Colombia is assessing the devastating impact of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's western region. The death toll has risen to 281, with hundreds still missing and thousands injured. Nearly 45,000 families have reportedly been affected, while rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings and remote areas for survivors. International assistance is also arriving as authorities work to provide food, medical aid and other essential supplies.

Colombia 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake: Death Toll Hits 281 | 379 Still Missing as Rescue Ops Intensify

India's monsoon crisis has intensified after two cloudbursts struck Jammu and Kashmir within hours, triggering flash floods and damaging homes, shops, schools, and commercial establishments.

The first cloudburst hit the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district, while another struck Pahalipora village in Doda district, sending torrents of water and mud through residential areas. Emergency teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and district authorities, launched rescue operations and safely evacuated residents. Authorities have reported no casualties so far, while damage assessments continue.

The latest incidents come as devastating floods continue across several Indian states. Assam remains the worst-affected state, with at least 82 flood-related deaths, while Odisha, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh are also grappling with heavy rainfall and widespread flooding.

Cloudbursts Hit J&K As Monsoon Fury Intensifies | Flash Floods, Assam Death Toll Rises To 82

Assam continues to reel from the impact of devastating floods. While the death toll has now climbed to 75, 3.3 lakh people across seven districts remain affected by floods.

Assam Floods: Death Toll Rises to 75,  Over 3 Lakh People Affected | Gravitas 

Nearly a month after devastating twin earthquakes struck Venezuela's central coast, survivors continue to face immense hardship. The powerful 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes claimed over 5,000 lives, displaced nearly 18,000 people, and caused an estimated $19.6 billion in damages, according to the World Bank. Families are still searching for missing loved ones while hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure remain heavily damaged. Mental health experts have also raised alarms over rising trauma, depression, and suicide risks among survivors struggling to rebuild their lives.

Venezuela Earthquake disaster deepens | Thousands homeless, trauma crisis grows | Venezuela crisis

A devastating double earthquake has struck Venezuela, sending shockwaves across the nation and causing widespread destruction. According to officials, a 7.2-magnitude foreshock was followed within seconds by a stronger 7.5-magnitude mainshock, intensifying the impact. The powerful tremors led to building collapses and severe damage in multiple neighborhoods of Caracas, leaving residents trapped under rubble as rescue teams rush to the scene.

Venezuela’s President has confirmed that the death toll has now risen to 164, with nearly 1,000 people injured. Emergency services are working around the clock as hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of casualties. Authorities warn that the numbers could rise further as search and rescue operations continue in heavily affected areas.

Search and Rescue Operations Underway After Deadly Earthquake Hits Venezuela 

A group of illegal miners within a closed mine in the North West province of South Africa have been refused access to basic supplies as part of the government's declared campaign against illicit mining, and the government claims it will not assist them.

South Africa Weighs Rescue Mission For Underground Miners

Rains have ravaged parts of Italy more storms and heavy rainfall are expected in the southern part till Tuesday. Over 300 fire department personnel are engaged in the rescue operations. Watch to know more.

Italy Floods: Rescue Operations Underway In Several Areas

A tragic gas explosion in a coal mine in Iran's South Khorasan Province has claimed the lives of at least 51 people and left 20 others injured, according to state media reports. The accident occurred due to a methane gas explosion in blocks B and C of the mine, operated by the Madanjoo company. Authorities are investigating the incident as rescue efforts continue.

Deadly Gas Explosion In Iran's Coal Mine Claims 51 Lives, 22 Trapped

At least 22&nbsp;students were killed on Friday when a school in central Nigeria collapsed on pupils taking exams, according to an AFP correspondent.

Trapped students were heard crying for help under the rubble after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms.

Mechanical diggers tried to rescue the victims while parents desperately looked for their children.

Officials have so far only said “several students” were killed but an AFP reporter saw five dead bodies in one hospital morgue and 11 in another. All were wearing school uniforms.

With his mother at his hospital bedside, injured student Wulliya Ibrahim told AFP: “I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing is I found myself here.”

“We are many in the class, we are writing our exams,” he said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the two-storey building housing Saint Academy collapsed killing “several students” without giving details.

“NEMA and other critical stakeholders are presently carrying out Search and Rescue operations,” it said.

A resident at the scene Chika Obioha told AFP he saw at least eight bodies at the site and that dozens more had been injured.

“Everyone is helping out to see if we can rescue more people,” he said.

The AFP correspondent said he saw 11 bodies in the morgue at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital and five dead taken into the mortuary at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital in Jos.

At least 15 rescued and injured students were admitted, officials at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital said.

Officials at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital did not comment.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse but residents said it came after three days of heavy rains in Plateau.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-release-thousands-of-prisoners-early-to-avert-collapse-of-overcrowded-system-740371">UK to release thousands of prisoners early to avert 'collapse' of overcrowded system</a>

Building collapses are fairly common in Africa’s most populous nation because of lax enforcement of building standards, negligence and use of low-quality materials.

