October 8, 2009
October 6, 2009
Flood in Manila - The senario
MANILA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) said on Monday floodwaters in communities affected by tropical storm "Ondoy" (international code name: "Ketsana") are expected to remain in the next three months.
But WFP country director Stephen Anderson assured that the agency has enough funds to sustain its relief operations in submerged areas until the end of the year as it appealed to international donors to continue helping affected communities.
"It's difficult. It's a challenge. But we have to look for ways on how to move forward and support efforts to help people move back to their feet," Anderson said in an interview over the ANC News.
On September 26, "Ondoy" pounded Metro Manila and other provinces in the Central Luzon, killing at least 288 people. Damage to property was estimated at 5.072 billion (about 106 million U.S. dollars), including 1.855 billion (about 39 million U.S. dollars) in infrastructure and 3.217 billion (about 67.7 million U.S. dollars) in agriculture
A soldier pushes mud covering school grounds during the opening of a school after flooding in Marikina City, Metro Manila, October 5, 2009. Typhoon Parma slowly moved out to sea on Sunday after slamming into northeastern Philippines and killing 17 people, but damage and flooding, while extensive, were less widespread than feared. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
MANILA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 20,000 tons of paddy rice (palay) were destroyed by tropical depression "Pepeng" (international codename: "Parma"), as heavy rains flooded farmlands in northern Luzon, Philippines this weekend.
An estimated 22,669 metric tons of palay, valued at 403.2 million pesos (about 8.6 million U.S. dollars), were lost owing to floods and heavy rains that inundated 35,494 hectares of rice-growing areas, the Philippine agriculture department said on Monday
Filipinos walk in floodwaters in Santa Cruz town, south of Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Oct. 5, 2009. At least 16 people were killed, mostly buried in landslides, as Typhoon Parma swept through the Philippines' northern coast since Oct. 3, leaving trees uprooted, power pylons toppled and houses damaged. (Xinhua/Sybhel Cordero)
A soldier stands guard as flood victims wait for the distribution of relief goods at a village in Rodriguez, Rizal province, the Philippines, Sept. 30, 2009. Kestana, locally known as Ondoy, swept through the central Luzon region last Saturday. The epic rainfall brought by the storm caused massive flooding and landslides. Two hundred and forty-six people were killed, 42 remain missing while nearly 700,000 people fled their flooded homes to stay in either evacuation centers or with host families.
(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag)
MANILA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nearly two hundred thousand tons of paddy rice (palay) have been destroyed by tropical depression "Ondoy" (international code name: "Ketsana") as heavy rains flooded farmlands in Luzon, the Philippines, according to the Philippine agriculture department on Tuesday
An estimated 180,212 metric tons of palay, valued at 3.1 billion pesos (about 65 million U.S. dollars), were lost owing to floods and heavy rains that submerged 124,238 hectares of rice-growing areas, the Philippine agriculture department said.
Residents transport their motorcycle and pedicab using a canoe in floodwaters brought on by typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Sta Rosa Laguna south of Manila September 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People swim in flooded areas caused by Storm Ketsana in Cainta suburbs, Rizal province of the Philippines on Sept. 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag)
A man takes a break from cleaning a house swamped by flash floods brought on by Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in a middle class residential neighbourhood in Marikina city east of Manila Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People look to salvage items from their house damaged by a landslide brought on by the continuous rains of Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Arayat town, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro (L) talks to residents during a visit to Sta Rosa town which is swamped by flash floods brought on by typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Laguna province south of Manila Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
A handout photo released by the Philippine Air Force shows the flood victims waiting to receive relief goods in a flood devastated area in Pampanga Province, north of Manila, the Philippines, on Sept. 28, 2009. Seventy-three people were killed while 23 others remain missing on Sept. 27 after tropical storm Kestana battered northern Philippines, bringing epic rainfall that caused massive flooding and landslides, government officials said. (Xinhua/Rey Bruna/handout)
Residents carry the body of a victim of the flood caused by tropical storm Kestana in Rizal Province, east of Manila, the Philippines, on Sept. 28, 2009. Seventy-three people were killed while 23 others remain missing on Sept. 27 after tropical storm Kestana battered northern Philippines, bringing epic rainfall that caused massive flooding and landslides, government officials said. (Xinhua/Dondi Tawatao)
MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 51 people were killed while 21 others remain missing as tropical storm Kestana hit the Philippines and brought massive flood on Saturday, the government disasters relief agency said Sunday.
