South Korean officials are working to keep more than a thousand people displaced by flooding safe and healthy with anti-coronavirus measures in place at crowded shelters as the government weighed declaring disaster zones on Wednesday.

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 1,500 forced from their homes as 42 consecutive days of rain - South Korea's longest monsoon in seven years - triggered floods and landslides.

More than 1,146 people remained in temporary shelters set up in gyms and community centres as of Wednesday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, with measures implemented at the facilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/rain-battered-south-korea-witnesses-14-deaths-due-to-landslides-318134" hreflang="en">Rain-battered South Korea witnesses 14 deaths due to landslides</a>

Fabric enclosures were set up for families and individuals, with beds spaced apart to encourage social distancing.&nbsp;

Local governments designated managers to check people's temperatures and screen for any COVID-19 symptoms, and displaced residents were asked to wear masks and wash their hands, health authorities said.

South Korea has reported 14,456 coronavirus cases, including 33 new cases as of midnight on Tuesday, with 302 deaths.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting of government officials the health ministry should declare three provinces in northern South Korea as special disaster zones, which would entitle them to receive additional aid from the national government.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/south-korea-sect-leader-arrested-over-coronavirus-outbreak-317413" hreflang="en">South Korea sect leader arrested over coronavirus outbreak</a>

In neighbouring North Korea, state media warned of "torrential" rain, possible flooding, and high winds and waves.

While the reports did not mention any specific damage, North Korea has historically been vulnerable to flooding.&nbsp;

This year's heavy rains come during the summer harvest season, raising concerns about food security.

The rain appears to be hitting some of the major rice-growing areas of North Korea, and come as anti-coronavirus border closures restricted key agricultural supplies such as fertilizer from China, said Choi Yong-ho, research fellow at the Korea Rural Economic Institute in Seoul.

"This flooding will have a negative impact for North Korea's food supply," he said.

South Korean officials are working to keep more than a thousand people displaced by flooding safe and healthy with anti-coronavirus measures in place at crowded shelters as the government weighed declaring disaster zones on Wednesday.

South Korean officials are working to keep more than a thousand people displaced by flooding safe and healthy with anti-coronavirus measures in place at crowded shelters as the government weighed declaring disaster zones on Wednesday. At least 15 people have been killed and more than 1,500 forced from their homes as 42 consecutive days of rain - South Korea's longest monsoon in seven years - triggered floods and landslides. More than 1,146 people remained in temporary shelters set up in gyms and community centres as of Wednesday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, with measures implemented at the facilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Also read: Rain-battered South Korea witnesses 14 deaths due to landslides Fabric enclosures were set up for families and individuals, with beds spaced apart to encourage social distancing. Local governments designated managers to check people's temperatures and screen for any COVID-19 symptoms, and displaced residents were asked to wear masks and wash their hands, health authorities said. South Korea has reported 14,456 coronavirus cases, including 33 new cases as of midnight on Tuesday, with 302 deaths. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting of government officials the health ministry should declare three provinces in northern South Korea as special disaster zones, which would entitle them to receive additional aid from the national government. Also read: South Korea sect leader arrested over coronavirus outbreak In neighbouring North Korea, state media warned of "torrential" rain, possible flooding, and high winds and waves. While the reports did not mention any specific damage, North Korea has historically been vulnerable to flooding. This year's heavy rains come during the summer harvest season, raising concerns about food security. The rain appears to be hitting some of the major rice-growing areas of North Korea, and come as anti-coronavirus border closures restricted key agricultural supplies such as fertilizer from China, said Choi Yong-ho, research fellow at the Korea Rural Economic Institute in Seoul. "This flooding will have a negative impact for North Korea's food supply," he said.

Coronavirus complicates South Korea flood response as hundreds gather in shelters

Nearly a quarter of Bangladesh has been inundated with floodwaters, according to the latest satellite images of the country captured by NASA recently. Watch report.

Bangladesh floods: NASA images reveal stark flood situation

South Korea is witnessing its longest monsoon in seven years that has triggered floods and landslides in the country. 14 people have been killed and over 1,000 people have been forced to leave their homes after 42 consecutive days of rain, as per authorities said on Tuesday.

South Korea is witnessing its longest monsoon in seven years that has triggered floods and landslides in the country. 14 people have been killed and over 1,000 people have been forced to leave their homes after 42 consecutive days of rain, as per authorities said on Tuesday. Also read: 'SOS' on the sand saves lives of three men stranded on a Micronesian island The rain has battered many South Asian countries like India, China, Myanmar and Thailand. Now, the rain has flooded major highways, bridges and farmlands in South Korea's capital Seoul. Three New Zealanders from the same family were among the victims of the landslide. They were found dead on Monday after a landslide hit vacation cottages in Gapyeong country, northeast of Seoul. According to a Gapyeong police official, the deceased were a woman believed to be 65, her 36-year-old daughter and her three-year-old grandson. The New Zealand foreign ministry is aware of the deaths and is providing consular access. South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his concerns for the record-breaking heavy rains. He urged "all-out efforts to prevent further loss of life", such as action to avert landslides and evacuate people, even in cases of little apparent danger. Also read: Corn shortage in China? Photo ban on granaries fuels speculation According to Yonhap news agency, infrastructure along the Han River in Seoul that was damaged due to floods were back in operation on Tuesday. Their neighbours North Korea has warned its citizens of possible flooding. "All the sectors of the national economy... are taking steps to prevent damage from the downpour," state news agency KCNA said, saying that some areas were predicted to receive as much as half a metre (20 inches) of rain. Some anonymous South Korean government officials told Yonhap that North Korea opened the floodgates of a border dam on Monday without advance notice to its neighbour. (Inputs from Reuters)

Rain-battered South Korea witnesses 14 deaths due to landslides

Millions of people have been affected by floods in Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands have lost their homes and are waiting for help as floodwaters have entered their homes. Watch report.

Flood worsens in Bangladesh: One-third of Bangladesh affected

In China, seasonal rains are common, where rivers overflow almost every year, leading to floods.&nbsp;

However, this year's flooding in the country is one of the worst in decades, as per some estimates. Some reports even say, the floods are worst in around 100 years.&nbsp;

But, what are the impact and cost of these floods?

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-238-million-people-affected-by-china-floods-316368/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In China, water levels of 433 rivers have risen over the danger mark, and out of these 33 are flowing at historical highs.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/floods-claim-10-lives-in-bihar-nearly-1-million-people-affected-in-10-districts-315905">Floods claim 10 lives in Bihar, nearly 1 million people affected in 10 districts</a>

The rains have not yet stopped and vast stretches of land is underwater.&nbsp;

Yangtze River is one of China's most important waterways. Some 175 major cities are located near its banks. The area they cover forms the Yangtze river basin, a powerhouse of industrial output.&nbsp;

It is home to a number of multinational companies and is said to generate nearly half of China's overall GDP. Currently, a major part of this region is flooded.&nbsp;

In China, at least 24 provinces have been severely affected, impacting 23.8 million citizens. Thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places.&nbsp;

As many as 142 people have either dead or missing and a total of 28,000 houses have collapsed.&nbsp;

Chongqing, Hubei, Anhui. Jiangxi and Guangxi are the worst-hit provinces.&nbsp;

The Poyang Lake region, China's largest freshwater lake, is the worst-hit area. The lake, on July 13, surpassed a 1998-record and saw its water level rising to 22.6 metres.&nbsp;

For weeks, the lake has been shut.&nbsp;

Economic cost&nbsp;

The rains are said to have caused more than 86 billion yuan in direct economic losses to China, which is a loss of nearly 12.3 billion dollars.&nbsp;

Chinese administration is spending 830 million yuan or 119 million dollars to make up for these damages, according to China's ministry of emergency management.&nbsp;

Beijing has channelled this amount from its central budget to flood-hit areas for restoration and recovery purposes. So far, however, only 12 provincial regions have been allocated with the funds.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that all the leaves of the Chinese military have been cancelled and the PLA have stepped in for the flood relief efforts.&nbsp;

The flood situation in China presently is very critical and we will continue to report on it.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In China, seasonal rains are common, where rivers overflow almost every year, leading to floods. However, this year's flooding in the country is one of the worst in decades, as per some estimates.

