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4th April - Snow falling in
Greece
Heavy snow is falling in parts of
Macedonia today (April 4th),
according to the Athens News
Agency.
Temperatures plummeted to around
minus two degrees C on Thursday
evening and a thick layer of snow
is now present in mountainous
regions.
Most other areas have recorded
relatively mild temperatures of
ten degrees C.
Areas affected include Seli Ski
resort in Imathia.
There are no reports of any
injuries or interruption to
services, although traffic is said
to be moving slowly through the
region.
Macedonia is usually characterised
by mild and rainy winters, with an
average temperature in the coldest
month of January being three
degrees C. |
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12th March - Tourist facilities
damaged
Strong winds and waves have caused
damage to seaside walkways and
other facilities in the Spanish
Basque City of San Sebastian,
officials have said.
Reuters reported on March 12th
that waves of up to eight metres
hit the beach front on Tuesday,
sweeping cars down streets and
overturning boats.
Mayor Odon E Lorza told Cadena Ser
radio that it was too early to say
how much the damage would cost.
A strong wind warning along the
coast from Galicia to the Basque
Country has been issued by the
state meteorological service. |
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3rd March - One dead in flash
floods
Flash floods in Jerusalem saw one
man drown last week, Israeli
police have confirmed.
The man - an American hiking in a
gulch near the Dead Sea - drowned,
while one person remains missing,
the Associated Press reported on
February 25th.
Near where the body was found in
the Ein Gedi nature reserve a
woman was found and being treated
on the scene.
Surrounded by desert and cliffs,
the Dead Sea can be flooded when
rain falling in distant hills
rushes down the steep drops. |
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20th February - Road accidents
as ice persists
Icy roads in Istanbul are causing
traffic accidents as snowfall in
the country begins to decrease.
Two people were injured on the
Turkish city's roads, which are
covered with ice after a period of
snow which has left highways and
schools closed since Saturday,
reported the Turkish Daily News on
February 20th.
Mayor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler,
has said that the temperature is
expected to decrease to minus ten
degrees Celsius on Wednesday as
schools across the city reopen.
However, 4,266 village roads were
blocked across the country on
Tuesday, with snowfall expected in
the eastern region on Wednesday. |
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18th February - Athens stays
closed after storm
Government offices and businesses
opted to remain closed after the
Greek capital Athens was hit by a
snowstorm, according to local
officials.
DPA reported on February 18th that
the combination of sub-zero
temperatures and heavy snow during
the preceding two days had brought
much of the city's public
transport system to a halt.
A number of major roads into the
capital were blocked by snow and
the government decided to order
schools and other official
buildings to remain closed - a
move copied by banks and many shop
owners.
The Greek islands were also
affected by the snowstorm and
villages across Crete and Evia
were cut off because of the
conditions. |
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11th February - Hailstorm in
Gozo The island of Gozo,
which neighbours Malta, has
witnesses an unexpected hailstorm,
according to the Times of Malta.
Following the downpour, the
Mediterranean island found itself
covered in a white colour at
around 06:00 local time, the
newspaper reported on February
11th.
Victoria was the area most
affected, with fields in the town
turning pale. One reader told the
publication that footprints at her
front doorstep measured around two
inches deep.
Malta, a popular holiday
destination with people from the
UK, also woke up to similarly cold
conditions. |
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31st January - Jerusalem shuts
down for snow The Israeli
city of Jerusalem was brought to a
standstill following an unusually
heavy snowstorm, according to
local meteorologists.
Associated Press reported on
January 30th that 20 centimetres
of snow fell in the city during
the morning before heavy rain
arrived in the afternoon.
The snow that blanketed the city
in the morning blocked roads and
persuaded many people to stay home
from work.
Parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
and the West Bank also experienced
heavy snow resulting from the
storm. |
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30th January - Wintry weather
causes transport chaos
Strong winds and snow have caused
major disruption to Greece's
transport network, according to
local officials.
Reuters reported on January 29th
that traffic in suburbs north of
the capital Athens was badly
affected by a sudden spell of
heavy snowfall.
