Severe flooding has hit southwest France as Storm Nils pushes rivers beyond their limits, submerging streets and communities. Emergency crews are navigating flooded roads, conducting rescues, and assisting residents in affected areas.
Authorities have issued flood warnings, urging people to stay safe and avoid travel in submerged regions. The storm has caused widespread disruption, affecting homes, transportation, and local infrastructure.

France Floods: Rescuers Navigate Submerged Streets Heroically

Two children - a three-year-old girl and a two-month-old baby -&nbsp;were&nbsp;rescued by the Philippine Red Cross after nearly 60 hours from a gold-mining village which was hit by a landslide on Friday (Feb 9).&nbsp;

The children's rescue was hailed as a "miracle" as the searchers had lost all hope of finding anyone alive.&nbsp;

The girl, whose age was not disclosed, was a part of more than 100 people who went missing after the village was hit by the rain-induced landslide, in which at least 11 people were killed.&nbsp;

The girl was found as bare hands and shovels were used by the rescuers to find survivors in Masara village on southern Mindanao island, said disaster agency official Edward Macapili of Davao de Oro province, while speaking to AFP.

"It's a miracle," Macapili said, adding that the searchers had felt that the missing people were probably dead.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-five-people-killed-31-injured-in-landslide-due-to-heavy-rains-687739">Philippines: Six killed, 31 injured in landslide caused by heavy rains</a>

"That gives hope to the rescuers. A child's resilience is usually less than that of adults, yet the child survived," he added.&nbsp;

The officials also shared a video in which the mud-caked child was being carried by the rescuer in his arms on Facebook.

"We can see in the social media posts that the child did not have any visible injuries," said Macapili.

He added that the girl met her father before going to the medical facility for a check-up.&nbsp;

<h2>Rescuers using&nbsp;heavy earth-moving equipment&nbsp;</h2>

On Tuesday night (Feb 6), a landslide hit the area and engulfed three buses as well as jeepneys waiting to pick up gold mine workers and also destroyed houses.

At least 11 people were killed in the landslide and 31 others were injured, while more than a hundred have been missing, as per the official figures.&nbsp;

The searchers were in a race against time as well as weather as they tried to rescue anyone who was alive in the thick mud, as it continued raining on Friday (Feb 9).

Heavy earth-moving equipment was also used by the rescuers in places and they relied on their bare hands as well as shovels to find people in the areas.&nbsp;

The searchers also used sniffer dogs to detect those who were buried beneath the mud and rubble.

Watch:&nbsp;The Philippines becomes Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy

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Parts of Mindanao were pounded by rain on and off for weeks and this triggered flooding and dozens of landslides which forced tens of thousands of people to hide in emergency shelters.

Hundreds of families had to evacuate from their homes and shelter in emergency centres in Masara and four nearby villages fearing more landslides.

Meanwhile, classes have been suspended by the schools across the municipality. The area which has been hit by the landslide was declared a "no build zone" after previous landslides took place in 2007 and 2008, said Macapili.

"People were asked to leave that place and they were given a resettlement area, but the people are so hard-headed and they returned," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two children - a three-year-old girl and a two-month-old baby - were rescued by the Philippine Red Cross after nearly 60 hours from a gold-mining village which was hit by a landslide on Friday (Feb 9).

Two children - a three-year-old girl and a two-month-old baby - were rescued by the Philippine Red Cross after nearly 60 hours from a gold-mining village which was hit by a landslide on Friday (Feb 9). The children's rescue was hailed as a "miracle" as the searchers had lost all hope of finding anyone alive. The girl, whose age was not disclosed, was a part of more than 100 people who went missing after the village was hit by the rain-induced landslide, in which at least 11 people were killed. The girl was found as bare hands and shovels were used by the rescuers to find survivors in Masara village on southern Mindanao island, said disaster agency official Edward Macapili of Davao de Oro province, while speaking to AFP. "It's a miracle," Macapili said, adding that the searchers had felt that the missing people were probably dead. Also Read: Philippines: Six killed, 31 injured in landslide caused by heavy rains "That gives hope to the rescuers. A child's resilience is usually less than that of adults, yet the child survived," he added. The officials also shared a video in which the mud-caked child was being carried by the rescuer in his arms on Facebook. "We can see in the social media posts that the child did not have any visible injuries," said Macapili. He added that the girl met her father before going to the medical facility for a check-up. Rescuers using heavy earth-moving equipment On Tuesday night (Feb 6), a landslide hit the area and engulfed three buses as well as jeepneys waiting to pick up gold mine workers and also destroyed houses. At least 11 people were killed in the landslide and 31 others were injured, while more than a hundred have been missing, as per the official figures. The searchers were in a race against time as well as weather as they tried to rescue anyone who was alive in the thick mud, as it continued raining on Friday (Feb 9). Heavy earth-moving equipment was also used by the rescuers in places and they relied on their bare hands as well as shovels to find people in the areas. The searchers also used sniffer dogs to detect those who were buried beneath the mud and rubble. Watch: The Philippines becomes Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy Parts of Mindanao were pounded by rain on and off for weeks and this triggered flooding and dozens of landslides which forced tens of thousands of people to hide in emergency shelters. Hundreds of families had to evacuate from their homes and shelter in emergency centres in Masara and four nearby villages fearing more landslides. Meanwhile, classes have been suspended by the schools across the municipality. The area which has been hit by the landslide was declared a "no build zone" after previous landslides took place in 2007 and 2008, said Macapili. "People were asked to leave that place and they were given a resettlement area, but the people are so hard-headed and they returned," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

'Miracle' escape: Two children rescued nearly 60 hours after Philippine landslide

In an act of kindness and love, a dog named 'Pamuk' was pulled out from the debris by the rescue workers, as they continued to save lives relentlessly, in Turkey's Hatay days after devastating earthquakes hit Ankara and Syria.

