The Chinese city of Wuhan has been the epicentre of the 'coronavirus' outbreak. The fatal virus is spreading across the globe. It has claimed 80 lives and more than 2,744 have been infected. 461 people are said to be in a critical situation. 
 
The virus which is said could be spread through human contact has reached many countries. India has seen a few suspected cases of coronavirus as of now. 
 
Recently a video resurfaced on the internet caught the attention of many. 
 
In the video, we could see three Indian students who pleaded the Indian Government with folded hands asking them to evacuate Indians stranded in Wuhan. They said all the markets have been closed, the city has gone into a total shutdown and they are running out of food reserves.

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Recently, the American Government has contacted Beijing in terms of evacuating Americans from the region and a sign for evacuation by the Indian Government is seen after the embassy has asked the Indian residents in China, who do not possess their passports at the moment, &nbsp;to share their passport number and to whom (Chinese Authority) has it been submitted/deposited.

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...passports are requested to intimate us with the following details: 
Name; 
Passport number; 
To whom (which Chinese authority) has the passport been submitted to; 
and Date on which the passport was submitted...
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) <a href="https://twitter.com/EOIBeijing/status/1221699821930549248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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... These details may please be furnished urgently to Mr. Sondhi, who is an official with <a href="https://twitter.com/EOIBeijing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EOIBeijing</a> (WeChat ID: sondhi_0808)<a href="https://twitter.com/VikramMisri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VikramMisri</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SecySanjay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecySanjay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CPVIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CPVIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cgiguangzhou?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cgiguangzhou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaInShanghai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaInShanghai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CGIHongKong?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CGIHongKong</a>
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) <a href="https://twitter.com/EOIBeijing/status/1221699823444774913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Nearly 700 Indian students are studying in Universities in Wuhan and its nearby areas. 
 
A majority of them are said to have left Wuhan during the Chinese New Year holidays a few weeks ago. 
 
Almost 300 students are still feared stuck in Wuhan. The Indian embassy in China has opened a third hotline number for these students.

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We have opened a third hotline-+8618610952903, 
+8618612083629, 
+8618612083617 
to respond to concerns. Please continue to follow us for further updates. <a href="https://twitter.com/CGIHongKong?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CGIHongKong</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cgiguangzhou?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cgiguangzhou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaInShanghai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaInShanghai</a>
— India in China (@EOIBeijing) <a href="https://twitter.com/EOIBeijing/status/1221352486314758145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Indian Embassy in China has asked the Indians facing food shortage to contact, they tweeted "Indian nationals in Wuhan/Hubei province are urged to inform @EOIBeijing if they encounter a shortage of food, water and other essential supplies and provide us with the exact location so that @EOIBeijing could work with the Chinese authorities to ensure that such essential supplies are sustained."

The Chinese city of Wuhan has been the epicentre of the 'coronavirus' outbreak. The fatal virus is spreading across the globe. It has claimed 80 lives and more than 2,744 have been infected.

The Chinese city of Wuhan has been the epicentre of the 'coronavirus' outbreak. The fatal virus is spreading across the globe. It has claimed 80 lives and more than 2,744 have been infected. 461 people are said to be in a critical situation. The virus which is said could be spread through human contact has reached many countries. India has seen a few suspected cases of coronavirus as of now. Recently a video resurfaced on the internet caught the attention of many. In the video, we could see three Indian students who pleaded the Indian Government with folded hands asking them to evacuate Indians stranded in Wuhan. They said all the markets have been closed, the city has gone into a total shutdown and they are running out of food reserves. × Recently, the American Government has contacted Beijing in terms of evacuating Americans from the region and a sign for evacuation by the Indian Government is seen after the embassy has asked the Indian residents in China, who do not possess their passports at the moment, to share their passport number and to whom (Chinese Authority) has it been submitted/deposited. ...passports are requested to intimate us with the following details: Name; Passport number; To whom (which Chinese authority) has the passport been submitted to; and Date on which the passport was submitted... — India in China (@EOIBeijing) January 27, 2020 × ... These details may please be furnished urgently to Mr. Sondhi, who is an official with @EOIBeijing (WeChat ID: sondhi_0808)@VikramMisri @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @SecySanjay @CPVIndia @cgiguangzhou @IndiaInShanghai @CGIHongKong — India in China (@EOIBeijing) January 27, 2020 × Nearly 700 Indian students are studying in Universities in Wuhan and its nearby areas. A majority of them are said to have left Wuhan during the Chinese New Year holidays a few weeks ago. Almost 300 students are still feared stuck in Wuhan. The Indian embassy in China has opened a third hotline number for these students. We have opened a third hotline-+8618610952903, +8618612083629, +8618612083617 to respond to concerns. Please continue to follow us for further updates. @CGIHongKong @cgiguangzhou @IndiaInShanghai — India in China (@EOIBeijing) January 26, 2020 × Indian Embassy in China has asked the Indians facing food shortage to contact, they tweeted "Indian nationals in Wuhan/Hubei province are urged to inform @EOIBeijing if they encounter a shortage of food, water and other essential supplies and provide us with the exact location so that @EOIBeijing could work with the Chinese authorities to ensure that such essential supplies are sustained."

Indian students plead Government with folded hands to evacuate them from Wuhan

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-tourists-found-alive-two-weeks-after-going-missing-265885">Australia</a> on Wednesday removed the right of doctors to order sick asylum seekers be evacuated from two remote Pacific detention centres for medical treatment, a repeal that opponents said risks the lives of refugees.

Under Australia's controversial immigration policy, asylum seekers intercepted at sea are sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. They can never settle in Australia, even if they are found to be refugees.

In February, independent lawmakers and the opposition joined forces to give doctors the right to order sick asylum seekers be sent to Australia if they required medical care.

After securing re-election in May, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government would seek to repeal the legislation, though he needed the support of independent lawmakers as the coalition does not enjoy a majority in Australia's upper house Senate.

After weeks of negotiations, the repeal legislation passed Australia's Senate by 37 votes to 35.

"You can take advice from doctors, but doctors aren't elected. They aren't accountable to the public," independent lawmaker Jacqui Lambie, who cast the decisive vote, told the Senate.

Around 500 people remain on the two island centres, many suffering mental health issues after more than six years in detention, aid organisations say.

The United Nations has repeatedly criticised Australia's remote detention centres, insisting they lack adequate medical and mental health care.

"To now deny medical professionals from taking decisions in patients’ best interests,&nbsp;and to effectively hand that power back to unqualified officials... puts those most sick and vulnerable at risk," Paul McPhun, Executive Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia said in a statement.

Morrison rejected those allegations, insisting Canberra has provided significant medical aid, while those unable to get necessary treatment can be sent to Australia if the minister for home affairs approves it.

As a result, Morrison said the medical evacuation legislation is unnecessary and undermines Canberra's border policy, designed to discourage asylum seekers from undertaking dangerous sea voyages to Australia.

In 2016, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-china-spy-concerns-australia-launches-anti-espionage-task-force-265625">Australia agreed a deal with former US&nbsp;President Barack Obama</a> to offer refuge to up to 1,250 asylum seekers. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump said it would only honour that deal to maintain a strong relationship with Australia, and then only on condition that refugees satisfied strict checks.

Around 650 refugees have been resettled in the United States, with a further 250 in PNG and Nauru approved to go at a future date, Peter Dutton, the Minister for Home Affairs told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

Australia has rejected offers from neighbouring New Zealand to take a further 150 asylum seekers, fearing refugees will use it as a 'backdoor entry' into Australia.

Media reported Lambie has sought a commitment that Canberra will now accept Wellington's offer. Morrison and Lambie declined to comment.

Australia on Wednesday removed the right of doctors to order sick asylum seekers be evacuated from two remote Pacific detention centres for medical treatment, a repeal that opponents said risks the lives of refugees.

Australia on Wednesday removed the right of doctors to order sick asylum seekers be evacuated from two remote Pacific detention centres for medical treatment, a repeal that opponents said risks the lives of refugees. Under Australia's controversial immigration policy, asylum seekers intercepted at sea are sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. They can never settle in Australia, even if they are found to be refugees. In February, independent lawmakers and the opposition joined forces to give doctors the right to order sick asylum seekers be sent to Australia if they required medical care. After securing re-election in May, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government would seek to repeal the legislation, though he needed the support of independent lawmakers as the coalition does not enjoy a majority in Australia's upper house Senate. After weeks of negotiations, the repeal legislation passed Australia's Senate by 37 votes to 35. "You can take advice from doctors, but doctors aren't elected. They aren't accountable to the public," independent lawmaker Jacqui Lambie, who cast the decisive vote, told the Senate. Around 500 people remain on the two island centres, many suffering mental health issues after more than six years in detention, aid organisations say. The United Nations has repeatedly criticised Australia's remote detention centres, insisting they lack adequate medical and mental health care. "To now deny medical professionals from taking decisions in patients’ best interests, and to effectively hand that power back to unqualified officials... puts those most sick and vulnerable at risk," Paul McPhun, Executive Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia said in a statement. Morrison rejected those allegations, insisting Canberra has provided significant medical aid, while those unable to get necessary treatment can be sent to Australia if the minister for home affairs approves it. As a result, Morrison said the medical evacuation legislation is unnecessary and undermines Canberra's border policy, designed to discourage asylum seekers from undertaking dangerous sea voyages to Australia. In 2016, Australia agreed a deal with former US President Barack Obama to offer refuge to up to 1,250 asylum seekers. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump said it would only honour that deal to maintain a strong relationship with Australia, and then only on condition that refugees satisfied strict checks. Around 650 refugees have been resettled in the United States, with a further 250 in PNG and Nauru approved to go at a future date, Peter Dutton, the Minister for Home Affairs told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Australia has rejected offers from neighbouring New Zealand to take a further 150 asylum seekers, fearing refugees will use it as a 'backdoor entry' into Australia. Media reported Lambie has sought a commitment that Canberra will now accept Wellington's offer. Morrison and Lambie declined to comment.

