A mammoth operation is underway in India's Uttarakhand to rescue the 41 workers trapped in an under construction tunnel. A new six-inch pipe was pushed through the rubble of the collapsed portion and later, audio-visual communication was also established with the trapped workers. International Tunnelling expert, Arnold Dix, expressed confidence that the workers will be pulled out soon. Here's what has happened so far.

Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Tunnel Expert Vows Amid Rescue Op, 'Men Are Coming Home'

11 days after the 41 construction workers were trapped after a tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand, officials believe that a rescue operation is close to making a critical breakthrough. Robots have joined the rescue operation as an additional 880-millimeter pipe has been pushed through the rubble to free the workers. Molly Gambhir brings you the latest.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Robots join great Himalayan rescue op | Big Breakthrough Soon? | Gravitas

Fresh efforts are underway in the rescue mission to evacuate the 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in India's Uttarakhand. Our latest report looks at the multi-pronged strategy being pursued to save them from this harrowing ordeal.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rescuers drill halfway towards the trapped workers

First visuals of workers trapped inside Uttarakhand's tunnel surface

Fresh efforts are underway in the rescue mission to evacuate the 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in india's Uttarakhand. Our latest report looks at the multi-pronged strategy being pursued to save them from this harrowing ordeal.

Gravitas: Uttarakhand tunnel collapse update: Wider pipe installed to send more food as ordeal dags on

It's a race against time in India's northern state of Uttarakhand where a rescue mission is underway that has been suspended for a while.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Will rescue trapped workers, says experts

Workers trapped in Uttarakhand tunnel for 120 hours, rescuers inch closer. The workers' prolonged confinement within the tunnel is raising serious concerns about their health and well-being.

Gravitas: Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: the race to save 40 trapped workers

Several people are feared to be trapped after a tunnel collapsed in India's Uttarakhand. Part of the tunnel under construction from the Silkyara to Dandalgaon collapsed in Uttarkashi. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of police of Uttarkashi District along with Uttarakhand's State Disaster Response force and police rescue teams are present at the spot. Rescue operations are currently underway as confirmed by the Chief Minister who also reacted to the incident.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rescue mission enters day 4

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: 40 workers trapped, air force roped in for rescue

At least eight people including six children have been trapped in a cable car in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan military helicopters have been deployed to conduct rescue operations.

Cable carrying chairlift snapped, four children rescued, rescue operations halted

The body of a 10-year-old boy, who fell into a 35-metre deep hole on a construction site in Vietnam, was pulled by rescuers, state media said Friday (January 20).&nbsp;Earlier this month, the boy, identified as Thai Ly Hao Nam, fell into the shaft of a hollow concrete pillar which was just 25 centimetres wide.&nbsp;

Previous reports had mentioned that the pillar was part of a new bridge being built in the southern Dong Thap province. One rescuer had said that the boy was believed to be looking for scrap metal when he fell into the narrow shaft.&nbsp;

From soldiers to engineering experts, hundreds of rescue workers were deployed to the site in Dong Thap province in the Mekong Delta.&nbsp;But all the efforts went in vain as after four days, the authorities declared him dead. They also said that retrieving his body would be a "very difficult task".&nbsp;

The VNExpress news site reported that early on Friday the boy's body&nbsp; was brought to the ground after rescuers went to a depth of 25 metres. The experts used specialised equipment to bring him up.&nbsp;

Vice chairman of the provincial committee Doan Tan Buu said Friday: "The rescue lasted a very long time. As there was soil surrounding the pillar... the boy's body was intact."&nbsp;

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The body of a 10-year-old boy, who fell into a 35-metre deep hole on a construction site in Vietnam, was pulled by rescuers, state media said Friday (January 20).

The body of a 10-year-old boy, who fell into a 35-metre deep hole on a construction site in Vietnam, was pulled by rescuers, state media said Friday (January 20). Earlier this month, the boy, identified as Thai Ly Hao Nam, fell into the shaft of a hollow concrete pillar which was just 25 centimetres wide. Previous reports had mentioned that the pillar was part of a new bridge being built in the southern Dong Thap province. One rescuer had said that the boy was believed to be looking for scrap metal when he fell into the narrow shaft. From soldiers to engineering experts, hundreds of rescue workers were deployed to the site in Dong Thap province in the Mekong Delta. But all the efforts went in vain as after four days, the authorities declared him dead. They also said that retrieving his body would be a "very difficult task". The VNExpress news site reported that early on Friday the boy's body was brought to the ground after rescuers went to a depth of 25 metres. The experts used specialised equipment to bring him up. Vice chairman of the provincial committee Doan Tan Buu said Friday: "The rescue lasted a very long time. As there was soil surrounding the pillar... the boy's body was intact." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Vietnam: Rescue workers pull out body of 10-year-old boy from shaft of concrete pillar

The death toll from flooding caused by torrential rain in eastern Kentucky has gone up to 37. Prolonged rain continued to hamper recovery operations in the state. Officials said that severe weather is expected to continue in the area.

WION Climate Tracker | Heavy rains hamper rescue operations in Kentucky | Death toll climbs to 37

A man died tragically after a sinkhole on the surface of the swimming pool opened up spontaneously, dragging him and another man into a 43-foot-deep hole. The incident took place in Israel’s Karmi Yosef town, about 40 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv.

While the other man managed to claw back his way out, the 32-year-old couldn’t survive. The incident took place during a pool party held for employees of a private company.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the rescue operations took at least four hours to retrieve the man's body from the deep hole on July 21. He has been identified as Klil Kimhi. Officials have been unable to determine the exact cause of his death—whether he drowned, was crushed, or died from the fall.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing how two men got swept away by the receding water, while many had a close shave after the sinkhole in the in-ground swimming pool opened up. There were six individuals in the pool at the time and they escaped unharmed.