In China, seasonal rains are common, where rivers overflow almost every year, leading to floods. However, this year's flooding in the country is one of the worst in decades, as per some estimates. Some reports even say, the floods are worst in around 100 years. But, what are the impact and cost of these floods? Watch | In China, water levels of 433 rivers have risen over the danger mark, and out of these 33 are flowing at historical highs. Also read | Floods claim 10 lives in Bihar, nearly 1 million people affected in 10 districts The rains have not yet stopped and vast stretches of land is underwater. Yangtze River is one of China's most important waterways. Some 175 major cities are located near its banks. The area they cover forms the Yangtze river basin, a powerhouse of industrial output. It is home to a number of multinational companies and is said to generate nearly half of China's overall GDP. Currently, a major part of this region is flooded. In China, at least 24 provinces have been severely affected, impacting 23.8 million citizens. Thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places. As many as 142 people have either dead or missing and a total of 28,000 houses have collapsed. Chongqing, Hubei, Anhui. Jiangxi and Guangxi are the worst-hit provinces. The Poyang Lake region, China's largest freshwater lake, is the worst-hit area. The lake, on July 13, surpassed a 1998-record and saw its water level rising to 22.6 metres. For weeks, the lake has been shut. Economic cost The rains are said to have caused more than 86 billion yuan in direct economic losses to China, which is a loss of nearly 12.3 billion dollars. Chinese administration is spending 830 million yuan or 119 million dollars to make up for these damages, according to China's ministry of emergency management. Beijing has channelled this amount from its central budget to flood-hit areas for restoration and recovery purposes. So far, however, only 12 provincial regions have been allocated with the funds. Reports suggest that all the leaves of the Chinese military have been cancelled and the PLA have stepped in for the flood relief efforts. The flood situation in China presently is very critical and we will continue to report on it.

Understanding the impact and economic cost of floods in China

The dam at a small reservoir in China's Guangxi region gave way last month after days of heavy rain in a collapse that could be a harbinger of sterner tests for many of the country's 94,000 aging dams as the weather gets more extreme.

Located in Yangshuo county, famed for its otherworldly karst landscape, the dam collapsed at around midday on June 7, inundating roads, orchards and fields in Shazixi village, residents told Reuters.

"I've never seen such flooding," said villager Luo Qiyuan, 81, who helped build the dam decades ago.

"The water levels were never so high in previous years, and the dam had never collapsed."

Completed in 1965, the dam, made of compacted earth, was designed to hold 195,000 cubic metres of water, enough to fill 78 Olympic-size swimming pools and meet the irrigation needs of Shazixi's farmers.

On a visit to the reservoir in mid-July, Reuters found the length of the dam, of about 100 metres, had largely vanished. It was reinforced 25 years ago.

The water went over the dam, which then collapsed, said a member of a survey crew at the reservoir, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media.

Shazixi residents said there were no deaths.

But the collapse, which was not reported by domestic media, suggests big storms might be enough to overwhelm reservoirs, especially if the design is inferior and maintenance has been patchy.

That raises the prospect of disaster in river valleys and flood plains that are much more densely populated than they were when the dams were built.

Environmental groups say climate change is bringing heavier and more frequent rain. Massive flooding could trigger unforeseen "black swan" events, the government says, with extreme consequences.

Extreme Events

Thousands of dams were built in the 1950s and 1960s in a rush led by Mao Zedong to fend off drought in a largely agrarian China.

In 2006, the Ministry of Water Resources said, between 1954 and 2005, dykes had collapsed at 3,486 reservoirs due to sub-standard quality and poor management.

It was unclear if record-breaking rains were to blame for the Shazixi collapse or if the dam's emergency spillway had been blocked by silt or if it was a design problem.

The water resources department in the area declined to comment. The county government did not respond to a request for comment.

In Guangxi, in southwestern China, rainfall and temperatures were on average significantly higher in 1990-2018 compared with the previous 29 years, official data shows.

It's the extreme events that put dams at risk, said David Shankman, a geographer at the University of Alabama who studies Chinese floods.

"But a dam should be able to withstand extreme events even if they become regular, and when the flood is over, it should be exactly of the same quality as before the event, if the dam was properly designed and built," Shankman said.

According to a notice at the Shazixi reservoir's monitoring station, the 151.2 metre-tall dam was built with a once-every-two-century worst-case scenario in mind in which water was expected to reach 149.48 metres. Last month, it overflowed.

In the county seat of Yangshuo in June, more rain fell in three hours than usually falls in two months.

The Ministry of Water Resources did not respond to a request for comment.

In what could be another sign of trouble to come, water behind a dam on a tributary of the Yangtze river rose so sharply that authorities on Sunday were forced to blow up part of the dam to lower the level.

'BLACK SWAN'

In China's worst dam catastrophe, the Banqiao on the Yellow River, completed in 1952 with Soviet assistance, collapsed in 1975, killing tens of thousands of people, official estimates published two decades later showed.

Ye Jianchun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, told a recent news conference he was confident flood-control projects on major rivers were capable of handling the largest floods seen since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

But Ye was not so categorical about dams on other rivers, saying excessive floods may exceed the defence capability of the engineering to result in a "black swan" event.

Aware of the risks, authorities have been reinforcing and raising old dams and stepping up inspections. New dams are planned to increase storage capacity.

North of Yangshuo at Qingshitan is the biggest dam in the area. The banks of the river into which it empties have been shored up since last month, said a workman dumping rocks and soil with a wheel loader.

But climate change is bringing a new normal of extremes and flood-risk policies decided a decade or two ago are no longer sufficient, said Benjamin Horton, director at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

"What really needs to happen is to work with the ecosystems, not against them by building dams, by extending flood wetlands and flood plains and allowing the water to naturally mix with the environment," he said.

The dam at a small reservoir in China's Guangxi region gave way last month after days of heavy rain in a collapse that could be a harbinger of sterner tests for many of the country's 94,000 aging dams as the weather gets more extreme.

The dam at a small reservoir in China's Guangxi region gave way last month after days of heavy rain in a collapse that could be a harbinger of sterner tests for many of the country's 94,000 aging dams as the weather gets more extreme. Located in Yangshuo county, famed for its otherworldly karst landscape, the dam collapsed at around midday on June 7, inundating roads, orchards and fields in Shazixi village, residents told Reuters. "I've never seen such flooding," said villager Luo Qiyuan, 81, who helped build the dam decades ago. "The water levels were never so high in previous years, and the dam had never collapsed." Completed in 1965, the dam, made of compacted earth, was designed to hold 195,000 cubic metres of water, enough to fill 78 Olympic-size swimming pools and meet the irrigation needs of Shazixi's farmers. On a visit to the reservoir in mid-July, Reuters found the length of the dam, of about 100 metres, had largely vanished. It was reinforced 25 years ago. The water went over the dam, which then collapsed, said a member of a survey crew at the reservoir, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media. Shazixi residents said there were no deaths. But the collapse, which was not reported by domestic media, suggests big storms might be enough to overwhelm reservoirs, especially if the design is inferior and maintenance has been patchy. That raises the prospect of disaster in river valleys and flood plains that are much more densely populated than they were when the dams were built. Environmental groups say climate change is bringing heavier and more frequent rain. Massive flooding could trigger unforeseen "black swan" events, the government says, with extreme consequences. Extreme Events Thousands of dams were built in the 1950s and 1960s in a rush led by Mao Zedong to fend off drought in a largely agrarian China. In 2006, the Ministry of Water Resources said, between 1954 and 2005, dykes had collapsed at 3,486 reservoirs due to sub-standard quality and poor management. It was unclear if record-breaking rains were to blame for the Shazixi collapse or if the dam's emergency spillway had been blocked by silt or if it was a design problem. The water resources department in the area declined to comment. The county government did not respond to a request for comment. In Guangxi, in southwestern China, rainfall and temperatures were on average significantly higher in 1990-2018 compared with the previous 29 years, official data shows. It's the extreme events that put dams at risk, said David Shankman, a geographer at the University of Alabama who studies Chinese floods. "But a dam should be able to withstand extreme events even if they become regular, and when the flood is over, it should be exactly of the same quality as before the event, if the dam was properly designed and built," Shankman said. According to a notice at the Shazixi reservoir's monitoring station, the 151.2 metre-tall dam was built with a once-every-two-century worst-case scenario in mind in which water was expected to reach 149.48 metres. Last month, it overflowed. In the county seat of Yangshuo in June, more rain fell in three hours than usually falls in two months. The Ministry of Water Resources did not respond to a request for comment. In what could be another sign of trouble to come, water behind a dam on a tributary of the Yangtze river rose so sharply that authorities on Sunday were forced to blow up part of the dam to lower the level. 'BLACK SWAN' In China's worst dam catastrophe, the Banqiao on the Yellow River, completed in 1952 with Soviet assistance, collapsed in 1975, killing tens of thousands of people, official estimates published two decades later showed. Ye Jianchun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, told a recent news conference he was confident flood-control projects on major rivers were capable of handling the largest floods seen since the founding of the People's Republic of China. But Ye was not so categorical about dams on other rivers, saying excessive floods may exceed the defence capability of the engineering to result in a "black swan" event. Aware of the risks, authorities have been reinforcing and raising old dams and stepping up inspections. New dams are planned to increase storage capacity. North of Yangshuo at Qingshitan is the biggest dam in the area. The banks of the river into which it empties have been shored up since last month, said a workman dumping rocks and soil with a wheel loader. But climate change is bringing a new normal of extremes and flood-risk policies decided a decade or two ago are no longer sufficient, said Benjamin Horton, director at the Earth Observatory of Singapore. "What really needs to happen is to work with the ecosystems, not against them by building dams, by extending flood wetlands and flood plains and allowing the water to naturally mix with the environment," he said.