Australia restricts medical evacuations of refugees from Pacific camps

Hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-school-shooter-used-kit-gun-authorities-263791">California</a>&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders.

The so-called "Cave Fire" that started on Monday in Los Padres National Forest, grew to nearly 4,300 acres&nbsp;overnight as it moved toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and nearby communities about a two hours' drive north of Los Angeles.

Some 600&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;were battling the&nbsp;blaze&nbsp;that prompted evacuation orders for about 2,300 homes or nearly 5,500 people.

Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing planes were assisting the&nbsp;firefighters&nbsp;who faced steep, rugged terrain.

"The Cave Fire is burning under some of the toughest firefighting conditions anywhere in the world," said Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jimmy Harris.

"We’ve experienced several offshore wind events at this point, and that has just dried the fuel bed out to the point where we're seeing the fire behaviour we saw last night."&nbsp;

He said the&nbsp;blaze&nbsp;was all the more challenging for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/teams-make-progress-against-latest-major-california-blaze-259577">firefighters</a>&nbsp;as high winds were pushing the flames downhill and then back uphill.

Authorities said the fire, the cause of which was unknown, was zero per cent contained by midday Tuesday but they were hopeful that a storm set to arrive in the area later in the day would help extinguish the flames.

While the rain could bring much-needed relief for&nbsp;firefighters, officials warned that it may also prompt flash floods and debris flows.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that about 4,000 people who were forced to evacuate would be allowed back into their homes Tuesday afternoon.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydneysiders-urged-to-stay-indoors-as-australian-bushfire-smoke-blankets-city-263900">blaze</a>&nbsp;comes on the heels of a series of major fires that erupted in the state last month destroying homes and vineyards and forcing thousands of people to flee.

Hundreds of California firefighters on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders.

Hundreds of California firefighters on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bushfire that grew out of control overnight near Santa Barbara, threatening thousands of homes and prompting evacuation orders. The so-called "Cave Fire" that started on Monday in Los Padres National Forest, grew to nearly 4,300 acres overnight as it moved toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and nearby communities about a two hours' drive north of Los Angeles. Some 600 firefighters were battling the blaze that prompted evacuation orders for about 2,300 homes or nearly 5,500 people. Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing planes were assisting the firefighters who faced steep, rugged terrain. "The Cave Fire is burning under some of the toughest firefighting conditions anywhere in the world," said Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jimmy Harris. "We’ve experienced several offshore wind events at this point, and that has just dried the fuel bed out to the point where we're seeing the fire behaviour we saw last night." He said the blaze was all the more challenging for firefighters as high winds were pushing the flames downhill and then back uphill. Authorities said the fire, the cause of which was unknown, was zero per cent contained by midday Tuesday but they were hopeful that a storm set to arrive in the area later in the day would help extinguish the flames. While the rain could bring much-needed relief for firefighters, officials warned that it may also prompt flash floods and debris flows. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that about 4,000 people who were forced to evacuate would be allowed back into their homes Tuesday afternoon. The blaze comes on the heels of a series of major fires that erupted in the state last month destroying homes and vineyards and forcing thousands of people to flee.

California: 'Cave Fire' threatens thousands of homes and triggers evacuation

Drastic fire in California consumes almost 4000 acres of land, firefighter struggling to get control. Evacuation has been ordered for almost about 2000 people. Watch this video to know more.

Drastic fire in California consumes almost 4000 acres of land, firefighter struggling to get control

Wind-driven wildfires forced the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unacceptable-power-cuts-blasted-as-california-fire-risk-spreads-south-255202">evacuation of about 100,000 people</a> in southern California Friday and destroyed dozens of structures and homes as authorities warned it could take days to extinguish the flames.

By Friday evening, the strongest blaze, dubbed the Saddleridge Fire, had consumed 7,542 acres in areas of the San Fernando Valley, about 32 kilometres&nbsp;north of downtown Los Angeles, fire officials said.

They added that it had damaged or destroyed at least 31 structures and was 13 per cent contained as of Friday evening.

One man in his 50s died of a heart attack as he struggled to save his home in the Porter Ranch area, fire officials said.

The fire quickly got out of control after it erupted late Thursday for unknown reasons in the city of Sylmar, driven by low humidity and gusts known as the Santa Ana winds.

"This is a very dynamic fire," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas told a news conference.

"Do not wait to leave," he urged residents. "If we ask you to evacuate, please evacuate."

He said some 1,000 firefighters, backed by water-dropping helicopters and planes releasing fire retardants, were battling the blaze that forced the shutdown of several major highways. The metro line in the area was also closed as were schools and businesses.

"We've calculated that the fire is moving at a rate of 800 acres per hour," Terrazas said, adding that it would probably take days to get it under control.

Some 200 firefighters were meanwhile battling several other blazes in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, including one that tore through a trailer park and was started by burning trash. That blaze, dubbed the Sandalwood fire, destroyed 76 homes and buildings and killed an 89-year-old woman who was unable to escape the flames.&nbsp;

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but authorities ordered several hundred homes in the area be evacuated.

The National Weather Service said it expects the high winds fanning the flames to subside by Friday evening, making it easier for firefighters to do their work.

A red flag warning -- which indicates ripe conditions for wildfires -- remains in effect through Saturday.

In the dark

"That seems to be the new normal in California," lamented Sylmar resident Oscar Mancillas, as he helplessly watched the flames spread in the hillside near his home.

"I mean the vegetation is so dry... but we're kind of lucky because it didn't grow back from the last fire," he told AFP. "In California you have to be earthquake ready and you have to be fire ready... and for those of us who have a family, it's a little daunting sometimes."&nbsp;

The wildfires in the south erupted as California's largest utility, Pacific Gas &amp; Electric (PG&amp;E), implemented rolling power blackouts that affected some two million people in northern California this week.

About 312,000 customers remained in the dark Friday as a result of the shutoffs designed to reduce the threat of wildfire that can be sparked by lines downed in heavy winds.

Many schools and universities were also closed in northern parts of the state as people stocked up on gasoline, water, batteries and other basics, with frustration mounting at the blackouts condemned by some as "third world."

"We're seeing a scale and scope of something that no state in the 21st century should experience," Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday, blaming decades of what he called neglect and mismanagement by PG&amp;E.

"This is not, from my perspective, a climate change story as much as a story about greed and mismanagement over the course of decades," Newsom said. "Neglect, a desire to advance not public safety but profits."

PG&amp;E has defended the outages as necessary for safety reasons and has said it will take days before power is restored to all customers as inspections must be conducted on all power lines and equipment before the lights can be turned back on.

"This is not how we want to serve you but blackouts can happen again," Bill Johnson, the CEO of the company said Thursday.

Last November, PG&amp;E's faulty power lines were determined to have sparked the deadliest wildfire in the state's modern history, which killed 86 and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Wind-driven wildfires forced the evacuation of about 100,000 people in southern California Friday and destroyed dozens of structures and homes as authorities warned it could take days to extinguish the flames.

