A massive search and rescue operation is underway in Indonesia after a passenger ferry carrying 271 people caught fire while crossing the Java Sea. Authorities say at least five people have died, 225 have been rescued, and 41 remain missing.

The ferry was traveling from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi, when the captain reported flames onboard. Emergency responders, supported by nearby vessels, rushed to evacuate passengers as the ship burned. Officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire while rescue teams continue searching for survivors.

Deadly Indonesia Ferry Blaze Sparks Major Search And Rescue Mission | Indonesia Ferry Fire

A major search and rescue operation is underway after a Vietnamese cargo ship carrying 62 crew members sank in the disputed South China Sea during severe weather. Rescuers have saved 39 people, while 23 remain missing. Chinese rescue ships, helicopters, and nearby fishing vessels are assisting Vietnamese authorities in the search near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. The incident occurred in one of the world's most disputed maritime regions, where overlapping territorial claims by China, Vietnam, and the Philippines continue to fuel tensions.

23 Missing After Vietnamese Cargo Ship Sinks in South China Sea | Massive Rescue Ops Underway

At least three people were killed and two others were injured after a fire broke out in a hotel in the Indian city of Mumbai’s Santacruz area, on Sunday afternoon (August 27), the city’s civic body told local media.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened?</h2>

According to reports, the fire broke out on the third floor of the Hotel Galaxy which is a ground plus floor structure around 1:10 pm (local time), as per media reports citing officials. From there, the flames spread to the first and second floors of the building.

It was later reported that out of the five who were taken to the hospital, three people were declared dead.&nbsp;

The fire has also gutted the electric wiring, power installations, air-conditioning, curtains, mattresses, and wood furniture in a couple of rooms and common areas like the duct, staircase and lobby, the fire brigade official said.&nbsp;

The official had earlier told the PTI news agency that four fire engines and many water tankers were rushed to the hotel. In addition to the civic body officials, Mumbai police were also rushed to the spot.&nbsp;

The blaze was categorised as ‘Level 1’ as per fire brigade norms and was doused by 3:20 pm (local time) using three hose lines, one high-pressure first aid line as well as four fire engines, four water tankers and other equipment.&nbsp;

<h2>About the victims</h2>

At least eight people were rescued out of which&nbsp;three&nbsp;were injured and were rushed to hospital where they died, said the&nbsp;firemen at the spot.&nbsp; 
 
“Two persons identified as Rupal Kanji (25), Kishan (28) and Kantilal Gordhan Vara (48) were declared brought dead by hospital authorities. Alfa Vakhariya (19) and Manjula Vakhariya (49) are injured and are under treatment,” said a fire brigade official, as quoted by PTI.&nbsp;

<h2>Previous incident</h2>

The recent incident also comes days after a 65-year-old died after a fire in a ground-plus-six-storey, Haripreet building, a residential building fire in Santacruz. The blaze that was reported on August 15 at 3:47 pm (local time) had prompted a rapid response by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).&nbsp;

The MFB also managed to rescue two more people who had been trapped within the building.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least three people were killed and two others were injured after a fire broke out in a hotel in the Indian city of Mumbai’s Santacruz area, on Sunday afternoon (August 27), the city’s civic body told local media.

At least three people were killed and two others were injured after a fire broke out in a hotel in the Indian city of Mumbai’s Santacruz area, on Sunday afternoon (August 27), the city’s civic body told local media. What happened? According to reports, the fire broke out on the third floor of the Hotel Galaxy which is a ground plus floor structure around 1:10 pm (local time), as per media reports citing officials. From there, the flames spread to the first and second floors of the building. It was later reported that out of the five who were taken to the hospital, three people were declared dead. The fire has also gutted the electric wiring, power installations, air-conditioning, curtains, mattresses, and wood furniture in a couple of rooms and common areas like the duct, staircase and lobby, the fire brigade official said. The official had earlier told the PTI news agency that four fire engines and many water tankers were rushed to the hotel. In addition to the civic body officials, Mumbai police were also rushed to the spot. The blaze was categorised as ‘Level 1’ as per fire brigade norms and was doused by 3:20 pm (local time) using three hose lines, one high-pressure first aid line as well as four fire engines, four water tankers and other equipment. About the victims At least eight people were rescued out of which three were injured and were rushed to hospital where they died, said the firemen at the spot. “Two persons identified as Rupal Kanji (25), Kishan (28) and Kantilal Gordhan Vara (48) were declared brought dead by hospital authorities. Alfa Vakhariya (19) and Manjula Vakhariya (49) are injured and are under treatment,” said a fire brigade official, as quoted by PTI. Previous incident The recent incident also comes days after a 65-year-old died after a fire in a ground-plus-six-storey, Haripreet building, a residential building fire in Santacruz. The blaze that was reported on August 15 at 3:47 pm (local time) had prompted a rapid response by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). The MFB also managed to rescue two more people who had been trapped within the building. (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.