Dam collapse in China could be Black Swan event for 94,000 aging structures

China has allocated a 330 million yuan ($47 million) disaster relief fund to help farmers and agricultural production in southern provinces, as large parts of the country suffer the worst flooding in decades.

The fund is aimed at helping farmers resume production after the disaster and repairing damaged agricultural facilities, as well as reducing the loss of farm income, the ministry of agriculture and rural affairs said in a statement late Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/after-virus-china-faces-worst-floods-in-30-years-314960" hreflang="en">After virus, China faces worst floods in 30 years</a>

It will be distributed in provinces including Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi and Sichuan.

Many parts of China have been grappling with severe floods this month amid some of the heaviest rainfall on record.&nbsp;

The disaster has led to a resurgence of African swine fever in some areas, hurting pork production, and also disrupted supply chains, including for personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak.

China has allocated a 330 million yuan ($47 million) disaster relief fund to help farmers and agricultural production in southern provinces, as large parts of the country suffer the worst flooding in decades.

China has allocated a 330 million yuan ($47 million) disaster relief fund to help farmers and agricultural production in southern provinces, as large parts of the country suffer the worst flooding in decades. The fund is aimed at helping farmers resume production after the disaster and repairing damaged agricultural facilities, as well as reducing the loss of farm income, the ministry of agriculture and rural affairs said in a statement late Monday. Also read: After virus, China faces worst floods in 30 years It will be distributed in provinces including Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi and Sichuan. Many parts of China have been grappling with severe floods this month amid some of the heaviest rainfall on record. The disaster has led to a resurgence of African swine fever in some areas, hurting pork production, and also disrupted supply chains, including for personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak.

China allocates flood relief fund to farmers, agriculture production

As the torrential rains have caused the worst flooding in China in more than 30 years. It has destroyed homes and impacted the livelihood of millions of people. Wuhan has announced a red alert and asked its citizens to stay indoors. Watch report.

Massive blow to the Chinese economy after Pandemic: Hundreds dead in floods | World News

Floods in China: After pandemic Wuhan reels under floods

China`s banking and insurance regulator on Saturday announced measures to further increase credit and lending support and insurance protection for areas that suffered from recent floods.

The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) said in a statement that financial institutions in the flood-hit areas cannot blindly withdraw, delay or cut credit lines to the companies who have good development prospects but whose operations were suspended by the floods.

The regulator also encouraged financial institutions to lower lending rates appropriately and improve their loan extension policy to help relevant companies to tide over difficulties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-ports-hit-capacity-as-virus-tests-slow-clearing-shippers-314334">Also read|&nbsp;Chinese ports hit capacity as virus tests slow clearing: shippers</a>

Separately, the CBIRC urged insurers to properly perform investigations and claims settlement and arrange financial resources in advance to help flood-hit companies and people resume production and normal lives in a timely manner.

Large parts of China were reeling on Friday from the worst floods in decades, which destroyed homes and affected millions of people.

Economic activity in some parts of China, especially construction and steel and cement demand, has also been hurt by the flooding, analysts say, suggesting some loss of momentum after a stronger than expected bounce in the second quarter from the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

China`s banking and insurance regulator on Saturday announced measures to further increase credit and lending support and insurance protection for areas that suffered from recent floods.

China`s banking and insurance regulator on Saturday announced measures to further increase credit and lending support and insurance protection for areas that suffered from recent floods. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) said in a statement that financial institutions in the flood-hit areas cannot blindly withdraw, delay or cut credit lines to the companies who have good development prospects but whose operations were suspended by the floods. The regulator also encouraged financial institutions to lower lending rates appropriately and improve their loan extension policy to help relevant companies to tide over difficulties. Also read| Chinese ports hit capacity as virus tests slow clearing: shippers Separately, the CBIRC urged insurers to properly perform investigations and claims settlement and arrange financial resources in advance to help flood-hit companies and people resume production and normal lives in a timely manner. Large parts of China were reeling on Friday from the worst floods in decades, which destroyed homes and affected millions of people. Economic activity in some parts of China, especially construction and steel and cement demand, has also been hurt by the flooding, analysts say, suggesting some loss of momentum after a stronger than expected bounce in the second quarter from the coronavirus crisis.

China to offer more financial support for flood-hit areas

The very famous South Korean boy band BTS has a huge fan following all over the world, including India. The fans, also known as BTS Army, are known to not only enjoy the KPop music but also for actively participating in charitable work and lending needful support.

One such incident happened in India when the Indian fan following got together through Twitter to gather funds for the people of the North Eastern state Assam who suffered in the recent floods.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-floods-five-more-killed-over-4-million-affected-313792">Also read|&nbsp;Assam floods: Five more killed; over 4 million affected</a>

The initiative was started by a Twitter page 'BTSArmy helps India' (@btshelpsindia).&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Assam has been neglected for so long by the mainland and media we need to help them as we have a platform, today assam fights with not only covid 19 but also massive floods <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProtectAssam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProtectAssam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamFloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamNeedsUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamNeedsUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamFloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamDeservesBetter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamDeservesBetter</a><a href="https://t.co/qsdmxPvZ6j">https://t.co/qsdmxPvZ6j</a>
— 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙖𖧵⁷⁺¹²⁷°ˣ¹⇆⧖|| CHECK 📌📌 (@minheeseyelid) <a href="https://twitter.com/minheeseyelid/status/1283694645495525377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The group had aimed to collect around $6,600 (INR 5,00,000). Surprisingly, as the word spread on different social media platforms, the fans were able to gather nearly $8,000 (INR 5,80,000) in less than 24 hours.

<img alt="BTS Army helps Assam" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5993087e-0b11-4db9-bdfb-7339592a131c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/BTS%20%281%29_0.jpg" />

After reaching the target, the fandom established new donation links (https://assamfloods.carrd.co/) and urged fellow fans and everyone else to educate people about the ongoing tragedy in Assam and donate as much as possible.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This wouldn't have happened without the support of Armys. 
We started with a small goal and were able to reach 5 lakh+ all because of you guys. 
Let's keep spreading the message of <a href="https://twitter.com/BTS_twt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BTS_twt</a> . 
Thank you so much💜<a href="https://t.co/FOkEx51fod">https://t.co/FOkEx51fod</a>
— BTSARMY HELPS INDIA (@btshelpsindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/btshelpsindia/status/1284102357341499395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Assam is a North Eastern state in India which is a floods prone area. However, the floods this year have been worse than usual and have affected nearly 5,400,000 people and more than 200 hundred wildlife animals in the 30 districts of the state.&nbsp;

The very famous South Korean boy band BTS has a huge fan following all over the world, including India. The fans, also known as BTS Army, are known to not only enjoy the KPop music but also for actively participating in charitable work and lending needful support.

