingly ethnic Tibetan population.
Read full story below
BEIJING (AFP) - – Chinese rescuers dug with their bare hands through the rubble of a devastating quake which hit a remote area on Wednesday, killing 400 people and injuring thousands as it toppled mud-and-wood houses and school buildings.
Among the dead were children buried when the quake measuring at least 6.9 rocked a predominantly Tibetan region in the northwestern province of Qinghai, in scenes that brought back memories of a massive killer quake two years ago.
There was a glimpse of positive news after it emerged rescuers pulled out more than 900 people alive from ruined buildings over the course of the day, state television said.
About 10,000 people were injured in the quake, which disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity, toppled temples and triggered landslides, hampering rescue efforts in the mountainous area.
State media spoke of panicked residents fleeing their homes while others hunted for loved-ones trapped in the ruins in Yushu prefecture, the epicentre of the latest disaster to strike the world's most populous nation.
President Hu Jintao called for all-out efforts to save as many people as possible, with over 5,000 rescuers including soldiers rushing to the disaster zone while the government said it would provide over 29 million dollars in aid.
Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama offered his prayers for those who lost their lives while Pope Benedict XVI called for "solidarity" with the victims and nations including Japan and France offered help.
About 400 people have been confirmed dead, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Huang Limin, a top official in Yushu, who said many people were still buried in the rubble as aftershocks rumbled on.
"There are 10 people in my family and only four of us escaped. One of my relatives died. All the others are buried under the rubble," Samdrup Gyatso, 17, told Xinhua after his two-storey home crumbled.
The US Geological Survey put the quake at a magnitude of 6.9 while the China Earthquake Administration measured it at 7.1.
Meteorologists are predicting strong winds and sleet in coming days and seismologists warned of further aftershocks, adding to the trauma of the victims facing a night in the high-altitude zone without shelter.
Zhuohuaxia, an official in Jiegu, seat of the Yushu government, reported a a lack of tents, medicines and medical equipment for the survivors.
The quake wreaked havoc on the flimsy earth and wood houses near the epicentre, which lies around 800 kilometres (500 miles) or at least 12 hours by road from the provincial capital.
"The injured are everywhere in the street, a lot of people are bleeding from head wounds," Xinhua quoted Zhuohuaxia as saying, adding that more than 85 percent of houses collapsed in Jiegu.
Some sturdier concrete structures were also toppled, and Xinhua reported that a reservoir was cracked, sending workers scrambling to prevent any outflow of water.
Among the casualties were children trapped under the rubble of at least one collapsed school in Jiegu, with Xinhua reporting that at least five pupils had died.
"Some pupils ran out of dorms alive, and those who had not escaped in time were buried," said one teacher.
The scene was reminiscent of the huge quake in May 2008 in Sichuan province, where thousands of children died when their shoddily constructed schools fell on them -- an issue that caused big controversy in China.
Nearly 87,000 people were killed or missing in the 2008 disaster, the worst in China in more than three decades.
Kang Zifu, a local fire department official, was quoted as telling state television that about 20 children were buried .
Rescue teams including 700 soldiers and more than 5,000 other people are being rushed to the disaster zone, Xinhua said, while the civil affairs ministry was to send 5,000 tents, 50,000 coats and 50,000 quilts.
State television broadcast images of dogs being led into huge planes going to the scene to help with the search for survivors.
"We have to mainly rely on our hands to clear away the debris as we have no large excavating machines," said Shi Huajie, a paramilitary police officer. "We have no medical equipment either."
A series of aftershocks rattled the area, and the quake was also felt strongly in neighbouring regions, including Tibet, Xinhua said.
The remote high-altitude region is prone to earthquakes. Its economy is based heavily on farming and livestock herding by its overwhelmingly ethnic Tibetan population.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
After the Solomon Islands, Spain hit by 6.2 quake.
After the 6.8 quake in Solomon, southern Spain was hit by 6.2 quake.