India: At least three dead, two injured after fire in Mumbai hotel

The joint search operation by American and Canadian ships and planes continued for a third day as rescuers raced against time on Tuesday (June 20) to find a submersible with five people on board who went to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic.&nbsp;

The United States Coast Guard-led search for the small craft Titan is taking place off the coast of southeastern Canada where tourists were taken to explore the wreckage of the Titanic&nbsp;on Sunday.&nbsp;

<h2>What has happened so far?</h2>

According to the US Coast Guard, there were five people, one pilot and four passengers, on board the tour firm OceanGate Expeditions’ submersible “Titan”. The Washington-based private company has been deploying crewed submersibles for deep-sea expeditions and said is “mobilising all options” to get the crew back safely and working with the government agencies.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/submersible-to-take-tourists-to-titanic-wreck-goes-missing-in-atlantic-ocean-606170">Submersible meant to take tourists to Titanic wreck goes missing in Atlantic Ocean</a>

The submersible had between 70 and 96 hours of emergency oxygen as of Monday, said the US Coast Guard, adding that the vessel can stay underwater for up to 96 hours.&nbsp;It was not immediately clear if the vessel had resurfaced and was unable to communicate. 
 
US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick, in an update&nbsp;on Tuesday afternoon,&nbsp;said that&nbsp;deep-diving tourist submersible has only&nbsp;"about 40 hours of breathable air".&nbsp;Additionally, even if the submersible has resurfaced the occupants cannot escape without assistance since it is sealed with bolts from the outside.

The submersible was carrying five people to see the wreckage of the RMS Titanic which sank during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, US in April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, killing at least 1,500 people of the roughly 2,200 passengers and crew.&nbsp;

Since then the Titanic’s shipwreck, which was first discovered in 1985 around 650 kilometres off the coast of Canada and lies about 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) below the surface, has been explored extensively.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened on Sunday?</h2>

The five-person submersible had taken wealthy adventurers on a $250,000 trip, on Sunday to see the wreckage of the sunken Titanic which some have predicted would disappear in a matter of decades.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/missing-titanic-submarine-what-is-oceangates-titan-how-a-submersible-is-different-from-a-submarine-606493">Missing Titanic submarine: What is OceanGate's Titan and its Titanic expedition? Here's all you need to know</a>

The Titan’s dive on Sunday was supposed to be just another of many organised by the OceanGate since 2021. The support vessel Polar Prince, an icebreaker hired by OceanGate that takes people and the submersible vessel, arrived near the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday morning. As per reports, the submersible typically takes two hours to descend.

However, as per the Boston Coast Guard, the Titan “submerged Sunday morning, and the crew of the Polar Prince lost contact with them approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the vessel’s dive."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-file-footage-of-titanic-tourist-submersible-it-was-lost-for-hours-in-2022-too-606511">Watch file footage of Titanic tourist submersible. It was lost for hours in 2022 too</a>

Notably, it is not the first time that the tourist submersible has disappeared as revealed in a video shot by CBS last summer. The video showed the vessel appeared to have lost communication with its mothership for almost two and a half hours.

<h2>About the search so far</h2>

The US Coast Guard is currently searching 1,450 kilometres east of the Cape Cod peninsula. In a statement, on Tuesday morning, the officials said that the Polar Prince along with another US coast guard team will continue to do “surface searches throughout the evening".

This comes after US Coast Guard’s Rear Admiral John Mauger, addressing the press, on Monday said that it’s been challenging to search such a remote area. He added that the operation is also being conducted in two parts, which included a surface search in case the Titan has surfaced but is unable to establish communications, and an underwater sonar search. 
 
In an update on Tuesday,&nbsp;Frederick said that the US and&nbsp;Canadian aircraft have searched more than 7,600 square miles with a commercial vessel and&nbsp;an unmanned vehicle capable of deep dives was also searching near the site.&nbsp;

 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-window-no-seats-freezing-temps-what-is-it-like-to-be-trapped-inside-titanics-claustrophobic-vessel-606558">One window, no seats, freezing temps: What is it like to be trapped inside Titanic's claustrophobic vessel</a>

In addition to the US and Canadian rescue ships and planes scouring the area, sonar buoys are also being deployed to monitor the water depth of around 3,900 metres. The coast guard has also deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft for surface search joined by Canadian C-130, and a P8 aircraft equipped with underwater sonar.&nbsp;

According to OceanGate’s website, the expedition begins in the Canadian city of St John’s, Newfoundland, before heading out around 640 kilometres into the North Atlantic Ocean to the wreckage site. 
 
Why is the search so difficult?

Speaking to Reuters, two experts, on Tuesday, detailed the hostile conditions that any search and rescue operations might face while looking for the missing submersible. According to Tim Matlin, who has spent years studying the sunken ship and its wreckage, it's “pitch black down there”. He added, “You can’t see your hand in front of your face.”&nbsp;

Matlin also went on to describe the conditions like “being an astronaut going into space. So I do fear for the lives of those explorers who are on board."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tourist-vessel-missing-near-titanic-wreck-how-is-submersible-different-from-a-submarine-606512">Tourist vessel missing near Titanic wreck: How is submersible different from a submarine?</a>

Meanwhile, Jamie Pringle, a Forensic Geoscience at Keele University in the United Kingdom told the news agency that the first 24 hours of the search were key and that the chance of survival is now greatly reduced.&nbsp;

<h2>Who was on board the submersible?</h2>

As mentioned earlier, while the officials have confirmed there are five people on board, only the identity of three people have been confirmed so far, which included British billionaire Hamish Harding (58), Vice Chairman of one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, as per reports, 77-year-old French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Stockton Rush who is the founder and CEO of the tour firm OceanGate, are also on board, but there is no official confirmation on this yet.&nbsp;