Wind-driven wildfires forced the evacuation of about 100,000 people in southern California Friday and destroyed dozens of structures and homes as authorities warned it could take days to extinguish the flames. By Friday evening, the strongest blaze, dubbed the Saddleridge Fire, had consumed 7,542 acres in areas of the San Fernando Valley, about 32 kilometres north of downtown Los Angeles, fire officials said. They added that it had damaged or destroyed at least 31 structures and was 13 per cent contained as of Friday evening. One man in his 50s died of a heart attack as he struggled to save his home in the Porter Ranch area, fire officials said. The fire quickly got out of control after it erupted late Thursday for unknown reasons in the city of Sylmar, driven by low humidity and gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. "This is a very dynamic fire," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas told a news conference. "Do not wait to leave," he urged residents. "If we ask you to evacuate, please evacuate." He said some 1,000 firefighters, backed by water-dropping helicopters and planes releasing fire retardants, were battling the blaze that forced the shutdown of several major highways. The metro line in the area was also closed as were schools and businesses. "We've calculated that the fire is moving at a rate of 800 acres per hour," Terrazas said, adding that it would probably take days to get it under control. Some 200 firefighters were meanwhile battling several other blazes in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, including one that tore through a trailer park and was started by burning trash. That blaze, dubbed the Sandalwood fire, destroyed 76 homes and buildings and killed an 89-year-old woman who was unable to escape the flames. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but authorities ordered several hundred homes in the area be evacuated. The National Weather Service said it expects the high winds fanning the flames to subside by Friday evening, making it easier for firefighters to do their work. A red flag warning -- which indicates ripe conditions for wildfires -- remains in effect through Saturday. In the dark "That seems to be the new normal in California," lamented Sylmar resident Oscar Mancillas, as he helplessly watched the flames spread in the hillside near his home. "I mean the vegetation is so dry... but we're kind of lucky because it didn't grow back from the last fire," he told AFP. "In California you have to be earthquake ready and you have to be fire ready... and for those of us who have a family, it's a little daunting sometimes." The wildfires in the south erupted as California's largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), implemented rolling power blackouts that affected some two million people in northern California this week. About 312,000 customers remained in the dark Friday as a result of the shutoffs designed to reduce the threat of wildfire that can be sparked by lines downed in heavy winds. Many schools and universities were also closed in northern parts of the state as people stocked up on gasoline, water, batteries and other basics, with frustration mounting at the blackouts condemned by some as "third world." "We're seeing a scale and scope of something that no state in the 21st century should experience," Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday, blaming decades of what he called neglect and mismanagement by PG&E. "This is not, from my perspective, a climate change story as much as a story about greed and mismanagement over the course of decades," Newsom said. "Neglect, a desire to advance not public safety but profits." PG&E has defended the outages as necessary for safety reasons and has said it will take days before power is restored to all customers as inspections must be conducted on all power lines and equipment before the lights can be turned back on. "This is not how we want to serve you but blackouts can happen again," Bill Johnson, the CEO of the company said Thursday. Last November, PG&E's faulty power lines were determined to have sparked the deadliest wildfire in the state's modern history, which killed 86 and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Tens of thousands evacuated as California wildfires rage

In view of the rising water level in the Yamuna River in the national capital, the District Magistrate (East) has issued orders to concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates to evacuate people and shift them to relief camps or suitable locations.

"Whereas the water level in Yamuna River is rising due to heavy rains as well as release of water from Hatni Kund Barrage and water level of river Yamuna may likely to rise up 207 metre by 10 am at ORB by tomorrow, i.e. 19 August, 2019 pitting risk to public life and property," read the order.

"And whereas it has come to the notice that many people live/work/wander in flood plains of Yamuna River which is dangerous considering the flood situation. Therefore, I direct the concern SDMs for complete evacuation from the low lying area of East district with the help of Delhi Police and CDVs. By 9 am on 19 August and shift them in relief camps /suitable location," said the order from District Magistrate (East).

The Yamuna level started rising near the catchment area on Sunday after water was released from Hathni Kund Barrage in Yamuna Nagar.

Irrigation Department official Haridev Kamboj told media, "Till 3 pm, 7,60,466 cusec of water was released from the barrage, which could affect low-lying areas in Delhi in the next 48 hours. The release of water began at 4 am. The administration has sounded a high alert in all the nearby areas of Yamuna Nagar."&nbsp;

In view of the rising water level in the Yamuna River in the national capital, the District Magistrate (East) has issued orders to concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates to evacuate people and shift them to relief camps or suitable locations.

In view of the rising water level in the Yamuna River in the national capital, the District Magistrate (East) has issued orders to concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates to evacuate people and shift them to relief camps or suitable locations. "Whereas the water level in Yamuna River is rising due to heavy rains as well as release of water from Hatni Kund Barrage and water level of river Yamuna may likely to rise up 207 metre by 10 am at ORB by tomorrow, i.e. 19 August, 2019 pitting risk to public life and property," read the order. "And whereas it has come to the notice that many people live/work/wander in flood plains of Yamuna River which is dangerous considering the flood situation. Therefore, I direct the concern SDMs for complete evacuation from the low lying area of East district with the help of Delhi Police and CDVs. By 9 am on 19 August and shift them in relief camps /suitable location," said the order from District Magistrate (East). The Yamuna level started rising near the catchment area on Sunday after water was released from Hathni Kund Barrage in Yamuna Nagar. Irrigation Department official Haridev Kamboj told media, "Till 3 pm, 7,60,466 cusec of water was released from the barrage, which could affect low-lying areas in Delhi in the next 48 hours. The release of water began at 4 am. The administration has sounded a high alert in all the nearby areas of Yamuna Nagar."

Delhi on high alert as Yamuna water level continues to rise

A wildfire in the Canary Islands led to the evacuation of a small town in Gran Canaria island on Saturday, and officials said the blaze had a “great potential” to spread.

The wildfire started in the town of Valleseco, and an emergency area was also declared for the municipalities of Moya and Tejeda.

In the latter, most parts of the town of 1,900 inhabitants were evacuated for precautionary reasons and roads were closed, the regional government said.

Seven helicopters, as well as firefighters on the ground, were battling the blaze.

Tejeda was already evacuated last week when another wildfire affected the area.

A wildfire in the Canary Islands led to the evacuation of a small town in Gran Canaria island on Saturday, and officials said the blaze had a “great potential” to spread.

A wildfire in the Canary Islands led to the evacuation of a small town in Gran Canaria island on Saturday, and officials said the blaze had a “great potential” to spread. The wildfire started in the town of Valleseco, and an emergency area was also declared for the municipalities of Moya and Tejeda. In the latter, most parts of the town of 1,900 inhabitants were evacuated for precautionary reasons and roads were closed, the regional government said. Seven helicopters, as well as firefighters on the ground, were battling the blaze. Tejeda was already evacuated last week when another wildfire affected the area.

Wildfire prompts evacuations in Canary Islands

An estimated 10,000 villages and 52 towns in Odisha will be hit by the 'extremely severe' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cyclone-fani-and-why-it-is-so-powerful-215425">cyclonic storm 'Fani'</a>, which is approaching India's eastern coast and is expected to make landfall south of Puri on Friday, the home ministry said.

A total of 11.5 lakh people in Odisha will have to be moved to safer areas. Of them, about 3.3 lakh people have already been shifted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-223-trains-cancelled-3-special-trains-put-in-service-to-ferry-stranded-tourists-215465">Cyclone Fani: 223 trains cancelled, 3 special trains put in service to ferry stranded tourists</a>

Flight operations from Bhubaneswar will remain suspended from Thursday midnight and from Kolkata from Friday morning, and will be resumed as soon the conditions improve.

The Odisha government has conveyed to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body for handling emergency situations, on Thursday that 10,000 villages and 52 towns in nine districts will be affected, a home ministry statement said after a meeting of the NCMC, which was headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha.

Action on evacuation is already being taken by the Odisha government and around 900 cyclone shelters have been made ready to house the evacuees.

The storm is likely to impact Odisha's coastal districts Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore. In West Bengal, it will affect districts of East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram besides the Kolkata city.

In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone is likely to hit Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a storm surge of about 1.5-metre height which may inundate low-lying coastal areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.

"Arrangements have been made to warn people of the impending cyclone through announcements over public address systems, mass SMS and local media. Teams of NDRF and ODRAF have been put in place," the statement said.

During the NCMC meeting, the cabinet secretary reviewed the preparedness of the states and the central ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has informed the NCMC that flight operations from Bhubaneswar will be suspended from May 2 midnight and operations from Kolkata will remain suspended from the morning of May 3, and resumed as soon the conditions improve. The railways have already suspended operations of trains in Odisha, the MHA statement said.

Reviewing the preparedness of the state and central agencies, the cabinet secretary directed officials that people from vulnerable areas be moved to safer places, cyclone shelters and provision for essential food, drinking water and medicines be made.

Sinha also directed establishment of a central toll-free helpline for the public. He also asked the central ministries to set up control rooms to coordinate rescue and relief operations and advised all concerned to make adequate preparations to ensure the maintenance of essential services in the event of damages caused to them.

The Power Ministry has made arrangements to restore power supply in affected areas with least downtime. The Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry has made arrangements to move additional water supplies in the affected areas and is keeping in readiness packaged drinking water.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is keeping in readiness packaged ready-to-eat food.&nbsp;

The Health Ministry has mobilised emergency medical teams, medicines and also coordinated with the Red Cross to provide assistance. It has kept ready 17 public health response teams and five quick response medical teams with emergency drugs.

The Department of Telecommunication has issued orders to all operators to allow free SMS for cyclone-related messages and inter-operability of mobile networks by other operators. The Petroleum Ministry has ensured the availability of sufficient petroleum and oil in the affected areas.

The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations while the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force units in the three states have also been put on standby.

The Ministry of Shipping has disengaged all ships at Paradip Port and has deployed emergency vessels (Tugs).

The IMD has been issuing hourly bulletins with the latest forecast to all the states concerned. The home ministry is also in continuous touch with the state governments and the central agencies concerned.

Top officials of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal participated in the NCMC meeting through video conference. Senior officers from the ministries of home, shipping, civil aviation, railways, petroleum, power, telecommunications, defence, drinking water and sanitation, food pocessing, health, IMD, NDMA and NDRF also attended the meeting.