Read the story on the Spain quake below.
Earthquake hits southern Spain; damage said unlikely
(CNN) -- A strong earthquake struck near the Spanish city of Granada early Monday, but at a depth that made damage to the medieval Moorish capital unlikely, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck at 12:08 a.m. local time Monday (6:08 p.m. Sunday ET), the USGS reported.
It was centered about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Granada and about 370 kilometers (230 miles) south of Madrid, Spain's capital.
There was no immediate report of damage or injuries from the temblor. The quake's recorded depth of 616 kilometers -- nearly 400 miles -- means little damage is likely, geophysicist Susan Potter told CNN.
"When an earthquake is deeper, the seismic energy is absorbed by the Earth," Potter said. "So there will be less damage expected in the epicenter area."
Read the story on the Spain quake below.
Earthquake hits southern Spain; damage said unlikely
(CNN) -- A strong earthquake struck near the Spanish city of Granada early Monday, but at a depth that made damage to the medieval Moorish capital unlikely, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck at 12:08 a.m. local time Monday (6:08 p.m. Sunday ET), the USGS reported.
It was centered about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Granada and about 370 kilometers (230 miles) south of Madrid, Spain's capital.
There was no immediate report of damage or injuries from the temblor. The quake's recorded depth of 616 kilometers -- nearly 400 miles -- means little damage is likely, geophysicist Susan Potter told CNN.
"When an earthquake is deeper, the seismic energy is absorbed by the Earth," Potter said. "So there will be less damage expected in the epicenter area."
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Rio de Janeiro killer deluge
This time it's a killer deluge in Rio de Janeiro.
Read details below:
Up to 60 people may be buried after killer deluge hits Rio
Up to 60 people may be buried following a landslide that has destroyed some 40 homes in a city near Rio de Janeiro, Globo news reported.
The landslide struck Niteroi, a city across the bay from the state capital and part of the greater Rio metropolitan area, Globo reported on Wednesday, citing sources in the mayor's office and firefighters.
Flooding from the heaviest downpours in almost half a century in southeastern Brazil have killed more than 133 people since Monday.
Flooding has been so intense that authorities urged area residents to remain indoors and not venture downtown, where streets were impassable.
The state of Rio de Janeiro was in mourning as the extent of the disaster became clear and a third day of rains compounded the misery for 5000 municipal employees trying to clear streets turned to mud.
The situation "is better than it was yesterday", Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes told a news conference, although he maintained the maximum alert level and urged people in high-risk areas to evacuate their homes.
"During the night, fortunately, there were no new landslides, but the risk still exists."
Rain fell intermittently on Wednesday amid sunny spells, providing hope that the worst was over.
But the toll could rise further as dozens were reportedly still missing following the rains, which displaced more than 1400 people and destroyed scores of homes.
Emergency officials said most fatalities were in hillside slums around the city of Rio de Janeiro, where torrents of water triggered devastating mudslides and scenes of chaos since Monday.
Dozens were killed in Rio itself but hardest hit was Niteroi, a city on the other side of the bay from the state capital where at least 54 people lost their lives.
The flooding was so intense that authorities urged Rio residents to remain indoors and not venture downtown, where streets were impassable.
Some motorists abandoned their partially submerged cars, while others were stranded for hours inside stalled vehicles.
"All the major streets of the city are closed because of the floods," said Paes. "Each and every person who attempts to enter them will be at enormous risk."
Most of the casualties were trapped in landslides in the hillside slums that ring Rio, a city of some 16 million people that will host the World Cup football tournament in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Paes ordered schools in Rio closed Wednesday for a second day in order to keep people off the streets, while state governor Sergio Cabral decreed three days of mourning.
The killer floods also wreaked havoc with air traffic, delaying most international flights in and out of Rio's Antonio Carlos Jobim airport and forcing the cancellation of many domestic services.
