All articles tagged with #accidents and disasters
Photos and maps show the Old Trails Fire pushing beyond areas deemed low-hazard in Spokane, Washington, burning homes and forcing evacuations, illustrating how wildfire risk boundaries can lag behind the evolving danger.
A Bangkok bar fire at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao near Chatuchak killed at least 27 people and injured dozens. Officials say the blaze may have been sparked by an electrical short circuit and that emergency exits appeared blocked, trapping patrons who mostly died from smoke inhalation; survivors reported the fire started near a stage and spread toward the back, with many victims found in bathrooms as investigators probe safety and licensing.
A small, car-sized aircraft crashed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower (China Zun), a 109-story skyscraper in the city’s business district. Photos and social-media videos show debris and a hole in the glass exterior, while investigators have not commented on the cause.
Federal meteorologists issued a rare 'particularly dangerous situation' red-flag warning for southern Utah through Friday as the Cottonwood Fire, now over 70,000 acres, rages and ranks among the largest blazes in the U.S. this year. Forecasters warn life-threatening fire behavior is possible Friday amid extreme fire weather, with risk extending across the Intermountain West into next week. Smoke from the fires is blowing toward the East Coast, though air quality remains unaffected in the area.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a testing flight at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, with eight people on board; initial officials said the crash was not survivable and emergency crews responded to the scene.
A skydiving plane crash near Butler, Missouri, on a day with clear blue skies killed 12 people, including 11 skydivers, as the NTSB opens an investigation into the crash; the tragedy devastates the close-knit Midwest skydiving community and features personal stories like 54-year-old Michael Shanahan, who began jumping after his sister’s cancer diagnosis.
A major explosion at a Staten Island shipyard left at least 16 people injured, including three seriously hurt (two firefighters and one non-firefighter). Firefighters were responding to workers trapped in a confined space when the blast occurred; victims were transported to local hospitals, and the cause is under investigation.
A wind-driven brush fire near Simi Valley, the Sandy Fire, expanded rapidly to over 830 acres and forced about 28,000 residents to evacuate as firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and air; shifting winds have at times slowed its spread.
Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas withdrew its license application and will not reopen this summer after a fatal flood last July that killed 27 campers and counselors. Families of victims welcomed the decision as investigations continue, with state lawmakers and Gov. Abbott noting closures are part of ongoing probes and lawsuits alleging safety failures.
Video from the Seville Fair shows a cable snapping on a bungee-style ride, launching a two-seater capsule and sending riders plunging mid-launch; four people were injured, including two children, with some treated on scene and others transported to a medical center. Firefighters sealed off the ride as Spain’s National Police opened an investigation; the mayor warned it could have been a real tragedy, inspectors say the ride had previously passed inspection, and the families of two boys on the ride plan to sue.
Joseph Savarino, 26, the grandson of former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, is charged with a misdemeanor driving while impaired after a Durham, North Carolina crash that killed a 15-year-old cyclist. Police say his breathalyzer indicated a BAC of 0.11, a judge revoked his license, and he posted a $100,000 bond.
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq after an apparent collision with another KC-135 during operations related to Iran; rescue efforts are ongoing and officials have not yet confirmed fatalities.
A fourth body has been recovered from the submerged wreckage of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, with two victims still unaccounted for after a container ship crashed into the bridge last month. The FBI and private attorneys are investigating the incident, and the city of Baltimore has hired law firms for potential litigation. Efforts to open a temporary channel in the river are ongoing, while more than 1,000 tons of steel have been removed from the waterway.
The body of Carlos Daniel Hernández, a construction worker killed in the Key Bridge collapse, was recovered from the Patapsco River, making him the fourth victim to be found. Maryland officials are prioritizing the return of the victims' bodies and seeking federal funding to rebuild the bridge. Mexican officials are providing support to Hernández's family and other Mexican nationals affected by the tragedy. Lawmakers are working on legislation to cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge, while the FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the crash.
One of the survivors of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Julio Cervantes Suarez, alleges that workers were not told to evacuate as a cargo ship approached the bridge, leading to the collapse that killed six and injured two. Attorneys representing Suarez stated that he fought for his life and narrowly escaped because his car windows were manual, allowing him to roll them down and escape when his car plunged into the river. The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the collapse, and attorneys announced an independent investigation into the company that owns the cargo ship.