Topic
Catastrophes
Damage caused by Balkans’ epic floods may exceed damage from wars in the 90s
May 21, 2014 Aida Cerkez and Jovana Gec, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSARAJEVO – Floodwaters receded Wednesday in Bosnia and Serbia, just enough to reveal the next shock: recovery from the historic flood will cost billions of euros that neither of the countries has. EU and NATO officials are visiting Bosnia Wednesday…
Owner of railroad involved in deadly Quebec crash plans to ship oil again after track fixes
May 16, 2014 David Sharp, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPORTLAND, Maine – The company purchasing the assets of a railroad responsible for a fiery oil train derailment that claimed 47 lives in Quebec plans to resume oil shipments after track safety improvements are made, the firm’s top executive said…
Aviva plc’s 2014 Q1 financial results ‘reassuringly calm and stable’
May 15, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterAviva plc posted results in the first quarter of 2014 that were “reassuringly calm and stable, in marked contrast to the weather and regulatory developments,” the company reported Thursday. Overall, operating capital generation (OCG) in 2014 Q1 was £0.4 billion…
Tornado confirmed near Mildmay, Ont.; house and 2 barns damaged by storm
May 14, 2014 The Canadian PressMILDMAY, Ont. – Environment Canada says Ontario has its first confirmed tornado of the 2014 season. An Environment Canada survey team investigated wind damage from severe thunderstorms that roared across the Mildmay area southwest of Owen Sound on Tuesday afternoon.…
Wildfire threat eases in San Diego, residents start heading home after 20,000 homes evacuated
May 14, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSAN DIEGO – Wildfires pushed by gusty winds chewed through canyons parched by California’s drought, prompting evacuation orders for more than 20,000 homes on the outskirts of San Diego and another 1,200 homes and businesses in Santa Barbara County 250…
ICLR to showcase homes demonstrating wildfire, flood risk reduction methods
May 13, 2014 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThe Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is aiming to “influence” the construction of new homes in Canada and plans to demonstrate loss mitigation methods on two homes this year in Western Canada. In May 2013, ICLR showed the public…
Canada changing tanker regulations, stops short of unlimited polluter liability
May 13, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSSAINT JOHN, N.B. – The federal government says it is aiming to make polluters pay as it makes changes to legislation and regulations on oil tanker safety. But under proposed changes announced today by Transport Minister Lisa Raitt in Saint…
3 employees, railway company face charges in Quebec runaway oil train disaster that killed 47
May 13, 2014 Benjamin Shingler and Rob Gillies, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMONTREAL – Three employees of the railway company involved in last summer’s runaway oil train disaster that killed 47 people are due to appear in court Tuesday to face criminal negligence charges in the small Quebec town that was partially…
Bill proposing compulsory insurance for ship owners reaches next stage
May 12, 2014 by Canadian UnderwriterFederal politicians debated last week a bill that would, if passed into law, make ship owners strictly liable for damage caused by hazardous or noxious substances and require them to maintain insurance for such losses. “The proposed amendments to the…
Magnitude 5 earthquake rattles southern Pakistan, killing 1 person, injuring 70
May 9, 2014 Adil Jawad, THE ASSOCIATED PRESSKARACHI, Pakistan – A moderate earthquake rattled several towns in southern Pakistan before dawn Friday, killing one person and injuring 70, a government official said. The magnitude 5 quake struck the district of Nawabshah, about 400 kilometres (240 miles) northeast…
No leaks, injuries or hazard in Saskatchewan train derailment
May 9, 2014 THE CANADIAN PRESSESTEVAN, Sask. – Four tanker cars carrying crude oil derailed in Estevan, Sask., but officials say there were no spills or leaks. Estevan police chief Paul Ladouceur says a few businesses were initially evacuated as a precaution on Thursday morning,…
Powerful earthquake shakes Mexico City; workers evacuate buildings
May 8, 2014 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMEXICO CITY – A strong earthquake on the Pacific coast of Mexico shook the capital on Thursday, sending frightened office workers streaming into the streets away from high-rise buildings. The 6.4-magnitude temblor in southern Guerrero state had an epicenter about…