The rescue services, who required the assistance of Go-Pro cameras, said that it was a complicated mission as there were concerns that tunnels branching out of the sinkhole could trigger a secondary collapse.

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The rescue personnel constructed a support system to prevent the pool’s surface from falling on them before trying to locate the body.

One of the witnesses told Channel 12 that there were roughly 50 people at the scene when the incident happened.

“The water level suddenly started receding and a hole opened up, creating a vortex that swept two people inside,” the witness was quoted as saying.

There could have been more victims, but there were only six people in the pool at the time, according to a witness who spoke to the Ynet news website.

The witness claimed that the victim was swallowed up by the vortex in a matter of seconds.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A man died tragically after a sinkhole on the surface of the swimming pool opened up spontaneously, dragging him and another man into a 43-foot-deep hole. The incident took place in Israel’s Karmi Yosef town, about 40 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv.

A man died tragically after a sinkhole on the surface of the swimming pool opened up spontaneously, dragging him and another man into a 43-foot-deep hole. The incident took place in Israel’s Karmi Yosef town, about 40 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv. While the other man managed to claw back his way out, the 32-year-old couldn’t survive. The incident took place during a pool party held for employees of a private company. The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the rescue operations took at least four hours to retrieve the man's body from the deep hole on July 21. He has been identified as Klil Kimhi. Officials have been unable to determine the exact cause of his death—whether he drowned, was crushed, or died from the fall. A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing how two men got swept away by the receding water, while many had a close shave after the sinkhole in the in-ground swimming pool opened up. There were six individuals in the pool at the time and they escaped unharmed. The rescue services, who required the assistance of Go-Pro cameras, said that it was a complicated mission as there were concerns that tunnels branching out of the sinkhole could trigger a secondary collapse. תיעוד: כך נפער הבור בכרמי יוסף@daniel_elazar pic.twitter.com/b1QdkrBBad — כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 21, 2022 × The rescue personnel constructed a support system to prevent the pool’s surface from falling on them before trying to locate the body. One of the witnesses told Channel 12 that there were roughly 50 people at the scene when the incident happened. “The water level suddenly started receding and a hole opened up, creating a vortex that swept two people inside,” the witness was quoted as saying. There could have been more victims, but there were only six people in the pool at the time, according to a witness who spoke to the Ynet news website. The witness claimed that the victim was swallowed up by the vortex in a matter of seconds. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch: Sinkhole opens up in swimming pool, dragging man into 43-foot-deep hole; 1 killed

At least 39&nbsp;persons drowned when a bus loaded with passengers fell into a canal on Tuesday morning in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

The bus with over 50 passengers was on way from Siddhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal in Rampur police station jurisdiction around 8.30 am.

After fishing out 18 bodies initially, rescuers have retrieved 21 more bodies until now, said Rewa Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Jain. 
 
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"A total of 39 bodies, including 16 women, 22&nbsp;men and a child, have been fished out of the Bansagar canal until now," he said, adding that a magisterial probe has been ordered.

Prima facie, 44 passengers were travelling on the bus at the time of the accident, which occurred around 8:30 AM.

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"Seven persons managed to swim to the banks of the canal after the incident and 37 bodies have been recovered. The 44 passengers have been identified so far," Jain added.

Earlier in the morning, Inspector General (Rewa zone) Joga had confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies from the accident site.

The bus landed into the canal near Patna village, around 80 kms away from the Sidhi district headquarter, around 8:30 AM.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 39 persons drowned when a bus loaded with passengers fell into a canal on Tuesday morning in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh. The bus with over 50 passengers was on way from Siddhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal in Rampur police station jurisdiction around 8.

At least 39 persons drowned when a bus loaded with passengers fell into a canal on Tuesday morning in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh. The bus with over 50 passengers was on way from Siddhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal in Rampur police station jurisdiction around 8.30 am. After fishing out 18 bodies initially, rescuers have retrieved 21 more bodies until now, said Rewa Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Jain. "A total of 39 bodies, including 16 women, 22 men and a child, have been fished out of the Bansagar canal until now," he said, adding that a magisterial probe has been ordered. Prima facie, 44 passengers were travelling on the bus at the time of the accident, which occurred around 8:30 AM. "Seven persons managed to swim to the banks of the canal after the incident and 37 bodies have been recovered. The 44 passengers have been identified so far," Jain added. Earlier in the morning, Inspector General (Rewa zone) Joga had confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies from the accident site. The bus landed into the canal near Patna village, around 80 kms away from the Sidhi district headquarter, around 8:30 AM. (With inputs from agencies)

39 killed as bus falls into canal in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi; rescue operations still on

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday instructed the Chief Secretary to personally monitor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-rains-lash-mumbai-700-passengers-stranded-on-board-mahalaxmi-express-238791">rescue operations at Vagani</a>, where people are stranded on board Mahalaxmi Express.

"Four National Disaster Response teams are currently evacuating passengers with the help of eight boats. In addition, seven teams of the Indian navy, two helicopters from Indian Airforce and two military columns have been deployed with the local administration," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

"Two additional military columns are on the way and the situation is under control", he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai spoke to Fadnavis and assured all assistance from the government's side.

As torrential rains continue to batter Mumbai, Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express, with 700 passengers on board was held up between Vangani and Badlapur since 3am&nbsp;this morning.

Railway Protection Force and City police had reached the site where the train is held up, and biscuits and water were being distributed to the stranded passengers.

CPRO Sunil Udasi had appealed to passengers not to get down from the train and await advice from the NDRF and other disaster management authorities.

