Disaster News
New eastern European travel hotspot: Chernobyl
Jaded travellers of the world rejoice, Ukraine is about to offer a whole new tourist destination: Chernobyl. Once the site of the largest ever civilian nuclear disaster, the former reactor will take its place on the tourist trail next year following a decision by the Ukrainian emergency situations ministry.
Lockerbie bomber close to death
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is terminally ill with just days to live according to the latest reports from his family in Libya. The Lockerbie bomber is on a life support machine and is unable to speak having fallen into a coma some weeks ago.
British visitor killed in Nepal accident
A British visitor has been killed in Nepal following a fall from a hotel window. Jennifer Smith, originally from Greater Manchester, was killed on December 4th following a four floor fall from a hotel in the Thamel area of Kathmandu.
Plane overshoots runway at Newcastle Airport
A passenger plane has overshot its landing at Newcastle Airport as arctic conditions continue to sweep across the United Kingdom. Nobody was injured following the incident, which occurred at 21:00 GMT on Thursday evening.
Hundreds dead in Cambodia stampede
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen has declared a day of national mourning following a stampede in the capital, Phnom Penh. At least 378 people are known to have died in the incident, with twice as many injured.
Air Berlin bomb was fake, Germany confirms
A suspect device discovered on an Air Berlin flight from Namibia to Germany was a dummy used to test security officials in Germany have confirmed. At a press conference earlier today German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere explained the device was a “real-test suitcase” designed to analyse security.
Man charged in South Africa following honeymoon murder
A man has been charged with murder in South Africa following the death of a British woman on her honeymoon in the country over the weekend. Newlyweds Shrien and Anni Dewani had been travelling in a taxi near Cape Town on Saturday when they were kidnapped by armed men.
Snoozing pilot blamed for Air India crash
A snoozing pilot has been blamed for a plane crash in southern India earlier this year, which claimed the lives of 158 passengers. The Air India Express aircraft crashed in May after approaching a runway at Mangalore airport at the wrong height and angle. According to an official investigation into the incident, the Serbian pilot - Zlatko Glusica - was “disorientated” having been asleep for much of the three-hour flight.
Swamp gas blamed for Mexico tourist blast
Authorities investigating an explosion in Mexico which killed five Canadian tourists have said a build-up of gas from a nearby swamp was responsible. Two hotel workers were also killed following the explosion yesterday.
Mexico hotel blast kills Canadian tourists
An investigation is underway after a huge gas blast devastated a resort hotel on Mexico’s Maya Riviera, killing seven people, including five Canadian tourists.
Second Qantas aircraft forced into emergency landing
A Boeing 747-400 operated by Qantas has been forced to make an emergency landing in Singapore – the second aircraft from the carrier to do so in two days. The aircraft – on route to Sydney - turned back shortly after take-off from Changi Airport, airline officials said.
Aerocaribbean aircraft crashes in Cuba killing 68
An aircraft operated by Aerocaribbean has crashed in central Cuba, killing all 68 passengers and crew on board local media have reported. The state-run aircraft had been flying from the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba to Havana when it came down near the town of Guasimal in Santi Spiritus province.