Conditions also forced the closure
of the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio
and Rafina, leading to the
cancellation of ferry services to
the Aegean islands.
People hoping to travel to the
islands by plane also faced
disappointment as the high winds
grounded domestic flights from
Athens. |
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25th January - One hurt as
winds buffet Malta A man
needed hospital treatment after
the east coast of Malta was
buffeted by strong winds,
according to local police.
Times of Malta reported on January
24th that a north-easterly wind
and rough seas led to the closure
of coastal roads and to boats
being destroyed.
A 59-year-old man was taken to
hospital after he was struck by a
water tank dislodged by the wind
but his injuries proved not to be
serious.
Another man had a fortunate escape
after his car was washed on to
rocks by high waves and he was
rescued by a police patrol that
happened to be passing. |
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23rd January - Travel problems
after rare snow Air and road
travel in Jordan has been severely
disrupted by a rare snowstorm,
according to local officials.
The Associated Press reported on
January 22nd that the storm had
left the desert nation blanketed
in up to five centimetres of snow.
Flights from Queen Alia
International Airport near the
capital Amman were delayed as
de-icing work took place and staff
waited for the fog that followed
the storm to lift.
Traffic in Amman also came to a
standstill as drivers struggled to
cope with the unfamiliar but
dangerous icy conditions. |
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22nd January - Israeli farmers
suffer in drought
Farmers in the south of Israel are
facing the prospect of substantial
losses because of a drought,
according to local officials.
Haaretz reported on January 21st
that the Be'er Sheva, Arava and
western and central Negev areas
have received less than a third of
the expected rainfall since the
start of the winter.
The region has also been hit by
frost and the combination has
resulted in the loss of hundreds
of thousands of pounds worth of
winter vegetable crops earmarked
for export.
Farmers affected by the conditions
are now waiting to see whether the
state will compensate them. |
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11th January - Cyprus ponders
drought measures
The drought in Cyprus has become
so serious the government is
considering importing water,
agriculture minister Photis
Photiou has confirmed.
Reuters reported on January 9th
that the island is in its fourth
consecutive year of drought and
that its reservoirs are now at
only 9.2 per cent of full
capacity.
Water restrictions have already
been imposed on farmers and could
be extended to domestic users if
the situation does not ease in the
next three months, Mr Photiou told
the news agency.
He added that importing water from
Crete via tanker ships would be
expensive but that it would have
to happen unless rainfall figures
increase in the short term. |
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10th December - Rain relief for
Cyprus
Heavy rain over the weekend may
have been welcomed by the Cyprus
water board following reports that
reserves were low, reported the
Famagusta Gazette on December
10th.
The news provider said that island
received torrential rain in many
areas, while thick fog and snow
fell on the mountains.
Larnaca also saw flooding, with
the wet weather expected to
continue until later in the week,
the newspaper said.
The BBC recently reported that the
Orthodox Church of Cyprus had
called for priests to pray for
rain. |
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29th November - Death
toll rises in Algieria
Sustained heavy rain has seen the
death toll from the flooding in
Algeria rise to 11, according to
government officials.
AFP reported on November 28th that
the north of the country had
experienced five consecutive days
of downpours, leading to flooding
in the cities of Algiers, Oran and
Boumerdes.
Three people have drowned in the
capital, five died in house
collapses caused by the weather in
Oran and three people were swept
away by the floodwater in the area
around Boumerdes.
Algeria's transport network has
also been badly affected, with the
main road routes into Algiers all
virtually impassable because of
the floods. |
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27th November - Two
killed in Algiers floods Two
people were killed after parts of
the Algerian capital Algiers were
hit by flooding, according to
local police.
AFP reported on November 26th that
a downpour the previous day led to
landslides in which two people
died and eight more were injured.
Several apartment blocks were
inundated in the old town and 120
families were forced to leave
their homes after floodwater swept
through the Bab El-Oued
neighbourhood.
The rain also brought traffic to a
standstill in the west of Algiers
after a bridge over the Beni
Messous river was washed away. |
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22nd November - Floods
hit Andalusia Parts of the
Spanish region of Andalusia were
left underwater after a severe
storm, according to local
officials.