500 passengers have been rescued so far and are being lodged at safe places, from where they will be moved to Badlapur, he added.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday instructed the Chief Secretary to personally monitor rescue operations at Vagani, where people are stranded on board Mahalaxmi Express.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday instructed the Chief Secretary to personally monitor rescue operations at Vagani, where people are stranded on board Mahalaxmi Express. "Four National Disaster Response teams are currently evacuating passengers with the help of eight boats. In addition, seven teams of the Indian navy, two helicopters from Indian Airforce and two military columns have been deployed with the local administration," the Chief Minister said in a statement. "Two additional military columns are on the way and the situation is under control", he added. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai spoke to Fadnavis and assured all assistance from the government's side. As torrential rains continue to batter Mumbai, Mumbai-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express, with 700 passengers on board was held up between Vangani and Badlapur since 3am this morning. Railway Protection Force and City police had reached the site where the train is held up, and biscuits and water were being distributed to the stranded passengers. CPRO Sunil Udasi had appealed to passengers not to get down from the train and await advice from the NDRF and other disaster management authorities. 500 passengers have been rescued so far and are being lodged at safe places, from where they will be moved to Badlapur, he added.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis directs Chief Secretary to monitor Mahalaxmi Express' rescue operations 

Facebook's rather questionable proposal to combat revenge porn which was first introduced in Australia in November will now move to the US, Canada, and the UK, reports said.&nbsp;

The request: asking users to send their intimate pictures to Facebook in order for it to register and block them from ever being posted by other users.&nbsp;

The program is called the Non-Consensual Intimate Image Pilot, and as described by Facebook, which is an “emergency option” for people who are worried their images might be shared in the future.

The idea received a lot of flak in Australia. No further information was revealed on how the trial went in the country.&nbsp;

In the UK, if you suspect that an image of you could be leaked on the social media website, Facebook says you should contact its partners for the trial - Revenge Porn Helpline.&nbsp;

The staff there will then get in touch with Facebook and you'll get sent a link to upload the photo. The idea is that Facebook can then digitally fingerprint the submitted image and block its potential future spread.

So, who will the photos be sent to on Facebook? Facebook's Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis told local media that the photos will only be viewed by a small group comprising of five specially trained reviewers who will give the photo a unique digital fingerprint which will be stored on the database.&nbsp;

If anyone in future tries to upload an intimate picture of a person, the system will recognise the code and block it from appearing on Facebook, messenger, and Instagram.&nbsp;

However, it's unclear if this idea would be a hit. The problem is not the technology but&nbsp;what's bizarre is Facebook's fuzzy proposal and the fact that anyone submitting their photo to Facebook would still be vulnerable to potentially having that image be exploited.

One in eight American social media users has been a target of non-consensual pornography, according to a 2017 study conducted by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.

&nbsp;

Facebook's rather questionable proposal to combat revenge porn which was first introduced in Australia in November will now move to the US, Canada, and the UK, reports said.

Facebook's rather questionable proposal to combat revenge porn which was first introduced in Australia in November will now move to the US, Canada, and the UK, reports said. The request: asking users to send their intimate pictures to Facebook in order for it to register and block them from ever being posted by other users. The program is called the Non-Consensual Intimate Image Pilot, and as described by Facebook, which is an “emergency option” for people who are worried their images might be shared in the future. The idea received a lot of flak in Australia. No further information was revealed on how the trial went in the country. In the UK, if you suspect that an image of you could be leaked on the social media website, Facebook says you should contact its partners for the trial - Revenge Porn Helpline. The staff there will then get in touch with Facebook and you'll get sent a link to upload the photo. The idea is that Facebook can then digitally fingerprint the submitted image and block its potential future spread. So, who will the photos be sent to on Facebook? Facebook's Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis told local media that the photos will only be viewed by a small group comprising of five specially trained reviewers who will give the photo a unique digital fingerprint which will be stored on the database. If anyone in future tries to upload an intimate picture of a person, the system will recognise the code and block it from appearing on Facebook, messenger, and Instagram. However, it's unclear if this idea would be a hit. The problem is not the technology but what's bizarre is Facebook's fuzzy proposal and the fact that anyone submitting their photo to Facebook would still be vulnerable to potentially having that image be exploited. One in eight American social media users has been a target of non-consensual pornography, according to a 2017 study conducted by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.

Mumbai building collapse: Death toll climbs to 13, rescue operations continue

Mexican university students have created a spider-like robot that can find people trapped in rubble following an earthquake or other natural disaster, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) said.

"Students created the Arachnid Robot for Search and Rescue of Persons (RDB-10) to help emergency and rescue services in natural disasters," the IPN said in a statement released on Sunday.

The robot works with a mobile application using Bluetooth and has different sensors to find people trapped in debris, the university said.

The RDB-10 was designed by students and uses an Android operating system.

The robot has three sensors that detect sound, temperature and the distance to spaces where people may be trapped.

The RDB-10 can measure temperatures as low as -50 C (-58 F) and as high as 120 C (248 F).

The sound sensor registers noises of up to 400 decibels within a three-meter perimeter, while the distance sensor tracks the ground covered by the robot through rubble.

"The readings taken by the robot are monitored in real time by the spider's operator," the IPN said.

The RDB-10 prototype is light, tough and uses 12 servo motors. The legs were made with a 3D printer using a polymer that is similar to plastic. The RDB-10 has four legs, allowing it to move in every direction.

"The robot's wiring is shielded to avoid a short circuit. The external components are mounted on a copper plate," the IPN said.

Mexico, one of the countries with the highest levels of seismic activity in the world, sits on the North American tectonic plate and is surrounded by three other plates in the Pacific: the Rivera microplate, at the mouth of the Gulf of California; the Pacific plate; and the Cocos plate.

The Cocos tectonic plate stretches from Colima state south and has the potential to cause the most damage since it affects Mexico City, which has a population of 20 million and was constructed over what was once Lake Texcoco.

In 2017, 471 people were killed by earthquakes that rocked Mexico on September 7, September 19 and September 23, marking the worst natural disaster in the country in more than 30 years.