The very famous South Korean boy band BTS has a huge fan following all over the world, including India. The fans, also known as BTS Army, are known to not only enjoy the KPop music but also for actively participating in charitable work and lending needful support. One such incident happened in India when the Indian fan following got together through Twitter to gather funds for the people of the North Eastern state Assam who suffered in the recent floods. Also read| Assam floods: Five more killed; over 4 million affected The initiative was started by a Twitter page 'BTSArmy helps India' (@btshelpsindia). Assam has been neglected for so long by the mainland and media we need to help them as we have a platform, today assam fights with not only covid 19 but also massive floods #ProtectAssam #AssamFloods #AssamNeedsUs #AssamFloods #AssamDeservesBetterhttps://t.co/qsdmxPvZ6j — 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙖𖧵⁷⁺¹²⁷°ˣ¹⇆⧖|| CHECK 📌📌 (@minheeseyelid) July 16, 2020 × The group had aimed to collect around $6,600 (INR 5,00,000). Surprisingly, as the word spread on different social media platforms, the fans were able to gather nearly $8,000 (INR 5,80,000) in less than 24 hours. After reaching the target, the fandom established new donation links (https://assamfloods.carrd.co/) and urged fellow fans and everyone else to educate people about the ongoing tragedy in Assam and donate as much as possible. This wouldn't have happened without the support of Armys. We started with a small goal and were able to reach 5 lakh+ all because of you guys. Let's keep spreading the message of @BTS_twt . Thank you so much💜https://t.co/FOkEx51fod — BTSARMY HELPS INDIA (@btshelpsindia) July 17, 2020 × Assam is a North Eastern state in India which is a floods prone area. However, the floods this year have been worse than usual and have affected nearly 5,400,000 people and more than 200 hundred wildlife animals in the 30 districts of the state.

BTS 'Army' gather more than $8,000 for Assam flood relief funds

Floods hit Assam's Kaziranga and Bangladesh amid pandemic in South Asia

As China counts the costs of its most punishing flood season in more than three decades, the role played by the massive and controversial Three Gorges Dam - designed to help tame the Yangtze river - has come under fresh scrutiny.&nbsp;

Amid some of the heaviest rainfall on record, the Chinese government says the world's biggest hydroelectric plant has reduced flood peaks, minimised economic losses and slashed the number of deaths and emergency evacuations.&nbsp;

But critics say the historically high water levels on the Yangtze and its major lakes prove the Three Gorges Dam isn't doing what it was designed for.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/severe-floods-in-china-leave-over-38-million-affected-141-dead-or-missing-312838" hreflang="en">Severe floods in China leave over 38 million affected, 141 dead or missing</a>

"One of the major justifications for the Three Gorges Dam was flood control, but less than 20 years after its completion we have the highest floodwater in recorded history," said David Shankman, a geographer with the University of Alabama who studies Chinese floods. "The fact is that it cannot prevent these severe events."

Ye Jianchun, China's vice-minister of water resources, said at a Monday briefing the "detailed scheduling" of water discharges from reservoirs, particularly the Three Gorges, had been effective in controlling floods this year.&nbsp;

He said 64.7 billion cubic metres of floodwater has been stored in 2,297 reservoirs, including 2.9 billion cubic metres at Three Gorges.&nbsp;

The company running the Three Gorges Project also said on Saturday that downstream water discharges had been halved since July 6, "effectively reducing the speed and extent of water level rises on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze". The total amount of stored floodwater had now reached 88% of the reservoir's total capacity, it added.&nbsp;

But parts of the Yangtze, its tributaries and major lakes like the Dongting and Poyang have hit record levels anyway.&nbsp;

Fan Xiao, a Chinese geologist and long-standing critic of giant dam projects, said the storage capacity at Three Gorges amounts to less than 9% of average floodwater.&nbsp;

"It can only partially and temporarily intercept the upstream floods, and is powerless to help with floods caused by heavy rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/more-chinese-regions-brace-for-floods-as-storms-shift-east-309364" hreflang="en">More Chinese regions brace for floods as storms shift east</a>

Fan said Three Gorges and other major dam projects could even make flooding worse by altering the flow of sedimentation down the Yangtze. The project's need to generate electricity has also undermined flood control, he said.&nbsp;

"When people only consider using reservoirs to solve flood-control problems, they often overlook or even weaken the natural ability of rivers and their lakes to regulate floods," he said.&nbsp;

Shankman said that the Three Gorges Dam helps alleviate flooding during normal years, but that it was always likely to be vulnerable to more extreme weather, a problem that is exacerbated by shrinking flood plains downstream.&nbsp;

"The Three Gorges Dam reservoir does not have the capacity to significantly affect the most severe floods," he said.&nbsp;

"Floodwater storage along the middle Yangtze is less because of stronger levees that are less likely to fail," he added. "Both of those things are at play here. This was predictable."

As China counts the costs of its most punishing flood season in more than three decades, the role played by the massive and controversial Three Gorges Dam - designed to help tame the Yangtze river - has come under fresh scrutiny.

As China counts the costs of its most punishing flood season in more than three decades, the role played by the massive and controversial Three Gorges Dam - designed to help tame the Yangtze river - has come under fresh scrutiny. Amid some of the heaviest rainfall on record, the Chinese government says the world's biggest hydroelectric plant has reduced flood peaks, minimised economic losses and slashed the number of deaths and emergency evacuations. But critics say the historically high water levels on the Yangtze and its major lakes prove the Three Gorges Dam isn't doing what it was designed for. Also read: Severe floods in China leave over 38 million affected, 141 dead or missing "One of the major justifications for the Three Gorges Dam was flood control, but less than 20 years after its completion we have the highest floodwater in recorded history," said David Shankman, a geographer with the University of Alabama who studies Chinese floods. "The fact is that it cannot prevent these severe events." Ye Jianchun, China's vice-minister of water resources, said at a Monday briefing the "detailed scheduling" of water discharges from reservoirs, particularly the Three Gorges, had been effective in controlling floods this year. He said 64.7 billion cubic metres of floodwater has been stored in 2,297 reservoirs, including 2.9 billion cubic metres at Three Gorges. The company running the Three Gorges Project also said on Saturday that downstream water discharges had been halved since July 6, "effectively reducing the speed and extent of water level rises on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze". The total amount of stored floodwater had now reached 88% of the reservoir's total capacity, it added. But parts of the Yangtze, its tributaries and major lakes like the Dongting and Poyang have hit record levels anyway. Fan Xiao, a Chinese geologist and long-standing critic of giant dam projects, said the storage capacity at Three Gorges amounts to less than 9% of average floodwater. "It can only partially and temporarily intercept the upstream floods, and is powerless to help with floods caused by heavy rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River," he said. Also read: More Chinese regions brace for floods as storms shift east Fan said Three Gorges and other major dam projects could even make flooding worse by altering the flow of sedimentation down the Yangtze. The project's need to generate electricity has also undermined flood control, he said. "When people only consider using reservoirs to solve flood-control problems, they often overlook or even weaken the natural ability of rivers and their lakes to regulate floods," he said. Shankman said that the Three Gorges Dam helps alleviate flooding during normal years, but that it was always likely to be vulnerable to more extreme weather, a problem that is exacerbated by shrinking flood plains downstream. "The Three Gorges Dam reservoir does not have the capacity to significantly affect the most severe floods," he said. "Floodwater storage along the middle Yangtze is less because of stronger levees that are less likely to fail," he added. "Both of those things are at play here. This was predictable."

Record floods raise questions about China's Three Gorges Dam

Superstorms, landslides, heat waves and raging wildfires have occurred even as the world battles the pandemic. China Rescue teams have been scrambling in the country, although not in full strength.