Reuters reported on November 21st
that the south of Spain had
experienced a long dry spell
before the storm brought a day of
torrential rain.
The worst affected areas were the
town of Utrera, which declared a
state of emergency after a river
broke its banks and flooded 400
homes, and the province of Jaen
where properties were left
underwater.
Cadiz was badly affected by strong
winds which caused serious damage
to a number of commercial
buildings. Residents also reported
seeing a tornado. |
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2nd November - Lecce
stunned by lightning death
Italian football club Lecce is in
mourning for a member of its
backroom team after he was struck
by lightning and died at the end
of a training session.
Associated Press reported on
November 1st that kitman Antonio
De Giorgi, coach Giuseppe
Papadopulo and sporting director
Guido Angelozzi were struck by
lightning as they collected up
equipment during a thunderstorm.
Papadopulo and Angelozzi escaped
completely unhurt, but De Giorgi
was killed instantly.
Lecce's Serie B game at Cesena,
scheduled for November 3rd, is
likely to be postponed as a mark
of respect for the 41-year-old
father of one. |
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23rd October - Boats sunk
in Maltese storm Sailors had
to be rescued from boats moored
off Malta after the area was hit
by a severe thunderstorm,
according to local officials.
Times of Malta reported on October
23rd that a storm two days earlier
had brought force eight winds and
just over two centimetres of rain.
As a result, a number of boats
were torn away from their moorings
and sank, with the Civil
Protection Department (CPD) having
to rescue some owners.
The CPD also had to clear up
inland, where electricity poles
and trees were felled and left
strewn across roads. |
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18th October - Woman dies
in Mallorcan flood A woman
has died after trying to escape a
flash flood on the Spanish island
of Mallorca, according to local
emergency services.
Reuters reported on October 18th
that torrential rain had caused
floods close to the town of
Puigpunyent the previous day.
A car carrying three people became
trapped by the rising water and
the woman was killed after being
swept away after leaving the
vehicle to get help.
The two passengers, a man and a
baby, were subsequently rescued
from the vehicle unharmed, a
spokesman for the emergency
services said. |
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16th October - Death toll
rises in Tunisia Rescue
workers in Tunisia have found
three more bodies to take the
death toll in the recent flooding
to 11, according to the state news
agency.
Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
reported on October 15th that some
areas in the north of the country
had received 17 centimetres of
rain during a torrential downpour
two days earlier.
The rain filled previously dry
riverbeds, which quickly
overflowed, leading to homes and
roads being flooded and cars being
washed away.
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
has now ordered changes to
building regulations and a
re-evaluation of ongoing state
construction projects to take
account of the possible
consequences of any future extreme
weather conditions. |
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15th October - Eight dead
after Tunisian rains At
least eight people have died after
the north of Tunisia was hit by
torrential rain, according to a
local news agency.
Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
reported on October 14th that
heavy rain the previous day had
led to floods that bought chaos to
the road network in and around the
capital Tunis.
The worst incident occurred near
Sabbelet Ben Ammar, where the
swift rise in the water level
caught motorists unawares and led
to eight people being killed.
Eight more people are missing
after their cars were washed away.
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
has ordered local authorities to
step up relief efforts in affected
areas and also cancelled
Evacuation Day celebrations
scheduled for October 15th. |
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15th October - Tow die
after Spanish storms Two
people have died after storms
lashed the east coast of Spain and
the Balearic islands, according to
a broadcaster.
Sky News reported on October 14th
that the regions had experienced
heavy rain and high winds for the
previous two days.
Swollen rivers washed away a
three-story building and a bridge
near Alicante, where a woman was
killed after her house was
flooded.
In Ibiza, a man died after a
strong gust of wind blew him into
a building while he was kite
surfing on Playa d'en Bossa beach. |
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8th October - Crops
damaged in Cypriot rain A
Cypriot holiday resort received
more than 60 per cent of its
average October rainfall in just
one day, according to local
meteorologists.
The Cyprus Mail reported on
October 7th that Polis Chrysochous
had experienced 2.3 centimetres of
rain during a 24-hour spell three
days earlier.
