Mudslides; Flooding Kills 14 in Mexico

Tropical depression Fernand stormed into eastern Mexico killing at least 14 in mudslides and flooding.

Officials say at least 13 people were buried alive when a landslide destroyed homes on a hillside in Veracruz state. One man was confirmed to have been swept away by flood water in neighboring Oaxaca. Hundreds of people have been moved into shelters because of the dangerous conditions. Continue reading

“Geyser” Erupts Near Rome Airport

A crater six feet wide and three feet deep appeared overnight near the end of a runway at Rome’s airport, spewing clouds of toxic gas 15 feet into the air.

The crater was discovered by drivers Saturday morning in the middle of a roundabout 900 feet from a runway’s end. Crowds had gathered to look at the crater until firefighters and vulcanologists closed the area because of deadly gas believed to be a mix of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane. Continue reading

U.N. Inspectors Fired Upon By Snipers But Reach Investigation Site

The United Nations is sending strongly worded complaints to the Syrian government after the body’s chemical weapon inspection team was fired upon by snipers as they tried to reach the site of last Wednesday’s chemical weapons attack.

The team was forced to retreat when one of their cars was struck by sniper fire in the tires and windshield. They were entering an area considered a “buffer zone” between rebels and government troops at the time of the attack according to the BBC. Continue reading

Wildfire Threatens San Francisco Water Supply

Officials in the San Francisco area are trying to fill all area reservoirs quickly before ash from the ongoing Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park taints their water supply.

The massive fire is now roughly the size of the city of Chicago. Despite firefighters getting the blaze at least 15% contained, the flames are within a mile of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir which feeds San Francisco. Continue reading

Syria To Allow Inspectors Into Mass Killing Site

The Syrian government, almost a week after a chemical weapons attack killed more than 300 people, is finally allowing United Nations inspectors to visit the site.

The team is scheduled to arrive some time Monday although U.K. Foreign Secretary William Teague says evidence could have been tampered with, degraded or even destroyed in the days since the Wednesday attack. Continue reading