The September 19 temblor occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the magnitude-8.1 earthquake that hit Mexico City, killing some 10,000 people, injuring more than 40,000 others and leaving 80,000 people homeless.

In 2015, Mexico City's government installed a warning system, which uses 8,200 loudspeakers located across the capital's 16 boroughs, to alert residents to an earthquake.

The Seismic Warning System gives Mexico City residents a 50-second alert to prevent a repetition of the tragedy that occurred in 1985.

The warning is generated by sensors along the Pacific coast, located about 400 kilometres from the capital, giving residents time to get out of buildings that could collapse in a temblor.

Mexican university students have created a spider-like robot that can find people trapped in rubble following an earthquake or other natural disaster, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) said.

Mexican university students have created a spider-like robot that can find people trapped in rubble following an earthquake or other natural disaster, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) said. "Students created the Arachnid Robot for Search and Rescue of Persons (RDB-10) to help emergency and rescue services in natural disasters," the IPN said in a statement released on Sunday. The robot works with a mobile application using Bluetooth and has different sensors to find people trapped in debris, the university said. The RDB-10 was designed by students and uses an Android operating system. The robot has three sensors that detect sound, temperature and the distance to spaces where people may be trapped. The RDB-10 can measure temperatures as low as -50 C (-58 F) and as high as 120 C (248 F). The sound sensor registers noises of up to 400 decibels within a three-meter perimeter, while the distance sensor tracks the ground covered by the robot through rubble. "The readings taken by the robot are monitored in real time by the spider's operator," the IPN said. The RDB-10 prototype is light, tough and uses 12 servo motors. The legs were made with a 3D printer using a polymer that is similar to plastic. The RDB-10 has four legs, allowing it to move in every direction. "The robot's wiring is shielded to avoid a short circuit. The external components are mounted on a copper plate," the IPN said. Mexico, one of the countries with the highest levels of seismic activity in the world, sits on the North American tectonic plate and is surrounded by three other plates in the Pacific: the Rivera microplate, at the mouth of the Gulf of California; the Pacific plate; and the Cocos plate. The Cocos tectonic plate stretches from Colima state south and has the potential to cause the most damage since it affects Mexico City, which has a population of 20 million and was constructed over what was once Lake Texcoco. In 2017, 471 people were killed by earthquakes that rocked Mexico on September 7, September 19 and September 23, marking the worst natural disaster in the country in more than 30 years. The September 19 temblor occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the magnitude-8.1 earthquake that hit Mexico City, killing some 10,000 people, injuring more than 40,000 others and leaving 80,000 people homeless. In 2015, Mexico City's government installed a warning system, which uses 8,200 loudspeakers located across the capital's 16 boroughs, to alert residents to an earthquake. The Seismic Warning System gives Mexico City residents a 50-second alert to prevent a repetition of the tragedy that occurred in 1985. The warning is generated by sensors along the Pacific coast, located about 400 kilometres from the capital, giving residents time to get out of buildings that could collapse in a temblor.

Mexican students build robot for earthquake search, rescue operations

The multi-agency operation to rescue the miners trapped in a flooded quarry in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district was hindered after the high-powered pumps encountered technical snags on Tuesday, officials said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-miners-rescue-navy-divers-want-water-level-reduced-to-facilitate-operation-187641">Fifteen miners are trapped</a> inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 after water from a nearby river gushed in, puncturing the mine wall.

On the 20th day of the operation, Indian Navy personnel resumed with their diving using unmanned remotely operated vehicles with assistance of the NRDF in the main shaft, operation spokesperson R Susngi told PTI.

"There were some technical problems with the machines and the rescue operation was affected," he said.

The depth of the shaft is a little over 370 foot (113 metre), Susngi said quoting the Navy, and added that the water level inside the vertical shaft is at 161 foot (49 metre), he said.

Work is on to get the pumps ready. The fire services team from Odisha is also preparing to resume pumping from the two shafts nearby.

Susngi said there was slight dip in the water level in the mine shaft, but it was not significant enough.

The district administration is procuring a third crane which will be used in the abandoned mine shafts.

The multi-agency operation to rescue the miners trapped in a flooded quarry in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district was hindered after the high-powered pumps encountered technical snags on Tuesday, officials said.

The multi-agency operation to rescue the miners trapped in a flooded quarry in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district was hindered after the high-powered pumps encountered technical snags on Tuesday, officials said. Fifteen miners are trapped inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 after water from a nearby river gushed in, puncturing the mine wall. On the 20th day of the operation, Indian Navy personnel resumed with their diving using unmanned remotely operated vehicles with assistance of the NRDF in the main shaft, operation spokesperson R Susngi told PTI. "There were some technical problems with the machines and the rescue operation was affected," he said. The depth of the shaft is a little over 370 foot (113 metre), Susngi said quoting the Navy, and added that the water level inside the vertical shaft is at 161 foot (49 metre), he said. Work is on to get the pumps ready. The fire services team from Odisha is also preparing to resume pumping from the two shafts nearby. Susngi said there was slight dip in the water level in the mine shaft, but it was not significant enough. The district administration is procuring a third crane which will be used in the abandoned mine shafts.

Meghalaya miners rescue: Technical snag in pumps hinder rescue operations

The Indian Navy's submarine rescue capabilities have got a boost with the successful maiden trials of its newly inducted deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV), the Navy has said.

The Western Naval Command here conducted the trials of the DSRV, which also set a record for "deepest submergence by a manned vessel" in the Indian waters, the Navy said in an official release issued Tuesday late night.

The DSRV, operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at one time, it said.

"On October 15, the DSRV carried out under water mating with a bottomed submarine at a depth of over 300 feet and transferred personnel from the submarine to the rescue vehicle," the release said.

These trials have proven the DSRV's ability to undertake rescue operations from disabled submarines at sea and have provided the Indian Navy with a "critical capability", it said.