A Meteorological Service spokesman
explained that the average October
rainfall for the area is just four
centimetres.
The rain led to crops being
damaged, electricity supplies
being cut off and traffic problems
in some areas. |
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3rd October - Two die in
Spanish rain The deaths of
two people in a motor accident in
the south of Spain have been
attributed to heavy rain,
according to a broadcaster.
Sky News reported on October 3rd
that a 20-minute burst of heavy
rain and hail the previous day had
resulted in flash floods in towns
around Seville.
In an incident in Alcala de
Guadaira, a coach driver lost
control of his vehicle during the
downpour and it ploughed into a
house, leading to two women being
killed.
The rain also led to the fire
service having to deal with 30
callouts in a 30-minute spell, as
metre-deep water caused damage to
homes, shops and vehicles. |
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21st September - Large
hail in Spain At least 18
people were slightly injured
Friday as unusually large
hailstones fell in the southern
Spanish coastal resort of Marbella,
officials said. Some of the
hailstones were the size of tennis
balls, residents said. Radio
reports put the number of injured
at 30 people, including several
children. The hailstorm also
damaged hundreds of cars.
The hailstones were exceptionally
large, though hailstorms were not
unusual in coastal areas at this
time of the year, meteorologist
Jesus Riesco said. The hailstorm
followed heavy rains which flooded
roads and caused traffic jams.
Rains caused flooding also in
other parts of the Andalusia
region, inundating basements and
shops and severing road and rail
links in the Granada and Jaen. |
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16th September - Man dies
after Spanish rain A man has
been found dead after heavy rain
in southern Spain resulted in
flooding, according to local
police.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported
on September 14th that the
67-year-old's body had been found
in a ditch near to the city of
Jaen after being washed away by
flood water, but that the cause of
death had not yet been confirmed.
Emergency services are searching
for two more people after their
car was washed away.
The news comes a day after a man
was killed in the Spanish province
of Huelva after being struck by
lightning while gathering
shellfish during a thunderstorm. |
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3rd September - From fire
to floods in Greece Two
villages in the north of Greece
were hit by flooding on Sunday,
according to a news agency.
Associated Press reported on
September 2nd that heavy rain in
the peninsula of Halkidiki led to
cars being washed into the sea as
water surged through the streets
of the villages.
Last year, the area was badly
affected by forest fires and it is
believed the resulting lack of
vegetation helped to contribute to
the flooding.
Meanwhile, Greek authorities
believe they have finally managed
to contain the forest fires that
have spread throughout the south
of the country during the past
fortnight.
The government believes arson is
to blame for the fires that have
claimed 65 lives and left
thousands of people homeless,
although their commencement
coincided with a heatwave. |
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28th August - Heat wave
creates health problems High
temperatures across Algeria have
caused health problems for local
people, according to a local
newspaper.
The El Khabar reports on August
28th that people with respiratory
ailments such as asthma are among
the hardest hit, with many needing
hospital treatment.
Meanwhile, the heatwave has also
led to a spate of wildfires
breaking out in several rural
areas.
Almost 200 hectares of forest-land
has been destroyed by 14 different
blazes, which have been fuelled by
the high temperatures. |
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24th August - Rain lashes
Spanish province Torrential
rain has fallen across the Spanish
province of Malaga, according to a
news provider.
The Typically Spanish website
reports on August 23rd that
Fuengirola and Torremolinos are
among the worst affected areas.
Some local attractions and
facilities had to be evacuated as
a precautionary measure, while
fire crews were also called out
several times to deal with
emergencies.
In addition, some cars were
trapped in mud and had to be towed
out, while other vehicles were
damaged by uprooted trees. |
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30th July - Man dies in
Cyprus heat wave
The heatwave across south-east
Europe has claimed another life in
Cyprus, reports the International
Herald Tribune on July 30th.
According to the news provider,
the casualty was a Ukrainian man
who was living in the capital
Nicosia.
Temperatures reached 44 degrees
Celsius in the city yesterday,
leading to the man succumbing to
heatstroke.