The footage of the dog being rescued from the rubble has been shared widely on the social media platform and is now winning hearts.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-earthquake-rescue-workers-save-mother-and-new-born-after-four-days-in-rubble-560630">Turkey earthquake: Rescue workers save mother and new-born from rubble after four days</a>

In the footage, rescuers are seen making the injured dog drink water and carefully taking it out from the concrete debris. The mouth of the dog is appearing smeared in blood in the video clip.

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We're also seeing examples of pets rescued, like this little dog named "Pamuk." Sadly, hope for additional rescues will start to fade due to the time that's passed and the freezing temperatures. <a href="https://t.co/qGRTLFSJtG">pic.twitter.com/qGRTLFSJtG</a>
— Lane Luckie (@LaneLuckie) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaneLuckie/status/1624015140474560512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As per the eyewitness, the dog is being taken care of by the neighbours of the owner as the owner remains hospitalised in Mersin, which is around 200km west of Iskenderun.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the powerful earthquake “one of the greatest disasters our nation has faced in its history”, as reported by AP.

While touring around Adiyaman province on Friday, he said that search-and-rescue efforts would consistently continue till no one is trapped in the debris.

WATCH | Rescue workers save a dog trapped under rubble

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While visiting the quake-hit province of Gaziantep, he said that the earthquakes have destroyed more than 6,400 buildings had been destroyed and that the government will be building new three and four-storey buildings in the area within one year.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, meanwhile, slammed the Western countries for politicising the humanitarian crisis of the country, as he said, “The West has no humanitarianism, therefore politicising the situation in Syria is something they would naturally do.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an act of kindness and love, a dog named 'Pamuk' was pulled out from the debris by the rescue workers, as they continued to save lives relentlessly, in Turkey's Hatay days after devastating earthquakes hit Ankara and Syria.

In an act of kindness and love, a dog named 'Pamuk' was pulled out from the debris by the rescue workers, as they continued to save lives relentlessly, in Turkey's Hatay days after devastating earthquakes hit Ankara and Syria. The footage of the dog being rescued from the rubble has been shared widely on the social media platform and is now winning hearts. ALSO READ | Turkey earthquake: Rescue workers save mother and new-born from rubble after four days In the footage, rescuers are seen making the injured dog drink water and carefully taking it out from the concrete debris. The mouth of the dog is appearing smeared in blood in the video clip. We're also seeing examples of pets rescued, like this little dog named "Pamuk." Sadly, hope for additional rescues will start to fade due to the time that's passed and the freezing temperatures. pic.twitter.com/qGRTLFSJtG — Lane Luckie (@LaneLuckie) February 10, 2023 × As per the eyewitness, the dog is being taken care of by the neighbours of the owner as the owner remains hospitalised in Mersin, which is around 200km west of Iskenderun. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the powerful earthquake “one of the greatest disasters our nation has faced in its history”, as reported by AP. While touring around Adiyaman province on Friday, he said that search-and-rescue efforts would consistently continue till no one is trapped in the debris. WATCH | Rescue workers save a dog trapped under rubble While visiting the quake-hit province of Gaziantep, he said that the earthquakes have destroyed more than 6,400 buildings had been destroyed and that the government will be building new three and four-storey buildings in the area within one year. Syrian President Bashar Assad, meanwhile, slammed the Western countries for politicising the humanitarian crisis of the country, as he said, “The West has no humanitarianism, therefore politicising the situation in Syria is something they would naturally do.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH | Rescuers save dog after four days in earthquake-hit Turkey

At least 16 people, including children, lost their lives after a building collapsed in Syria's northern city of Aleppo early on Sunday (January 22), the state news agency SANA quoting an interior ministry statement.&nbsp;The report mentioned that the five-story building, housing about 30 people, collapsed overnight in the Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhood.&nbsp;

As per the state media, search and rescue efforts were ongoing. The building was apparently under the control of the US-backed group YPG.&nbsp;

Reports have mentioned that water leakages had weakened the structure's foundation and were the reason apparently for the tragic collapse. However, there's no official statement regarding the reason.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-unrest-police-raid-university-in-lima-arrest-over-200-protesters-554913">Peru unrest: Police raid university in Lima, arrest over 200 protesters&nbsp;</a>

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shooting-in-california-leaves-multiple-fatalities-many-injured-554870">US: 10 killed, 10 injured in mass shooting at Lunar New Year event near Los Angeles, suspect at large</a>&nbsp;

Photos from the site showed dozens of firefighters and other emergency services present there. Residents were also helping the rescuers to search through the rubble for any survivors.&nbsp;

The news agency The Associated Press reported that those who received injuries were rushed to the hospitals and many were seen mourning at the entrance of a nearby hospital as the bodies arrived in ambulances and on the back of trucks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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At least 16 people, including children, lost their lives after a building collapsed in Syria's northern city of Aleppo early on Sunday (January 22), the state news agency SANA quoting an interior ministry statement.

