All articles tagged with #rescues
An electrician was trapped for more than six hours inside a 130-foot-tall sign at a Wilmington, Illinois gas station after a lift malfunctioned. He recorded farewell messages for his wife and kids, flashed a thumbs-up to a news helicopter as rescue crews arrived, and was hospitalized for dehydration before returning to work.
At least 30 people were killed when a massive open-air waste pile at the Dar Es Salam landfill in Conakry, Guinea, collapsed after heavy rains, burying nearby shacks and triggering the cave-in of a three-story structure beneath the garbage; six people were seriously injured and several homes were destroyed as authorities launched search-and-rescue efforts and planned relocations for residents amid prior safety concerns at the site.
Two Mexican fishermen, Daniel Guerrero Martínez and José Luis Portelas Villegas, were rescued after spending five days adrift at sea and surviving inside a cooler; they were dehydrated but saved by an expanded search and navy-led air/sea rescue operation off Chiapas following their boat sinking.
Flooding across central Indiana prompts rescues and evacuations as waters recede in some areas and rise in others. Marion County reports substantial rescue operations in Ravenswood, with Indianapolis Fire Department conducting dozens of water rescues and residents advised to stay out until waters fall. Major damage includes the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge in Carmel and widespread infrastructure strain; counties are under orange travel watches and officials urge caution on flooded roads. The National Guard aided evacuations in Anderson, and a federal disaster declaration was approved for 53 Indiana counties, unlocking federal relief resources for flood recovery.
Two days of heavy rainfall pushed central Indiana’s White River to record levels, prompting mass evacuations and dozens of rescues in Indianapolis and surrounding counties, with at least five deaths reported. Gov. Braun outlined the danger as floodwaters rose and officials urged residents to stay away from waters; federal aid was requested and a presidential emergency declaration approved to mobilize up to $5 million for response and recovery.
Record-setting rainfall in central West Virginia fuels ongoing swift-water rescues in Upshur County as Buckhannon’s Sand Run crests at 10.63 feet, well above major flood stage. I-79 and US-33 closures and reroutes dominate travel, power outages affect tens of thousands, and a statewide emergency has been declared. Officials warn residents to avoid flooded roads and seek high ground as the floodwaters threaten homes and infrastructure, with rescue efforts continuing across the area.
Nearly 30 inches of rain in South Central Texas triggered widespread flooding, with hundreds rescued and two deaths confirmed as floodwaters recede. Authorities caution rivers like the Guadalupe, Llano, and Pedernales could still rise, but improved warning systems and sirens installed after last year’s floods helped alert residents and campers this time.
Extreme rainfall in Texas Hill Country triggers renewed catastrophic flooding with at least one death, more than 75 rescues, and multiple counties under flash flood warnings as rivers like the Pedernales surge; forecasters warn 2–4 inches more rain (up to 8 inches in spots) before a drier pattern arrives Friday.
Severe flooding across Missouri left at least one person dead and forced hundreds at a summer camp to be evacuated by helicopter, as emergency crews conducted large-scale rescues to reach those stranded by rising waters.
Protests at a Wisconsin dog-breeding operation led to the relocation and safety of about 1,500 beagles, with animal-welfare groups coordinating with authorities to move the dogs to shelters and rescues as investigations into conditions continue.
Authorities say Operation Reclaim and Rebuild led to hundreds of arrests and dozens of rescues in California's weeklong crackdown on human trafficking, with Los Angeles County reporting 18 traffickers and 79 sex buyers arrested and 12 adults and 5 children rescued, and statewide figures showing 74 traffickers and 328 sex buyers arrested alongside 155 adults and 74 children rescued.
Mozambique is grappling with the worst floods in a generation, with more than 640,000 people affected and at least 12 deaths in the affected areas, while 125 people have died nationwide since the rainy season began in October. Rescue teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK are aiding thousands who have fled rising waters and are sheltering in schools and churches in Marracuene, where about 4,000 people are staying. Homes, livestock and livelihoods have been lost, and fears of further flooding grow as river releases from a South African dam threaten downstream communities. Roads are cut, food shortages are emerging, and authorities are considering delaying the start of the 2026 academic year to use shelters as accommodation.
Overnight rainfall of 6 to 11 inches in Marion County, Arkansas, led to a rare flash flood emergency, causing water rescues, evacuations, and significant damage, including washed-out bridges and flooded homes. The National Weather Service warned of "catastrophic" damage, affecting around 3,867 people, with the city of Yellville particularly hard-hit.
Heavy rain on the Hawaiian island of Kauai led to the rescue of several people from floodwaters, prompting the closure of public schools and the opening of shelters. Crews worked to reopen roads closed from landslides and overflowing stream waters, with firefighters rescuing people primarily in the communities of Koloa and Wailua. While there were no immediate reports of injuries, heavy showers were expected to continue, posing a continued threat of flooding.
A powerful storm continues to batter the Northeast, causing widespread power outages and dangerous flooding. At least four people have died, with two deaths reported in Pennsylvania and South Carolina due to submerged vehicles, and two deaths in Maine and Massachusetts. The storm has unleashed heavy rainfall, leading to significant flooding and water rescues in several states. Air travel has been disrupted, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed. Power outages affect nearly 650,000 homes and businesses, primarily in Maine. Severe weather and flooding are expected to persist, with plummeting temperatures and snow forecasted.