Hamish Harding

One of the passengers, who is confirmed to be on board the missing submersible, Harding, chairman of aviation consultancy Action Aviation, took to Facebook, on Saturday and said, “Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-hamish-harding-british-billionaire-and-guinness-world-record-holder-who-went-missing-on-titanic-sub-606416">Who is Hamish Harding, the British billionaire on board missing Titanic submersible?</a> 
 
He added, “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow,” adding that more expedition updates will follow “IF the weather holds!”.&nbsp;

That the United Arab Emirates-based businessman had been&nbsp;missing, was later confirmed by Harding’s stepson in a now-deleted Facebook post where he wrote that Harding had “gone missing on submarine” and asked for “thoughts and prayers”.&nbsp;

He later deleted the post citing respect for the family’s privacy.&nbsp;According to a previous social media report, Harding said that he would be on board the Titan as a “mission specialist”.&nbsp;

Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman

The Dawood family has confirmed that Shahzada the Vice Chairman of Engro Corporation and his son Suleman are on board the missing submersible. “We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety,” said their family, on Tuesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/who-is-shahzada-dawood-one-of-pakistans-wealthiest-men-and-teenage-son-on-board-missing-titanic-submarine-606425">Who is Shahzada Dawood? One of Pakistan's wealthiest men on board the missing Titanic submersible</a>

Paul-Henri Nargeolet&nbsp;

The 77-year-old French explorer is also on the missing submersible, a family spokesman told the BBC. Notably, he leads the underwater research at a company that owns the rights to the Titanic wreck and is nicknamed “Mr Titanic”. The former commander of the French Navy, Nargeolet reportedly served as both a deep diver and a minesweeper.&nbsp;

Stockton Rush

According to media reports, Rush, who is the founder and CEO of OceanGate is said to be on board the missing submersible. “The ocean is taking this thing, and we need to document it before it all disappears or becomes unrecognisable,” Rush had told the Associated Press back in 2021.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The joint search operation by American and Canadian ships and planes continued for a third day as rescuers raced against time on Tuesday (June 20) to find a submersible with five people on board who went to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic.