"During the trials, the DSRV also dived successfully up to 666 metres. This is a record for deepest submergence by a 'manned vessel' in the Indian waters," the release said.

The DSRV crew also carried out ROV (remotely operated vehicle) operations at a depth of over 750 metres and side scan sonar operations at over 650 metres, which are all "firsts" for the Indian Navy, it said.

Once the trials are completed, it will put the Indian Navy into a small league of world navies that have an integral submarine rescue capability, the release added.

The Indian Navy's submarine rescue capabilities have got a boost with the successful maiden trials of its newly inducted deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV), the Navy has said.

The Indian Navy's submarine rescue capabilities have got a boost with the successful maiden trials of its newly inducted deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV), the Navy has said. The Western Naval Command here conducted the trials of the DSRV, which also set a record for "deepest submergence by a manned vessel" in the Indian waters, the Navy said in an official release issued Tuesday late night. The DSRV, operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at one time, it said. "On October 15, the DSRV carried out under water mating with a bottomed submarine at a depth of over 300 feet and transferred personnel from the submarine to the rescue vehicle," the release said. These trials have proven the DSRV's ability to undertake rescue operations from disabled submarines at sea and have provided the Indian Navy with a "critical capability", it said. "During the trials, the DSRV also dived successfully up to 666 metres. This is a record for deepest submergence by a 'manned vessel' in the Indian waters," the release said. The DSRV crew also carried out ROV (remotely operated vehicle) operations at a depth of over 750 metres and side scan sonar operations at over 650 metres, which are all "firsts" for the Indian Navy, it said. Once the trials are completed, it will put the Indian Navy into a small league of world navies that have an integral submarine rescue capability, the release added.

Indian Navy's submarine rescue capability gets a boost

At least 11 people have lost their lives so far in the avalanche that hit Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Kupwara district yesterday (January 5).&nbsp;

Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan had earlier&nbsp;informed that death toll had&nbsp;reached&nbsp;eight, adding that the rescue operations were still underway.

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Death toll in Tangdhar avalanche rises to eleven <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/949624860191334400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, a seven-year-old boy was found alive under the snow on Saturday and has been rescued safely. He was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.&nbsp;

Apart from him, three more people have been pulled out alive from the site.&nbsp;

The bodies of two beacon officers were also found amongst those recovered from the snow. 
&nbsp; 
As per media reports, several people went missing after three vehicles were hit by a massive avalanche of snow at Khooni Nallah near Sadhna Top on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Three people have been pulled out alive from the site?

At least 11 people have lost their lives so far in the avalanche that hit Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district yesterday (January 5). Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan had earlier informed that death toll had reached eight, adding that the rescue operations were still underway. Death toll in Tangdhar avalanche rises to eleven #JammuAndKashmir — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2018 × Meanwhile, a seven-year-old boy was found alive under the snow on Saturday and has been rescued safely. He was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. Apart from him, three more people have been pulled out alive from the site. The bodies of two beacon officers were also found amongst those recovered from the snow. As per media reports, several people went missing after three vehicles were hit by a massive avalanche of snow at Khooni Nallah near Sadhna Top on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road.

Kashmir avalanche: Death toll reaches 11

&quot;Our rescue efforts will never fall short,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the families of the people still missing because of Cyclone Ockhi.&nbsp;

&quot;Government of India is with you in every way, our rescue efforts will never fall short and we will help you in every way, I am here to assure you about this. We pray that all those missing, can return home before Christmas,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Modi was speaking in Poonthura, Kerala.&nbsp;

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Gov of India is with you in every way, our rescue efforts will never fall short &amp; we will help you in every way, I am here to assure you about this. We pray that all those missing, can return home before Christmas: PM Modi in Kerala&#39;s Poonthura <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzxU5aEOSP">pic.twitter.com/jzxU5aEOSP</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943088380639789056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi meets families affected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> in Kerala&#39;s Poonthura, says, &#39;govt will do everything possible to bring back the missing people&#39; <a href="https://t.co/oqR0Ix35FW">pic.twitter.com/oqR0Ix35FW</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943087229496311810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Modi also reviewed relief operations in Thiruvananthapuram along with&nbsp;Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi reviews relief operations in Kerala&#39;s Thiruvananthapuram. CM Pinarayi Vijayan also present, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zy5PKEi0fI">pic.twitter.com/Zy5PKEi0fI</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943098265045626880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Modi had previously visited Kanyakumari,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-ockhi-over-180-people-rescued-off-lakshadweep-coast-26206">Lakshadweep</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/the-wrath-of-cyclone-ockhi-at-least-18-killed-in-tamil-nadu-kerala-7117">Tamil Nadu</a> to meet families affected and take note of the situation.&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi meets cyclone affected fishermen in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kanyakumari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kanyakumari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/ak41YOrj4j">pic.twitter.com/ak41YOrj4j</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943056253374181376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met families of victims affected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a>&#39;s Kavaratti <a href="https://t.co/Nbgb1Cne1N">pic.twitter.com/Nbgb1Cne1N</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943030486917455872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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.

