More than 18,000 people in lockdown as wildfire rages in Catalonia
Spanish authorities ordered more than 18,000 residents of the northeastern Tarragona province to remain indoors on Tuesday and several dozen were evacuated as a wildfire raged out of control, consuming almost 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of vegetation, Reuters reported.
Large parts of Spain are on high alert for wildfires after the country experienced its hottest June on record. Two people died in a wildfire on July 1 in the region of Catalonia where Tarragona is located.
The latest fire broke out early on Monday in a remote area near the village of Pauls, where strong winds and rugged terrain have hampered firefighting efforts, authorities said. An emergency military unit was deployed early on Tuesday alongside more than 300 firefighters working in the area.
"Since midnight, firefighters have been battling the blaze with gusts of wind reaching up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 miles per hour)," Catalonia's regional firefighting service said, adding that the strong Mistral wind was expected to ease by the afternoon, according to Reuters.
Death toll from Texas flood hits triple-digits as tally of missing tops 180
The death toll from the July Fourth flash flood that ravaged a swath of central Texas Hill Country rose on Tuesday to at least 109, many of them children, as search teams pressed on through mounds of mud-encrusted debris looking for scores of people still missing, Reuters reported.
According to figures released by Governor Gregg Abbott, authorities were seeking more than 180 people whose fate remained unknown four days after one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in decades.
The bulk of fatalities and the search for additional victims were concentrated in Kerr County and the county seat of Kerrville, a town of 25,000 residents transformed into a disaster zone when torrential rains struck the region early last Friday, flooding the Guadalupe River basin.
The bodies of 94 flood victims, about a third of them children, have been recovered in Kerr County alone as of Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a late-afternoon news conference after touring the area by air, according to Reuters.
Heavy rainfall forecast in some places of Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim
Currently monsoon winds have an influence across the country and the low pressure line of the monsoon is located in the surrounding area, the Weather Forecasting Division said.
There will be partial to generally cloudy weather across the country this afternoon.
According to the Division, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places in the hilly areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces among others.
There is a chance of heavy rain in one or two locations in the Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces.
Additionally, there is a likelihood of light to moderate rain and snowfall in some areas of the high hills and mountainous regions.
Similarly, there will be partial to generally cloudy weather across the country tonight.
In some places of the hilly areas of Koshi, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim Provinces, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning.
In one or two locations in the Koshi, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim Provinces, heavy rain is expected.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall is likely to take place in some areas of the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.
The Division has warned of the risk of floods and landslides due to the potential rain, urging the public in urban and Terai areas to stay alert of possible inundation.
In view of rising water levels in large and small rivers and streams and subsequent impacts on daily life, the Division has urged the public and all concerned agencies to adopt necessary precautions and preparations.
US ends mandatory shoe removal at airport security checkpoints
The United States has officially scrapped the long-standing requirement for airline passengers to remove their shoes during TSA security screenings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the policy change Tuesday, stating it is effective immediately at all US airports, BBC reported.
Noem cited advancements in security technology and a “multi-layered” screening approach as key reasons for the decision. Passengers must still remove belts and coats and take out laptops and liquids, though those rules are also under review.
The shoe removal rule was introduced nationwide in 2006 following a 2001 attempted bombing by Richard Reid, who hid explosives in his footwear on a flight to Miami.
Some airports had already begun implementing the change ahead of the official announcement. The move has been welcomed by Airlines for America, which called it a step toward more efficient and secure travel, according to BBC.