This follows a number of similar
deaths and heat-related illnesses
in countries such as Romania and
Bulgaria. |
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3rd July - Extreme
weather in Cyprus settles down
Recent extreme weather on the
island of Cyprus appears to be
dying down, according to a local
newspaper.
The Cyprus Mail reports on July
3rd that the torrential downpours
that followed last week's heatwave
are easing off and that the
weather is returning to normal.
During the weekend, areas
including Nicosia and Torrodos
were lashed with heavy rain,
although eastern areas were not
affected.
This followed several days of
temperatures exceeding 40 degrees
Celsius, although heat levels are
now hovering around the
mid-thirties.
The temperatures were so intense
that a number of people died from
heatstroke, while others suffered
from a variety of other
heat-related illnesses. |
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30th June - Turkish heat wave
causes fires
High temperatures in south-west
Turkey have led to a series of
fires breaking out, reports
Today's Zaman on June 28th.
The news provider states that 18
blazes have started across the
Antalya region and threatening
various settlements.
Some have been extinguished or
contained, although others have
caused damage to local properties
and buildings.
In one area close to the city
centre, a fire destroyed four
homes, a car and a number of
glasshouses, prompting authorities
to evacuate the area.
However, there have been no
reports of any related deaths. |
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29th June - Greek heat wave
leads to forest fires
The heat wave in Greece has
triggered a series of forest fires
in parts of the country, reports
Reuters on June 29th.
Fire crews have been deployed to
try and contain the blazes, which
are being fanned by strong winds.
Officials were quoted as saying
that two men have died as a result
of the fires as their car became
trapped by the flames in the
central town of Agia.
High temperatures have already
been responsible for at least ten
deaths in Greece this week, mainly
due to heat-related illnesses such
as heatstroke.
Reuters described the current heat
wave as the worst in the country
for more than a century. |
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28th June - Heat wave
leads to record power demand
High temperatures in Israel have
led to a record demand for
electricity, reports the Haaretz
on June 28th.
The news provider states that
demand for power reached 9,500
megawatts due to temperatures
climbing to 42 degrees Celsius.
This beats the previous record of
9,450 megawatts which was set in
December last year.
Authorities have warned that
overuse could lead to disruption
in the electricity supply and have
asked people not to use certain
appliances that consume lots of
power.
For example, locals have been
issued with recommendations of
what setting their air
conditioning should be at and
asked not to use dishwashers and
washing machines. |
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26th June - Malta sees
record temperatures Malta
has recorded record temperatures
throughout the current heatwave,
reports Di-ve News on June 26th.
Last night was said to be the
warmest night recorded on the
island for three decades, reaching
a low of 28.3 degrees Celsius.
This breaks the previous record
set four years ago when
temperatures were measured at 27.2
degrees Celsius at dawn.
Meanwhile, yesterday's heat levels
peaked at 39.5 degrees Celsius -
less than one degree short of the
June record that was set in 1997. |
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26th June - Heat wave
leads to deaths Two people
have died in Greece after a heat
wave hit the country, reports
Reuters on June 26th.
The news agency states that six
people also died in Romania as
parts of south-east Europe baked
in temperatures of up to 46
degrees Celsius.
Many people in Greece have been
ordered to work only half days
throughout the heat wave in order
to reduce energy usage and prevent
people from being outside during
the hottest time of the day.
This month is expected to be the
hottest June ever recorded in
Greece, although the temperatures
are expected to drop later in the
week. |
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25th June - Israel
experiences heat wave People
in Israel are being asked to
reduce their power consumption as
the country experiences a major
heat wave.
The Jerusalem Post reports on June
25th that some areas have seen
temperatures rise to as much as 45
degrees Celsius.
This has prompted the Israel
Electric Company to request that
people do not stretch power usage
beyond capacity by using their air
conditioning.
In order to compensate for the
spike in electricity consumption,
the organisation has requested
that Israelis refrain from using
items such as dishwashers, washing
machines and driers.
Meanwhile, health officials have
advised that people should try and
drink lots of water and stay
sheltered from the sun, while they
have also been urged to avoid any
strenuous physical activity. |
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21st June - Heat fuels
fire in Athens Firefighters
in the Greek capital Athens have
been struggling to tackle a fire
amid high temperatures.