The joint search operation by American and Canadian ships and planes continued for a third day as rescuers raced against time on Tuesday (June 20) to find a submersible with five people on board who went to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic. The United States Coast Guard-led search for the small craft Titan is taking place off the coast of southeastern Canada where tourists were taken to explore the wreckage of the Titanic on Sunday. What has happened so far? According to the US Coast Guard, there were five people, one pilot and four passengers, on board the tour firm OceanGate Expeditions’ submersible “Titan”. The Washington-based private company has been deploying crewed submersibles for deep-sea expeditions and said is “mobilising all options” to get the crew back safely and working with the government agencies. ALSO READ | Submersible meant to take tourists to Titanic wreck goes missing in Atlantic Ocean The submersible had between 70 and 96 hours of emergency oxygen as of Monday, said the US Coast Guard, adding that the vessel can stay underwater for up to 96 hours. It was not immediately clear if the vessel had resurfaced and was unable to communicate. US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick, in an update on Tuesday afternoon, said that deep-diving tourist submersible has only "about 40 hours of breathable air". Additionally, even if the submersible has resurfaced the occupants cannot escape without assistance since it is sealed with bolts from the outside. The submersible was carrying five people to see the wreckage of the RMS Titanic which sank during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, US in April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, killing at least 1,500 people of the roughly 2,200 passengers and crew. Since then the Titanic’s shipwreck, which was first discovered in 1985 around 650 kilometres off the coast of Canada and lies about 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) below the surface, has been explored extensively. What happened on Sunday? The five-person submersible had taken wealthy adventurers on a $250,000 trip, on Sunday to see the wreckage of the sunken Titanic which some have predicted would disappear in a matter of decades. ALSO READ | Missing Titanic submarine: What is OceanGate's Titan and its Titanic expedition? Here's all you need to know The Titan’s dive on Sunday was supposed to be just another of many organised by the OceanGate since 2021. The support vessel Polar Prince, an icebreaker hired by OceanGate that takes people and the submersible vessel, arrived near the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday morning. As per reports, the submersible typically takes two hours to descend. However, as per the Boston Coast Guard, the Titan “submerged Sunday morning, and the crew of the Polar Prince lost contact with them approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the vessel’s dive." ALSO READ | Watch file footage of Titanic tourist submersible. It was lost for hours in 2022 too Notably, it is not the first time that the tourist submersible has disappeared as revealed in a video shot by CBS last summer. The video showed the vessel appeared to have lost communication with its mothership for almost two and a half hours. About the search so far The US Coast Guard is currently searching 1,450 kilometres east of the Cape Cod peninsula. In a statement, on Tuesday morning, the officials said that the Polar Prince along with another US coast guard team will continue to do “surface searches throughout the evening". This comes after US Coast Guard’s Rear Admiral John Mauger, addressing the press, on Monday said that it’s been challenging to search such a remote area. He added that the operation is also being conducted in two parts, which included a surface search in case the Titan has surfaced but is unable to establish communications, and an underwater sonar search. In an update on Tuesday, Frederick said that the US and Canadian aircraft have searched more than 7,600 square miles with a commercial vessel and an unmanned vehicle capable of deep dives was also searching near the site. ALSO READ | One window, no seats, freezing temps: What is it like to be trapped inside Titanic's claustrophobic vessel In addition to the US and Canadian rescue ships and planes scouring the area, sonar buoys are also being deployed to monitor the water depth of around 3,900 metres. The coast guard has also deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft for surface search joined by Canadian C-130, and a P8 aircraft equipped with underwater sonar. According to OceanGate’s website, the expedition begins in the Canadian city of St John’s, Newfoundland, before heading out around 640 kilometres into the North Atlantic Ocean to the wreckage site. Why is the search so difficult? Speaking to Reuters, two experts, on Tuesday, detailed the hostile conditions that any search and rescue operations might face while looking for the missing submersible. According to Tim Matlin, who has spent years studying the sunken ship and its wreckage, it's “pitch black down there”. He added, “You can’t see your hand in front of your face.” Matlin also went on to describe the conditions like “being an astronaut going into space. So I do fear for the lives of those explorers who are on board." ALSO READ | Tourist vessel missing near Titanic wreck: How is submersible different from a submarine? Meanwhile, Jamie Pringle, a Forensic Geoscience at Keele University in the United Kingdom told the news agency that the first 24 hours of the search were key and that the chance of survival is now greatly reduced. Who was on board the submersible? As mentioned earlier, while the officials have confirmed there are five people on board, only the identity of three people have been confirmed so far, which included British billionaire Hamish Harding (58), Vice Chairman of one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood. Meanwhile, as per reports, 77-year-old French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Stockton Rush who is the founder and CEO of the tour firm OceanGate, are also on board, but there is no official confirmation on this yet. Hamish Harding One of the passengers, who is confirmed to be on board the missing submersible, Harding, chairman of aviation consultancy Action Aviation, took to Facebook, on Saturday and said, “Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023.” ALSO READ | Who is Hamish Harding, the British billionaire on board missing Titanic submersible? He added, “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow,” adding that more expedition updates will follow “IF the weather holds!”. That the United Arab Emirates-based businessman had been missing, was later confirmed by Harding’s stepson in a now-deleted Facebook post where he wrote that Harding had “gone missing on submarine” and asked for “thoughts and prayers”. He later deleted the post citing respect for the family’s privacy. According to a previous social media report, Harding said that he would be on board the Titan as a “mission specialist”. Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman The Dawood family has confirmed that Shahzada the Vice Chairman of Engro Corporation and his son Suleman are on board the missing submersible. “We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety,” said their family, on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Who is Shahzada Dawood? One of Pakistan's wealthiest men on board the missing Titanic submersible Paul-Henri Nargeolet The 77-year-old French explorer is also on the missing submersible, a family spokesman told the BBC. Notably, he leads the underwater research at a company that owns the rights to the Titanic wreck and is nicknamed “Mr Titanic”. The former commander of the French Navy, Nargeolet reportedly served as both a deep diver and a minesweeper. Stockton Rush According to media reports, Rush, who is the founder and CEO of OceanGate is said to be on board the missing submersible. “The ocean is taking this thing, and we need to document it before it all disappears or becomes unrecognisable,” Rush had told the Associated Press back in 2021. (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.

Explained | Ships, planes search for missing Titanic tourist submersible: What we know so far

Earlier today, authorities reported that ten more bodies have been&nbsp;recovered raising the death toll to 26 due to&nbsp;an avalanche that slammed climbers in the Indian Himalayas. Additionally,&nbsp;at least three trainees still missing, indicated a statement by the&nbsp;Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering (NIM).&nbsp;

Among the 26 bodies recovered were trainee mountaineers and two were instructors, said the NIM. The statement added, that 15 bodies were covered on Thursday and seven on Friday. According to&nbsp;District Magistrate (DM) Abhishek Ruhella, four bodies were brought to Matli but were taken to&nbsp;Harsil helipad due to bad weather and subsequently sent to&nbsp;Uttarkashi in ambulances. 
 
He added that not all recovered bodies have been identified yet, but the&nbsp;family members and&nbsp;relatives of those missing have been contacted. The heavy rain and bad weather have hampered aerial&nbsp;search efforts in the region but on-the-ground rescue&nbsp;remains uninterrupted, said&nbsp;Ruhella.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The 14 injured mountaineers from the NIM&nbsp;were airlifted to a base camp of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Matli, of which five were admitted to the district hospital in Uttarkashi.

The rest of the nine sustained minor injuries and were sent back to the NIM, the Uttarakhand Police said.

The inclement weather at the site of the avalanche is proving a challenge for the&nbsp;rescue teams, officials said.

Earlier, state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial inspection of the site, which is at the height of 18,000 feet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/10-bodies-spotted-4-retrieved-following-the-avalanche-in-uttarakhand-nim-principal-says-522613">India: 10 dead after avalanche in Uttarakhand, other members of expedition still missing</a>

The NIM in a statement said that the team which was caught in the avalanche consisted of 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors only.

Meanwhile, officials didn’t provide details on whether the 14 injured mountaineers rescued were part of the 41-member team that had gone to summit the Draupadi ka Danda-II peak or waiting at the NIM base camp.