In a neighbourhood close to the mountain where Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is located, the local weather service said the recent rainfall was twice the amount normally registered for the whole month of April.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised decades of administrative neglect which allowed shoddy home construction in high-risk zones of the city's shantytowns.
"All we can do is pray to God to hold back the rains a little, so that Rio can return to normal, and so that we can set about fixing the things in the city that need fixing," the Brazilian leader told local radio on Tuesday.
The heavy rains began during Monday evening rush hour, catching workers heading home for the day off-guard.
Brazil had already seen deadly deluges in Sao Paulo earlier this year after the wettest summer in the region in more than six decades.
National weather service Inmet said Tuesday's rainfall was the heaviest in 48 years.
AFP
Call on our Lord. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
MATTHEW 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 0 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Read details below:
Up to 60 people may be buried after killer deluge hits Rio
Up to 60 people may be buried following a landslide that has destroyed some 40 homes in a city near Rio de Janeiro, Globo news reported.
The landslide struck Niteroi, a city across the bay from the state capital and part of the greater Rio metropolitan area, Globo reported on Wednesday, citing sources in the mayor's office and firefighters.
Flooding from the heaviest downpours in almost half a century in southeastern Brazil have killed more than 133 people since Monday.
Flooding has been so intense that authorities urged area residents to remain indoors and not venture downtown, where streets were impassable.
The state of Rio de Janeiro was in mourning as the extent of the disaster became clear and a third day of rains compounded the misery for 5000 municipal employees trying to clear streets turned to mud.
The situation "is better than it was yesterday", Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes told a news conference, although he maintained the maximum alert level and urged people in high-risk areas to evacuate their homes.
"During the night, fortunately, there were no new landslides, but the risk still exists."
Rain fell intermittently on Wednesday amid sunny spells, providing hope that the worst was over.
But the toll could rise further as dozens were reportedly still missing following the rains, which displaced more than 1400 people and destroyed scores of homes.
Emergency officials said most fatalities were in hillside slums around the city of Rio de Janeiro, where torrents of water triggered devastating mudslides and scenes of chaos since Monday.
Dozens were killed in Rio itself but hardest hit was Niteroi, a city on the other side of the bay from the state capital where at least 54 people lost their lives.
The flooding was so intense that authorities urged Rio residents to remain indoors and not venture downtown, where streets were impassable.
Some motorists abandoned their partially submerged cars, while others were stranded for hours inside stalled vehicles.
"All the major streets of the city are closed because of the floods," said Paes. "Each and every person who attempts to enter them will be at enormous risk."
Most of the casualties were trapped in landslides in the hillside slums that ring Rio, a city of some 16 million people that will host the World Cup football tournament in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Paes ordered schools in Rio closed Wednesday for a second day in order to keep people off the streets, while state governor Sergio Cabral decreed three days of mourning.
The killer floods also wreaked havoc with air traffic, delaying most international flights in and out of Rio's Antonio Carlos Jobim airport and forcing the cancellation of many domestic services.
In a neighbourhood close to the mountain where Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is located, the local weather service said the recent rainfall was twice the amount normally registered for the whole month of April.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised decades of administrative neglect which allowed shoddy home construction in high-risk zones of the city's shantytowns.
"All we can do is pray to God to hold back the rains a little, so that Rio can return to normal, and so that we can set about fixing the things in the city that need fixing," the Brazilian leader told local radio on Tuesday.
The heavy rains began during Monday evening rush hour, catching workers heading home for the day off-guard.
Brazil had already seen deadly deluges in Sao Paulo earlier this year after the wettest summer in the region in more than six decades.
National weather service Inmet said Tuesday's rainfall was the heaviest in 48 years.
AFP
Call on our Lord. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
MATTHEW 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 0 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Another earthquake in Indonesia measuring 7.8
Another earthquake hit Indonesia at a magnitude of 7.8.
Watch CNN's news.
Watch CNN's news.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Baja California
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Baja California
Read more of story below.