Kathimerini reports on June 20th
that a blaze broke out at a
municipal rubbish collection point
and created a thick cloud of black
smoke.
However, temperatures have been
hovering above 40 degrees Celsius
and are expected to rise further
in the next few days, thus feeding
the fire.
Authorities have stated that the
blaze, which occurred in the
southern area of Glyfada, could
continue for several days before
it is completely extinguished.
Meanwhile, the heatwave has
prompted the Public Power
Corporation in the city to urge
locals not to cook or use air
conditioning sytems in order to
reduce the likelihood of a power
cut. |
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8th June - Istanbul hit
by flooding Heavy rain has
caused flooding in the Turkish
city of Istanbul, reports Today's
Zaman on June 8th.
The downpour affected many morning
commuters travelling to work, with
some being stranded or caught up
in accidents.
In one incident, several cars were
trapped in a puddle more than a
metre (3.3 feet) deep beneath an
underpass and had to be rescued by
fire crews.
Meanwhile, the severe weather
caused a truck to fall from a
viaduct and a vehicle to lose
control and crash through
guardrails at the airport junction
with the motorway. |
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5th June - Surprise rain
brings flooding Parts of
Malta have suffered flooding as a
result of an unseasonal rain
shower, reports Di-ve News on June
5th.
Many were caught off guard by the
downpour, as this time of the year
is typically associated with
summery conditions.
Authorities have warned motorists
to be careful while driving,
especially in areas such as
Birkirkara, Msida and Burmarrad.
The police have also urged people
to avoid several major roads while
the storm lasts, although no
serious accidents or injuries have
been reported. |
|
31st May - Spanish crops
survive storm
Grain crops in Spain have escaped
serious damage after last week's
thunderstorms, reports Reuters on
May 31st.
The news agency states that they
emerged largely unscathed from the
storms, although many vineyards
were badly affected.
Plants in areas such as Castilla
La Mancha were lashed with heavy
rain and hailstones, while some
areas were flooded.
Pablo Resco, a crop expert from
one of the country's farming
unions, said that output from
vineyards in the area will be lost
for several years as vines need to
be pulled up and replanted.
He added that grain crops that
have been flattened would recover
if the weather conditions
improved, although he said that
plants with smashed stalks have
been lost.
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28th May - Storms wreak
havoc in Europe and Turkey
Heavy storms, landslides, flash
floods and lightning have killed
at least 23 people in Europe and
Turkey, officials said on Monday.
Nine people died in eastern
Turkey, including six killed in
severe flooding in mountainous
Agri province near the Iranian
border, where river waters were
swollen by melting snows. Two more
people were missing.
In nearby Van province, a
two-year-old child died when
landslides triggered by heavy rain
demolished a house. Two other
girls also died and another person
was injured after being struck by
lightning.
Six hikers died in Greece while
trying to cross a river in the
south. They were in a group of 18
people swept away by a flood wave
in the rain-swollen Lousios river.
Prosecutors charged the hike's
organisers with involuntary
manslaughter.
In France, two divers and a
yachtsman drowned on Sunday off
the western coast of Brittany in
extreme weather.
The yachtsman fell into the sea
from his 21-metre boat in heavy
seas. The two divers were part of
a group of six who were caught up
in strong waves. The others made
it safely to shore.
In northern Bosnia, two
11-year-old children, a boy and a
girl, died after being struck by
lightning on Saturday, local media
reported. |
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24th May - Rain causes
travel chaos in Spain
Commuters in Spain have
experienced disruption after heavy
rain in Spain brought down several
train power lines. Reuters reports
on May 24th that lines between
Madrid and Murcia, Valencia,
Almeria and Jaen were closed after
the stormy weather hit central
parts of the country.
Some rail passengers had to be
evacuated from their carriages as
the weather became more severe.
Meanwhile, many major roads and
motorways have been flooded,
causing further travel disruption
across the capital.