At least 16 people, including children, lost their lives after a building collapsed in Syria's northern city of Aleppo early on Sunday (January 22), the state news agency SANA quoting an interior ministry statement. The report mentioned that the five-story building, housing about 30 people, collapsed overnight in the Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhood. As per the state media, search and rescue efforts were ongoing. The building was apparently under the control of the US-backed group YPG. Reports have mentioned that water leakages had weakened the structure's foundation and were the reason apparently for the tragic collapse. However, there's no official statement regarding the reason. ALSO READ | Peru unrest: Police raid university in Lima, arrest over 200 protesters Watch this report: × ALSO READ | US: 10 killed, 10 injured in mass shooting at Lunar New Year event near Los Angeles, suspect at large Photos from the site showed dozens of firefighters and other emergency services present there. Residents were also helping the rescuers to search through the rubble for any survivors. The news agency The Associated Press reported that those who received injuries were rushed to the hospitals and many were seen mourning at the entrance of a nearby hospital as the bodies arrived in ambulances and on the back of trucks. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Syria: At least 16 killed, including children, as building collapses in Aleppo

For the third day, rescue workers in Morocco kept on digging to save Rayan, a five-year-old boy trapped in a deep well for four days. The well is located in the northern village of Ighran in Morocco’s Chefchaouen province.&nbsp;

The rescuers have somehow managed to get down oxygen and water to him. They also received a response from him.

Operation's leaders, Abdesalam Makoudi said, "We're almost there. We've been working non-stop for three days and tiredness is kicking in, but the whole rescue team is hanging on."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijings-genocide-games-kick-off-amid-backlash-from-all-across-the-world-450560">Also read |&nbsp;Beijing's 'Genocide Games' kick off amid backlash from all across the world</a>

The rescuers have already dug down 28 meters and are now preparing for a delicate operation to create a horizontal shaft to reach the boy. Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas, while elaborating on the mission said, "The child's rescue is approaching. Our hearts are with the family, and we are praying that he will back with them as soon as possible."

It all started when the 5-year-old disappeared while playing. "The whole family went out to look for him then we realised that he'd fallen down the well. I'm still keeping up hope that we'll get him out alive," his mother said.&nbsp;

As per reports by local media, the medics are on-site to check on the boy once he is extracted. Also, the authorities have a helicopter on standby to take the child to a hospital.

(With inputs from agencies)

For the third day, rescue workers in Morocco kept on digging to save Rayan, a five-year-old boy trapped in a deep well for four days. The well is located in the northern village of Ighran in Morocco’s Chefchaouen province.

For the third day, rescue workers in Morocco kept on digging to save Rayan, a five-year-old boy trapped in a deep well for four days. The well is located in the northern village of Ighran in Morocco’s Chefchaouen province. The rescuers have somehow managed to get down oxygen and water to him. They also received a response from him. Operation's leaders, Abdesalam Makoudi said, "We're almost there. We've been working non-stop for three days and tiredness is kicking in, but the whole rescue team is hanging on." Also read | Beijing's 'Genocide Games' kick off amid backlash from all across the world The rescuers have already dug down 28 meters and are now preparing for a delicate operation to create a horizontal shaft to reach the boy. Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas, while elaborating on the mission said, "The child's rescue is approaching. Our hearts are with the family, and we are praying that he will back with them as soon as possible." It all started when the 5-year-old disappeared while playing. "The whole family went out to look for him then we realised that he'd fallen down the well. I'm still keeping up hope that we'll get him out alive," his mother said. As per reports by local media, the medics are on-site to check on the boy once he is extracted. Also, the authorities have a helicopter on standby to take the child to a hospital. (With inputs from agencies)

Morocco: Rescuers dig for third day to save 5-year-old boy trapped in well

In what appears to be an intentional act to authorities, a car, which was driven by a woman, plunged into the Niagara river on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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NIAGARA FALLS ACTION: details are emerging as to how a vehicle became submerged in the Niagara River on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, leading to the death of one individual. It is believed the vehicle entered the river near the Goat Island bridge entrance. <a href="https://t.co/WNGmViu3ej">pic.twitter.com/WNGmViu3ej</a>
— Niagara Action (@NiagaraAction) <a href="https://twitter.com/NiagaraAction/status/1468740219583311874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The incident led to a prompt recovery by the US Coast Guard officials. The body of the woman, who was in her late 60s, was pulled from the car. The vehicle was only 50 yards from the brink of the fall. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/father-son-duo-held-over-suspicion-of-starting-major-wildfire-in-us-state-435688" hreflang="en">Father, son duo held over suspicion of starting major wildfire in US state</a>

Although the New York State Park Police is still investigating, a spokesperson for the New York State Parks seemed to think the vehicle was intentionally driven by the woman into the Niagara river. &nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEW</a> video from the <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGGreatLakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCGGreatLakes</a> shows the view of the helicopter crew that pulled a local woman in her late 60s from her car in the Niagara River Wednesday, about 50 yards from the brink of the (American) Niagara Falls. (1/3) <a href="https://twitter.com/WGRZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WGRZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/NQNCz7VjY8">pic.twitter.com/NQNCz7VjY8</a>
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The spokesperson said, "The New York State Park Police investigation into yesterday’s incident of the vehicle entering the Niagara river is still ongoing. At this point in the investigation, entry into the water appears to be an intentional act." &nbsp;

Several videos, pictures and posts have come up on social media. The incident seems to have caught attention of many users. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fighting-lunacy-with-lunacy-sneak-a-peek-into-a-gen-z-fuelled-conspiracy-theory-birds-arent-real-in-us-435706" hreflang="en">'Fighting lunacy with lunacy': Sneak a peek into a Gen Z-fuelled conspiracy theory ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ in US</a>

The woman, who used to live in the Western New York area, was declared dead. She has yet not been identified through the medical examiner or coroner offices. &nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 5" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50aa8055-db4b-444a-b39f-9243896e2ef8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Niagra%202.jpg" />

In rescue operation, the power authority lowered the water levels in the river while drones and the Niagara County Sheriff helicopter were also used for extraction. The vehicle was still in the river. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what appears to be an intentional act to authorities, a car, which was driven by a woman, plunged into the Niagara river on Wednesday. NIAGARA FALLS ACTION: details are emerging as to how a vehicle became submerged in the Niagara River on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, leading to the death of one individual.