An estimated 10,000 villages and 52 towns in Odisha will be hit by the 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm 'Fani', which is approaching India's eastern coast and is expected to make landfall south of Puri on Friday, the home ministry said.

An estimated 10,000 villages and 52 towns in Odisha will be hit by the 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm 'Fani', which is approaching India's eastern coast and is expected to make landfall south of Puri on Friday, the home ministry said. A total of 11.5 lakh people in Odisha will have to be moved to safer areas. Of them, about 3.3 lakh people have already been shifted. Also read: Cyclone Fani: 223 trains cancelled, 3 special trains put in service to ferry stranded tourists Flight operations from Bhubaneswar will remain suspended from Thursday midnight and from Kolkata from Friday morning, and will be resumed as soon the conditions improve. The Odisha government has conveyed to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body for handling emergency situations, on Thursday that 10,000 villages and 52 towns in nine districts will be affected, a home ministry statement said after a meeting of the NCMC, which was headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha. Action on evacuation is already being taken by the Odisha government and around 900 cyclone shelters have been made ready to house the evacuees. The storm is likely to impact Odisha's coastal districts Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore. In West Bengal, it will affect districts of East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram besides the Kolkata city. In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone is likely to hit Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a storm surge of about 1.5-metre height which may inundate low-lying coastal areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha at the time of landfall. "Arrangements have been made to warn people of the impending cyclone through announcements over public address systems, mass SMS and local media. Teams of NDRF and ODRAF have been put in place," the statement said. During the NCMC meeting, the cabinet secretary reviewed the preparedness of the states and the central ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm. The Civil Aviation Ministry has informed the NCMC that flight operations from Bhubaneswar will be suspended from May 2 midnight and operations from Kolkata will remain suspended from the morning of May 3, and resumed as soon the conditions improve. The railways have already suspended operations of trains in Odisha, the MHA statement said. Reviewing the preparedness of the state and central agencies, the cabinet secretary directed officials that people from vulnerable areas be moved to safer places, cyclone shelters and provision for essential food, drinking water and medicines be made. Sinha also directed establishment of a central toll-free helpline for the public. He also asked the central ministries to set up control rooms to coordinate rescue and relief operations and advised all concerned to make adequate preparations to ensure the maintenance of essential services in the event of damages caused to them. The Power Ministry has made arrangements to restore power supply in affected areas with least downtime. The Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry has made arrangements to move additional water supplies in the affected areas and is keeping in readiness packaged drinking water. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is keeping in readiness packaged ready-to-eat food. The Health Ministry has mobilised emergency medical teams, medicines and also coordinated with the Red Cross to provide assistance. It has kept ready 17 public health response teams and five quick response medical teams with emergency drugs. The Department of Telecommunication has issued orders to all operators to allow free SMS for cyclone-related messages and inter-operability of mobile networks by other operators. The Petroleum Ministry has ensured the availability of sufficient petroleum and oil in the affected areas. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations while the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force units in the three states have also been put on standby. The Ministry of Shipping has disengaged all ships at Paradip Port and has deployed emergency vessels (Tugs). The IMD has been issuing hourly bulletins with the latest forecast to all the states concerned. The home ministry is also in continuous touch with the state governments and the central agencies concerned. Top officials of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal participated in the NCMC meeting through video conference. Senior officers from the ministries of home, shipping, civil aviation, railways, petroleum, power, telecommunications, defence, drinking water and sanitation, food pocessing, health, IMD, NDMA and NDRF also attended the meeting.

Cyclone Fani to hit 10,000 villages, 52 towns in Odisha; massive evacuation underway

Around 12,000 people were evacuated after a fire and explosions at a rate of two to three a second hit a Ukrainian Defence Ministry ammunition depot early on Tuesday morning, officials said.

No casualties were reported.

Ukraine's state security service said it was investigating possible sabotage, and the defence ministry's spokesman said the fact that explosions were set off in different parts of the depot pointed to sabotage.

The depot is located in the Chernihiv region, 176 km (109 miles) east of the capital, Kiev. A woman who lived 50 km away told the TV channel 112 she could hear the explosions.

"There are no victims, wounded, injured or killed among military personnel, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the local population," a Defence Ministry statement said. "As of 7 a.m. (0400 GMT), the intensity of explosions is two to three explosions per second."

The airspace in a 30 km radius was closed and road and rail transport suspended. The emergency services reported gas and electricity supplies to the area have been disrupted.

Hundreds of people and equipment were deployed to the site, a statement by the emergency services said, joined by Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and the head of Ukraine's armed forces Viktor Muzhenko. The president has called for a report.

Several large fires have hit ammunition and weapons depots in recent years, an additional drain on Ukraine's military. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and Moscow-backed separatist rebels has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014.

Last year, massive explosions at a military depot in the Vynnytsya region, 270 km west of Kiev, forced the authorities to evacuate 24,000 people.

Following that, a parliamentary defence committee inspected other depots. It warned that there were significant shortcomings in how the depot in the Chernihiv region was managed, according to a lawmaker who was on the committee.

A "number of shortcomings, including significant ones, were identified," Dmitry Tymchuk wrote on Facebook,.

"As a result of this trip, I sent an address to the heads of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which listed the shortcomings identified with a request to intervene in the situation and solve existing problems."

The defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Around 12,000 people were evacuated after a fire and explosions at a rate of two to three a second hit a Ukrainian Defence Ministry ammunition depot early on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Around 12,000 people were evacuated after a fire and explosions at a rate of two to three a second hit a Ukrainian Defence Ministry ammunition depot early on Tuesday morning, officials said. No casualties were reported. Ukraine's state security service said it was investigating possible sabotage, and the defence ministry's spokesman said the fact that explosions were set off in different parts of the depot pointed to sabotage. The depot is located in the Chernihiv region, 176 km (109 miles) east of the capital, Kiev. A woman who lived 50 km away told the TV channel 112 she could hear the explosions. "There are no victims, wounded, injured or killed among military personnel, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the local population," a Defence Ministry statement said. "As of 7 a.m. (0400 GMT), the intensity of explosions is two to three explosions per second." The airspace in a 30 km radius was closed and road and rail transport suspended. The emergency services reported gas and electricity supplies to the area have been disrupted. Hundreds of people and equipment were deployed to the site, a statement by the emergency services said, joined by Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and the head of Ukraine's armed forces Viktor Muzhenko. The president has called for a report. Several large fires have hit ammunition and weapons depots in recent years, an additional drain on Ukraine's military. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and Moscow-backed separatist rebels has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014. Last year, massive explosions at a military depot in the Vynnytsya region, 270 km west of Kiev, forced the authorities to evacuate 24,000 people. Following that, a parliamentary defence committee inspected other depots. It warned that there were significant shortcomings in how the depot in the Chernihiv region was managed, according to a lawmaker who was on the committee. A "number of shortcomings, including significant ones, were identified," Dmitry Tymchuk wrote on Facebook,. "As a result of this trip, I sent an address to the heads of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which listed the shortcomings identified with a request to intervene in the situation and solve existing problems." The defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Watch: Thousands evacuated after explosions at Ukrainian ammunition depot

Indonesia authorities ordered people living near the volcano to leave their homes after its eruption spewed steam and ash to as high as 5,500 metre (18,000 ft) on Friday (May 11)

Video shared with Reuters showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the peak of the volcano. The eruption caused ash and debris to spread across Yogyakarta.

A disaster mitigation agency told residents living within a 5 km (3 mile) radius of the mountain to move to shelters, agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. The airport in Yogyakarta, the nearest big city to the volcano, shut because of the threat from the ash, the state-owned aviation agency AirNav said in a statement.

The disaster agency described Merapi's latest eruption as phreatic, which means magma heats up ground water and vapour is released under pressure.

A disaster mitigation agency told residents living within a 5 km (3 mile) radius of the mountain to move to shelters

Indonesia authorities ordered people living near the volcano to leave their homes after its eruption spewed steam and ash to as high as 5,500 metre (18,000 ft) on Friday (May 11) Video shared with Reuters showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the peak of the volcano. The eruption caused ash and debris to spread across Yogyakarta. A disaster mitigation agency told residents living within a 5 km (3 mile) radius of the mountain to move to shelters, agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. The airport in Yogyakarta, the nearest big city to the volcano, shut because of the threat from the ash, the state-owned aviation agency AirNav said in a statement. The disaster agency described Merapi's latest eruption as phreatic, which means magma heats up ground water and vapour is released under pressure.

Volcano eruption in Indonesia's Java prompts flight cancellations, evacuation

Aid workers have evacuated the first few ill patients from Syrian rebel bastion Eastern Ghouta under a deal struck after the UN said hundreds are in critical condition following a four-year government seige.

Three children and a man were loaded overnight into ambulances bound for hospitals in Damascus before being transported out past government lines that have held the region&#39;s estimated 400,000 residents in a stranglehold since 2013.

A total of 29 emergency medical cases are expected to be evacuated under a deal with the government that saw rebels release five workmen detained during fierce clashes with the army in March.