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Earlier today, authorities reported that ten more bodies have been recovered raising the death toll to 26 due to an avalanche that slammed climbers in the Indian Himalayas.

Earlier today, authorities reported that ten more bodies have been recovered raising the death toll to 26 due to an avalanche that slammed climbers in the Indian Himalayas. Additionally, at least three trainees still missing, indicated a statement by the Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering (NIM). Among the 26 bodies recovered were trainee mountaineers and two were instructors, said the NIM. The statement added, that 15 bodies were covered on Thursday and seven on Friday. According to District Magistrate (DM) Abhishek Ruhella, four bodies were brought to Matli but were taken to Harsil helipad due to bad weather and subsequently sent to Uttarkashi in ambulances. He added that not all recovered bodies have been identified yet, but the family members and relatives of those missing have been contacted. The heavy rain and bad weather have hampered aerial search efforts in the region but on-the-ground rescue remains uninterrupted, said Ruhella. The 14 injured mountaineers from the NIM were airlifted to a base camp of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Matli, of which five were admitted to the district hospital in Uttarkashi. The rest of the nine sustained minor injuries and were sent back to the NIM, the Uttarakhand Police said. The inclement weather at the site of the avalanche is proving a challenge for the rescue teams, officials said. Earlier, state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial inspection of the site, which is at the height of 18,000 feet. Also read | India: 10 dead after avalanche in Uttarakhand, other members of expedition still missing The NIM in a statement said that the team which was caught in the avalanche consisted of 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors only. Meanwhile, officials didn’t provide details on whether the 14 injured mountaineers rescued were part of the 41-member team that had gone to summit the Draupadi ka Danda-II peak or waiting at the NIM base camp. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Uttarakhand avalanche: Death toll rises to 26, three trainees still missing

The bodies of seven Indian Army personnel who went missing after an avalanche struck near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh have been recovered, the army said in a statement on Tuesday.

On February 6, the army personnel from the 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were trapped after the avalanche hit the Kameng Sector.&nbsp;The personnel were part of a patrol team.

The area, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall for the past few days.

Search and rescue operations, including airlifting specialised teams, had been launched immediately after the avalanche struck the Mummy Head area in the Tawang district where the soldiers were patrolling in sub-zero conditions.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed dead, the army said in the statement.

"The area, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet, had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall since the last few days. The bodies of the soldiers are currently being transferred from the avalanche site to the nearest army medical facility for further formalities," the army said.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered their condolences to the bereaved families.

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Sadddened by the loss of lives of Indian Army personnel due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation. Condolences to the bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1491065041785073664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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President Ram Nath Kovind said the death of Army soldiers due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh is a tragedy beyond words and offered condolences to their families.

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The death of soldiers due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh is a tragedy beyond words. The brave soldiers laid down their lives for the service of the nation. Their selfless sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to their families.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1491058111334862855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Arunachal Pradesh is generally divided into Kameng area on the west and rest of Arunachal Pradesh.

The army’s Eastern Command handles the 1,346-km-long LAC including Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.

This command has three corps — 33 Corps (Sikkim), 4 Corps (Kameng sector) and 3 Corps (Rest of Arunachal Pradesh) to handle the LAC.

(With inputs from agencies)

The bodies of seven Indian Army personnel who went missing after an avalanche struck near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh have been recovered, the army said in a statement on Tuesday.

The bodies of seven Indian Army personnel who went missing after an avalanche struck near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh have been recovered, the army said in a statement on Tuesday. On February 6, the army personnel from the 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were trapped after the avalanche hit the Kameng Sector. The personnel were part of a patrol team. The area, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall for the past few days. Search and rescue operations, including airlifting specialised teams, had been launched immediately after the avalanche struck the Mummy Head area in the Tawang district where the soldiers were patrolling in sub-zero conditions. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed dead, the army said in the statement. "The area, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet, had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall since the last few days. The bodies of the soldiers are currently being transferred from the avalanche site to the nearest army medical facility for further formalities," the army said. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered their condolences to the bereaved families. Sadddened by the loss of lives of Indian Army personnel due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation. Condolences to the bereaved families. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2022 × President Ram Nath Kovind said the death of Army soldiers due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh is a tragedy beyond words and offered condolences to their families. The death of soldiers due to an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh is a tragedy beyond words. The brave soldiers laid down their lives for the service of the nation. Their selfless sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to their families. — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 8, 2022 × Arunachal Pradesh is generally divided into Kameng area on the west and rest of Arunachal Pradesh. The army’s Eastern Command handles the 1,346-km-long LAC including Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China. This command has three corps — 33 Corps (Sikkim), 4 Corps (Kameng sector) and 3 Corps (Rest of Arunachal Pradesh) to handle the LAC. (With inputs from agencies)

Seven Indian soldiers stuck in Arunachal avalanche found dead; PM, president offer condolences

The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../death-toll-in-albania-earthquake-climbs-to-30- rescuers-race-to-save-lives-264973"> Albania</a> in decades rose to 40 on Thursday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families.&nbsp;

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the Balkan state while people were sleeping just before 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday, razing buildings and trapping victims beneath the debris in towns near the Adriatic coast.

Rescue teams were still shovelling away massive chunks of collapsed apartments and hotels in the coastal city of Durres, where nearly 30 buildings were badly damaged.