Superstorms, landslides, heat waves and raging wildfires have occurred even as the world battles the pandemic. China Rescue teams have been scrambling in the country, although not in full strength. They are fighting a war in multiple fronts as heavy rainfall continues to batter large parts of China. On Wednesday, a landslide buried nine people in Hubei province. So far, more than 100 people have been killed in floods caused by the worst storm in decades. In the affected areas rainfall is two to three times higher than normal. A dam in south-eastern China opened its gates for the first time in nine years to lower water levels. It is a difficult time for students sitting for the national college entrance exam or the Gaokao. Nearly 11 million students are taking the exam this year. In the eastern Anhui province, floods have already delayed two tests. Japan Floods and landslides have killed at least 58 people in Japan. Heavy rains have caused rivers to burst their bank. Floods have swept away bridges and submerged houses. Now, entire south-western Japan is on high alert. More torrential rain is expected in the coming days. An emergency warning has been raised to the second-highest level. About 3.6 million people have been advised to evacuate. United States of America The wildfire in the US state of Nevada has now doubled in size. So far, it has engulfed 18,000 acres of land near Carson city. Aerial crews are helping more than 400 firefighters on the ground battling the blaze. Residents in the neighbouring areas are being evacuated. Another huge wildfire is burning in northern California. On July 4, America's independence day -- firefighters battled over 60 wildfires near Fairfield. Ukraine A forest fire has killed six people in eastern Ukraine. The fire broke out in the Luhansk region and spread over 200 acres. It is partially under the control of pro-Russia separatists. More than 120 houses were burnt down close to the battlefront between the separatists and Ukrainian forces. Water-bombing planes have been sent to put out the blaze. Russia Russia is sweltering in unusually high temperatures. Heatwaves struck capital Moscow and four other regions. In Moscow -- special cooling rooms have been set up around the city. With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees celsius. Authorities have declared an orange danger level. In several parts of Russia -- wildfires are intensifying due to the heat.

World battles coronavirus pandemic amid superstorms and wildfires

&nbsp;Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place.&nbsp;

Flooding and mudslides that began at the weekend have killed 21 people so far. A further 18 people were showing no vital signs and presumed dead pending official confirmation, and 13 people were missing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/several-dead-missing-in-japan-as-heavy-rain-causes-floods-310854" hreflang="en">Several dead, missing in Japan as heavy rain causes floods</a>

"I offer my deepest condolences for those who have passed from the torrential rains," Suga said, adding that some 40,000 members of the Self-Defence Force were involved in rescue missions.

He added that evacuation centres were also working on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus by distributing disinfectant and asking evacuees to maintain their distance from each other.

Also read: <a href="/world/14-feared-dead-at-flooded-nursing-home-in-japan-310673" hreflang="en">14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan</a>&nbsp;

As of Saturday, some 200,000 have been ordered to evacuate their homes, according to Kyodo news agency.

The floods are Japan's worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis in October last year that left about 90 people dead.

Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place.

Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place. Flooding and mudslides that began at the weekend have killed 21 people so far. A further 18 people were showing no vital signs and presumed dead pending official confirmation, and 13 people were missing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference. Also read: Several dead, missing in Japan as heavy rain causes floods "I offer my deepest condolences for those who have passed from the torrential rains," Suga said, adding that some 40,000 members of the Self-Defence Force were involved in rescue missions. He added that evacuation centres were also working on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus by distributing disinfectant and asking evacuees to maintain their distance from each other. Also read: 14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan As of Saturday, some 200,000 have been ordered to evacuate their homes, according to Kyodo news agency. The floods are Japan's worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis in October last year that left about 90 people dead.

Nearly 40 feared dead as torrential rains hit southwest Japan

Heavy rain hit central China's Hubei Province on Sunday, trapping residents and disrupting traffic with floods in some cities.

South & Central China hit by heavy floods, More than 15 million people affected

About 34 people are feared or confirmed dead -- including 14 at a nursing home -- after torrential rain in Japan triggered massive floods and mudslides.&nbsp;Rescuers have been searching for 14 people missing after floods hit the Kumamoto region on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

Japan is currently in its rainy season, which often causes floods and landslides and prompts local authorities to issue evacuation orders.

The regional government confirmed 18 people had died, while another 16 were in a critical state.

Fourteen of the victims were at a nursing home that was inundated when local rivers broke their banks. Emergency services rescued 50 people from the facility.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/14-feared-dead-at-flooded-nursing-home-in-japan-310673">Also read |&nbsp;14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan</a>

More than 2,00,000 people have been urged to evacuate as authorities requested those in emergency shelters to wash their hands, wear masks and maintain social distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

At a cabinet-level meeting in Tokyo on the disaster, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to offer financial support, while warning residents in Kumamoto to brace for more rain.

Heavy rain is expected in the region through Monday, Abe added.&nbsp;He also warned residents to monitor news for further risks associated with flooding and landslides.

Communities along the Kuma River, which passes through Hitoyoshi, have been hit hard by the floodwaters.

Although the rain had eased in Kumamoto by Sunday morning, collapsed bridges and blocked roads due to flooding and mudslides have left many isolated in the region.

A large "SOS" sign was created on the grounds of what used to be an elementary school in Yatsushiro city, where about 10 people waved white towels at rescue and media helicopters.

Rescue workers and troops from the Self-Defense Forces used boats and helicopters to reach those stranded.

(with inputs from AFP)

About 34 people are feared or confirmed dead -- including 14 at a nursing home -- after torrential rain in Japan triggered massive floods and mudslides. Rescuers have been searching for 14 people missing after floods hit the Kumamoto region on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

About 34 people are feared or confirmed dead -- including 14 at a nursing home -- after torrential rain in Japan triggered massive floods and mudslides. Rescuers have been searching for 14 people missing after floods hit the Kumamoto region on the southwestern island of Kyushu. Japan is currently in its rainy season, which often causes floods and landslides and prompts local authorities to issue evacuation orders. The regional government confirmed 18 people had died, while another 16 were in a critical state. Fourteen of the victims were at a nursing home that was inundated when local rivers broke their banks. Emergency services rescued 50 people from the facility. Also read | 14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan More than 2,00,000 people have been urged to evacuate as authorities requested those in emergency shelters to wash their hands, wear masks and maintain social distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At a cabinet-level meeting in Tokyo on the disaster, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to offer financial support, while warning residents in Kumamoto to brace for more rain. Heavy rain is expected in the region through Monday, Abe added. He also warned residents to monitor news for further risks associated with flooding and landslides. Communities along the Kuma River, which passes through Hitoyoshi, have been hit hard by the floodwaters. Although the rain had eased in Kumamoto by Sunday morning, collapsed bridges and blocked roads due to flooding and mudslides have left many isolated in the region. A large "SOS" sign was created on the grounds of what used to be an elementary school in Yatsushiro city, where about 10 people waved white towels at rescue and media helicopters. Rescue workers and troops from the Self-Defense Forces used boats and helicopters to reach those stranded. (with inputs from AFP)

Several dead, missing in Japan as heavy rain causes floods

Torrential rain is set to hit China's eastern coastal regions this week after overwhelming large parts of the southwest, inundating villages and tourist spots and displacing more than 700,000 people, state weather forecasters said on Monday.&nbsp;

Nearly 14 million people in 26 different provinces had been affected by storms and floods by Friday, with 744,000 evacuated, the China Daily reported, citing the Ministry for Emergency Management. The ministry said 78 people have been confirmed dead or missing, with direct economic losses at 27.8 billion yuan ($3.93 billion).&nbsp;

Much of the damage has hit southwestern regions like Guangxi and Sichuan, and the municipality of Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river last week experienced its worst floods since 1940.&nbsp;

But central and eastern regions are set to bear the brunt this week, with some facing 30mm to 50mm (1.2 inches to 2 inches) of rain per hour by Wednesday, the state meteorological bureau said.&nbsp;

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Regions along the banks of the Yangtze and its tributaries are traditionally vulnerable to flooding in China's summer, with the impact of heavy rainfall worsened by deforestation, dwindling flood plains and the diversion of natural river systems for hydropower and irrigation.&nbsp;

Rainfall has also been heavier than usual, with water volumes in 148 rivers already reaching emergency levels by mid-June. Local authorities are under instruction to pay attention to potential dam and reservoir collapses.

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Some Yangtze tributaries have already experienced their worst floods ever, including the Xiaojinchuan in Sichuan province. The water resources ministry warned last week that other smaller rivers could be "stricken by major floods" and lakes are also under close scrutiny.