The four patients allowed out were a girl with haemophilia, a baby with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre, a child with leukaemia, and a man in need of a kidney transplant, Red Crescent official Ahmed al-Saour told AFP.

Eight-year-old Ingy, the girl with haemophilia, gave a broad smile as she boarded an ambulance, wearing a woolly hat and gloves against the cold.

In another ambulance, one-year-old Mohammed lay in the lap of a Red Crescent worker, his mother sitting beside them in a long black cloak and a veil showing only her eyes.

&quot;The operation is a positive step which will bring some respite to the people of Eastern Ghouta,&quot; said International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Ingy Sedky.

&quot;We hope these medical evacuations are only the beginning.&quot;

The Syrian American Medical Society, another medical relief organisation, said the remainder of the 29 critical cases approved for evacuation should leave in the coming days.

The dominant rebel faction in Eastern Ghouta, Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), said the rebels had agreed to free some of their prisoners in return for the evacuations.

&quot;We have agreed to the release of a number of prisoners... in exchange for the evacuation of the most urgent humanitarian cases,&quot; the group said a statement.

The years of government seige have caused severe shortages in Eastern Ghouta, one of the last remaining rebel strongholds in Syria.While some food is still grown locally, or smuggled in, humanitarian access to the region has been limited despite regular appeals from aid agencies.

Last week, Jan Egeland, the head of the UN&#39;s humanitarian taskforce for Syria, said at least 16 people had died while waiting for evacuation from Eastern Ghouta.

A list put together several months ago of nearly 500 civilians in desperate need of evacuation was rapidly shrinking, said Egeland.

&quot;That number is going down, not because we are evacuating people, but because they are dying,&quot; he told reporters in Geneva.

&quot;We have confirmation of 16 having died on these lists since they were resubmitted in November, and it is probably higher,&quot; he said, highlighting the case of a baby who died on December 14, as the latest round of Syria peace talks in Geneva ended in failure.

Egeland said evacuations and efforts to bring aid into the region had been blocked by a lack of authorisations from the Syrian authorities.

The Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus, is one of four &quot;de-escalation&quot; zones agreed in May in a deal brokered by government backers Russian and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey.

The agreement led to some reduction in fighting but the government kept up its blockade and renewed its bombardment of the enclave in mid-November.

The government stands accused by its critics of using sieges of civilians as a weapon in its war against the rebels.

Rebel fighters pulled out of second city Aleppo and third city Homs, as well as districts of Damascus, only after prolonged blockades caused serious hardship to their families and other civilians.

More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions have been driven from their homes since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted with anti-government protests in 2011.

A total of 29 emergency medical cases are expected to be evacuated under a deal with the government

Aid workers have evacuated the first few ill patients from Syrian rebel bastion Eastern Ghouta under a deal struck after the UN said hundreds are in critical condition following a four-year government seige. Three children and a man were loaded overnight into ambulances bound for hospitals in Damascus before being transported out past government lines that have held the region's estimated 400,000 residents in a stranglehold since 2013. A total of 29 emergency medical cases are expected to be evacuated under a deal with the government that saw rebels release five workmen detained during fierce clashes with the army in March. The four patients allowed out were a girl with haemophilia, a baby with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre, a child with leukaemia, and a man in need of a kidney transplant, Red Crescent official Ahmed al-Saour told AFP. Eight-year-old Ingy, the girl with haemophilia, gave a broad smile as she boarded an ambulance, wearing a woolly hat and gloves against the cold. In another ambulance, one-year-old Mohammed lay in the lap of a Red Crescent worker, his mother sitting beside them in a long black cloak and a veil showing only her eyes. "The operation is a positive step which will bring some respite to the people of Eastern Ghouta," said International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Ingy Sedky. "We hope these medical evacuations are only the beginning." The Syrian American Medical Society, another medical relief organisation, said the remainder of the 29 critical cases approved for evacuation should leave in the coming days. The dominant rebel faction in Eastern Ghouta, Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam), said the rebels had agreed to free some of their prisoners in return for the evacuations. "We have agreed to the release of a number of prisoners... in exchange for the evacuation of the most urgent humanitarian cases," the group said a statement. The years of government seige have caused severe shortages in Eastern Ghouta, one of the last remaining rebel strongholds in Syria.While some food is still grown locally, or smuggled in, humanitarian access to the region has been limited despite regular appeals from aid agencies. Last week, Jan Egeland, the head of the UN's humanitarian taskforce for Syria, said at least 16 people had died while waiting for evacuation from Eastern Ghouta. A list put together several months ago of nearly 500 civilians in desperate need of evacuation was rapidly shrinking, said Egeland. "That number is going down, not because we are evacuating people, but because they are dying," he told reporters in Geneva. "We have confirmation of 16 having died on these lists since they were resubmitted in November, and it is probably higher," he said, highlighting the case of a baby who died on December 14, as the latest round of Syria peace talks in Geneva ended in failure. Egeland said evacuations and efforts to bring aid into the region had been blocked by a lack of authorisations from the Syrian authorities. The Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus, is one of four "de-escalation" zones agreed in May in a deal brokered by government backers Russian and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey. The agreement led to some reduction in fighting but the government kept up its blockade and renewed its bombardment of the enclave in mid-November. The government stands accused by its critics of using sieges of civilians as a weapon in its war against the rebels. Rebel fighters pulled out of second city Aleppo and third city Homs, as well as districts of Damascus, only after prolonged blockades caused serious hardship to their families and other civilians. More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions have been driven from their homes since Syria's conflict erupted with anti-government protests in 2011.

First few patients evacuated from besieged Syria rebel enclave

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately, warning that the first major eruption in 54 years could be &quot;imminent&quot;.

The airport was closed for 24 hours from Monday morning, disrupting 445 flights and some 59,000 passengers, after Mount Agung, which killed hundreds of people in 1963, sent volcanic ash high into the sky, and officials said cancellations could be extended.

&quot;Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (7 miles) from the peak,&quot; the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement after raising the alert from three to its highest level of four.&nbsp;

&#39;&#39;The potential for a larger eruption is imminent,&quot; it said, referring to a visible glow of magma at Mount Agung&#39;s peak overnight, and warning residents to evacuate a danger zone at a radius of 8-10 km (5-6 miles).

Sutopo, a BNPB spokesman, said there had been no casualties so far and 40,000 people had left the area, but tens of thousands still needed to move.

Video footage shared by the agency showed volcanic mud flows (lahar) on the mountainside. Lahar carrying mud and large boulders can destroy houses, bridges, and roads in its path.

Bali, famous for its surf, beaches, and temples, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year, and its airport serves as a transport hub for the chain of islands in Indonesia&#39;s eastern archipelago.

But tourism has slumped in parts of Bali since September when Agung&#39;s volcanic tremors began to increase and the alert level was raised to maximum before being lowered in October when seismic activity calmed.&quot;I&#39;m really worried. Maybe I&#39;ll go somewhere south that I think will be safe to avoid being trapped by the ashfall,&quot; said Maria Becker, a German tourist staying in Amed, around 15 km (9 miles) from the volcano.

Agung rises majestically over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Northeastern Bali is relatively undeveloped compared to the more heavily populated southern tourist hub of Kuta-Seminyak-Nusa Dua.&nbsp;

Indonesia&#39;s Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG), which is using drones, satellite imagery and other equipment, said predictions were difficult in the absence of instrumental recordings from the last eruption 54 years ago.

In 1963, an eruption of Agung killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages by hurling out pyroclastic material, hot ash, lava and lahar.

Recordings now show the northeast area of Agung&#39;s peak has swollen in recent weeks &quot;indicating there is fairly strong pressure toward the surface&quot;, PVMBG said.

It warned that if a similar eruption occurred, it could send rocks bigger than fist-size up to 8 km (5 miles) from the summit and volcanic gas to a distance of 10 km (6 miles) within three minutes.

Some analysts, however, suggests the threat should not be as great this time because &quot;energy at Mount Agung&#39;s magma chamber is not as big&quot; and the ash column only around a quarter as high so far as the 20 km (12 miles) reached in 1963, Sutopo said.

Check-Ins Closed

Bali airport, about 60 km (37 miles) from the volcano, will be closed for 24 hours, its operator said.

Ten alternative airports have been prepared for airlines to divert inbound flights, including in neighbouring provinces. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was cancelling flights on Tuesday, while Jetstar was offering to exchange Bali bound tickets for other destinations.

Television footage showed hundreds of holidaymakers camped inside the airport terminal, some sleeping on their bags, others using mobile telephones.

&quot;We have been here (in Bali) for three days we are about to leave today, but just found out our flights have been cancelled. We have got no information because the gates, the check-ins, have been closed indefinitely,&quot; said Carlo Oben from Los Angeles.

Cover-More, Australia&#39;s biggest travel insurer, said on its website customers would only be covered if they had bought policies before the volcano alert was first issued on September 18.&nbsp;

Indonesia&#39;s hotel and restaurant association said stranded tourists at member hotels would get one night&#39;s free stay.&nbsp;

The main airport on Lombok, next to Bali, was closed after being open for much of the day, a spokesman said.