In what appears to be an intentional act to authorities, a car, which was driven by a woman, plunged into the Niagara river on Wednesday. NIAGARA FALLS ACTION: details are emerging as to how a vehicle became submerged in the Niagara River on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, leading to the death of one individual. It is believed the vehicle entered the river near the Goat Island bridge entrance. pic.twitter.com/WNGmViu3ej — Niagara Action (@NiagaraAction) December 9, 2021 × The incident led to a prompt recovery by the US Coast Guard officials. The body of the woman, who was in her late 60s, was pulled from the car. The vehicle was only 50 yards from the brink of the fall. Also Read: Father, son duo held over suspicion of starting major wildfire in US state Although the New York State Park Police is still investigating, a spokesperson for the New York State Parks seemed to think the vehicle was intentionally driven by the woman into the Niagara river. #NEW video from the @USCGGreatLakes shows the view of the helicopter crew that pulled a local woman in her late 60s from her car in the Niagara River Wednesday, about 50 yards from the brink of the (American) Niagara Falls. (1/3) @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/NQNCz7VjY8 — Robert Hackford (@Robert_Hackford) December 10, 2021 × The spokesperson said, "The New York State Park Police investigation into yesterday’s incident of the vehicle entering the Niagara river is still ongoing. At this point in the investigation, entry into the water appears to be an intentional act." Several videos, pictures and posts have come up on social media. The incident seems to have caught attention of many users. Also Read: 'Fighting lunacy with lunacy': Sneak a peek into a Gen Z-fuelled conspiracy theory ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ in US The woman, who used to live in the Western New York area, was declared dead. She has yet not been identified through the medical examiner or coroner offices. In rescue operation, the power authority lowered the water levels in the river while drones and the Niagara County Sheriff helicopter were also used for extraction. The vehicle was still in the river. (With inputs from agencies)

Intentional? US rescuers pull out woman’s body after car plunges into Niagara river

A United States rescue crew has some easy advise for missing mountaineers or anybody else who could find themselves alone in the mountains: answer your phone.

Last week, Lake County Search &amp; Rescue received a report that a hiker had gone missing on Mount Elbert.

The hiker left around 9 am&nbsp;on October 18 and didn't return until 8 pm, according to LCSAR's Facebook page.&nbsp;

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According to the post, the man's whereabouts were unknown for 24 hours after he went on a trek to Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest mountain, last week.

The hiker went missing at 8 p.m. on October 18 after failing to return to his lodging, according to officials.

After “multiple efforts to contact the individual through their cell phone were unsuccessful,” LCSAR was notified. 
 
According to LCSAR, this hiker missed the path about dusk and went through the night in search of it.

The hiker had to check multiple trailheads after they were back on the path before finding the one where they'd left their car.

It advises that once above the treeline, snow can conceal the route, and that hikers shouldn't expect to be able to follow their footsteps back down the mountain since the wind might blow them away. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A United States rescue crew has some easy advise for missing mountaineers or anybody else who could find themselves alone in the mountains: answer your phone. Last week, Lake County Search & Rescue received a report that a hiker had gone missing on Mount Elbert.

A United States rescue crew has some easy advise for missing mountaineers or anybody else who could find themselves alone in the mountains: answer your phone. Last week, Lake County Search & Rescue received a report that a hiker had gone missing on Mount Elbert. The hiker left around 9 am on October 18 and didn't return until 8 pm, according to LCSAR's Facebook page. × According to the post, the man's whereabouts were unknown for 24 hours after he went on a trek to Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest mountain, last week. The hiker went missing at 8 p.m. on October 18 after failing to return to his lodging, according to officials. After “multiple efforts to contact the individual through their cell phone were unsuccessful,” LCSAR was notified. According to LCSAR, this hiker missed the path about dusk and went through the night in search of it. The hiker had to check multiple trailheads after they were back on the path before finding the one where they'd left their car. It advises that once above the treeline, snow can conceal the route, and that hikers shouldn't expect to be able to follow their footsteps back down the mountain since the wind might blow them away. (With inputs from agencies)

Hiker lost on US mountain ignored calls from rescuers because it was an 'unknown number'

In Pics | Rescuers struggle to locate dozens in landslide-hit Japan town

Fresh rain threatened to hamper efforts by tens of thousands of Japanese rescuers searching for <a href="wionews.com/world/japan-searches-for-survivors-as-typhoon-hagibis-death-toll-hits-56-255880">survivors after a powerful typhoon</a> that by early Tuesday had killed 58 people.

Typhoon Hagibis crashed into the country on Saturday night, unleashing high winds and torrential rain across 36 of the country's 47 prefectures, triggering landslides and catastrophic flooding.

The death toll from the disaster has risen steadily, and national broadcaster NHK early Tuesday said 58 people had been killed, according to authorities, while more than a dozen were still missing.

The government has given lower numbers but was still updating its information.

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"Even now, many people are still unaccounted for in the disaster-hit area," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told an emergency disaster meeting on Monday.

"Units are trying their best to search for and rescue them, working day and night," Abe said.

Later in the day, he pledged to "do whatever the country can" for victims and survivors, ordering the defence ministry to call up to 1,000 reserve troops to join 31,000 active forces in search operations.

But rescue work that continued into the night Monday risked being thwarted by additional rain falling in central and eastern Japan.

"I would like to ask people to stay fully vigilant and continue watching for landslides and river flooding," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

In Nagano, one of the worst-hit regions, officials said they were working cautiously.