Authorities have promised to minimise flood damage in the city of Wuhan as it struggles to recover from the coronavirus outbreak.

Wuhan, which lies on the Yangtze, was hit by China's last major floods in 1998, which killed more than 3,000 people and left 14 million homeless.

Torrential rain is set to hit China's eastern coastal regions this week after overwhelming large parts of the southwest, inundating villages and tourist spots and displacing more than 700,000 people, state weather forecasters said on Monday.

Torrential rain is set to hit China's eastern coastal regions this week after overwhelming large parts of the southwest, inundating villages and tourist spots and displacing more than 700,000 people, state weather forecasters said on Monday. Nearly 14 million people in 26 different provinces had been affected by storms and floods by Friday, with 744,000 evacuated, the China Daily reported, citing the Ministry for Emergency Management. The ministry said 78 people have been confirmed dead or missing, with direct economic losses at 27.8 billion yuan ($3.93 billion). Much of the damage has hit southwestern regions like Guangxi and Sichuan, and the municipality of Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river last week experienced its worst floods since 1940. But central and eastern regions are set to bear the brunt this week, with some facing 30mm to 50mm (1.2 inches to 2 inches) of rain per hour by Wednesday, the state meteorological bureau said. You might also like: After US, China to impose visa restrictions against Americans over Hong Kong row Regions along the banks of the Yangtze and its tributaries are traditionally vulnerable to flooding in China's summer, with the impact of heavy rainfall worsened by deforestation, dwindling flood plains and the diversion of natural river systems for hydropower and irrigation. Rainfall has also been heavier than usual, with water volumes in 148 rivers already reaching emergency levels by mid-June. Local authorities are under instruction to pay attention to potential dam and reservoir collapses. You might also like: China puts half a million people in lockdown as Beijing fights new cluster of coronavirus cases Some Yangtze tributaries have already experienced their worst floods ever, including the Xiaojinchuan in Sichuan province. The water resources ministry warned last week that other smaller rivers could be "stricken by major floods" and lakes are also under close scrutiny. Authorities have promised to minimise flood damage in the city of Wuhan as it struggles to recover from the coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan, which lies on the Yangtze, was hit by China's last major floods in 1998, which killed more than 3,000 people and left 14 million homeless.

More Chinese regions brace for floods as storms shift east

The pandemic is just one challenge. Emergency workers have to fight nature's vagaries too. Floods, forest fires, dust clouds... the list goes on. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more about this new crisis.

Gravitas: Natural disasters don't stop for a virus

China has urged more than a dozen provinces to take precautions against another round of heavy rain in the next few days after turbulent weather brought floods to large swathes of the country this month.

Heavy downpours trigger flash floods in large swathes of China

The flood situation in Assam improved on Sunday even as one more person lost his life and over 2.5 lakh people are still suffering in the deluge across three districts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rain-in-north-india-reduces-possibility-of-heat-wave-for-a-week-low-pressure-system-in-arabian-sea-302212" hreflang="en">Rain in North India reduces possibility of heat wave for a week; low-pressure system in Arabian Sea</a>

According to a daily report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a person was killed at Matia in Goalpara district, taking the death toll across the state in the first wave of flood to seven.

At present, over 2.52 lakh people are suffering due to floods in Goalpara, Nagaon and Hojai districts, the ASDMA said.

Goalpara is the worst hit with 1.51 lakh people affected, followed by Hojai with over 68,000 and Nagaon with nearly 33,000 people.

Till Saturday, around 3.72 lakh people were affected in six districts.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has rescued eight people in the last 24 hours in Goalpara, the ASDMA said.

Kopili river at Kampur and Dharamtul in Nagaon is currently flowing above the danger mark.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the State Emergency Operations Centre of the ASDMA and took stock of the different early warning systems, databases and emergency operations.

Sonowal also chaired a review meeting of the ASDMA and instructed the officials to efficiently use technology for issuing early warning of natural calamities to minimise damages.

At present, 293 villages are under water and 25,0445 hectares of crop areas have been damaged. Authorities are running 63 relief camps and distribution centres in two districts, where 10,249 people are have taken shelter, the ASDMA said.

Embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and many other infrastructure have been damaged at various places in Udalguri, Karimganj, Nagaon, Barpeta, Sonitpur and Chirang.

Massive erosions have been witnessed at various places of Dibrugarh and Udalguri districts, it added.

The flood situation in Assam improved on Sunday even as one more person lost his life and over 2.5 lakh people are still suffering in the deluge across three districts.

The flood situation in Assam improved on Sunday even as one more person lost his life and over 2.5 lakh people are still suffering in the deluge across three districts. Also read: Rain in North India reduces possibility of heat wave for a week; low-pressure system in Arabian Sea According to a daily report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a person was killed at Matia in Goalpara district, taking the death toll across the state in the first wave of flood to seven. At present, over 2.52 lakh people are suffering due to floods in Goalpara, Nagaon and Hojai districts, the ASDMA said. Goalpara is the worst hit with 1.51 lakh people affected, followed by Hojai with over 68,000 and Nagaon with nearly 33,000 people. Till Saturday, around 3.72 lakh people were affected in six districts. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has rescued eight people in the last 24 hours in Goalpara, the ASDMA said. Kopili river at Kampur and Dharamtul in Nagaon is currently flowing above the danger mark. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the State Emergency Operations Centre of the ASDMA and took stock of the different early warning systems, databases and emergency operations. Sonowal also chaired a review meeting of the ASDMA and instructed the officials to efficiently use technology for issuing early warning of natural calamities to minimise damages. At present, 293 villages are under water and 25,0445 hectares of crop areas have been damaged. Authorities are running 63 relief camps and distribution centres in two districts, where 10,249 people are have taken shelter, the ASDMA said. Embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and many other infrastructure have been damaged at various places in Udalguri, Karimganj, Nagaon, Barpeta, Sonitpur and Chirang. Massive erosions have been witnessed at various places of Dibrugarh and Udalguri districts, it added.

Flood situation in Assam improves, one more dead

Muddy water rushed through the streets of Cochabamba, Bolivia Friday night into Saturday after heavy rains caused the Taquiña River to jump its banks. Local media reported some 22 homes were affected by the flooding.

Muddy water rushed through the streets of Cochabamba, Bolivia Friday night into Saturday after heavy rains caused the Taquiña River to jump its banks. Local media reported some 22 homes were affected by the flooding. Bolivia's caretaker President Jeanine Anez and members of her cabinet were in Cochabamba Saturday to observe clean up efforts. The annual rainy season in Bolivia begins in November and runs until March.

Floods wash away entire Bolivian city forcing evacuations

Storm Ciara has triggered heavy rains and floods across Europe with the United Kingdom being the worst affected.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-halts-long-distance-rail-services-in-several-states-as-storm-ciara-batters-279609">Germany halts long-distance rail services in several states as Storm Ciara batters</a>

More than 200 flood warnings were issued across Britain, which recorded a maximum wind speed of 93 miles per hour in wales. One severe flood warning was put in place in Yorkshire in northern England, where water was predicted to overflow flood defences and potentially threaten lives.

<h6><img alt="car in flood" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3a11d84-d91f-44e4-9493-d22615825990" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_24.jpg" /> 
A car is seen submerged in floodwater in the streets of Hebden Bridge, northern England, on February 9, 2020, as Storm Ciara swept over the country.| AFP</h6>

The historic English county of Yorkshire has been among the worst hit. This as floodwaters entered the county's Dales National Park.

<h6><img alt="geese" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="738edd5e-32a2-4d45-b8e2-deb782b51938" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_33.jpg" /> 
Geese take advantage of the conditions as floodwater fills the streets of Hebden Bridge, northern England, on February 9, 2020, as Storm Ciara swept over the country| AFP</h6>

Floodwaters submerged cars in Lancashire. Several commuters remained stranded as the inclement weather affected transport services.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/floods-and-travel-disruption-as-uk-hit-by-storm-ciara-279728/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

Vehicles were seen driving through flooded roads in the northern English town of Brighouse as storm Ciara swept in.

Strong winds and waves yellow and amber weather warnings across Wales and Scotland.

