The number of refugees fleeing Africa and Syria have grown to the point that Sicily has been forced to declare a state of emergency.
Italian officials say 370 migrants were rescued from boats between Libya and Sicily on Tuesday. All the migrants were being taken to the island of Lampedusa.
The state of emergency means that Italy’s civil protection service will be able to more efficiently carry out their work in dealing with people entering the country illegally according to the BBC.
Over 400 migrants have died from capsized boats in the last two weeks. Officials say the victims were fleeing war and poverty in Africa believing in a better life in Europe.
EU officials are being called upon to step in and provide funding help with the refugee crisis.
Peru’s government has ordered a state of emergency after a freak cold spell has caused the deaths of two people and tens of thousands of animals.
In addition to the two deaths, officials say at least 33,000 people have had to receive some kind of assistance because of the weather. Continue reading →
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 →
Egypt’s government has declared a state of emergency that will last at least a month. A curfew has been put in place for 11 provinces starting at 7 p.m. local time.
The country’s health ministry is reporting that 149 people are dead in clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and government forces who cleared out Pro-Mohammed Morsi protest camps throughout the country. Continue reading →