"We are concerned about the impact of the latest rain on rescue and recovery efforts," local official Hiroki Yamaguchi told AFP.

"We will continue operations while watching out for secondary disasters due to the current rain."

Seven sailors among dead

Bodies pulled from flooded cars and homes, swollen rivers and landslides all added to the death toll.

The casualties included a municipal worker whose car was engulfed by floodwaters and at least seven crew from a cargo ship that sank in Tokyo Bay on Saturday night, a coast guard spokesman said.

Four other crew, from China, Myanmar and Vietnam, were rescued when the vessel sank and the coast guard was still searching for the last crew member.

Wind gusts from Hagibis reached up to 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, but it was the heavy rains that caused the most damage.

A total of 176 rivers flooded, mainly in eastern and northern Japan, local media said.

In central Nagano, a levee breach sent water from the Chikuma river gushing into residential neighbourhoods, flooding homes up to the second floor.

Television footage from the area showed patients being transferred by ambulance from a Nagano hospital where some 200 people had been cut off by flooding.

Elsewhere, rescuers used helicopters to winch survivors from roofs and balconies, or steered boats through muddy waters to reach those trapped.

Rugby win dedicated to victims

By Monday afternoon, almost 76,000 households remained without power, and water was cut off to 135,000 homes.

The disaster left tens of thousands of people in shelters, many of them unsure when they would be able to return home.

"Everything from my house was washed away before my eyes, I wasn't sure if it was a dream or real," a woman in Nagano told NHK.

"I feel lucky I'm still alive."

The storm brought travel chaos over the holiday weekend, grounding flights and halting commuter and bullet train services.

By Monday most subway trains had resumed service, along with many bullet train lines. Flights had also restarted.

But NHK reported the swamping of a maintenance yard for the Hokuriku bullet train which connects Tokyo with Nagano. Ten trains were damaged when water levels rose by an estimated four metres (yards), NHK said, citing the train operator.

The storm brought havoc to the sporting world, forcing the delay of Japanese Grand Prix qualifiers and the cancellation of three Rugby World Cup matches.

But a crucial decider pitting Japan against Scotland went ahead, leaving the hosts with a stunning 28-21 win they dedicated to the disaster victims.

"To everyone that's suffering from the typhoon, this game was for you guys," said Japan's captain Michael Leitch.

Fresh rain threatened to hamper efforts by tens of thousands of Japanese rescuers searching for survivors after a powerful typhoon that by early Tuesday had killed 58 people.

Fresh rain threatened to hamper efforts by tens of thousands of Japanese rescuers searching for survivors after a powerful typhoon that by early Tuesday had killed 58 people. Typhoon Hagibis crashed into the country on Saturday night, unleashing high winds and torrential rain across 36 of the country's 47 prefectures, triggering landslides and catastrophic flooding. The death toll from the disaster has risen steadily, and national broadcaster NHK early Tuesday said 58 people had been killed, according to authorities, while more than a dozen were still missing. The government has given lower numbers but was still updating its information. Watch Video: "Even now, many people are still unaccounted for in the disaster-hit area," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told an emergency disaster meeting on Monday. "Units are trying their best to search for and rescue them, working day and night," Abe said. Later in the day, he pledged to "do whatever the country can" for victims and survivors, ordering the defence ministry to call up to 1,000 reserve troops to join 31,000 active forces in search operations. But rescue work that continued into the night Monday risked being thwarted by additional rain falling in central and eastern Japan. "I would like to ask people to stay fully vigilant and continue watching for landslides and river flooding," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. In Nagano, one of the worst-hit regions, officials said they were working cautiously. "We are concerned about the impact of the latest rain on rescue and recovery efforts," local official Hiroki Yamaguchi told AFP. "We will continue operations while watching out for secondary disasters due to the current rain." Seven sailors among dead Bodies pulled from flooded cars and homes, swollen rivers and landslides all added to the death toll. The casualties included a municipal worker whose car was engulfed by floodwaters and at least seven crew from a cargo ship that sank in Tokyo Bay on Saturday night, a coast guard spokesman said. Four other crew, from China, Myanmar and Vietnam, were rescued when the vessel sank and the coast guard was still searching for the last crew member. Wind gusts from Hagibis reached up to 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, but it was the heavy rains that caused the most damage. A total of 176 rivers flooded, mainly in eastern and northern Japan, local media said. In central Nagano, a levee breach sent water from the Chikuma river gushing into residential neighbourhoods, flooding homes up to the second floor. Television footage from the area showed patients being transferred by ambulance from a Nagano hospital where some 200 people had been cut off by flooding. Elsewhere, rescuers used helicopters to winch survivors from roofs and balconies, or steered boats through muddy waters to reach those trapped. Rugby win dedicated to victims By Monday afternoon, almost 76,000 households remained without power, and water was cut off to 135,000 homes. The disaster left tens of thousands of people in shelters, many of them unsure when they would be able to return home. "Everything from my house was washed away before my eyes, I wasn't sure if it was a dream or real," a woman in Nagano told NHK. "I feel lucky I'm still alive." The storm brought travel chaos over the holiday weekend, grounding flights and halting commuter and bullet train services. By Monday most subway trains had resumed service, along with many bullet train lines. Flights had also restarted. But NHK reported the swamping of a maintenance yard for the Hokuriku bullet train which connects Tokyo with Nagano. Ten trains were damaged when water levels rose by an estimated four metres (yards), NHK said, citing the train operator. The storm brought havoc to the sporting world, forcing the delay of Japanese Grand Prix qualifiers and the cancellation of three Rugby World Cup matches. But a crucial decider pitting Japan against Scotland went ahead, leaving the hosts with a stunning 28-21 win they dedicated to the disaster victims. "To everyone that's suffering from the typhoon, this game was for you guys," said Japan's captain Michael Leitch.