<img alt="Pedestrian" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="39e331d0-8f6f-4077-b043-3e10de1077d7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_24.jpg" />

Meanwhile, a plane aborted landing at London's Heathrow airport after hurricane-force winds prevented pilots from making a safe touch down.

The landed safely during a second attempt.

The storm has also wreaked havoc in other parts of Europe. &nbsp;Thirty-five regions in northern France, have been put on alert as strong winds destroyed properties.

<h6><img alt="destroyed property" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8a04faf-c990-424c-9517-65ccef0b0fdf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_25.jpg" /> 
A picture taken on February 9, 2020 in Brussels shows rubbles on the ground near a partially collapsed building during the Storm Ciara swept.| AFP</h6>

Part of the building collapsed in the Belgian capital as Brussels as storm Ciara swept across the city.

Storm Ciara has triggered heavy rains and floods across Europe with the United Kingdom being the worst affected. Also read: Germany halts long-distance rail services in several states as Storm Ciara batters More than 200 flood warnings were issued across Britain, which recorded a maximum wind speed of 93 miles per hour in wales.

Storm Ciara has triggered heavy rains and floods across Europe with the United Kingdom being the worst affected. Also read: Germany halts long-distance rail services in several states as Storm Ciara batters More than 200 flood warnings were issued across Britain, which recorded a maximum wind speed of 93 miles per hour in wales. One severe flood warning was put in place in Yorkshire in northern England, where water was predicted to overflow flood defences and potentially threaten lives. A car is seen submerged in floodwater in the streets of Hebden Bridge, northern England, on February 9, 2020, as Storm Ciara swept over the country.| AFP The historic English county of Yorkshire has been among the worst hit. This as floodwaters entered the county's Dales National Park. Geese take advantage of the conditions as floodwater fills the streets of Hebden Bridge, northern England, on February 9, 2020, as Storm Ciara swept over the country| AFP Floodwaters submerged cars in Lancashire. Several commuters remained stranded as the inclement weather affected transport services. Watch Video: Vehicles were seen driving through flooded roads in the northern English town of Brighouse as storm Ciara swept in. Strong winds and waves yellow and amber weather warnings across Wales and Scotland. Meanwhile, a plane aborted landing at London's Heathrow airport after hurricane-force winds prevented pilots from making a safe touch down. The landed safely during a second attempt. The storm has also wreaked havoc in other parts of Europe. Thirty-five regions in northern France, have been put on alert as strong winds destroyed properties. A picture taken on February 9, 2020 in Brussels shows rubbles on the ground near a partially collapsed building during the Storm Ciara swept.| AFP Part of the building collapsed in the Belgian capital as Brussels as storm Ciara swept across the city.

Storm Ciara devastates UK; Yorkshire worst hit, flights disrupted

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot.

The Southland region declared a state of emergency after being deluged with more than 1,000 mm of rainfall in 60 hours, triggering landslides on major roads and causing rivers to burst their banks.

Authorities told residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura to evacuate immediately early on Wednesday as floodwaters in the Mataura river peaked, warning those further downstream in Wyndham to prepare to leave.

"We have issued notices to evacuate and to prepare to evacuate to 6,000 people across the region," an Emergency Management Southland (EMS) spokeswoman told AFP.

<h6><img alt="pppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="739274ac-fe29-406a-9a11-2172efd2078c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_71.jpg" /> 
This handout picture taken on February 3, 2020 and released by the New Zealand Transport Agency shows a main highway devastated by the flood after severe flooding near Mataura in New Zealand's South Island</h6>

Residents were advised to grab medication, clothing and identification documents, then head to higher ground.

Power to affected areas was cut off as a precaution and evacuation centres were set up in local churches and schools.

Floodwaters washed away sections of the only road to Milford Sound, a popular hiking spot for international tourists, and EMS said almost 200 people were being airlifted to nearby Te Anau.

"The tourists... have been well catered for," it said.

"Morale has been high amongst the visitors and staff, as they received regular briefings and have been in contact with friends and family."

Only two minor injuries have been reported after a landslide hit a hut on the Routeburn walking track, with both people receiving treatment at the scene.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-foreigners-from-china-barred-entry-to-new-zealand-travel-ban-to-last-a-fortnight-278102">Foreigners from China barred entry to New Zealand; travel ban to last fortnight</a>

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot.

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot. The Southland region declared a state of emergency after being deluged with more than 1,000 mm of rainfall in 60 hours, triggering landslides on major roads and causing rivers to burst their banks. Authorities told residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura to evacuate immediately early on Wednesday as floodwaters in the Mataura river peaked, warning those further downstream in Wyndham to prepare to leave. "We have issued notices to evacuate and to prepare to evacuate to 6,000 people across the region," an Emergency Management Southland (EMS) spokeswoman told AFP. This handout picture taken on February 3, 2020 and released by the New Zealand Transport Agency shows a main highway devastated by the flood after severe flooding near Mataura in New Zealand's South Island Residents were advised to grab medication, clothing and identification documents, then head to higher ground. Power to affected areas was cut off as a precaution and evacuation centres were set up in local churches and schools. Floodwaters washed away sections of the only road to Milford Sound, a popular hiking spot for international tourists, and EMS said almost 200 people were being airlifted to nearby Te Anau. "The tourists... have been well catered for," it said. "Morale has been high amongst the visitors and staff, as they received regular briefings and have been in contact with friends and family." Only two minor injuries have been reported after a landslide hit a hut on the Routeburn walking track, with both people receiving treatment at the scene. Also read: Foreigners from China barred entry to New Zealand; travel ban to last fortnight

Flooding in New Zealand, thousands flee their homes

Two&nbsp;people died in flash&nbsp;floods&nbsp;that shut down parts of Tel Aviv city on Saturday (January 4) leaving rescue services rushing to help residents trapped in their vehicles.

Watch: Saturday's flood killed two people in Tel Aviv city

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Emergency services reported that a man and woman had drowned after becoming trapped in a flooded elevator in Southern Tel Aviv.

The elevator in a residential building got stuck on the parking level due to flooding, divers were called to assist in the rescue effort.

Vehicles were swept along streets by torrents of water after 74 millimetres of rain struck the city in less than&nbsp;two&nbsp;hours forcing road closures, media reported. At least one main street had collapsed.

Though floodwater has started to recede in most places, officials warned people to remain vigilant.

Two people died in flash floods that shut down parts of Tel Aviv city on Saturday (January 4) leaving rescue services rushing to help residents trapped in their vehicles.

Two people died in flash floods that shut down parts of Tel Aviv city on Saturday (January 4) leaving rescue services rushing to help residents trapped in their vehicles. Watch: Saturday's flood killed two people in Tel Aviv city × Emergency services reported that a man and woman had drowned after becoming trapped in a flooded elevator in Southern Tel Aviv. The elevator in a residential building got stuck on the parking level due to flooding, divers were called to assist in the rescue effort. Vehicles were swept along streets by torrents of water after 74 millimetres of rain struck the city in less than two hours forcing road closures, media reported. At least one main street had collapsed. Though floodwater has started to recede in most places, officials warned people to remain vigilant.

Israel floods: Two dead in flash floods that shuts Tel Aviv city

Tens of thousands of Indonesians were still unable to return to their waterlogged homes Saturday after flooding hit the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-floods-nearly-30-people-dead-several-missing-271670">Jakarta</a> capital region, killing at least 53 people, authorities said.

More than 170,000 people took refuge in shelters across the massive urban conglomeration home to some 30 million after whole neighbourhoods were submerged.

Torrential rains that started on New Year's Eve unleashed flash floods and landslides in the region and neighbouring Lebak at the south end of Java island.

On Saturday, Indonesia's disaster agency said the death toll had climbed to 53 with one person still missing.

"We've discovered more dead bodies," said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-floods-cloud-seeding-to-halt-rain-floods-death-toll-rises-to-43-271874">National Disaster Mitigation Agency</a> spokesman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-indonesia-flood-rises-to-21-thousands-displaced-271513">Agus Wibowo</a>.

Officials would be visiting the homeless Saturday in the hardest-hit areas, he added.

Shelters filled up with refugees, including infants, resting on thin mats as food and drinking water ran low.

Some had been reduced to using floodwaters to clean themselves and dishes.

