Saturday, 25 April 2015

The world's most innovative cities in pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2015/apr/23/modern-cities-panos-photography-futureofcities-exhibition-in-pictures 

Singapore: These ‘supertrees’ dominate the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ landscape, at heights of up to 50 metres. They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees.<strong>Tokyo, Japan</strong> A monk prays at the Banshoji temple where, on the third floor, there is a room called the Suishoden. In this hall, blue LEDs illuminate 2,000 small glass cinerariums, each containing a box holding the ashes of a deceased person. Each is decorated with an image of the Buddha. A visitor uses an electronic identity card at the entrance and the appropriate urn lights up in goldMumbai, India An aerial view over Dhobighat, the open air area where the city’s laundry is washedMedellín, Colombia A street scene near the Santo Domingo metro-cable in Comuna 1

1000+ dead in massive Nepal earthquake....

26th April 2015

The death toll is now at 1900.
Aftershocks (31 of over 4 magnitude and above, including one 6.7 till 9am today)  are still shaking the region and the tremors have been felt in neighbouring Indian cities New Delhi and Kolkata.

The quakes triggered Avalanches on mount Everest killing many sherpas and climbers for the second year in a row. 

In this photo provided by Azim Afif, people approach the scene after an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake swept across Everest Base Camp, Nepal on Saturday. Afif and his team of four others from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia all survived the avalanche. A cloud of snow and debris triggered by an earthquake flies towards Everest Base Camp, moments before flattening part of the camp in the Himalayas.
Rescuers carry a sherpa injured by an avalanche that flattened parts of Everest Base Camp on Saturday.This photo provided by Azim Afif shows the scene after the avalanche.

At least 5,000 with injuries reported so far and 700 dead in the capital city, Kathmandu, alone. The numbers are expected to rise.
Helicopters have flown in to fly the injured from Everest base camp off the mountain.
Many Nepalese have spent the night out in  the open to afraid to go inside or unable to due to building collapses.
People sleep outside on a street a in Kathmandu, Nepal
Many roads are still blocked, hampering relief efforts.
People are having to dig out survivors with bare hands and axes as bulldozers cannot get to many affected areas.
People clear rubble in Kathmandu's Durbar Square

This article explain why the earthquakes impacts were so bad....

The magnitude of 7.8 is a high magnitude quake which is very powerful added to this the focus was only 11km under the ground and many of the buildings were poorly constructed so easily collapsed.  However 'luckily' much areas affected found on solid bedrock so didn't shake as much.

Collapsed buildings in Kathmandu after the earthquake hit Nepal. poorly built buildings in the capital that have collapsed


The US is sending $1 dollars in aid and a disaster response team to the region.
25th April 2015.

Aid from nearby Sri Lanka has begun to arrive now the airport is open-
Sri Lankan Air Force personnel load emergency relief supplies to be flown to quake-hit Nepal (26 April 2015)

India has sent multiple rescue planes carrying medical supplies and a mobile hospital with a 40 strong disaster response team (including rescue dogs)
The UK has sent 8 humanitarian experts.
Pakistan has sent aircraft with a field hospital with beds, docs and specialist equipment to treat the injured. Dog rescue teams with sniffer dogs and emergency supplies (2000 meals, 600 blankets and 200 tents).
Norway has offered $3.9 in aid.
The EU has also promised to send aid, as have France, Israel and Germany

A 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal in the early hours of Saturday causing massive damage and destruction..

The epicentre of the earthquake was in Gorkha between the capital Kathmandu and Pokhara
Nepal earthquake map

Historic, World heritage status listed landmarks have been damaged beyond repair.

People stand around damage caused by an earthquake at Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, April 25, 2015

Kathmandu's landmark Dharahara tower before and after the earthquake
The Dharahara tower before and after the quake....

Eyewitnesses have been describing the tragedy that unfolded...

Kathmandu quake image sent in by Ashutosh Neupane

Image of Kathmandu quake destruction, courtesy of Sandesh Kaji Shrestha

So how bad is it looking?.......

The runway was closed for a while but has reopened now.
Some roads are still closed and blocked.
Many buildings have collapsed, trapping many inside....
Over 1000 are all ready confirmed dead and many more could be found...

Flowers are left by survivors on top of debris from a collapsed building at Basantapur Durbar Square following an earthquake on 25 April 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal

Calbuca volcano erupts in Chile

The volcano is located here....
Map of Argentina and Chile, showing Buenos Aires, Santiago and the Calbuco volcano


Officials and experts in Chile are warning the volcano may erupt again

General view of Chilean Calbuco volcano from Puerto Montt, located at 1000 km southern Santiago de Chile, Chile, 22 April 2015

There was no warning it would blow.....

People of the town of Ensenada have been ordered to evacuate amid the eruption and fears it may blow again
View from Puerto Montt, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, 22 April 2015

A resident walks by the Centro Civico (Civic Centre) covered with ash from the Calbuco volcano in the Patagonian Argentine city of San Carlos de Bariloche 23 April 2015

A boat is seen in a house backyard at Ensenada town which is covered with ash from Calbuco volcano near Puerto Varas city, April 23, 2015



Towns nearby have been covered in ash and dust

The eruption has also disrupted flights...

The Calbuco volcano in southern Chile is pictured erupting in this handout photo provided by Nasa and taken April 23, 2015.

View of the Calbuco volcano in Puerto Varas, Chile on April 24, 2015.