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PM Narendra Modi reviews <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> relief operations in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kanyakumari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kanyakumari</a> . Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami also present <a href="https://t.co/dQk1x8N3H7">pic.twitter.com/dQk1x8N3H7</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/943051382210170880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Cyclone Ockhi recently hit the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-at-least-16-dead-several-missing-as-cyclone-ockhi-nears-lakshadweep-sri-lanka-25598">southern half of the country</a>, leaving a number of people dead and several missing.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/30-died-due-to-cyclone-ockhi-report-25771">30 died due to Cyclone </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/30-died-due-to-cyclone-ockhi-report-25771">Ockhi</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/30-died-due-to-cyclone-ockhi-report-25771"> :</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/30-died-due-to-cyclone-ockhi-report-25771"> Report</a>

A search and rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

As of December 14, 700 fishermen had been rescued. They included five Sri Lankan nationals.&nbsp;

"Our rescue efforts will never fall short," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the families of the people still missing because of Cyclone Ockhi. "Government of India is with you in every way, our rescue efforts will never fall short and we will help you in every way, I am here to assure you about this. We pray that all those missing, can return home before Christmas," he said. Modi was speaking in Poonthura, Kerala. Gov of India is with you in every way, our rescue efforts will never fall short & we will help you in every way, I am here to assure you about this. We pray that all those missing, can return home before Christmas: PM Modi in Kerala's Poonthura #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/jzxU5aEOSP — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × PM Narendra Modi meets families affected by #CycloneOckhi in Kerala's Poonthura, says, 'govt will do everything possible to bring back the missing people' pic.twitter.com/oqR0Ix35FW — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × Modi also reviewed relief operations in Thiruvananthapuram along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. PM Narendra Modi reviews relief operations in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. CM Pinarayi Vijayan also present, #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/Zy5PKEi0fI — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × Modi had previously visited Kanyakumari, Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu to meet families affected and take note of the situation. PM Narendra Modi meets cyclone affected fishermen in #Kanyakumari #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/ak41YOrj4j — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi met families of victims affected by #CycloneOckhi in #Lakshadweep's Kavaratti pic.twitter.com/Nbgb1Cne1N — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × . PM Narendra Modi reviews #CycloneOckhi relief operations in #Kanyakumari . Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami also present pic.twitter.com/dQk1x8N3H7 — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2017 × Cyclone Ockhi recently hit the southern half of the country, leaving a number of people dead and several missing. Also read: 30 died due to Cyclone Ockhi : Report A search and rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. As of December 14, 700 fishermen had been rescued. They included five Sri Lankan nationals.

'Our rescue efforts will never fall short,' PM Modi tells Ockhi-affected families

Rescue operations have ended in areas of Iran hit by a powerful weekend earthquake that killed at least 450 people and injured thousands, state television reported on Tuesday, as many survivors, in need of food and water, battled the cold.

Sunday&rsquo;s 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck villages and towns in the mountainous area of Kermanshah province that borders Iraq while many people were at home asleep. At least 14 provinces in Iran were affected.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in the morning in the earthquake-stricken area in Kermanshah and promised that the government &ldquo;will use all its power to resolve the problems in the shortest time&rdquo;.

State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks.

A homeless young woman in Sarpol-e Zahab, one of the hardest-hit towns, told state TV that her family was exposed to the night cold because of lack of tents.

&ldquo;We need help. We need everything. The authorities should speed up their help,&rdquo; she said.

Television showed footage of rescue workers frantically combing through the rubble of dozens of villages immediately after the quake. But Iranian officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were extremely low.

&ldquo;The rescue operations in Kermanshah province have ended,&rdquo; Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran&rsquo;s Emergency Medical Services, said on state TV.

Iran&rsquo;s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offered his condolences on Monday and called on government agencies to do all they could to help.

Iranian police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to affected areas on Sunday night.

BITTER COLD

Hospitals in nearby provinces took in many of the injured, state television said, airing footage of survivors waiting to be treated. Hundreds of critically injured people were dispatched to hospitals in Tehran.

Iran&rsquo;s Red Crescent said emergency shelter had been provided for thousands of homeless people, but a lack of water, electricity, as well as blocked roads in some areas, hindered aid supply efforts.

Local authorities said traffic chaos on roads, caused by people from nearby provinces who were rushing to help, further hampered the flow of aid.

&ldquo;People in some villages are still in dire need of food, water, and shelter,&rdquo; governor of Qasr-e Shirin Faramarz Akbari told state television.

More than 30,000 houses in the area were damaged and at least two villages were completely destroyed, Iranian authorities said.

Houses in Iranian villages are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake. Some people are angry that among the collapsed buildings were houses that the government has built in recent years under its affordable housing programme.

Photographs posted on Iranian news websites showed rescue workers digging people out of collapsed buildings, cars smashed beneath rubble and rescue dogs trying to find signs of life under the twisted remains of collapsed buildings.

&ldquo;More people will die because of cold. My family lives in a village near Sarpol-e Zahab. I cannot even go there. I don&rsquo;t know whether they are dead or alive,&rdquo; Rojan Meshkat, 38, in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj told Reuters by telephone.

Iran is crisscrossed by major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that reduced the historic southeastern city of Bam to dust and killed some 31,000 people.

The quake, centred in Penjwin in Iraq&rsquo;s Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, killed at least six people in Iraq and injured more than 68. In northern Iraq&rsquo;s Kurdish districts, seven were killed and 325 wounded.