Airlines avoid flying when volcanic ash is present because it can damage engines and can clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately, warning that the first major eruption in 54 years could be "imminent". The airport was closed for 24 hours from Monday morning, disrupting 445 flights and some 59,000 passengers, after Mount Agung, which killed hundreds of people in 1963, sent volcanic ash high into the sky, and officials said cancellations could be extended. "Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (7 miles) from the peak," the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement after raising the alert from three to its highest level of four. ''The potential for a larger eruption is imminent," it said, referring to a visible glow of magma at Mount Agung's peak overnight, and warning residents to evacuate a danger zone at a radius of 8-10 km (5-6 miles). Sutopo, a BNPB spokesman, said there had been no casualties so far and 40,000 people had left the area, but tens of thousands still needed to move. Video footage shared by the agency showed volcanic mud flows (lahar) on the mountainside. Lahar carrying mud and large boulders can destroy houses, bridges, and roads in its path. Bali, famous for its surf, beaches, and temples, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year, and its airport serves as a transport hub for the chain of islands in Indonesia's eastern archipelago. But tourism has slumped in parts of Bali since September when Agung's volcanic tremors began to increase and the alert level was raised to maximum before being lowered in October when seismic activity calmed."I'm really worried. Maybe I'll go somewhere south that I think will be safe to avoid being trapped by the ashfall," said Maria Becker, a German tourist staying in Amed, around 15 km (9 miles) from the volcano. Agung rises majestically over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Northeastern Bali is relatively undeveloped compared to the more heavily populated southern tourist hub of Kuta-Seminyak-Nusa Dua. Indonesia's Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG), which is using drones, satellite imagery and other equipment, said predictions were difficult in the absence of instrumental recordings from the last eruption 54 years ago. In 1963, an eruption of Agung killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages by hurling out pyroclastic material, hot ash, lava and lahar. Recordings now show the northeast area of Agung's peak has swollen in recent weeks "indicating there is fairly strong pressure toward the surface", PVMBG said. It warned that if a similar eruption occurred, it could send rocks bigger than fist-size up to 8 km (5 miles) from the summit and volcanic gas to a distance of 10 km (6 miles) within three minutes. Some analysts, however, suggests the threat should not be as great this time because "energy at Mount Agung's magma chamber is not as big" and the ash column only around a quarter as high so far as the 20 km (12 miles) reached in 1963, Sutopo said. Check-Ins Closed Bali airport, about 60 km (37 miles) from the volcano, will be closed for 24 hours, its operator said. Ten alternative airports have been prepared for airlines to divert inbound flights, including in neighbouring provinces. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was cancelling flights on Tuesday, while Jetstar was offering to exchange Bali bound tickets for other destinations. Television footage showed hundreds of holidaymakers camped inside the airport terminal, some sleeping on their bags, others using mobile telephones. "We have been here (in Bali) for three days we are about to leave today, but just found out our flights have been cancelled. We have got no information because the gates, the check-ins, have been closed indefinitely," said Carlo Oben from Los Angeles. Cover-More, Australia's biggest travel insurer, said on its website customers would only be covered if they had bought policies before the volcano alert was first issued on September 18. Indonesia's hotel and restaurant association said stranded tourists at member hotels would get one night's free stay. The main airport on Lombok, next to Bali, was closed after being open for much of the day, a spokesman said. Airlines avoid flying when volcanic ash is present because it can damage engines and can clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.

Indonesia orders immediate evacuation as highest alert issued for Bali volcano

Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating from a district of Damascus for the first time on Monday, bringing the government closer to recapturing all of the capital.

The evacuation began days after regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a deal to implement &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; where the government and opposition will halt hostilities.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday rejected any role for the United Nations or international forces in monitoring the zones.

The deal to evacuate Barzeh district mirrors similar agreements for opposition-held territory elsewhere, allowing fighters safe passage in exchange for surrender.

State television cited the Damascus provincial governor as saying a first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, had left Barzeh on Monday.

The channel said the evacuation would take five days, but that rebels who chose to stay could do so if they registered with the government.

Those leaving will head to the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Syria&#39;s northwest.

The evacuation deal was struck late Sunday night, and dozens of people gathered in Barzeh from Monday morning.

An AFP photographer saw rebel fighters carrying light weapons looking on as children and women in brightly-coloured headscarves pulled shabby suitcases and duffel bags.

A source from the pro-government National Defence Forces said rebel fighters would be allowed to take their &quot;personal weapons&quot; with them.

Negotiations were ongoing for a similar deal in the district of Qabun, in Damascus&#39;s northeast, which forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been shelling heavily for weeks.

&#39;De-escalation&#39; zones

&quot;We are working on Qabun and there is the Yarmuk camp, where talks are underway for the evacuation of armed groups,&quot; said Muallem.

Assad&#39;s government controls all but six districts of Damascus: Barzeh, Qabun, Jobar, Tishreen, Tadamun, and Yarmuk camp.

The evacuation is a first in the capital, but the Barzeh agreement follows a model of &quot;reconciliation deals&quot; implemented across the country.

The government touts such deals as the best way to end the six-year conflict, which erupted in March 2011 with anti-regime protests and has killed more than 320,000 people.

But the opposition says it is forced into them by heavy government bombardment and siege tactics.

Monday&#39;s evacuation began as battlefronts quietened in Syrian territory included in four &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; agreed by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The agreement, inked in the Kazakh capital Astana, excludes Damascus city.

It mandates an end to hostilities, including air strikes, in specified zones for six months.

The deal came into effect on midnight Friday, with fighting subsiding, but the co-sponsors have until June 4 to submit maps finalising the borders of the zones.

It calls for continued fighting against the Islamic State group, which is largely absent from the areas where the zones will be implemented, as well as former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front.

Fateh al-Sham has a powerful presence particularly in Idlib province, which is included in the zones, where it is allied with other opposition groups.

Russian draft resolution

The deal says the &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; would be bordered by security areas with checkpoints and observation centres &quot;ensured by the forces of the guarantors by consensus&quot;, but that &quot;third-party&quot; monitors could also be deployed.

But on Monday, Muallem rejected UN or international monitors.

&quot;We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to monitor the agreement,&quot; he said.

He added there could be a role &quot;as the Russian guarantor has said, for military police&quot;, but it was unclear if he was referring to Syrian or foreign units.

Russia meanwhile said it had tabled a draft UN Security Council resolution backing the safe zone deal.

A source at the UN told Russia&#39;s Interfax news agency that &quot;a vote on the draft will take place possibly this week&quot;.

Western diplomats expressed reservations, saying it was premature to endorse the Astana deal until final arrangements for the proposed &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; were agreed.

The agreement has been received with caution by Washington, with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis saying it was being studied.

&quot;Does this proposal have a hope for ending this war? We&#39;ll have to look at it. The devil is always in the details, so we are going to have to look at the details,&quot; he said.

Russia has said warplanes belonging to the US-led coalition fighting IS will be barred from operating in the four &quot;de-escalation zones&quot;.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to discuss the agreement when they meet on Wednesday in Washington.

(AFP)

A first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, reportedly left Damascus' Barzeh on Monday.

Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating from a district of Damascus for the first time on Monday, bringing the government closer to recapturing all of the capital. The evacuation began days after regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a deal to implement "de-escalation zones" where the government and opposition will halt hostilities. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday rejected any role for the United Nations or international forces in monitoring the zones. The deal to evacuate Barzeh district mirrors similar agreements for opposition-held territory elsewhere, allowing fighters safe passage in exchange for surrender. State television cited the Damascus provincial governor as saying a first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, had left Barzeh on Monday. The channel said the evacuation would take five days, but that rebels who chose to stay could do so if they registered with the government. Those leaving will head to the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Syria's northwest. The evacuation deal was struck late Sunday night, and dozens of people gathered in Barzeh from Monday morning. An AFP photographer saw rebel fighters carrying light weapons looking on as children and women in brightly-coloured headscarves pulled shabby suitcases and duffel bags. A source from the pro-government National Defence Forces said rebel fighters would be allowed to take their "personal weapons" with them. Negotiations were ongoing for a similar deal in the district of Qabun, in Damascus's northeast, which forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been shelling heavily for weeks. 'De-escalation' zones "We are working on Qabun and there is the Yarmuk camp, where talks are underway for the evacuation of armed groups," said Muallem. Assad's government controls all but six districts of Damascus: Barzeh, Qabun, Jobar, Tishreen, Tadamun, and Yarmuk camp. The evacuation is a first in the capital, but the Barzeh agreement follows a model of "reconciliation deals" implemented across the country. The government touts such deals as the best way to end the six-year conflict, which erupted in March 2011 with anti-regime protests and has killed more than 320,000 people. But the opposition says it is forced into them by heavy government bombardment and siege tactics. Monday's evacuation began as battlefronts quietened in Syrian territory included in four "de-escalation zones" agreed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. The agreement, inked in the Kazakh capital Astana, excludes Damascus city. It mandates an end to hostilities, including air strikes, in specified zones for six months. The deal came into effect on midnight Friday, with fighting subsiding, but the co-sponsors have until June 4 to submit maps finalising the borders of the zones. It calls for continued fighting against the Islamic State group, which is largely absent from the areas where the zones will be implemented, as well as former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front. Fateh al-Sham has a powerful presence particularly in Idlib province, which is included in the zones, where it is allied with other opposition groups. Russian draft resolution The deal says the "de-escalation zones" would be bordered by security areas with checkpoints and observation centres "ensured by the forces of the guarantors by consensus", but that "third-party" monitors could also be deployed. But on Monday, Muallem rejected UN or international monitors. "We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to monitor the agreement," he said. He added there could be a role "as the Russian guarantor has said, for military police", but it was unclear if he was referring to Syrian or foreign units. Russia meanwhile said it had tabled a draft UN Security Council resolution backing the safe zone deal. A source at the UN told Russia's Interfax news agency that "a vote on the draft will take place possibly this week". Western diplomats expressed reservations, saying it was premature to endorse the Astana deal until final arrangements for the proposed "de-escalation zones" were agreed. The agreement has been received with caution by Washington, with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis saying it was being studied. "Does this proposal have a hope for ending this war? We'll have to look at it. The devil is always in the details, so we are going to have to look at the details," he said. Russia has said warplanes belonging to the US-led coalition fighting IS will be barred from operating in the four "de-escalation zones". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to discuss the agreement when they meet on Wednesday in Washington. (AFP)