At least 58 dead as Typhoon Hagibis ravages Japan; rain hampers rescue effort

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-shuts-its-schools-and-markets-as-typhoon-mitag-approaches-252761">Taiwan</a>, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath.

Dramatic CCTV images captured the moment the 140-metre long single-arch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan's eastern coast.

In the images, the road gives way and tumbles down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunges into the water.

The National Fire Agency said they believed six people were unaccounted for and could be trapped in the boats underneath the collapsed structure.

"The rescue operation is ongoing," the agency said in a statement, adding at least twelve people were injured, including six Philippine and three Indonesian fishing workers as well as the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker.

"We hope to safely rescue all in the shortest time to minimize the damage," Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters.

The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air.

It is not clear what caused the bridge, which was built in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port, to collapse.

Taiwan was skirted by a typhoon on Monday night, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the east coast.

But at the time of the bridge collapse, the weather was fine.

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath.

Rescuers were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath. Dramatic CCTV images captured the moment the 140-metre long single-arch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan's eastern coast. In the images, the road gives way and tumbles down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunges into the water. The National Fire Agency said they believed six people were unaccounted for and could be trapped in the boats underneath the collapsed structure. "The rescue operation is ongoing," the agency said in a statement, adding at least twelve people were injured, including six Philippine and three Indonesian fishing workers as well as the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker. "We hope to safely rescue all in the shortest time to minimize the damage," Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters. The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air. It is not clear what caused the bridge, which was built in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port, to collapse. Taiwan was skirted by a typhoon on Monday night, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the east coast. But at the time of the bridge collapse, the weather was fine.

Rescuers fear six trapped after Taiwan bridge collapse

In pictures: Local hero saves girl from mud during Brazil dam collapse

Rescuers early on Saturday found the body of a two-year-old boy who fell into a deep well nearly two weeks ago in southern <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/elections-only-way-out-of-venezuela-crisis-spain-192518&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiJmZXR14rgAhULv48KHUHHA0oQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw15oMLqmDMmAXY8RshFp5m-">Spain</a>, triggering an unprecedented rescue operation fraught with glitches that had kept the country on tenterhooks.

Hundreds of people had been working round-the-clock under the media glare to try to reach Julen Rosello, who plunged down a narrow shaft which is more than 100 metres (330 feet) deep on January 13 while his parents prepared lunch in Totalan, a southern town near Malaga.

"Unfortunately at 1:25 am the rescue team reached the spot where they were looking for Julen and found the lifeless body of the little one," the central government's representative in the southwestern region of Andalusia, Alfonso Rodriguez Gomez de Celis, wrote on Twitter.

A hearse arrived at the site shortly after the news broke to take his <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-miners-body-pulled-out-42-days-after-15-workers-were-trapped-192508&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi2o6Ph14rgAhVMvo8KHTa6BEYQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw30uusvbVVQocbYk0QxAkdG">body</a> to a funeral home.

There had been no sign of life from the boy but rescuers believed they knew where he was inside the illegal well.

The only evidence of the boy's presence were some strands of hair that matched his DNA and a bag of candy that he had been holding when he fell into the well.

"All of Spain feels the infinite sadness of Julen's <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-congress-family-is-party-in-bjp-party-is-family-sambit-patra-192332&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiytMX614rgAhVKuo8KHX0UB8AQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_pew1egqrb4kK7IGlFOdP">family</a>. We have followed closely every step to reach him," <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-support-congress-if-next-prime-minister-is-from-their-party-aap-leader-192364&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwihitOR2IrgAhUJbo8KHbEHDqEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1vwfGdyeiODDS1p4fnWMwC">Prime Minister </a>Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

"We will always appreciate the tireless effort of those who searched for him during all these days."

Complex operation&nbsp;

The complex search-and-rescue operation had been fraught with complications that caused delay upon delay as Julen's distraught parents and relatives stood by.

Rescuers were not able to get to Julen via the well he fell down because it was blocked by a layer of earth, sand and stones believed to have been dislodged when he tumbled into the shaft.

They decided to dig a vertical shaft parallel to the well, 60 metres deep, which was finished late on Monday.

The idea was to secure the shaft with tubes then take elite miners down in a specially made cage to start digging a horizontal tunnel to the site where they believe the child was.

But the tubes designed to secure the shaft did not fit, so they had to widen it, which delayed the operation still further.

Eventually, they succeeded and expert miners on Thursday began painstakingly digging a four-metre tunnel to join both channels and hopefully reach Julen with the help of four small, controlled explosions.

The miners worked in teams of two and were equipped with oxygen tanks.

Each small explosion took about two hours, which slowed down the rescue attempt.&nbsp;

Two miners had to first go down the shaft and bore a few holes. They were then followed by two specialised officers who set up the explosives.

Once they returned above ground, the explosives were detonated and then the rescue team had to wait half an hour to clear the shaft of polluted air.

'Come out alive'&nbsp;

Despite the passage of time, the boy's relatives held out hope that he had somehow survived the fall and would be found alive.

Jose Rosello, Julen's father, told reporters that "we have an angel that will help my son come out alive as soon as possible."

Julen's parents lost another child, Oliver, aged three, in 2017. The child had cardiac problems.

In a tweet, Spain's King Felipe VI extended his "deepest condolences to Julen's whole family".&nbsp;

The well was unmarked at the time of the accident and regional authorities in Andalusia said the necessary permission had not been sought before it was dug.