At least 45 people were killed in 2021 when a high-rise building under construction collapsed in the upscale Ikoyi district in Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos.

Ten people were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos the year after.

Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters.

Bad workmanship, low-quality materials and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for Nigerian building disasters.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

At least 22 students were killed on Friday when a school in central Nigeria collapsed on pupils taking exams, according to an AFP correspondent. Trapped students were heard crying for help under the rubble after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms.

At least 22 students were killed on Friday when a school in central Nigeria collapsed on pupils taking exams, according to an AFP correspondent. Trapped students were heard crying for help under the rubble after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms. Mechanical diggers tried to rescue the victims while parents desperately looked for their children. Officials have so far only said “several students” were killed but an AFP reporter saw five dead bodies in one hospital morgue and 11 in another. All were wearing school uniforms. With his mother at his hospital bedside, injured student Wulliya Ibrahim told AFP: “I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing is I found myself here.” “We are many in the class, we are writing our exams,” he said. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the two-storey building housing Saint Academy collapsed killing “several students” without giving details. “NEMA and other critical stakeholders are presently carrying out Search and Rescue operations,” it said. A resident at the scene Chika Obioha told AFP he saw at least eight bodies at the site and that dozens more had been injured. “Everyone is helping out to see if we can rescue more people,” he said. The AFP correspondent said he saw 11 bodies in the morgue at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital and five dead taken into the mortuary at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital in Jos. At least 15 rescued and injured students were admitted, officials at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital said. Officials at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital did not comment. It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse but residents said it came after three days of heavy rains in Plateau. Also read: UK to release thousands of prisoners early to avert 'collapse' of overcrowded system Building collapses are fairly common in Africa’s most populous nation because of lax enforcement of building standards, negligence and use of low-quality materials. At least 45 people were killed in 2021 when a high-rise building under construction collapsed in the upscale Ikoyi district in Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos. Ten people were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos the year after. Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters. Bad workmanship, low-quality materials and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for Nigerian building disasters. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Nigeria school collapse: 22 students killed during exam, rescue efforts underway

As many as 39 people have died after a fire broke out in the southeastern province of Jiangxi in China on Wednesday (Jan 24), according to the local government,&nbsp;

The fire broke out in the&nbsp;basement of a shopping area in the afternoon, as per officials of the&nbsp;Yushui district of Jiangxi province.&nbsp;

"At 3:24 pm (0724 GMT) on January 24, a fire broke out on the below-ground level at a store&nbsp;in Xinyu, Jiangxi,"&nbsp;the country's state broadcaster CCTV reported.

"As of 6:40 pm (1040 GMT), 25 people had been killed in the accident, and other injured people were being treated in the hospital," it added earlier.&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping released a statement, calling for "resolute containment" of deadly accidents in the country.&nbsp;

The video clips of the incident have gone viral on Chinese social media websites. One of the footage shows several fire trucks and other emergency response teams and their vehicles, lined up across the street from the place of the accident.&nbsp;

According to authorities, search and rescue operations are underway and the cause of the fire is being probed. While later reports said 39 have been confirmed dead, the local government is yet to provide an estimate on the number of people injured in the accident.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-pla-generals-rocket-fire-force-chiefs-sacked-677350">Watch |&nbsp;China: PLA Generals, Rocket Fire force Chiefs sacked</a>

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<h2>Previous incident&nbsp;</h2>

The incident comes days after a similar fire at a school in central China's Henan province killed 13 students.&nbsp;The Yingcai School where the accident took place, provides kindergarten and primary grade education.&nbsp;

According to residents, the school&nbsp;took a break once every two weeks but the students were present at school on the weekend of the deadly blaze.

According to one of the teachers at the school, all the victims were from the same third-grade class of nine and 10-year-olds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-13-killed-in-fire-at-school-dorm-in-henan-province-681754">Also read |&nbsp;China: 13 killed in fire at school dorm in Henan province</a>

The incident took place on January 20 but so far, no official explanation of the precise cause of the blaze has been provided by the authorities. Although some domestic media reports have suggested it was related to an electric heating device.&nbsp;

The Henan province has set up an incident management team to carry out an investigation and the afterwards handling of the incident.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As many as 39 people have died after a fire broke out in the southeastern province of Jiangxi in China on Wednesday (Jan 24), according to the local government, The fire broke out in the basement of a shopping area in the afternoon, as per officials of the Yushui district of Jiangxi province.