A Filipino girl is carried to safety through floodwaters in a suburb of Manila. At least 50 people were reported dead as tropical storm Ketsana lashed the Philippines, bringing massive flooding, television and radio reports said early Sunday.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of homeless Filipinos Saturday wait on rooftops, bridges or simply hold on to a rope as the government sent rafts, rubber boats to reach the submerged towns and villages to the west of the Philippine capital one day after the strike of tropical storm Kestana.
Residents help a woman evacuate during flooding in Bocaue outskirts beside a highway north of Manila September 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People wait for rescue on the top of their submerged houses in Cainta of Rizal Province, the Philippines, on Sept. 27, 2009. (Xinhua/Stringer)
Editor: Fang Yang
Heavy rains brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" flood Manila
MANILA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" flooded Philippine capital Manila and its sounding areas, causing some domestic flights to get canceled and traffic paralyzed on Saturday
Filipino kids play in rains in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
An initial report of the government's National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said at least 493 people in Metro Manila have been evacuated so far while 260 families in Rizal were affected by flooding.
A taxi manoeuvers in a flooded street in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
Government-run dzRB radio reported floods were chest-deep in San Isidro village in Antipolo City, while floods also threatened residents in Marikina City.
A Filipino struggles to drive his tricycle in a flooded street in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
A man rides a motorcycle on a flooded street in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. Tropical storm Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, made landfall in the northeastern Philippine coast on Saturday noon. Heavy rainfalls brought by the storm flooded most areas in central Luzon island.(Xinhua/Stringer)
A man jumps from a makeshift boat made of wooden board in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
A boy bends over a tyre on a flooded street in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. Tropical storm Ketsana, (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
Editor: Lin Zhi
Source & details from : xinhuanet.com
But WFP country director Stephen Anderson assured that the agency has enough funds to sustain its relief operations in submerged areas until the end of the year as it appealed to international donors to continue helping affected communities.
"It's difficult. It's a challenge. But we have to look for ways on how to move forward and support efforts to help people move back to their feet," Anderson said in an interview over the ANC News.
On September 26, "Ondoy" pounded Metro Manila and other provinces in the Central Luzon, killing at least 288 people. Damage to property was estimated at 5.072 billion (about 106 million U.S. dollars), including 1.855 billion (about 39 million U.S. dollars) in infrastructure and 3.217 billion (about 67.7 million U.S. dollars) in agriculture
A soldier pushes mud covering school grounds during the opening of a school after flooding in Marikina City, Metro Manila, October 5, 2009. Typhoon Parma slowly moved out to sea on Sunday after slamming into northeastern Philippines and killing 17 people, but damage and flooding, while extensive, were less widespread than feared. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
MANILA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 20,000 tons of paddy rice (palay) were destroyed by tropical depression "Pepeng" (international codename: "Parma"), as heavy rains flooded farmlands in northern Luzon, Philippines this weekend.