This race against time recalled several other high-profile cases in the 1980s.

Alfredo Rampi, an Italian boy, was found dead in a well near Rome in 1981 while Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl, was rescued alive from a well in Texas in October 1987 after more than two days inside.

Rescuers early on Saturday found the body of a two-year-old boy who fell into a deep well nearly two weeks ago in southern Spain, triggering an unprecedented rescue operation fraught with glitches that had kept the country on tenterhooks.

Rescuers early on Saturday found the body of a two-year-old boy who fell into a deep well nearly two weeks ago in southern Spain, triggering an unprecedented rescue operation fraught with glitches that had kept the country on tenterhooks. Hundreds of people had been working round-the-clock under the media glare to try to reach Julen Rosello, who plunged down a narrow shaft which is more than 100 metres (330 feet) deep on January 13 while his parents prepared lunch in Totalan, a southern town near Malaga. "Unfortunately at 1:25 am the rescue team reached the spot where they were looking for Julen and found the lifeless body of the little one," the central government's representative in the southwestern region of Andalusia, Alfonso Rodriguez Gomez de Celis, wrote on Twitter. A hearse arrived at the site shortly after the news broke to take his body to a funeral home. There had been no sign of life from the boy but rescuers believed they knew where he was inside the illegal well. The only evidence of the boy's presence were some strands of hair that matched his DNA and a bag of candy that he had been holding when he fell into the well. "All of Spain feels the infinite sadness of Julen's family. We have followed closely every step to reach him," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter. "We will always appreciate the tireless effort of those who searched for him during all these days." Complex operation The complex search-and-rescue operation had been fraught with complications that caused delay upon delay as Julen's distraught parents and relatives stood by. Rescuers were not able to get to Julen via the well he fell down because it was blocked by a layer of earth, sand and stones believed to have been dislodged when he tumbled into the shaft. They decided to dig a vertical shaft parallel to the well, 60 metres deep, which was finished late on Monday. The idea was to secure the shaft with tubes then take elite miners down in a specially made cage to start digging a horizontal tunnel to the site where they believe the child was. But the tubes designed to secure the shaft did not fit, so they had to widen it, which delayed the operation still further. Eventually, they succeeded and expert miners on Thursday began painstakingly digging a four-metre tunnel to join both channels and hopefully reach Julen with the help of four small, controlled explosions. The miners worked in teams of two and were equipped with oxygen tanks. Each small explosion took about two hours, which slowed down the rescue attempt. Two miners had to first go down the shaft and bore a few holes. They were then followed by two specialised officers who set up the explosives. Once they returned above ground, the explosives were detonated and then the rescue team had to wait half an hour to clear the shaft of polluted air. 'Come out alive' Despite the passage of time, the boy's relatives held out hope that he had somehow survived the fall and would be found alive. Jose Rosello, Julen's father, told reporters that "we have an angel that will help my son come out alive as soon as possible." Julen's parents lost another child, Oliver, aged three, in 2017. The child had cardiac problems. In a tweet, Spain's King Felipe VI extended his "deepest condolences to Julen's whole family". The well was unmarked at the time of the accident and regional authorities in Andalusia said the necessary permission had not been sought before it was dug. This race against time recalled several other high-profile cases in the 1980s. Alfredo Rampi, an Italian boy, was found dead in a well near Rome in 1981 while Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl, was rescued alive from a well in Texas in October 1987 after more than two days inside.

Rescuers recover body of Spanish boy who fell down well

An elite group of climbers have saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistan&#39;s Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, as officials called off the search for a second missing alpinist on Sunday.

The group of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the effort Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat, nicknamed &quot;killer mountain&quot;.

The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2 -- the world&#39;s second-highest peak -- to reach the stranded climbers.

&quot;The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol - one life saved,&quot; said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement on Sunday.

The missing alpinists were located Friday when fellow mountaineers using binoculars spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world&#39;s ninth-highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet).

It earned the nickname &quot;killer mountain&quot; after more than 30 climbers died trying to conquer it before the first successful summit in 1953.

In July last year, a Spaniard and an Argentinian were presumed dead after they went missing while trying to summit Nanga Parbat.

&nbsp;

The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2 -- the world's second-highest peak -- to reach the stranded climbers

An elite group of climbers have saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, as officials called off the search for a second missing alpinist on Sunday. The group of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the effort Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat, nicknamed "killer mountain". The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2 -- the world's second-highest peak -- to reach the stranded climbers. "The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol - one life saved," said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement on Sunday. The missing alpinists were located Friday when fellow mountaineers using binoculars spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite. Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth-highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet). It earned the nickname "killer mountain" after more than 30 climbers died trying to conquer it before the first successful summit in 1953. In July last year, a Spaniard and an Argentinian were presumed dead after they went missing while trying to summit Nanga Parbat.

Rescuers save French climber trapped on Pakistan's 'killer mountain'

More than a dozen people linked hands to form a 20-meter human chain to rescue a mother and her two children who fell into a hole in a frozen lake in China&#39;s Tangshan City on Sunday.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
One man even dived into the sub-zero water to save the family from drowning in the icy lake.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The other volunteers, both men and women, risked the ice collapsing below them as they held hands and walked out across the lake.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
The incident took place when the three fell through an icy lake in a local culture park in the city, reports&nbsp;CGTN. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Here is the video of the incident

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

People formed a human chain to save the family from an icy grave

More than a dozen people linked hands to form a 20-meter human chain to rescue a mother and her two children who fell into a hole in a frozen lake in China's Tangshan City on Sunday. One man even dived into the sub-zero water to save the family from drowning in the icy lake. The other volunteers, both men and women, risked the ice collapsing below them as they held hands and walked out across the lake. The incident took place when the three fell through an icy lake in a local culture park in the city, reports CGTN. Here is the video of the incident ×

Watch: Rescuers form human chain to save drowning family in China

A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory said on Tuesday that a helicopter dropped containers of toxic&nbsp;gas&nbsp;overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down hours earlier. 
 