As many as 39 people have died after a fire broke out in the southeastern province of Jiangxi in China on Wednesday (Jan 24), according to the local government, The fire broke out in the basement of a shopping area in the afternoon, as per officials of the Yushui district of Jiangxi province. "At 3:24 pm (0724 GMT) on January 24, a fire broke out on the below-ground level at a store in Xinyu, Jiangxi," the country's state broadcaster CCTV reported. "As of 6:40 pm (1040 GMT), 25 people had been killed in the accident, and other injured people were being treated in the hospital," it added earlier. Chinese President Xi Jinping released a statement, calling for "resolute containment" of deadly accidents in the country. The video clips of the incident have gone viral on Chinese social media websites. One of the footage shows several fire trucks and other emergency response teams and their vehicles, lined up across the street from the place of the accident. According to authorities, search and rescue operations are underway and the cause of the fire is being probed. While later reports said 39 have been confirmed dead, the local government is yet to provide an estimate on the number of people injured in the accident. Watch | China: PLA Generals, Rocket Fire force Chiefs sacked × Previous incident The incident comes days after a similar fire at a school in central China's Henan province killed 13 students. The Yingcai School where the accident took place, provides kindergarten and primary grade education. According to residents, the school took a break once every two weeks but the students were present at school on the weekend of the deadly blaze. According to one of the teachers at the school, all the victims were from the same third-grade class of nine and 10-year-olds. Also read | China: 13 killed in fire at school dorm in Henan province The incident took place on January 20 but so far, no official explanation of the precise cause of the blaze has been provided by the authorities. Although some domestic media reports have suggested it was related to an electric heating device. The Henan province has set up an incident management team to carry out an investigation and the afterwards handling of the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Fire in China’s Jiangxi province kills at least 39, rescue operation underway

The Indian Army rescued more than 800 tourists who were stranded in high altitude areas in eastern Sikkim and the tourists including elderly women and children were stranded in various areas.

Indian Army rescue 800 tourists in Sikkim amid heavy snowfall

Indian rescuers bring out all 41 men who were trapped inside a Himalayan tunnel for 17 days after a marathon operation to free them. The breakthrough came after rat miners were brought in last evening and manually dug the last stretch. Watch this story to know how the workers were successfully pulled out.

Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: All 41 trapped workers successfully rescued, taken for health check-up

Two weeks into the operations that began to rescue 41 trapped workers in a tunnel in India's Uttarakhand, agencies have now decided to use manual tools and hand tunneling methods to reach the workers. After the augur machine that was being used collapsed a team of 11 specialist have been flown in from Delhi for this. Also, with horizontal drilling facing multiple issues, the teams are now resorting to vertical drilling.

Uttarkashi Tunnel rescue operation: Rescuers within 5 metres of reaching 41 trapped workers

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation: Drilling work completed, trapped workers to be out soon

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation: Drilling work completed, good news expected soon: Chief Minister

Uttarkashi rescue op: Pipe laying work inside tunnel completed; doctors, rescue teams enter tunnel

It's been 2 weeks since a major tunnel collapsed in India's Uttarakhand and the rescue operations continue to pull out 41 workers who remain trapped under the Silkyara tunnel. The administration has been on its to since the 12th of November.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Vertical drilling of tunnel begins to rescue 41 trapped workers

The last phase of the rescue effort has been reached at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site, where 41 workers have been stranded since November 12. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) predicted that by Friday or in the coming hours, the rescue effort would be successful.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Rescue operation to save trapped workers in the final stage

While speaking exclusively to Wion, tunnelling expert and veteran rescuer at the Uttarkashi site, Arnold Dix sends a heartfelt message to India and the rest of the world.

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: We are dealing with a Himalayan mountain here: Rescuer Arnold Dix

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: All resources being used for rescue operation, drilling to resume soon

The quest to bring 41 trapped workers out of the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel continues. Rescue workers have resolved all the issues they faced overnight during the final stage of the operation the halted Mission has now resumed after the 48-metre point was reached by the drill.

Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Only few meters left to be drilled: Experts

Watch the story of how the 12-day ordeal for the 41 men confined in the 4.5-km (3-mile) tunnel in Uttarakhand state since it caved in early on Nov. 12 is about to end. Rescuers in India hope to finish drilling through debris and free 41 men trapped in a highway tunnel in the Himalayan region after a metal obstacle slowed progress.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation in final stage

On 12th November, 41 workers got trapped inside the Silkyara bend - Barkot tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, after a section of the tunnel collapsed. Although it is not exactly known how the collapse happened, the region is prone to landslides, earthquakes, and floods. The trapped workers are getting food, water, and antidepressants from outside through a six-inch pipeline. Time is running out for the trapped workers as rescuers leave no stone unturned in their efforts to save them. How much longer will the workers have to wait? What lies ahead for them?

How we are rescuing workers trapped in Uttarkashi tunnel

The rescuers have cautiously drilled through debris to reach the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed tunnel in the Indian Himalayas. Ambulances, physicians and chest specialists are among 15 doctors at the site. Watch the story to see how the remaining debris needs to be drilled so that the workers push through a pipe wide enough for them to crawl out. To know more watch this interview with Vaibhav Dange (Policy Expert) and Navin Kumar Bhatnagar ( Former DIG, NDRF).

Uttarkashi rescue operation in final stage, ambulance on standby

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