An estimated 22,669 metric tons of palay, valued at 403.2 million pesos (about 8.6 million U.S. dollars), were lost owing to floods and heavy rains that inundated 35,494 hectares of rice-growing areas, the Philippine agriculture department said on Monday
Filipinos walk in floodwaters in Santa Cruz town, south of Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Oct. 5, 2009. At least 16 people were killed, mostly buried in landslides, as Typhoon Parma swept through the Philippines' northern coast since Oct. 3, leaving trees uprooted, power pylons toppled and houses damaged. (Xinhua/Sybhel Cordero)
A soldier stands guard as flood victims wait for the distribution of relief goods at a village in Rodriguez, Rizal province, the Philippines, Sept. 30, 2009. Kestana, locally known as Ondoy, swept through the central Luzon region last Saturday. The epic rainfall brought by the storm caused massive flooding and landslides. Two hundred and forty-six people were killed, 42 remain missing while nearly 700,000 people fled their flooded homes to stay in either evacuation centers or with host families.
(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag)
MANILA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nearly two hundred thousand tons of paddy rice (palay) have been destroyed by tropical depression "Ondoy" (international code name: "Ketsana") as heavy rains flooded farmlands in Luzon, the Philippines, according to the Philippine agriculture department on Tuesday
An estimated 180,212 metric tons of palay, valued at 3.1 billion pesos (about 65 million U.S. dollars), were lost owing to floods and heavy rains that submerged 124,238 hectares of rice-growing areas, the Philippine agriculture department said.
Residents transport their motorcycle and pedicab using a canoe in floodwaters brought on by typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Sta Rosa Laguna south of Manila September 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People swim in flooded areas caused by Storm Ketsana in Cainta suburbs, Rizal province of the Philippines on Sept. 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Luis Liwanag)
A man takes a break from cleaning a house swamped by flash floods brought on by Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in a middle class residential neighbourhood in Marikina city east of Manila Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People look to salvage items from their house damaged by a landslide brought on by the continuous rains of Typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Arayat town, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro (L) talks to residents during a visit to Sta Rosa town which is swamped by flash floods brought on by typhoon Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, in Laguna province south of Manila Sept. 28, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
A handout photo released by the Philippine Air Force shows the flood victims waiting to receive relief goods in a flood devastated area in Pampanga Province, north of Manila, the Philippines, on Sept. 28, 2009. Seventy-three people were killed while 23 others remain missing on Sept. 27 after tropical storm Kestana battered northern Philippines, bringing epic rainfall that caused massive flooding and landslides, government officials said. (Xinhua/Rey Bruna/handout)
Residents carry the body of a victim of the flood caused by tropical storm Kestana in Rizal Province, east of Manila, the Philippines, on Sept. 28, 2009. Seventy-three people were killed while 23 others remain missing on Sept. 27 after tropical storm Kestana battered northern Philippines, bringing epic rainfall that caused massive flooding and landslides, government officials said. (Xinhua/Dondi Tawatao)
MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 51 people were killed while 21 others remain missing as tropical storm Kestana hit the Philippines and brought massive flood on Saturday, the government disasters relief agency said Sunday.
A Filipino girl is carried to safety through floodwaters in a suburb of Manila. At least 50 people were reported dead as tropical storm Ketsana lashed the Philippines, bringing massive flooding, television and radio reports said early Sunday.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of homeless Filipinos Saturday wait on rooftops, bridges or simply hold on to a rope as the government sent rafts, rubber boats to reach the submerged towns and villages to the west of the Philippine capital one day after the strike of tropical storm Kestana.
Residents help a woman evacuate during flooding in Bocaue outskirts beside a highway north of Manila September 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
People wait for rescue on the top of their submerged houses in Cainta of Rizal Province, the Philippines, on Sept. 27, 2009. (Xinhua/Stringer)
Editor: Fang Yang
Heavy rains brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" flood Manila
MANILA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" flooded Philippine capital Manila and its sounding areas, causing some domestic flights to get canceled and traffic paralyzed on Saturday
Filipino kids play in rains in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
An initial report of the government's National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said at least 493 people in Metro Manila have been evacuated so far while 260 families in Rizal were affected by flooding.
A taxi manoeuvers in a flooded street in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
Government-run dzRB radio reported floods were chest-deep in San Isidro village in Antipolo City, while floods also threatened residents in Marikina City.