Winds gusting at 90 kilometres per
hour also caused problems, as a
large tree in Madrid's Retiro park
was brought down during a
thunderstorm. Authorities have
placed some provinces on the
second highest level of alert
while the bad weather persists. |
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18th May - Storms hit
Lebanon Storms in Lebanon
have caused widespread damage
across the country, according to a
local newspaper.
The Daily Star reports on May 18th
that crops have been damaged in
the Chouf area, while small
villages in the Bekaa Valley have
been flooded.
One agricultural worker said this
was the worst weather in almost 60
years and was putting their
produce at risk.
The government is currently
working to redirect waters in
flooded areas, as some people are
trapped in their homes and many
roads have been rendered
inaccessible. |
|
15th May - Rock climbers
die in flash floods Flash
floods have killed four Israeli
rock climbers in canyons around
the Dead Sea, reports MSNBC on May
15th.
The incident happened in the West
Bank, with the flash flood
sweeping over a main portion of a
highway.
Helicopters and medical officers
launched searches across the area,
following reports that 11 hikers
had got stuck in the Qumran river
bed in eastern Jerusalem, states
news24.com.
Chemi Leib, rescue team member,
described the floods to Channel
One television: "It was an
enormous amount of water, coming
down in several falls of 40 to 50
meters (130-160 feet.
"These guys were hanging on their
ropes and when that amount of
water arrives there's no chance to
survive it." |
|
12th May - Jet hit by
lightning A passenger jet
has landed safely after it was
struck by lightning, reports the
Associated Press on May 10th.
The Cyprus Airways jet was on
route to Athens in Greece when it
hit rough weather and was struck
by a lightning bolt.
More than 100 passengers and seven
crewmembers were on the flight,
which was recalled to Larnaca
Airport in Cyprus.
The Airbus 319 jet was called back
for precautionary reasons to
undergo safety checks, as the
right engine had been struck by
the thunderbolt. |
|
8th May - Lebanese
heatwave boosts business
Businesses in the Lebanese city of
Beirut have welcomed an increase
in temperatures over the weekend.
The country's Daily Star newspaper
reports on May 8th that
temperatures have remained
constant at 35 degrees Celsius for
the past two days.
This has led to an increase in
customers at local restaurants and
outdoor eateries, while the Place
de L'Etoile was packed with young
families playing out.
One restauranteur said that for
the last two Sundays, there have
been more than 100 customers
making a purchase at lunchtime.
Other business owners interviewed
by the newspaper also attributed
the growth in business to the turn
in the weather. |
|
2nd May - Tornado hits
Turkey A tornado has struck
a suburb in the south of Turkey,
reports the Today's Zaman
newspaper on May 2nd.
People in the Kadirli suburb of
Osmaniye province had roofs ripped
off their homes as high winds
lashed the area.
Meanwhile, the extreme conditions
also uprooted trees, power lines
and knocked out telephone systems.
However, a local official was
quoted as saying that there have
not been any reported casualties
or injuries. |
|
1st May - Person Dies in
Turkish Floods One person
has been killed after floods hit
the Turkish city of Sirnak,
according to a local news
provider.
The Turkish Press reports on April
30th that the person who died was
in Cizre when the flood waters
struck.
Sources are quoted as saying that
five other people who were caught
in the water were later rescued.
Many homes and businesses have
been damaged by the floods,
prompting aid workers to send
tents and blankets for the
displaced people. |
|
23rd April - Four Die in
Moroccan Floods Heavy rain
in Morocco has triggered floods in
which four people have died,
reports AFP News on April 23rd.
The news agency states that during
the last three days, the
north-eastern region of Nador has
been hit by torrential rain.
According to local authorities,
the resulting floods claimed the
life of three middle school
students after the valley of Amlah
in Ain Zohra was overrun.
Meanwhile, a young girl was killed
after the village of Zaio was also
hit by the flood waters. |
|
17th April - Drought hits
Moroccan Crops Officials in
Morocco have warned that the
country's agricultural output is
likely to be less than half of
what was produced last year.
Agriculture minister Mohand
Laenser told Reuters on April 17th
that drought conditions are likely
to lead to a wheat harvest of
between three and four million
tonnes.
In 2006, farmers harvested a total
of 9.3 million tonnes.