Teams from around Europe have flown in to help with the effort, bringing dogs and specialised cameras to hunt for survivors, around 50 of whom have been pulled out alive, mostly on Tuesday.

As the operation stretched into day three, rescuers insisted there was still reason to hope for more survival stories.&nbsp;

"There may be hope for up to eight or ten days" for victims to live after an earthquake, Captain Joel Leroy, a French rescuer, told AFP.

His team of around 50 was searching for two people believed to be buried at the site of seven-story building in Durres, where two or three floors toppled over and sunk into the ground.&nbsp;

Victims may still be in "survival pockets" of air that allow them to breathe under the rubble, he explained.

"That's why we are working so hard, we believe in it," he added.

Search efforts ceased Thursday in the other hard-hit town of Thumane, where the defence ministry said there were no more missing after more than 20 bodies were pulled out in recent days.

During the night, emergency workers uncovered the corpses of a mother and son from the Reci family, found in an embrace.

They were crushed by the weight of a collapsed six-storey building in Durres.&nbsp;

The whole family has now perished in the quake, with the bodies of a father and daughter pulled out the day before, according to Ilir Duka, an Albanian rescuer at the scene.&nbsp;

Similar tragedies have befallen other families as the pre-dawn quake shattered their homes.

Loved ones have watched on in horror as rescuers pulled out bodies covered in a grey film of dust, many in their pyjamas.&nbsp;

On Tuesday a woman was heard crying out from inside a wrecked building, where she was stuck inside with a dead child. She was eventually rescued but later died in hospital.

'Hope dies last'&nbsp; 
Around 50 survivors have been hospitalised and are "in a state of shock and worried about their loved ones", defence ministry spokeswoman Albana Qehajaj told AFP.

The number of people who may still be buried in the rubble is unknown.

Rescuers, helped by teams from across Europe, have been working in perilous conditions as hundreds of aftershocks rattle buildings, interrupting search efforts.&nbsp;

"It's a heavy operation, but that's why we're here, we've been doing this for a long time," said an Italian rescue worker who didn't give his name.

"Hope dies last," he said, adding that survivors have been found up to four days after an earthquake in some instances.

The Italian team was working with dogs to search on a flattened four-storey house that belonged to the Lala family and their relatives.

Two toddlers and their mother were among those who have not yet been found in the debris, their neighbour Fatmira, dressed in black and whispering through tears, told AFP.

Moved to hotels&nbsp; 
Thousands of people have been displaced, either because their homes were severely damaged or were still unsafe because of the continuing aftershocks.

On Wednesday night authorities in Durres moved those who had been sleeping in tents to hotels and a sports centre.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has promised to rehouse the newly homeless by next year.

Illegal construction is rife in Albania, where chaotic development exploded after the fall of communism in 1990.

Many buildings lack proper permits and do not adhere to safety codes.&nbsp;

The earthquake was the deadliest in several decades in Albania, which lies near a tectonic fault line.&nbsp;

The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike Albania in decades rose to 40 on Thursday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families.

The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike Albania in decades rose to 40 on Thursday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the Balkan state while people were sleeping just before 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday, razing buildings and trapping victims beneath the debris in towns near the Adriatic coast. Rescue teams were still shovelling away massive chunks of collapsed apartments and hotels in the coastal city of Durres, where nearly 30 buildings were badly damaged. Teams from around Europe have flown in to help with the effort, bringing dogs and specialised cameras to hunt for survivors, around 50 of whom have been pulled out alive, mostly on Tuesday. As the operation stretched into day three, rescuers insisted there was still reason to hope for more survival stories. "There may be hope for up to eight or ten days" for victims to live after an earthquake, Captain Joel Leroy, a French rescuer, told AFP. His team of around 50 was searching for two people believed to be buried at the site of seven-story building in Durres, where two or three floors toppled over and sunk into the ground. Victims may still be in "survival pockets" of air that allow them to breathe under the rubble, he explained. "That's why we are working so hard, we believe in it," he added. Search efforts ceased Thursday in the other hard-hit town of Thumane, where the defence ministry said there were no more missing after more than 20 bodies were pulled out in recent days. During the night, emergency workers uncovered the corpses of a mother and son from the Reci family, found in an embrace. They were crushed by the weight of a collapsed six-storey building in Durres. The whole family has now perished in the quake, with the bodies of a father and daughter pulled out the day before, according to Ilir Duka, an Albanian rescuer at the scene. Similar tragedies have befallen other families as the pre-dawn quake shattered their homes. Loved ones have watched on in horror as rescuers pulled out bodies covered in a grey film of dust, many in their pyjamas. On Tuesday a woman was heard crying out from inside a wrecked building, where she was stuck inside with a dead child. She was eventually rescued but later died in hospital. 'Hope dies last' Around 50 survivors have been hospitalised and are "in a state of shock and worried about their loved ones", defence ministry spokeswoman Albana Qehajaj told AFP. The number of people who may still be buried in the rubble is unknown. Rescuers, helped by teams from across Europe, have been working in perilous conditions as hundreds of aftershocks rattle buildings, interrupting search efforts. "It's a heavy operation, but that's why we're here, we've been doing this for a long time," said an Italian rescue worker who didn't give his name. "Hope dies last," he said, adding that survivors have been found up to four days after an earthquake in some instances. The Italian team was working with dogs to search on a flattened four-storey house that belonged to the Lala family and their relatives. Two toddlers and their mother were among those who have not yet been found in the debris, their neighbour Fatmira, dressed in black and whispering through tears, told AFP. Moved to hotels Thousands of people have been displaced, either because their homes were severely damaged or were still unsafe because of the continuing aftershocks. On Wednesday night authorities in Durres moved those who had been sleeping in tents to hotels and a sports centre. Prime Minister Edi Rama has promised to rehouse the newly homeless by next year. Illegal construction is rife in Albania, where chaotic development exploded after the fall of communism in 1990. Many buildings lack proper permits and do not adhere to safety codes. The earthquake was the deadliest in several decades in Albania, which lies near a tectonic fault line.