State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks

Rescue operations have ended in areas of Iran hit by a powerful weekend earthquake that killed at least 450 people and injured thousands, state television reported on Tuesday, as many survivors, in need of food and water, battled the cold. Sunday’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck villages and towns in the mountainous area of Kermanshah province that borders Iraq while many people were at home asleep. At least 14 provinces in Iran were affected. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in the morning in the earthquake-stricken area in Kermanshah and promised that the government “will use all its power to resolve the problems in the shortest time”. State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks. A homeless young woman in Sarpol-e Zahab, one of the hardest-hit towns, told state TV that her family was exposed to the night cold because of lack of tents. “We need help. We need everything. The authorities should speed up their help,” she said. Television showed footage of rescue workers frantically combing through the rubble of dozens of villages immediately after the quake. But Iranian officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were extremely low. “The rescue operations in Kermanshah province have ended,” Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Emergency Medical Services, said on state TV. Iran’s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offered his condolences on Monday and called on government agencies to do all they could to help. Iranian police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to affected areas on Sunday night. BITTER COLD Hospitals in nearby provinces took in many of the injured, state television said, airing footage of survivors waiting to be treated. Hundreds of critically injured people were dispatched to hospitals in Tehran. Iran’s Red Crescent said emergency shelter had been provided for thousands of homeless people, but a lack of water, electricity, as well as blocked roads in some areas, hindered aid supply efforts. Local authorities said traffic chaos on roads, caused by people from nearby provinces who were rushing to help, further hampered the flow of aid. “People in some villages are still in dire need of food, water, and shelter,” governor of Qasr-e Shirin Faramarz Akbari told state television. More than 30,000 houses in the area were damaged and at least two villages were completely destroyed, Iranian authorities said. Houses in Iranian villages are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake. Some people are angry that among the collapsed buildings were houses that the government has built in recent years under its affordable housing programme. Photographs posted on Iranian news websites showed rescue workers digging people out of collapsed buildings, cars smashed beneath rubble and rescue dogs trying to find signs of life under the twisted remains of collapsed buildings. “More people will die because of cold. My family lives in a village near Sarpol-e Zahab. I cannot even go there. I don’t know whether they are dead or alive,” Rojan Meshkat, 38, in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj told Reuters by telephone. Iran is crisscrossed by major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that reduced the historic southeastern city of Bam to dust and killed some 31,000 people. The quake, centred in Penjwin in Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, killed at least six people in Iraq and injured more than 68. In northern Iraq’s Kurdish districts, seven were killed and 325 wounded.

Iran earthquake: Rescue operations end, several still in makeshift camps

Iranian rescue workers dug through rubble in a hunt for survivors on Monday after a major earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border, killing more than 300 and injuring thousands.

The 7.3-magnitude quake hit a border area 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 9:20 pm (1820 GMT) on Sunday, when many people would have been at home, the US Geological Survey said.

The worst affected areas were in Iran&#39;s western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner&#39;s office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured.

Across the border in Iraq, where the areas are more sparsely populated, the health ministry said eight people had died and several hundred were injured.

Some Iranians spent the night outdoors after fleeing their homes in the mountainous cross-border region, huddling around fires at dawn as the authorities deployed help to affected areas.

A woman and her baby were pulled out alive from the rubble in the Iranian town of Sar-e Pol-e Zaham, the worst hit in the quake, local media reported.

Officials said they were setting up relief camps but that access to the areas was not easy.

Iran&#39;s emergency services chief Pir Hossein Koolivand said it was &quot;difficult to send rescue teams to the villages because the roads have been cut off... there have been landslides&quot;.

The official IRNA news agency said 30 Red Cross teams had been sent to the quake zone, parts of which had experienced power cuts.

Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government and armed forces to mobilise &quot;all their means&quot; to help the population.

Collapsed walls&nbsp;

Local media reported hundreds of ambulances and dozens of army helicopters mobilised for rescue operations including in rural areas.

Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, an area of some 85,000 people close to the border, was the worst hit, with at least 236 dead, while the towns of Eslamabad and Qasr-e Shirin were also affected.

Some 259,000 people live in the areas around these towns, according to the latest population census.

State television footage showed tents, blankets, and food being distributed in areas hit by the quake.

At dawn on Monday in Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, buildings stood disfigured, their former facades lying in rubble on crumpled vehicles.

In an open space away from the wrecked housing blocks, men and women, some wrapped in blankets, huddled around a camp fire to keep warm.

In Iraq, the health ministry said the quake had killed seven people in the northern province of Sulaimaniyah and one in the province of Diyala to its south.

More than 500 people were injured in both provinces and the nearby province of Kirkuk.

Footage posted on Twitter showed panicked people fleeing a building in Sulaimaniyah, as windows shattered at the moment the quake struck, while images from the nearby town of Darbandikhan showed walls and concrete structures had collapsed.

In Darbandikhan, officials called on residents to sleep outside their homes as a precautionary measure.

In Sulaimaniyah, residents ran out onto the streets and some damage to property was reported, an AFP reporter there said.

Rekot Rachid, health minister for the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, said that, in Sulaimaniyah, four people were killed in the town of Darbandikhan, two in Karmiyan and another in the provincial capital.

Residents flee homes in Turkey&nbsp;

The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 23 kilometres, was felt for about 20 seconds in Baghdad, and for longer in other provinces of Iraq, AFP journalists said.

Iraqi health authorities said they treated dozens of people in its aftermath, most for shock.

On the Iranian side of the border, the tremor shook several cities in the west of the country including Tabriz.

It was also felt in southeastern Turkey, an AFP correspondent said. In the town of Diyarbakir, residents were reported to have fled their homes.

The quake struck along a 1,500-kilometre fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a belt extending through western Iran and into northeastern Iraq.

The area sees frequent seismic activity.

In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake near the Caspian Sea in northern Iran killed 40,000 people and left 300,000 more injured and half a million homeless. Within seconds the quake reduced dozens of towns and nearly 2,000 villages to rubble.

Thirteen years later, a catastrophic quake struck the ancient southeast Iranian city of Bam, famed for its mud brick buildings, killing at least 31,000 people and flattening swathes of the city.

Since then, Iran has experienced at least two major quake disasters, one in 2005 that killed more than 600 and another in 2012 that left some 300 dead.

More recently, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake near Iran&#39;s border with Turkmenistan in May killed two people, injured hundreds and caused widespread damage.