A Filipino struggles to drive his tricycle in a flooded street in Metro Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
A man rides a motorcycle on a flooded street in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. Tropical storm Ketsana, locally known as Ondoy, made landfall in the northeastern Philippine coast on Saturday noon. Heavy rainfalls brought by the storm flooded most areas in central Luzon island.(Xinhua/Stringer)
A man jumps from a makeshift boat made of wooden board in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
A boy bends over a tyre on a flooded street in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Sept. 26, 2009. Tropical storm Ketsana, (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
Editor: Lin Zhi
Source & details from : xinhuanet.com
October 5, 2009
Octopus on Ground
Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2009 shows the bottom of a business building in the shape of an octopus near a crossroad in Wangjing region of Beijing, capital of China. The newly-completed building, featuring its shape character, attracted many citizens.
Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2009 shows the bottom of a business building in the shape of an octopus near a crossroad in Wangjing region of Beijing, capital of China. The newly-completed building, featuring its shape character, attracted many citizens.
Original title: Building in shape of octopus
2009-09-12 20:38:53
Photo:Xinhua/Fan Jiashan
Editor: Bi
More news & photo from the source: news.xinhuanet.com
October 4, 2009
Indonesia's earthquake - 02 & 03 Sept 09
Residents take shelter outside their damaged houses in the West Java town of Sukabumi on Sept. 2, 2009. A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit West Java on Wednesday, leaving some 42 people killed, more than 400 wounded and some 40 still missing. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Local residents look for useful things in the rubble of a collapsed and burnt building in the Sumatran city of Padang, Indonesia, on Oct. 2, 2009.(Xinhua/Yu Yuewei)
Quake victims collect commodities from destroyed houses in Tasik Malaya of West Java, Indonesia, Sept. 3, 2009. A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit West Java on Wednesday, leaving some 44 people killed and more than 400 wounded. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Quake victims collect good tiles from destroyed houses in Tasik Malaya of West Java, Indonesia, Sept. 3, 2009. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Source: xinhuanet.com
People stand outside a house destroyed by an earthquake in Tasikmalaya.
Source: thejakartaglobe.com Photo: AP, Pikiran Rakyat Daily
Hard for us to see but harder for them to face. May God give them strength & patience. May in every difficulty they face will be followed by help with the bless of God, amiin.
Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul. Semoga Tuhan memberi mereka kekuatan dan kesabaran dalam menghadapinya. Semoga setiap kesusahan yang mereka hadapi akan diikuti dengan kemudahan dengan rahmat Tuhan, amiin.
October 1, 2009
Whales by Marco Queral
These pictures show the heart-stopping moment a talented diver was able to get eye-to-eye with a colossal humpback whale. In an astonishing contrast the tiny human diver looks miniscule compared to the 50ft female gentle giant of the seas.
Marco Queral, 42, said the jaw-dropping moment was
all down to luck and had little to do with the skill he has mastered over 17 years. He said: "The success in getting these shots is pretty much always down to the whale..."
"...Their enormous size itself must be considered as an immediate
life-threatening danger. I must be very cautious when they approach
and investigate me..."
"...I believe they are gentle by nature but I am always aware their
kind greeting of a tail swing may easily kill me by accident."
To get his spectacular images of marine life, South American Marco relies on various tricks to catch the attention of the passing mammals.
"They are extremely intelligent. Just like humans they have their own mind and come with strong personalities. Therefore the success in cetacean photography is pretty much all up to them. They decide whether I can take pictures of them or not," said Marco Queral.
"...they decide whether I can take pictures of them or not. They must be in the right mood to let me get into this position...."
"...they are usually more shy and cautious toward humans and boats than dolphins are, perhaps because they are not so accustomed to seeing humans offshore. I think their bashfulness and timidity have been ingrained into their DNA,"said Marco Queral.
-Source: CCTV.com
Editor: An
my source: xinhuanet.com