Forty dead as families pulled from Albania earthquake rubble

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue, 2019 at the Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi on Monday. 
 
"Inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search &amp; Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi," Shah Tweeted.

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Inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search &amp; Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/R8pwMAqZsH">pic.twitter.com/R8pwMAqZsH</a>
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1191324576216764418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The four-day exercise is being hosted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rehearse disaster response mechanisms and share knowledge, experience, and technology. 
 
The main focus of the joint exercise will be to test the region's preparedness to activate intergovernmental interaction for an immediate response.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue, 2019 at the Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi on Monday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue, 2019 at the Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi on Monday. "Inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi," Shah Tweeted. Inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/R8pwMAqZsH — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 4, 2019 × The four-day exercise is being hosted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rehearse disaster response mechanisms and share knowledge, experience, and technology. The main focus of the joint exercise will be to test the region's preparedness to activate intergovernmental interaction for an immediate response.

Amit Shah inaugurates SCO joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue

A Malaysian air force fighter jet was reported missing on Thursday and a search and rescue operation has been launched, informed the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

A Hawk 108 fighter jet which is believed to have gone missing north of Kuantan near the Pahang-Terengganu border lost contact with the RMAF, reports the Malaysian National News Agency.

The RMAF said in a statement that contact was lost after the aircraft took off from the Kuantan airbase at 11.30 a.m.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, in a Twitter message expressed concern over the incident and prayed for the safety of the pilots.&nbsp;

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Terima berita membimbangkan. Semoga semuanya selamat, insyaAllah. <a href="https://t.co/EwIQ2YbTo9">https://t.co/EwIQ2YbTo9</a>
&mdash; Hishammuddin Hussein (@HishammuddinH2O) <a href="https://twitter.com/HishammuddinH2O/status/875215152454316034">June 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Malaysian air force fighter jet goes missing north of Kuantan near the Pahang-Terengganu border

A Malaysian air force fighter jet was reported missing on Thursday and a search and rescue operation has been launched, informed the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). A Hawk 108 fighter jet which is believed to have gone missing north of Kuantan near the Pahang-Terengganu border lost contact with the RMAF, reports the Malaysian National News Agency. The RMAF said in a statement that contact was lost after the aircraft took off from the Kuantan airbase at 11.30 a.m. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, in a Twitter message expressed concern over the incident and prayed for the safety of the pilots. Terima berita membimbangkan. Semoga semuanya selamat, insyaAllah. https://t.co/EwIQ2YbTo9 — Hishammuddin Hussein (@HishammuddinH2O) June 15, 2017 ×

Malaysian fighter jet goes missing north of Kuantan, search-and-rescue operation initiated

Seventeen Colombian soldiers died when their Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter crashed in a central mountainous area of the Andean country, the army announced on Monday. 
 
According to officials, the accident in the Caldas province, some 180 km from the Bogota capital, occurred on June 26 when the helicopter was travelling from the jungle province of Choco to the Tolemaida military base. 
 
Search and rescue teams were deployed on foot in lush jungle to find the site of the crash but no survivors were found. 
 
&quot;I pass on the sad news that our men have been found dead in the site of the accident. Firstly, I want to heartfully express my condolences, to embrace the families of those four officials, seven deputy officials and seven soldiers who were lost in this tragedy,&quot; said Colombian army commander, General Alberto Jose Meja. 
 
Officials have blamed bad weather rather than foul play for the tragedy but a full investigation is underway for answers into the crash. 
 
President Juan Manuel Santos passed on his condolences to family members of the fallen soldiers. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re waiting for the result of the investigation to see what really happened. It&#39;s a sad event, a sad episode and our hearts are with the families of these fallen heroes who died doing their job,&quot; he said at military barracks. 
 
Military fatalities are not uncommon in Colombia with many soldiers operating in dense jungle regions against strong drug cartels. 
 
German Martinez lost a member of his family in the helicopter crash. He told media that Colombian soldiers put the lives of citizens before their own in the line of duty. 
 
&quot;When they (soldiers) take on this role one does not always thinking about receiving news like this. They look after the lives of all citizens, attentive to what they must do and they put their lives at risk for us,&quot; said Martinez. 
 
The last major helicopter crash happened in Colombia took place in August, when 16 police officers died after a mechanical failure caused their US-made UH-60 Black Hawk to crash during an anti-drug operation in Colombia&#39;s northeast. 
 