"We badly need clean water in this shelter," Trima Kanti said from one refuge in Jakarta's western edges.

"We're cleaning ourselves in a nearby church but the timing has been limited since it uses an electric generator for power," the 39-year-old added.

In hard-hit Bekasi, on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta, swampy streets were littered with debris and crushed cars lying on top of each other&nbsp;with waterline marks reaching as high as the second floors of buildings.

The government said Friday it would start cloud seeding to the west of the capital inducing rain using chemicals sprayed from planes to prevent approaching rainfall from pounding the region.

Waters had receded in many areas and power was being restored after being cut off in hundreds of districts.

The health ministry has said it deployed some 11,000 health workers and soldiers to distribute medicine, disinfectant hygiene kits and food in a bid to stave off outbreaks of Hepatitis A, mosquito-borne Dengue fever and other illnesses, including infections linked to contact with dead animals.

Around Jakarta, a family including a four- and nine-year-old died of suspected gas poisoning from a portable power generator, while an eight-year-old boy was killed in a landslide.

Others died from drowning or hypothermia, while one 16-year-old boy was electrocuted by a power line.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-floods-nearly-30-people-dead-several-missing-271670">Jakarta</a> is regularly hit by floods during the rainy season, which started in late November.

But this week's disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when dozens were killed after the city was inundated by monsoon rains.

Urban planning experts said the disaster was partly due to record rainfall.

But Jakarta's myriad infrastructure problems, including poor drainage and rampant overdevelopment, worsened the situation, they said.

Indonesian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-two-hurt-in-suspected-grenade-blast-near-presidential-palace-265828">Joko Widodo</a> has announced a plan to move the country's capital to Borneo island to take the pressure off Jakarta, which suffers from some of the world's worst traffic jams and is fast sinking due to excessive groundwater extraction.

Tens of thousands of Indonesians were still unable to return to their waterlogged homes Saturday after flooding hit the Jakarta capital region, killing at least 53 people, authorities said.

Tens of thousands of Indonesians were still unable to return to their waterlogged homes Saturday after flooding hit the Jakarta capital region, killing at least 53 people, authorities said. More than 170,000 people took refuge in shelters across the massive urban conglomeration home to some 30 million after whole neighbourhoods were submerged. Torrential rains that started on New Year's Eve unleashed flash floods and landslides in the region and neighbouring Lebak at the south end of Java island. On Saturday, Indonesia's disaster agency said the death toll had climbed to 53 with one person still missing. "We've discovered more dead bodies," said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo. Officials would be visiting the homeless Saturday in the hardest-hit areas, he added. Shelters filled up with refugees, including infants, resting on thin mats as food and drinking water ran low. Some had been reduced to using floodwaters to clean themselves and dishes. "We badly need clean water in this shelter," Trima Kanti said from one refuge in Jakarta's western edges. "We're cleaning ourselves in a nearby church but the timing has been limited since it uses an electric generator for power," the 39-year-old added. In hard-hit Bekasi, on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta, swampy streets were littered with debris and crushed cars lying on top of each other with waterline marks reaching as high as the second floors of buildings. The government said Friday it would start cloud seeding to the west of the capital inducing rain using chemicals sprayed from planes to prevent approaching rainfall from pounding the region. Waters had receded in many areas and power was being restored after being cut off in hundreds of districts. The health ministry has said it deployed some 11,000 health workers and soldiers to distribute medicine, disinfectant hygiene kits and food in a bid to stave off outbreaks of Hepatitis A, mosquito-borne Dengue fever and other illnesses, including infections linked to contact with dead animals. Around Jakarta, a family including a four- and nine-year-old died of suspected gas poisoning from a portable power generator, while an eight-year-old boy was killed in a landslide. Others died from drowning or hypothermia, while one 16-year-old boy was electrocuted by a power line. Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during the rainy season, which started in late November. But this week's disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when dozens were killed after the city was inundated by monsoon rains. Urban planning experts said the disaster was partly due to record rainfall. But Jakarta's myriad infrastructure problems, including poor drainage and rampant overdevelopment, worsened the situation, they said. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced a plan to move the country's capital to Borneo island to take the pressure off Jakarta, which suffers from some of the world's worst traffic jams and is fast sinking due to excessive groundwater extraction.

Indonesia Floods: Thousands take refuge in shelters, death toll climbs to 53

Heavy torrential rains lead to heavy floods & natural disaster in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. #JakartaFloods #Indonesia #Floods

Gravitas: Nature's fury: Jakarta flooded, 43 dead

A state of emergency has been declared in northern Peru after heavy rainfall led to massive floods.

Several roads have been cut off and houses destroyed as a result of the floods.

The regions badly affected are Hancay, Piura and Cajamarca.

Reports said authorities are still trying to assess the damage.

Earlier in the year, the country was hit by floods in northern and central coastal regions causing rivers to overflow leading to floods and landslides.

At least 50 people were killed as a result of the damage. According to Meteorologists, the weather pattern had emerged due to the El Nino effect.&nbsp;

A state of emergency has been declared in northern Peru after heavy rainfall led to massive floods. Several roads have been cut off and houses destroyed as a result of the floods.

A state of emergency has been declared in northern Peru after heavy rainfall led to massive floods. Several roads have been cut off and houses destroyed as a result of the floods. The regions badly affected are Hancay, Piura and Cajamarca. Reports said authorities are still trying to assess the damage. Earlier in the year, the country was hit by floods in northern and central coastal regions causing rivers to overflow leading to floods and landslides. At least 50 people were killed as a result of the damage. According to Meteorologists, the weather pattern had emerged due to the El Nino effect.

Flood havoc ravages northern Peru; govt declares emergency

Water levels rose in Venice on Saturday, The high tide, known as acqua alta hit the city just weeks after the city suffered worst flooding in more than 50 years.

High tides hit Venice weeks after floods

The Philippines' north has been hit by some of its worst flooding in decades, with torrents of muddy runoff forcing 66,000 from their homes and prompting rescues of trapped locals, authorities said Friday.

Luzon island, the nation's largest, has been hit by a string of storms that have battered its northern tip while monsoon rains were intensified by the passage of Typhoon Kammuri this week.&nbsp;

Large swaths of lush green land were inundated after rivers burst their banks, leaving only treetops visible above the waterline.

Landslides have cut off roads to some isolated towns and some bridges are covered by the flooding. However, authorities said they have not confirmed any deaths caused by the high water.

"This is one of the biggest floods in decades," Rogelio Sending, information officer for Cagayan province in the northeast of Luzon, told AFP.

The flood waters have have forced about 66,000 people to flee their homes, some of whom had to be rescued by emergency crews in boats, local disaster authorities said.

The north of the country has had heavy rains for nearly a month as part of monsoon season, which was worsened by at least three typhoons that have passed the Philippines since November.

Typhoon Kammuri pounded the storm-prone nation this week, leaving at least 13 people dead.&nbsp;

The Philippines' north has been hit by some of its worst flooding in decades, with torrents of muddy runoff forcing 66,000 from their homes and prompting rescues of trapped locals, authorities said Friday.

The Philippines' north has been hit by some of its worst flooding in decades, with torrents of muddy runoff forcing 66,000 from their homes and prompting rescues of trapped locals, authorities said Friday. Luzon island, the nation's largest, has been hit by a string of storms that have battered its northern tip while monsoon rains were intensified by the passage of Typhoon Kammuri this week. Large swaths of lush green land were inundated after rivers burst their banks, leaving only treetops visible above the waterline. Landslides have cut off roads to some isolated towns and some bridges are covered by the flooding. However, authorities said they have not confirmed any deaths caused by the high water. "This is one of the biggest floods in decades," Rogelio Sending, information officer for Cagayan province in the northeast of Luzon, told AFP. The flood waters have have forced about 66,000 people to flee their homes, some of whom had to be rescued by emergency crews in boats, local disaster authorities said. The north of the country has had heavy rains for nearly a month as part of monsoon season, which was worsened by at least three typhoons that have passed the Philippines since November. Typhoon Kammuri pounded the storm-prone nation this week, leaving at least 13 people dead.

Philippines floods force 66,000 from homes

2010s the hottest decade in recorded history

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