Baja California quake magnitude raised to 7.2
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press Writer Christopher Weber, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES – Seismologists have raised the preliminary magnitude of an earthquake in northern Baja California from 6.9 to 7.2.
U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones says the new magnitude of the 3:40 p.m. Sunday earthquake is still an estimate.
The quake centered south of California's border with Mexico was widely felt, swaying buildings as far away as San Diego, Los Angeles and Arizona.
There has been no confirmed damage, but some power outages were reported in southern Arizona and Tijuana, Mexico. Jones says any damage would likely have occurred closer to the epicenter such as in the Mexican city of Mexicali or in U.S. border cities.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A strong earthquake south of the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday swayed high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego and was felt across Southern California and Arizona, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m. in Baja California, Mexico, about 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The area was hit by magnitude-3.0 quakes all week.
The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said.
Strong shaking was reported in the Coachella Valley and Riverside, Calif. The earthquake rattled buildings on the west side of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, interrupting Easter dinners. Chandeliers swayed and wine jiggled in glasses.
In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on "earthquake status," and some stalled elevators were reported. No damage was reported in Los Angeles or San Diego.
One woman called firefighters and said she was stuck in an elevator descending from the 34th floor in a building in Century City, but there was no way to immediately know if the breakdown was tied the quake, Los Angeles firefighter Eric Scott said.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says there are no power outages anywhere in the city, spokeswoman Maryanne Pierson said.
The quake was felt for about 40 seconds in Tijuana, Mexico, causing buildings to sway and knocking out power in parts of the city. Families celebrating Easter ran out of the homes, with children screaming and crying.
Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage. But he said the assessment was ongoing.
In the Phoenix area, Jacqueline Land said her king-sized bed in her second-floor apartment felt like a boat gently swaying on the ocean.
"I thought to myself, 'That can't be an earthquake. I'm in Arizona,'" the Northern California native said. "And I thought, 'Oh my God, I feel like I'm 9 years old.'"
A police dispatcher in Yuma, Ariz., said the quake was very strong there, but no damage was reported. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office had gotten a few calls, mostly from alarm companies because of alarms going off.
Mike Wong, who works at a journalism school in downtown Phoenix, said he was in his second-floor office getting some work done Sunday afternoon when he heard sounds and felt the building start to sway.
"I heard some cracking sounds, like Rice Krispies," coming from the building, he said. "I didn't think much of it, but I kept hearing it, and then I started feeling a shake. I thought, 'You know what? I think that might be an earthquake."
Wong said the swaying lasted for "just a few seconds," and he didn't notice any damage.
An earthquake also hit in Northern California Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Geological Survey says a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 was recorded at 3:49 p.m. about 25 miles north of Santa Rosa.
A dispatcher with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said the agency had not received any calls for service after the quake.
___
Associated Press Writers Andrew Dalton and John Antczak in Los Angeles, John S. Marshall in San Francisco, and Matt Reed and Katie Oyan in Phoenix contributed to this report.
A 7.2 magnitutde
Read more of story below.
Baja California quake magnitude raised to 7.2
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press Writer Christopher Weber, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES – Seismologists have raised the preliminary magnitude of an earthquake in northern Baja California from 6.9 to 7.2.
U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones says the new magnitude of the 3:40 p.m. Sunday earthquake is still an estimate.
The quake centered south of California's border with Mexico was widely felt, swaying buildings as far away as San Diego, Los Angeles and Arizona.
There has been no confirmed damage, but some power outages were reported in southern Arizona and Tijuana, Mexico. Jones says any damage would likely have occurred closer to the epicenter such as in the Mexican city of Mexicali or in U.S. border cities.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A strong earthquake south of the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday swayed high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego and was felt across Southern California and Arizona, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m. in Baja California, Mexico, about 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The area was hit by magnitude-3.0 quakes all week.
The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said.
