Rescues Underway in China, but More Rain Expected
Flood waters in China show little sign of receding, with drone footage revealing the extent of the disaster. Floodwaters are still at least waist high, with entire streets submerged. Groups of people are using construction machinery to navigate through the streets and rescue those who have been left stranded. Almost a week of record rainfall triggered the floods which have claimed the lives of at least 33 people and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of others. To make matters worse, more rain is on the way. The provincial weather bureau has raised the storm alert to red – the highest it has ever been in Henan. While the human toll has been devastating, economic losses are expected to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
Floods Sweep Away Home in Turkey
In Turkey, terrifying footage has been shown of a house collapsing and being swept away in floods in the northeastern Black Sea province of Arhavi. Local media say it’s a miracle no one was injured, but across the region at least one person is missing and more than 200 people have been evacuated. Floods are common along Turkey's Black Sea coastline at this time of year. Last week, at least six people were killed in flooding in the coastal province of Rize.
Protests Rock Haiti Ahead of Slain President’s Funeral
Haitians took the streets of Cap-Haitien on Thursday, to protest the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The violence in the capital followed a mass held in his honour, ahead of Friday’s state funeral. Protesters are demanding justice, believing police were behind the president’s slaying. Government officials say Moise was murdered by a team of mostly Colombian mercenaries, but many questions remain unanswered, including why the president's security detail did not do more to protect him.