The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) accused President Bashar al Assad of being behind the attack. Assad has denied previous accusations of using chemical weapons. 
 
A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence said 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the&nbsp;gas, which they suspect was chlorine, in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province. 
 
The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. 
 
&quot;Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic&nbsp;gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the&nbsp;gas,&quot; said the spokesman. 
 
The Syrian government and its Russian allies were not immediately available for comment.&nbsp;The SNC said in a statement: &quot;After shelling, besieging and killing civilians and perpetrating war crimes on them, the Assad regime has resorted once again, and in breach of UN resolutions 2118 and 2235, to using chemical substances and toxic&nbsp;gasses.&nbsp;The daily reality confirms that all the international agreements and previous security council decisions, be they about chemical weapons or otherwise, are meaningless for the Assad regime.&quot; 
 
The Civil Defence spokesman said it was the second time Saraqeb had been hit by toxic&nbsp;gas. The group was aware of around nine suspected chlorine&nbsp;gas&nbsp;incidents across Idlib province since the conflict began, he said.&nbsp;Monitors at the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence on all sides in the civil war, said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, wounding a large number of citizens. 
 
Russia&#39;s defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb during the day on Monday, killing all five people on board, in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria. 
 
 
Denials 
 
The helicopter came down roughly mid-way between Aleppo and Russia&#39;s main air base at Khmeimim in the western province of Latakia, near the Mediterranean coast. 
 
Russian air power began supporting Syrian President Bashar al Assad late last year, an intervention which tipped the balance of the war in Assad&#39;s favour, eroding gains the rebels had made that year.&nbsp;The Russian defence ministry said the Mi-8 military transport helicopter was shot down after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo as it made its way back to Khmeimim.&nbsp;No group has claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter. 
 
Government and opposition forces have both denied using chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war. Western powers say the government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks. The government and Russia have accused rebels of using poison&nbsp;gas. 
 
UN&nbsp;investigators established that sarin&nbsp;gas&nbsp;was used in Eastern Ghouta in 2013. The United States accused Damascus of that attack, which it estimates killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. Damascus denied responsibility, and blamed rebels. 
 
Later that year the United Nations and the Syrian government agreed to destroy the state&#39;s declared stockpile of chemical weapons, a process completed in January 2016. 
 
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed in late 2015 that sulphur mustard, commonly known as mustard&nbsp;gas, had been used for the first time in the conflict, without saying which party in the many-sided conflict it thought had used it. 
 
(Reuters)

The Civil Defence spokesman said it was the second time Saraqeb had been hit by toxic gas

A Syrian rescue service operating in rebel-held territory said on Tuesday that a helicopter dropped containers of toxic gas overnight on a town close to where a Russian military helicopter was shot down hours earlier. The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) accused President Bashar al Assad of being behind the attack. Assad has denied previous accusations of using chemical weapons. A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence said 33 people, mostly women and children, were affected by the gas, which they suspect was chlorine, in Saraqeb, in rebel-held Idlib province. The group, which describes itself as a neutral band of search and rescue volunteers, posted a video on YouTube apparently showing a number of men struggling to breathe and being given oxygen masks by people in civil defence uniforms. "Medium-sized barrels fell containing toxic gasses. The Syrian Civil Defence was not able to determine the type of the gas," said the spokesman. The Syrian government and its Russian allies were not immediately available for comment. The SNC said in a statement: "After shelling, besieging and killing civilians and perpetrating war crimes on them, the Assad regime has resorted once again, and in breach of UN resolutions 2118 and 2235, to using chemical substances and toxic gasses. The daily reality confirms that all the international agreements and previous security council decisions, be they about chemical weapons or otherwise, are meaningless for the Assad regime." The Civil Defence spokesman said it was the second time Saraqeb had been hit by toxic gas. The group was aware of around nine suspected chlorine gas incidents across Idlib province since the conflict began, he said. Monitors at the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence on all sides in the civil war, said barrel bombs fell on Saraqeb late on Monday, wounding a large number of citizens. Russia's defence ministry said a Russian helicopter was shot down near Saraqeb during the day on Monday, killing all five people on board, in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria. Denials The helicopter came down roughly mid-way between Aleppo and Russia's main air base at Khmeimim in the western province of Latakia, near the Mediterranean coast. Russian air power began supporting Syrian President Bashar al Assad late last year, an intervention which tipped the balance of the war in Assad's favour, eroding gains the rebels had made that year. The Russian defence ministry said the Mi-8 military transport helicopter was shot down after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo as it made its way back to Khmeimim. No group has claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter. Government and opposition forces have both denied using chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war. Western powers say the government has been responsible for chlorine and other chemical attacks. The government and Russia have accused rebels of using poison gas. UN investigators established that sarin gas was used in Eastern Ghouta in 2013. The United States accused Damascus of that attack, which it estimates killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. Damascus denied responsibility, and blamed rebels. Later that year the United Nations and the Syrian government agreed to destroy the state's declared stockpile of chemical weapons, a process completed in January 2016. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed in late 2015 that sulphur mustard, commonly known as mustard gas, had been used for the first time in the conflict, without saying which party in the many-sided conflict it thought had used it. (Reuters)

Rescuers say toxic gas dropped on Syrian town where Russian helicopter was shot down

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