Syria: First evacuations from Damascus rebel district

A new deal has been reached to complete the evacuation of rebel-held areas of east Aleppo which had stalled over demands from pro-government forces that two villages besieged by rebels also be evacuated, a Syrian rebel told news channel al-Arabiya al-Hadath on Saturday.

Rebel official al-Farouk Abu Bakr, speaking from Aleppo, said the deal comprised an evacuation from the two Shi&#39;ite villages besieged by insurgents, the evacuation of wounded people from two towns besieged by pro-government forces near the Lebanese border, and the full evacuation of rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

The villages of al-Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province are besieged by insurgents. The towns of Madaya and Zabadani are blockaded by pro-government forces.

On Friday, the second day of the operation to evacuate fighters and civilians from the last opposition-held area of Aleppo was suspended after pro-government militias demanded that wounded people also be brought out of al-Foua and Kefraya, and protesters blocked the road out of Aleppo.

The chaos surrounding the Aleppo evacuation reflects the complexity of Syria&#39;s civil war, with an array of groups and foreign interests involved on each side.

Rebel sources said pro-government Shi&#39;ite militias had detained and opened fire on a convoy carrying evacuees from east Aleppo on Friday. A Syrian military source denied the accusations but said the convoy was turned back to Aleppo.

Abu Bakr told al-Hadath the previous agreement was breached on Friday by pro-government militias who detained &quot;hundreds&quot; of people trying to leave, leading to some deaths.

&quot;Now we are working on international guarantees to guarantee the safety of those who leave Aleppo so that such violations are not repeated,&quot; he said.

A Syrian rebel source said Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, had not initially agreed to the evacuation of the two villages. The source later said Nusra had agreed, but a Nusra source denied this.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said no busses or ambulances had yet entered al-Foua or Kefraya, but the operation was expected to begin soon.

Another rebel official confirmed to Reuters that a deal on the evacuation of Aleppo, al-Foua and Kefraya had been reached and that it should go ahead.

Officials from the Syrian government or the military alliance fighting in support of it could not be reached for immediate comment.

Abu Bakr did not say how many people would be evacuated from al-Foua and Kefraya.

The Observatory said the villages contain about 20,000 civilians and roughly 4,500 pro-government fighters.

(Reuters)

The evacuation process had stalled over demands from pro-government forces that two villages besieged by rebels also be evacuated

A new deal has been reached to complete the evacuation of rebel-held areas of east Aleppo which had stalled over demands from pro-government forces that two villages besieged by rebels also be evacuated, a Syrian rebel told news channel al-Arabiya al-Hadath on Saturday. Rebel official al-Farouk Abu Bakr, speaking from Aleppo, said the deal comprised an evacuation from the two Shi'ite villages besieged by insurgents, the evacuation of wounded people from two towns besieged by pro-government forces near the Lebanese border, and the full evacuation of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. The villages of al-Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province are besieged by insurgents. The towns of Madaya and Zabadani are blockaded by pro-government forces. On Friday, the second day of the operation to evacuate fighters and civilians from the last opposition-held area of Aleppo was suspended after pro-government militias demanded that wounded people also be brought out of al-Foua and Kefraya, and protesters blocked the road out of Aleppo. The chaos surrounding the Aleppo evacuation reflects the complexity of Syria's civil war, with an array of groups and foreign interests involved on each side. Rebel sources said pro-government Shi'ite militias had detained and opened fire on a convoy carrying evacuees from east Aleppo on Friday. A Syrian military source denied the accusations but said the convoy was turned back to Aleppo. Abu Bakr told al-Hadath the previous agreement was breached on Friday by pro-government militias who detained "hundreds" of people trying to leave, leading to some deaths. "Now we are working on international guarantees to guarantee the safety of those who leave Aleppo so that such violations are not repeated," he said. A Syrian rebel source said Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, had not initially agreed to the evacuation of the two villages. The source later said Nusra had agreed, but a Nusra source denied this. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said no busses or ambulances had yet entered al-Foua or Kefraya, but the operation was expected to begin soon. Another rebel official confirmed to Reuters that a deal on the evacuation of Aleppo, al-Foua and Kefraya had been reached and that it should go ahead. Officials from the Syrian government or the military alliance fighting in support of it could not be reached for immediate comment. Abu Bakr did not say how many people would be evacuated from al-Foua and Kefraya. The Observatory said the villages contain about 20,000 civilians and roughly 4,500 pro-government fighters. (Reuters)

Syrian rebels say new Aleppo evacuation deal in place

Wildfires across southeast United States have killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate, US media reported on Wednesday.

The dead have not been identified. forty-five people had been treated at an area hospital, officials said.

High winds and parched vegetation caused by the worst drought in nearly a decade provided fuel for the fires that burned in the eastern part of Tennessee, threatening two tourist resort towns, reported AFP.

The fires reached the Dollywood theme-park located in the touristic hamlet of Pigeon Forge.

The mandatory evacuation has been lifted, but restrictions remains in place &nbsp;for nearby Gatlinburg, a city seven miles (11 kilometers) southeast, which serves as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Mayor Larry Waters of Sevier County said that 700 homes and businesses have been burned this week, the News sentinel said.

Three hundred of those buildings were inside Gatlinburg&#39;s city limits.

Dollywood will remain closed until 2:00 pm (1900 GMT) Friday.

Officials reported on Tuesday that Gatlinburg&#39;s 14,000 residents were believed to have been evacuated.

&quot;I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken,&quot; Parton, 70, said Tuesday. &quot;I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe.&quot;

The Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park in the United States, said it had closed all park facilities and many trails.

Twenty-six active fires have burned nearly 12,000 acres (4,855 hectares) across the state, Tennessee&#39;s Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday.

A temporary flight restriction remains in effect in the area and numerous roads are closed or blocked by fallen trees and power lines, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said.

Meanwhile, at least eight counties experienced severe weather overnight, including tornado touchdowns. The storm systems killed at least two, the agency said.

(With inputs from AFP)

High winds and parched vegetation caused by the worst drought in nearly a decade provided fuel for the fires

Wildfires across southeast United States have killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate, US media reported on Wednesday. The dead have not been identified. forty-five people had been treated at an area hospital, officials said. High winds and parched vegetation caused by the worst drought in nearly a decade provided fuel for the fires that burned in the eastern part of Tennessee, threatening two tourist resort towns, reported AFP. The fires reached the Dollywood theme-park located in the touristic hamlet of Pigeon Forge. The mandatory evacuation has been lifted, but restrictions remains in place for nearby Gatlinburg, a city seven miles (11 kilometers) southeast, which serves as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mayor Larry Waters of Sevier County said that 700 homes and businesses have been burned this week, the News sentinel said. Three hundred of those buildings were inside Gatlinburg's city limits. Dollywood will remain closed until 2:00 pm (1900 GMT) Friday. Officials reported on Tuesday that Gatlinburg's 14,000 residents were believed to have been evacuated. "I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken," Parton, 70, said Tuesday. "I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe." The Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park in the United States, said it had closed all park facilities and many trails. Twenty-six active fires have burned nearly 12,000 acres (4,855 hectares) across the state, Tennessee's Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday. A temporary flight restriction remains in effect in the area and numerous roads are closed or blocked by fallen trees and power lines, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said. Meanwhile, at least eight counties experienced severe weather overnight, including tornado touchdowns. The storm systems killed at least two, the agency said. (With inputs from AFP)

Seven dead in southeast US wildfires

A wildfire broke out on Tuesday in a Southern&nbsp;California&nbsp;mountain pass and quickly grew to 6,500 acres (2,630 hectares), prompting the closure of part of the main freeway between the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas, officials said.

