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Flash floods in Spain leave at least 51 dead and disrupt rail and road services

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Flash floods in Spain leave at least 51 dead and disrupt rail and road services

 

At least 51 people were reported dead by Spanish authorities on Wednesday after flash floods swept cars through village streets, closed roads and disrupted rail services in parts of eastern and southern Spain.

Torrential rain and hailstorms have caused flooding across multiple regions in the worst natural disaster to hit the country in recent decades.

Emergency services in the eastern Valencia region confirmed the death toll, with rescue efforts ongoing.

Valencia’s regional president Carlos Mazón said it was “impossible” to provide an exact figure for the final death toll at this stage. He told a press conference on Wednesday morning that some people were still stranded in inaccessible locations.

The central government has launched a crisis committee, and more than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units have been deployed to the devastated areas.

Videos shared on social media and by Spanish broadcasters show floodwater rising into the lower levels of homes, and carrying cars through streets. Police and rescue services have used helicopters to lift people from their houses and cars.

Train derailed

A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga on Tuesday, although rail authorities said no one was hurt.

The flooding has led to several road closures, suspension of rail services, and flight diversions in cities including Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona.

National rail infrastructure operator ADIF said high-speed train services between Valencia and Madrid have been suspended, while other commuter lines across the affected regions have also been halted.

Spain’s civil air authority Enaire reported dozens of flight diversions in Valencia and Madrid. There has also been disruption at airports in Alicante and Málaga.

Emergency teams rescue a person who was stranded by floods in Malaga Gregorio Marrero/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

 

Spain’s state weather agency AEMET said on X that Tuesday was the “most adverse day of the episode”, but warned that more storms were forecast through Thursday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that he was following reports of missing people and damage caused “with concern”.

“Be very careful and avoid unnecessary trips,” he said urging people to heed the authorities’ advice.

Spain has faced similar autumn storms in recent years, and scientists say worsening extreme weather events are likely caused by climate change.

AEMET said the flash floods are a result of a gota fría, or cold drop, which occurs when cold polar air moves over the warm water of the Mediterranean Sea.

In a post on X, the agency said this latest cold drop was the worst of the 21st century in the Valencia region.

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Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

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Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

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Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

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A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.

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Nollywood Actress, Angela Okorie Allegedly Re-Arrested Over Alleged Refusal To Pay Lawyer Who Secured Her Bail (Video)

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Angela Okorie, the Nigerian actress, has reportedly been re-arrested over allegations that she refused to pay the lawyer who secured her bail from Suleja Prison.

Angela was re-arrested at the Suleja prison on Tuesday, immediately she was released on bail.

This came less than an hour after actor Stanley Ontop raised the alarm over an alleged plan to re-arrest the actress after release on Tuesday.

Speaking in a video on Instagram, actress Doris Ogala who said she is already on her way to the police station, stated that the actress was re-arrested by an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, for refusing to pay the N5 million agreed fee to secure her bail.

Doris said; “You see, one thing is for someone to cut their clothes according to their size. Angela has been arrested again. As a matter of fact, I’m going to the police station now. You see, when Angela was arrested by Mercy, she called a friend of her or village person. I don’t know how they relate. To help her get a SAN.

“And the SAN charged them N5 million. I think the SAN was the one who even facilitated the bail and all that. Now when Angela knew that they have granted her bail according to the lady, Angela started saying that she didn’t ask her to get a SAN and she wasn’t going to pay the money, and meanwhile this lady has deposited.”

Recall that Angela, who was granted bail on Friday after her arrest by Mercy Johnson over alleged defamation, regained her freedom few minutes ago after perfecting her bail conditions.

Watch Doris Ogala speak

 

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