The worst affected areas were in Iran's western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner's office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured

Iranian rescue workers dug through rubble in a hunt for survivors on Monday after a major earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border, killing more than 300 and injuring thousands. The 7.3-magnitude quake hit a border area 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 9:20 pm (1820 GMT) on Sunday, when many people would have been at home, the US Geological Survey said. The worst affected areas were in Iran's western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner's office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured. Across the border in Iraq, where the areas are more sparsely populated, the health ministry said eight people had died and several hundred were injured. Some Iranians spent the night outdoors after fleeing their homes in the mountainous cross-border region, huddling around fires at dawn as the authorities deployed help to affected areas. A woman and her baby were pulled out alive from the rubble in the Iranian town of Sar-e Pol-e Zaham, the worst hit in the quake, local media reported. Officials said they were setting up relief camps but that access to the areas was not easy. Iran's emergency services chief Pir Hossein Koolivand said it was "difficult to send rescue teams to the villages because the roads have been cut off... there have been landslides". The official IRNA news agency said 30 Red Cross teams had been sent to the quake zone, parts of which had experienced power cuts. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government and armed forces to mobilise "all their means" to help the population. Collapsed walls Local media reported hundreds of ambulances and dozens of army helicopters mobilised for rescue operations including in rural areas. Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, an area of some 85,000 people close to the border, was the worst hit, with at least 236 dead, while the towns of Eslamabad and Qasr-e Shirin were also affected. Some 259,000 people live in the areas around these towns, according to the latest population census. State television footage showed tents, blankets, and food being distributed in areas hit by the quake. At dawn on Monday in Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, buildings stood disfigured, their former facades lying in rubble on crumpled vehicles. In an open space away from the wrecked housing blocks, men and women, some wrapped in blankets, huddled around a camp fire to keep warm. In Iraq, the health ministry said the quake had killed seven people in the northern province of Sulaimaniyah and one in the province of Diyala to its south. More than 500 people were injured in both provinces and the nearby province of Kirkuk. Footage posted on Twitter showed panicked people fleeing a building in Sulaimaniyah, as windows shattered at the moment the quake struck, while images from the nearby town of Darbandikhan showed walls and concrete structures had collapsed. In Darbandikhan, officials called on residents to sleep outside their homes as a precautionary measure. In Sulaimaniyah, residents ran out onto the streets and some damage to property was reported, an AFP reporter there said. Rekot Rachid, health minister for the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, said that, in Sulaimaniyah, four people were killed in the town of Darbandikhan, two in Karmiyan and another in the provincial capital. Residents flee homes in Turkey The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 23 kilometres, was felt for about 20 seconds in Baghdad, and for longer in other provinces of Iraq, AFP journalists said. Iraqi health authorities said they treated dozens of people in its aftermath, most for shock. On the Iranian side of the border, the tremor shook several cities in the west of the country including Tabriz. It was also felt in southeastern Turkey, an AFP correspondent said. In the town of Diyarbakir, residents were reported to have fled their homes. The quake struck along a 1,500-kilometre fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a belt extending through western Iran and into northeastern Iraq. The area sees frequent seismic activity. In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake near the Caspian Sea in northern Iran killed 40,000 people and left 300,000 more injured and half a million homeless. Within seconds the quake reduced dozens of towns and nearly 2,000 villages to rubble. Thirteen years later, a catastrophic quake struck the ancient southeast Iranian city of Bam, famed for its mud brick buildings, killing at least 31,000 people and flattening swathes of the city. Since then, Iran has experienced at least two major quake disasters, one in 2005 that killed more than 600 and another in 2012 that left some 300 dead. More recently, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake near Iran's border with Turkmenistan in May killed two people, injured hundreds and caused widespread damage.

Iran hunts for survivors as quake kills more than 300 near Iraq border

The Italian coastguard on Monday rescued around 6,500 migrants off the coast of Libya in an operation that had as many as 700 people crammed onto one fishing boat. 
 
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which was part of the operations, informed that a five-day-old baby was among those rescued and was airlifted to an Italian hospital. 
 
Vessels from Italy&rsquo;s humanitarian organisations as well as EU&#39;s border agency Frontex were involved in the operations. 
 
More than 1,100 migrants were rescued in the same area on Sunday.&nbsp; 
 
According to the UN&rsquo;s refugee agency and the coastguard, a total of 112,500 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year against last year&rsquo;s 116,000 up to August. 
 
Most of these are from West Africa and the Horn of Africa, often departing from Libya.&nbsp; 
 
The Italian coastguard is expecting more migrant boats soon, given the favourable weather conditions. 
 
Vessels run by humanitarian groups often patrol the waters off the Libyan coast, but rival factions are now trying to control migrant trafficking. 
 
More than 3,000 migrants have died at sea while trying to reach either Greece or Italy&nbsp; 
this year, 50 per cent more than that in 2015. 
 
Europe recorded the arrival of 204,000 in the first six months of 2016, the UN refugee agency informed, with the continent calling it its worst migration crisis since World War II. 
 
More than a million migrants had landed in Europe last year, most fleeing war in Syria and the Middle East. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Vessels from Italy?s humanitarian organisations and EU's border agency Frontex were involved in the rescue operations

The Italian coastguard on Monday rescued around 6,500 migrants off the coast of Libya in an operation that had as many as 700 people crammed onto one fishing boat. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which was part of the operations, informed that a five-day-old baby was among those rescued and was airlifted to an Italian hospital. Vessels from Italy’s humanitarian organisations as well as EU's border agency Frontex were involved in the operations. More than 1,100 migrants were rescued in the same area on Sunday. According to the UN’s refugee agency and the coastguard, a total of 112,500 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year against last year’s 116,000 up to August. Most of these are from West Africa and the Horn of Africa, often departing from Libya. The Italian coastguard is expecting more migrant boats soon, given the favourable weather conditions. Vessels run by humanitarian groups often patrol the waters off the Libyan coast, but rival factions are now trying to control migrant trafficking. More than 3,000 migrants have died at sea while trying to reach either Greece or Italy this year, 50 per cent more than that in 2015. Europe recorded the arrival of 204,000 in the first six months of 2016, the UN refugee agency informed, with the continent calling it its worst migration crisis since World War II. More than a million migrants had landed in Europe last year, most fleeing war in Syria and the Middle East. (WION with inputs from agencies)

6,500 migrants rescued off Libya coast

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