Torrential rains have displaced more than 90,000 people and inundated communities, across Colombia’s Pacific Coast and the Andean regions.

Floods Wreak Havoc In Colombia

Hurricane Otis made landfall near the resort city of Acapulco on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico on Wednesday. The Category 5 hurricane threatens to bring record winds and rainfall that could create a dreadful scenario of flooding and mudslides.

Hurricane Otis made landfall near the resort city of Acapulco on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico on Wednesday. The Category 5 hurricane threatens to bring record winds and rainfall that could create a dreadful scenario of flooding and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center reported that the maximum sustained winds rose to 165 miles per hour with strong gusts when Hurricane Otis hit the Mexico beach at about 12:25 am local time. Hurricane Otis originated in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday and evolved as a Category 1 storm on Tuesday. Forecasters believe the potentially catastrophic storm is the most powerful one Mexico has ever witnessed. Acapulco, a massive port city and famous tourist destination with a population of 852,000, lies in Hurricane Otis' route. The storm hit the Mexico coast as the fishing villages and beach resorts gear up for peak winter season. On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center called it a "serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area." They warned people about the Hurricane reaching near or over the city. ALSO READ | Explained: Why is Israel putting Gaza's ground invasion on back-burner? On Tuesday, the authorities also issued a hurricane warning for the Pacific Coast in Guerrero, the beach town of Punta Maldonado and the resort city of Zihuatanejo. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, has urged Guerrero residents to stay prepared for the storm. "Agree to move to shelters, stay in safe places, away from rivers, streams, ravines, and be alert," he said. Meanwhile, the National Coordination of Civil Protection said it evacuated citizens from dangerous areas to temporary shelters in Acapulco and Tecpán de Galeana. It advised people to avoid landslide-prone areas and crossing streams and flooded streets. As per the warning, the storm could produce life-threatening floods and mudslides in mountainous areas. The forecasters predicted a maximum rain of 16 inches across Guerrero and the western coastal section of Oaxaca through Thursday. However, Category 5 storms lose energy over shallower waters when they make landfall. They are tropical storms with wind speeds over 157 miles per hour, the rarest and strongest class in the Saffir-Simpson scale. "There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico," the National Coordination of Civil Protection added. Otis could be more devastating than Hurricane Pauline, a 1997 storm that caused mass destruction and killed more than 200 people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Hurricane Otis: Mexico's most powerful storm ever makes landfall near Acapulco resort

Dozens of bushfires raged out of control across eastern Australia on Friday, blocking escape routes for residents and shuttering the main highway linking major cities on the country's Pacific coast.

More than 90 blazes pockmarked the New South Wales countryside, 50 of them uncontained, tearing through tens of thousands of hectares.

"We are in uncharted territory," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told public broadcaster ABC. "We have never seen this many fires concurrently at emergency warning level."

Authorities said fires had breached containment lines and forced the closure of the Pacific Highway linking Sydney and Brisbane in two places.

Emergency warnings were introduced for 14 flashpoints, bringing warnings to evacuate immediately.

In some areas, residents were told to simply "seek shelter as it is too late to leave".

Local radio stopped normal programming and provided instructions about how to try to survive fires if trapped at home or in a vehicle.

A prolonged drought, strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures have conspired to make the landscape a tinderbox.

"It's a very dynamic, volatile and dangerous set of circumstances," said Fitzsimmons.

Bushfires are common in Australia, but the country is gearing up for busy bushfire season with record temperatures predicted for the summer months.

Dozens of bushfires raged out of control across eastern Australia on Friday, blocking escape routes for residents and shuttering the main highway linking major cities on the country's Pacific coast.

Dozens of bushfires raged out of control across eastern Australia on Friday, blocking escape routes for residents and shuttering the main highway linking major cities on the country's Pacific coast. More than 90 blazes pockmarked the New South Wales countryside, 50 of them uncontained, tearing through tens of thousands of hectares. "We are in uncharted territory," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told public broadcaster ABC. "We have never seen this many fires concurrently at emergency warning level." Authorities said fires had breached containment lines and forced the closure of the Pacific Highway linking Sydney and Brisbane in two places. Emergency warnings were introduced for 14 flashpoints, bringing warnings to evacuate immediately. In some areas, residents were told to simply "seek shelter as it is too late to leave". Local radio stopped normal programming and provided instructions about how to try to survive fires if trapped at home or in a vehicle. A prolonged drought, strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures have conspired to make the landscape a tinderbox. "It's a very dynamic, volatile and dangerous set of circumstances," said Fitzsimmons. Bushfires are common in Australia, but the country is gearing up for busy bushfire season with record temperatures predicted for the summer months.

'Uncharted territory' as bushfires rage across Australia's east

In Pics: How solar eclipse in Chile is fuelling tourism

Canada has approved the expansion of the controversial trans mountain project, It is suspected to triple the amount of crude oil that moves from Alberta to Pacific coast. Watch this video to know more.

Canada approves controversial Trans Mountain project

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a &quot;sleeping giant&quot; in check, officials said. 
 
So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. 
 
Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. 
 
The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. 
 
The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn&#39;t wake up,&quot; Schwarber said. 
 
So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. 
 
But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. 
 
More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. 
 
&quot;Red flag warnings&quot; were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. 
 
One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. 
 
About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. 
 
That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. 
 
Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. 
(Reuters)

It has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the area close to Santa Barbara

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a "sleeping giant" in check, officials said. So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. "We're working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn't wake up," Schwarber said. So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. "Red flag warnings" were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. (Reuters)

Firefighters hold 'sleeping giant' wildfire in check in California,

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