(Reuters)

Search and rescue teams found no survivors in the jungle province of Choco where the chopper went down

Seventeen Colombian soldiers died when their Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter crashed in a central mountainous area of the Andean country, the army announced on Monday. According to officials, the accident in the Caldas province, some 180 km from the Bogota capital, occurred on June 26 when the helicopter was travelling from the jungle province of Choco to the Tolemaida military base. Search and rescue teams were deployed on foot in lush jungle to find the site of the crash but no survivors were found. "I pass on the sad news that our men have been found dead in the site of the accident. Firstly, I want to heartfully express my condolences, to embrace the families of those four officials, seven deputy officials and seven soldiers who were lost in this tragedy," said Colombian army commander, General Alberto Jose Meja. Officials have blamed bad weather rather than foul play for the tragedy but a full investigation is underway for answers into the crash. President Juan Manuel Santos passed on his condolences to family members of the fallen soldiers. "We're waiting for the result of the investigation to see what really happened. It's a sad event, a sad episode and our hearts are with the families of these fallen heroes who died doing their job," he said at military barracks. Military fatalities are not uncommon in Colombia with many soldiers operating in dense jungle regions against strong drug cartels. German Martinez lost a member of his family in the helicopter crash. He told media that Colombian soldiers put the lives of citizens before their own in the line of duty. "When they (soldiers) take on this role one does not always thinking about receiving news like this. They look after the lives of all citizens, attentive to what they must do and they put their lives at risk for us," said Martinez. The last major helicopter crash happened in Colombia took place in August, when 16 police officers died after a mechanical failure caused their US-made UH-60 Black Hawk to crash during an anti-drug operation in Colombia's northeast. (Reuters)

Helicopter crash kills 17 Colombian soldiers

Flooding in the US state of West Virginia killed 23 people and stranded others who had to be plucked from rooftops and rescued from fast-moving waters, state officials said on Friday. 
 
&quot;The damage is widespread and devastating. Our focus remains on search and rescue,&quot; governor Earl Ray Tomblin told a news conference after floods caused by a day of heavy rains. 
 
&quot;I had planned to fly around the affected areas myself today but wasn&#39;t able to, because all state aircrafts are currently being used for rescues,&quot; he said. 
 
Tomblin gave a death toll of 14 from the disaster, but later on Friday Jessica Tice, with the state&#39;s Homeland Security and Emergency Management office, told AFP that the toll had reached 23. 
 
The dead included an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. 
 
At least six counties have extensive structural damage and about 66,000 people were without power, the governor said. 
 
US senator Shelley Moore Capito said that she had been in touch with the White House about getting a disaster designation for the affected areas. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re pushing for the federal declaration -- I can&#39;t imagine that we won&#39;t get it,&quot; she told CNN. 
 
&quot;We had a call today with FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). They&#39;re moving some of their assets in over the weekend,&quot; she said. 
 
About 200 National Guard members had fanned out in eight counties to assist local responders and 17 shelters were open for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. 
 
About 500 people were stranded overnight inside a shopping mall in Elkview, near the capital Charleston, after a bridge leading to the main road was washed away, ABC News reported. 
 
News station WCHS/WVAH posted a video on its Instagram account showing a house in flames being carried away by muddy floodwaters in the small city of White Sulphur Springs. 
 
A Twitter account for news and events in the town of Spencer, West Virginia, posted dramatic images under its handle @Spencer_Daily. 
 
One series of photos showed a man in chest-high water using a rock to smash the windows of a vehicle whose occupants were trapped inside. 
 
Another set of photos showed a woman who had caught a giant trout with her hands while standing on a two-lane road amid stopped traffic. 
 
(AFP)

500 people stranded overnight inside a shopping mall, others have to be rescued from rooftops

Flooding in the US state of West Virginia killed 23 people and stranded others who had to be plucked from rooftops and rescued from fast-moving waters, state officials said on Friday. "The damage is widespread and devastating. Our focus remains on search and rescue," governor Earl Ray Tomblin told a news conference after floods caused by a day of heavy rains. "I had planned to fly around the affected areas myself today but wasn't able to, because all state aircrafts are currently being used for rescues," he said. Tomblin gave a death toll of 14 from the disaster, but later on Friday Jessica Tice, with the state's Homeland Security and Emergency Management office, told AFP that the toll had reached 23. The dead included an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. At least six counties have extensive structural damage and about 66,000 people were without power, the governor said. US senator Shelley Moore Capito said that she had been in touch with the White House about getting a disaster designation for the affected areas. "We're pushing for the federal declaration -- I can't imagine that we won't get it," she told CNN. "We had a call today with FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). They're moving some of their assets in over the weekend," she said. About 200 National Guard members had fanned out in eight counties to assist local responders and 17 shelters were open for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. About 500 people were stranded overnight inside a shopping mall in Elkview, near the capital Charleston, after a bridge leading to the main road was washed away, ABC News reported. News station WCHS/WVAH posted a video on its Instagram account showing a house in flames being carried away by muddy floodwaters in the small city of White Sulphur Springs. A Twitter account for news and events in the town of Spencer, West Virginia, posted dramatic images under its handle @Spencer_Daily. One series of photos showed a man in chest-high water using a rock to smash the windows of a vehicle whose occupants were trapped inside. Another set of photos showed a woman who had caught a giant trout with her hands while standing on a two-lane road amid stopped traffic. (AFP)

Flooding in West Virginia kills 23