As a result, the government is
having to subsidise imports to
help cattle breeders deal with the
prolonged dry spell.
However, Mr Laenser stated that
limited rainfall in early April
has helped refill reservoirs in
some areas and boosted the growth
of citrus fruit. |
|
11th April - Tornado hits
Spanish farmland
Up to 30 small farms in Spain have
been damaged by a tornado in the
country, according to reports.
The Typically Spanish website
reports on April 10th that the
tornado struck in the Poniente
area of Almeria.
Meanwhile, 20 hectares of
greenhouses in the El Ejido area
were completely destroyed, while
La Mojonera also sustained damage.
However, it is understood that the
farmers who have been affected by
the tornado will not be entitled
to any form of financial support
from local authorities.
The news provider states that many
farmers neglected to apply for
government subsidies for
agricultural insurance. |
|
22nd March - Snow
disrupts Spanish roads
Heavy snow in Spain has caused
significant travel disruption in
some areas, reports the Typically
Spanish website.
The news provider states that in
the province of Burgos, more than
1,000 lorries were trapped in the
snow.
Meanwhile, heavy goods vehicles
were not allowed to travel down
the N1 road between Navarra and
Vitoria.
Minor roads in the north of the
country are also experiencing
travel disruption, while many
mountain passes on secondary roads
have been closed.
In addition, authorities have
warned that the high winds could
prove to be problematic for some
drivers. |
|
21st March - Bad weather
hits Italy
Parts of Italy have continued to
be lashed by snow, rain, hail and
high winds, reports the Xinhua
news agency.
A report on March 21st stated that
the Alps and the Dolomites saw
heavy snow for the second
successive day.
Meanwhile, Florence and Sienna
were affected by winds and rain
which kept most tourists indoors
for the day.
Visitors to Rome also looked for a
safe haven as gale force winds
blew over advertising boards and
bent road signs.
In addition, the high winds have
caused some disruption at Rome's
Fiumicino airport, as some
departing flights were grounded
and incoming planes were barred
from landing. |
|
10th March - Spain in worst
ever drought
Several areas of Spain are
experiencing disruption as a
result of high winds, reports the
Typically Spanish website on March
8th.
The site stated that more than
14,000 people lost power in the
Basque area, where winds have
driven fires that have broken out
in Andalucia.
Meanwhile, another fire in Sierra
de Mijas forced the temporary
closure of a major road between
Mijas and Benalmadena.
The fire broke out after the
strong winds brought down a high
tension cable.
Air travel has also been disrupted
after winds damaged a platform at
Alicante Airport, leading to six
flights being diverted. |
|
5th February - Spain in worst
ever drought
Spain is currently going through
its worst ever drought, an expert
has claimed.
Jose Maria Macias, president of
the Tagus water basin, told
Reuters on February 5th that Spain
is now in its third year of a
"terrible" water shortage.
He stated that reservoirs are now
12 per cent full, adding that
storms in October and November
have brought only partial relief
to the area.
"The storms and rain were very
abnormal this year," he continued.
"In the lower parts of the river
basin it rained quite a lot but in
the upper part it rained very
little."
While Mr Macias expressed
reluctance to attribute the
drought to climate change, he
warned water authorities in Spain
to face up to the possibility. |
|
23rd January - Blizzard hits
Israeli ski resort
Around 5,000 people had to be
evacuated from an Israeli ski
resort on Saturday 20th January
due to severe weather.
The Haaretz newspaper reports that
a snow blizzard broke out in the
resort of Hermon, prompting staff
to move people to safety.
Heavy fog also proved to be a
hazard, although staff were able
to escort people away in organised
convoys of vehicles.
Hermon is the only ski resort in
Israel, while weather conditions
usually allow people to engage in
various other winter sports such
as sled-riding.
The resort remained closed on
Sunday due to continued snowfall
in the region. |
|
28th December - One dead as
winds whip up Anatolia
Winds and rain have lashed across
Turkey, causing massive travel
disruption on December 27th.
Kuna news reports that local
television stations are claiming
that flights have been cancelled
and road and maritime transport
has been disrupted.
Flights between the capital of
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