Travel Safety And Security News
Snow chaos continues to gridlock UK
Temperatures lower than Alaska continue to plunge the UK into Christmas travel gridlock, with scores of flights from airports across the country cancelled, as well as mayhem on the roads and trains due to snow and ice.
Eurostar gets back on track
After three days of cancellations, Eurostar has resumed a limited service between London and the Continent. But there were chaotic scenes at St Pancras this morning as thousands queued in subzero temperatures in the hope of catching the first high-speed trains out of the station since Friday.
Snowbound Ryanair passengers left eating ice cubes
Ryanair has come under attack after passengers stranded on a badly-delayed flight were refused refreshments, leaving them nothing to eat or drink but ice cubes.
Mount Mayon eruption imminent as evacuation begins
A major eruption of Mount Mayon in the Philippines could be just days away, scientists have warned. Meanwhile authorities have completed the scramble to evacuate some 29,000 of the 50,000 people who live in the danger zone, 8km from the crater.
Thousands evacuated as volcano in Philippines threatens to erupt
Thousands of locals and tourists have been evacuated from the Albay province in the Philippines over fears that Mount Mayon could erupt imminently. The 2,460-metre mountain, one of the world’s most perfectly formed volcanoes, began oozing lava and ash overnight, threatening to wipe out the surrounding villages.
Australian dust storm wreaks travel chaos
International flights into Sydney have been diverted following a freak outback dust storm that has shrouded much of eastern Australia in a dramatic red glow.
Norovirus outbreak on Fred Olsen cruise
A viral infection which causes vomiting has broken out on a Fred Olsen Cruise ship that is travelling around the British Isles. 72 passengers on board ‘Balmoral’ have been infected with the virus, thought to have been introduced by a passenger who proved to be unwell shortly after departing from Dover.
Hurricane season has low impact on Caribbean
This year’s hurricane season has been far less severe than in previous years. The Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1st and ends November 30th, deters visitors from travelling to the West Indies each year – yet this year, not one hurricane has formed in the Caribbean basin.
One thousand rescued from sinking ferry in the Philippines
Almost 1,000 people have been rescued after a ferry sank off the southern Philippines overnight. There are still a few people missing and nine people have been killed in the disaster.
Tourists return to Mexico’s Baja after Hurricane Jimena passes
Tourists and residents are returning to Mexico’s Baja California after Hurricane Jimena has passed with less-than-anticipated damage. The storm’s centre missed the peninsula’s tourism heartland on the southern tip, but still brought heavy rain and winds of 100km/h (65mph) as well as widespread flooding.
Investigators identify Jakarta hotel bombers
Indonesian media have today said investigators have identified one of the Jakarta hotel suicide bombers and were taking DNA samples from his family, in reports police refused to confirm.
Industry braced for surge in summer fraud
The travel industry is bracing itself for a surge in peak season internet and telephone payments fraud, industry watchdogs warn.The threats are arising partly because fraudsters are finding the security of face-to-face chip-and-pin card retail transactions too hard to breach and are migrating instead to industries that sell high-value products over the phone and internet.