The so-called Bluecut Fire erupted in heavy brush just west of Interstate 15 between the towns of Crestline and Hesperia, about 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles, closing a section of that freeway and forcing a number of local residents to evacuate, according to fire tracking website InciWeb.gov.

&quot;It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it,&quot; said US&nbsp;Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet.

The blaze, whose cause is under investigation, was the latest in a series of wildfires that have blackened nearly 300,000 acres (121,400 hectares) of the drought-parched US&nbsp;West.

Sieliet said the Bluecut Fire, despite efforts by 700 firefighters to control it, had damaged structures in the Cajon Pass. She could not immediately say how many.

San Bernardino County sheriff&#39;s deputies were going door-to-door in the community of Wrightwood and nearby areas to tell residents to evacuate, said sheriff&#39;s spokeswoman Cindy Bachman. It was not immediately clear how many homes were evacuated.

The eruption of the Bluecut Fire came as crews more than 600 miles (970 km) to the northwest began to make headway on Tuesday against a Northern&nbsp;California&nbsp;wildfire that has destroyed more than 175 homes and businesses.

The so-called Clayton Fire was 20 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the California&nbsp;Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It has charred more than 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) in and around the community of Lower Lake, forcing hundreds of people to flee.

Authorities on Monday arrested 40-year-old Damin Pashilk on suspicion of setting that blaze and numerous others in the area over the past year. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

The fire, which threatens some 1,500 structures, was driven by fierce winds after sparking on Saturday evening. There were no reports of casualties.

On Monday,&nbsp;California&nbsp;Governor Jerry Brown declared states of emergency for the Clayton fire and another in Central&nbsp;California, the so-called Chimney fire, allowing local officials to get help from agencies statewide.

The Chimney Fire was just 10 percent contained by Tuesday afternoon after scorching 6,400 acres (2,590 hectares) since erupting on Saturday. It has destroyed 12 structures and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. 
 
(Reuters)

Although no casualties have been reported, the new blaze has gutted more than 175 homes and businesses

A wildfire broke out on Tuesday in a Southern California mountain pass and quickly grew to 6,500 acres (2,630 hectares), prompting the closure of part of the main freeway between the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas, officials said. The so-called Bluecut Fire erupted in heavy brush just west of Interstate 15 between the towns of Crestline and Hesperia, about 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles, closing a section of that freeway and forcing a number of local residents to evacuate, according to fire tracking website InciWeb.gov. "It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it," said US Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet. The blaze, whose cause is under investigation, was the latest in a series of wildfires that have blackened nearly 300,000 acres (121,400 hectares) of the drought-parched US West. Sieliet said the Bluecut Fire, despite efforts by 700 firefighters to control it, had damaged structures in the Cajon Pass. She could not immediately say how many. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies were going door-to-door in the community of Wrightwood and nearby areas to tell residents to evacuate, said sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman. It was not immediately clear how many homes were evacuated. The eruption of the Bluecut Fire came as crews more than 600 miles (970 km) to the northwest began to make headway on Tuesday against a Northern California wildfire that has destroyed more than 175 homes and businesses. The so-called Clayton Fire was 20 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It has charred more than 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) in and around the community of Lower Lake, forcing hundreds of people to flee. Authorities on Monday arrested 40-year-old Damin Pashilk on suspicion of setting that blaze and numerous others in the area over the past year. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. The fire, which threatens some 1,500 structures, was driven by fierce winds after sparking on Saturday evening. There were no reports of casualties. On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared states of emergency for the Clayton fire and another in Central California, the so-called Chimney fire, allowing local officials to get help from agencies statewide. The Chimney Fire was just 10 percent contained by Tuesday afternoon after scorching 6,400 acres (2,590 hectares) since erupting on Saturday. It has destroyed 12 structures and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. (Reuters)

Fast-moving wildfire in California forces residents to evacuate

Australian athletes briefly had to evacuate their apartments yesterday after a small fire in the troubled Rio Olympics Village. 
 
The Australian delegation, preparing to compete in the Games that start August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, went into the street until given the all clear. No one was hurt and there was no serious damage. 
 
&quot;There has been a small fire in the basement of the team building in the Olympic Village. All athletes and staff were evacuated and are fine,&quot; the team said in a Tweet. 
 
Team spokesman Mike Tancred told AFP &quot;there was a lot of smoke and we had to evacuate. The fire fighters came, it was controlled and we returned.&quot; 
 
&quot;There was no big drama,&quot; he said. 
 
Tancred did not know the cause of the fire. The Australian team initially refused to move into its Village accommodations last weekend, citing shoddy conditions, including blocked toilets and dangerous wiring. 
 
Workers have been fixing the defects all week and the Australian team chief, Kitty Chiller, has said the site is now in good shape. 
 
(AFP)

There was no serious damage and no one was hurt in the incident. The cause of fire was unknown

Australian athletes briefly had to evacuate their apartments yesterday after a small fire in the troubled Rio Olympics Village. The Australian delegation, preparing to compete in the Games that start August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, went into the street until given the all clear. No one was hurt and there was no serious damage. "There has been a small fire in the basement of the team building in the Olympic Village. All athletes and staff were evacuated and are fine," the team said in a Tweet. Team spokesman Mike Tancred told AFP "there was a lot of smoke and we had to evacuate. The fire fighters came, it was controlled and we returned." "There was no big drama," he said. Tancred did not know the cause of the fire. The Australian team initially refused to move into its Village accommodations last weekend, citing shoddy conditions, including blocked toilets and dangerous wiring. Workers have been fixing the defects all week and the Australian team chief, Kitty Chiller, has said the site is now in good shape. (AFP)

Small Olympic Village fire forces Australia evacuation

The first of the two Indian Air Force C-17s evacuating Indian citizens from war-torn South Sudan landed in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala early this morning. There were 156 people on board, including nine women and children, and two Nepalese citizens.&nbsp; 
 
The plane deboarded a number of evacuees at Thiruvananthapuram, and then continued on to Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
The evacuation -- called Sankat Mochan or &quot;rescue from danger&quot; -- is being headed by India&#39;s minister of state for external affairs General (retd) VK Singh. 
 
A second C-17 is also expected. Both flights took off from Juba, the South Sudanese capital.&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The flight from South Sudan has landed in Delhi. My colleague Shri Vijay Goyal is at the airport to receive them. /1
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/753819071536214016">July 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
 
In a tweet, Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said both aircraft will be flying to Delhi via Thiruvananthapuram. 
 
The official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs (MEA), Vikas Swarup, tweeted that the first aircraft is carrying 143 Indian citizens on board, including 10 women and three infants. 
 
The second aircraft, India&#39;s ambassador to South Sudan Srikumar Sen has reportedly said,&nbsp;is carrying the rest. There were some 600 Indian citizens in South Sudan when the conflict broke out, of which about 300 had registered for the evacuation.&nbsp; 
 
The mass evacuation reportedly faced a hurdle. Some Indian citizens in South Sudan reportedly refused to leave the country, after having registered for the evacuation and despite Swaraj appealing to Indian citizens to leave the country. Swaraj had also tweeted that should the situation deteriorate, the government would not be able to get them out.&nbsp; 
 
South Sudan&#39;s President Salva Kiir called a ceasefire on Monday after five days of intense fighting in Juba between troops loyal to him and those loyal to his deputy, vice president Riek Machar. The fighting, which broke out last Thursday, left more than a 150 dead and countless more injured. 
 
(ANI &amp; PTI)

The C-17 landed in Thiruvananthapuram, deboarded evacuees, and continued on to Delhi

The first of the two Indian Air Force C-17s evacuating Indian citizens from war-torn South Sudan landed in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala early this morning. There were 156 people on board, including nine women and children, and two Nepalese citizens. The plane deboarded a number of evacuees at Thiruvananthapuram, and then continued on to Delhi. The evacuation -- called Sankat Mochan or "rescue from danger" -- is being headed by India's minister of state for external affairs General (retd) VK Singh. A second C-17 is also expected. Both flights took off from Juba, the South Sudanese capital. The flight from South Sudan has landed in Delhi. My colleague Shri Vijay Goyal is at the airport to receive them. /1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 15, 2016 In a tweet, Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said both aircraft will be flying to Delhi via Thiruvananthapuram. The official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs (MEA), Vikas Swarup, tweeted that the first aircraft is carrying 143 Indian citizens on board, including 10 women and three infants. The second aircraft, India's ambassador to South Sudan Srikumar Sen has reportedly said, is carrying the rest. There were some 600 Indian citizens in South Sudan when the conflict broke out, of which about 300 had registered for the evacuation. The mass evacuation reportedly faced a hurdle. Some Indian citizens in South Sudan reportedly refused to leave the country, after having registered for the evacuation and despite Swaraj appealing to Indian citizens to leave the country. Swaraj had also tweeted that should the situation deteriorate, the government would not be able to get them out. South Sudan's President Salva Kiir called a ceasefire on Monday after five days of intense fighting in Juba between troops loyal to him and those loyal to his deputy, vice president Riek Machar. The fighting, which broke out last Thursday, left more than a 150 dead and countless more injured. (ANI & PTI)

First rescue flight from South Sudan lands with 156 on board

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