Strong shaking was reported in the Coachella Valley and Riverside, Calif. The earthquake rattled buildings on the west side of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, interrupting Easter dinners. Chandeliers swayed and wine jiggled in glasses.
In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on "earthquake status," and some stalled elevators were reported. No damage was reported in Los Angeles or San Diego.
One woman called firefighters and said she was stuck in an elevator descending from the 34th floor in a building in Century City, but there was no way to immediately know if the breakdown was tied the quake, Los Angeles firefighter Eric Scott said.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says there are no power outages anywhere in the city, spokeswoman Maryanne Pierson said.
The quake was felt for about 40 seconds in Tijuana, Mexico, causing buildings to sway and knocking out power in parts of the city. Families celebrating Easter ran out of the homes, with children screaming and crying.
Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage. But he said the assessment was ongoing.
In the Phoenix area, Jacqueline Land said her king-sized bed in her second-floor apartment felt like a boat gently swaying on the ocean.
"I thought to myself, 'That can't be an earthquake. I'm in Arizona,'" the Northern California native said. "And I thought, 'Oh my God, I feel like I'm 9 years old.'"
A police dispatcher in Yuma, Ariz., said the quake was very strong there, but no damage was reported. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office had gotten a few calls, mostly from alarm companies because of alarms going off.
Mike Wong, who works at a journalism school in downtown Phoenix, said he was in his second-floor office getting some work done Sunday afternoon when he heard sounds and felt the building start to sway.
"I heard some cracking sounds, like Rice Krispies," coming from the building, he said. "I didn't think much of it, but I kept hearing it, and then I started feeling a shake. I thought, 'You know what? I think that might be an earthquake."
Wong said the swaying lasted for "just a few seconds," and he didn't notice any damage.
An earthquake also hit in Northern California Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Geological Survey says a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 was recorded at 3:49 p.m. about 25 miles north of Santa Rosa.
A dispatcher with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said the agency had not received any calls for service after the quake.
___
Associated Press Writers Andrew Dalton and John Antczak in Los Angeles, John S. Marshall in San Francisco, and Matt Reed and Katie Oyan in Phoenix contributed to this report.
A 7.2 magnitutde
Msgr. Ruperto Santos, new Filipino Bishop
Msgr. Ruperto Santos was appointed new Filipino bishop! Congratulations.
Read story below...
GMANews.TV
Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday evening (Manila time) appointed a new Filipino bishop who will be assigned to the diocese of Balanga in Bataan province.
Bulacan native Msgr. Ruperto Santos will become the fourth bishop of the Balanga diocese, the Vatican announced at 6 p.m. Thursday.
"(Msgr. Santos), until now Rector of Collegio Filippino in Rome, succeeds Socrates Villegas who was named archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in September 2009," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said in its news site.
Santos’ appointment was released in the Vatican at noon Thursday (Rome time), or 6 p.m. in Manila. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams announced the appointment in Manila.
Santos, a native of San Rafael in Bulacan, was ordained priest on October 30, 1958.
No date has yet been set for his ordination and installation of Msgr. Santos as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.
The diocese has a population of around 600,000 Catholics. - KBK, GMANews.TV
Read story below...
GMANews.TV
Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday evening (Manila time) appointed a new Filipino bishop who will be assigned to the diocese of Balanga in Bataan province.
Bulacan native Msgr. Ruperto Santos will become the fourth bishop of the Balanga diocese, the Vatican announced at 6 p.m. Thursday.
"(Msgr. Santos), until now Rector of Collegio Filippino in Rome, succeeds Socrates Villegas who was named archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in September 2009," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said in its news site.
Santos’ appointment was released in the Vatican at noon Thursday (Rome time), or 6 p.m. in Manila. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams announced the appointment in Manila.
Santos, a native of San Rafael in Bulacan, was ordained priest on October 30, 1958.
No date has yet been set for his ordination and installation of Msgr. Santos as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.
The diocese has a population of around 600,000 Catholics. - KBK, GMANews.TV
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