. Earth Science News .
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hong Kong police probe deadly bus accident
by Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) Feb 11, 2018

Hong Kong cancels New Year fireworks to mourn bus crash victims
Hong Kong (AFP) Feb 12, 2018 - A spectacular fireworks display staged annually over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour to mark Lunar New Year will be cancelled this year as the city mourns victims of a deadly bus crash, it was announced Monday.

A speeding double-decker overturned in northern Hong Kong on Saturday evening, killing 19 and leaving more than 60 injured, some critically.

It was the second deadliest bus accident in recent years in the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city, which prides itself on one of the world's best public transport systems.

As Hong Kong went into mourning, the government responded to mounting pressure from lawmakers to call off the fireworks scheduled for the second day of Chinese New Year on Saturday.

Chinese tradition says the seventh day after a death is when the spirit of the deceased returns to bid farewell for the last time.

"Residents are grieving and want to express their sombre mood, and their respect and care for the dead and injured," said Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Scores of residents flooded Red Cross centres on Sunday to donate blood for the injured, local media reported.

A 30-year-old driver has been arrested for dangerous driving but the accident has also reignited concern over working conditions for bus drivers.

Lam has pledged an independent investigation and called for a broad examination of the city's bus franchise system.



Four elephants killed in train collision in northeast India
New Delhi (AFP) Feb 11, 2018 - A passenger train collided with a herd of elephants crossing the tracks in India's northeast, an official said Sunday, killing four of the endangered animals in the high-speed accident.

The impact of the collision in Assam state late Saturday derailed the engine but no passengers were injured, regional railways spokesman P.J. Sharma told AFP.

Another elephant was seriously injured in the accident, he added.

The elephants were part of a larger herd migrating through the hilly forest state, where train tracks cut across elephant corridors that act as transit routes for the wandering animals.

India has nearly 30,000 elephants and Assam is home to its largest population of the Asian variety, an endangered species.

Railway authorities have introduced speed restrictions on some routes that are designated elephant corridors. It was unclear whether this latest accident occurred in one of these zones.

But the interventions have not stopped accidents. Five elephants were killed in December in a train collision near a tea plantation in Assam.

Deforestation and construction activity near their habitats force elephants to stray further afield for food, often bringing them into conflict with humans.

An estimated 60 elephants died in 2017, down from 110 in 2016.

Many of the deaths were caused by electrocution, as farmers erect electrified fences around their fields to keep wild animals away.

A deadly Hong Kong bus crash that killed 19 and left scores more injured was under investigation Sunday, with the city's leader calling for a wide-ranging inquiry as questions surfaced over the industry's long hours and low pay.

Most victims of the accident on Saturday evening, which saw a double decker flip over and smash into a lamppost, were men aged in their 50s and 60s, according to local media. One man was 37.

There were heart-wrenching scenes at the site of the crash Sunday, as loved ones of the dead wailed with grief amid burning incense sticks at a makeshift commemoration.

"Come home," one mourner cried, while others were so overcome with emotion they had to be supported by companions.

Police said 19 were killed and 65 injured, some critically, after the vehicle overturned in the north of the semi-autonomous region. The driver has been arrested.

"The 30-year old male bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. He is still being detained for further enquiries," police said in a statement early Sunday.

Most of the injured and some of the dead were on the upper deck of the bus, Chan Hing-yu of the fire department told reporters.

The driver was suspected of breaking the speed limit as he lost control of the vehicle driving downhill, senior police traffic superintendent Lee Chi-wai said.

He was not injured and was found to be sober, Lee added.

- Long hours, low pay -

The accident has reignited concern over working conditions for bus drivers.

The vehicle was managed by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company, one of the main bus operators in Hong Kong.

Its "management is at fault, and it did not attach importance to traffic safety nor to the staffing structure, work and rest, and training of drivers", Lai Siu-chung, from the company branch of the motor transport workers union, said Sunday according to local broadcaster TVB.

Lai said the company's treatment of workers had led to labour shortages, adding that many drivers work under pressure and without adequate support.

"The industry wages of drivers have lagged behind inflation for many years... as a result the number of drivers working extra shifts and part-time have increased," said lawmaker Luk Chung-hung, who also questioned whether the company was paying enough attention to safety.

The company said it would pay compensation to survivors and victims' families, but has not specifically responded to these allegations.

- 'Serious threat' -

Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam, who visited survivors at several hospitals over the weekend, expressed "deep sorrow" and announced compensation Sunday for the families of the dead and injured.

She also pledged an independent investigation, calling for a broad examination of the city's bus franchise system.

Passengers told local media the bus was going too fast before the crash.

"It was much faster than I normally felt in a bus," one injured passenger told the South China Morning Post.

"And then it was like the tyre slipped, and the bus turned. It was really chaotic in the bus. People fell on one another and got tossed from side to side."

Before the crash, passengers had complained to the driver who was reportedly 10 minutes late and he then started speeding up, the Apple Daily reported, quoting injured passengers at the scene.

One injured passenger told the Oriental Daily it was like the driver was "intentionally using the bus to throw a tantrum".

Lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting of the Democratic Party urged the government to rethink the design of double-decker buses, saying the upper decks had been "repeatedly torn off in accidents, posing a serious threat to passengers on the upper level".

He also called on the government to address the problem of drivers working long hours.

The southern Chinese city takes prides in its efficient public transport system but fatal accidents are not unheard off.

Hong Kong's worst bus accident occurred in 2003 when a double-decker collided with a truck and plunged from a bridge, killing 21 people. In 2008, 18 people were killed in another crash.


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Taiwan quake highlights hi-tech island's shoddy building past
Taipei (AFP) Feb 7, 2018
Taiwan has built itself a reputation for cutting edge technology, efficient public transport and safe streets. But an earthquake has again highlighted the well-off island's history of shoddy construction and questionable safety standards. It has become a familiar sight. A quake strikes Taiwan, rattling homes and nerves but leaving most of the epicentre intact, except for one or two isolated spots where it strikes with deadly force. Usually the collapsed buildings are old, built before Taiwan bro ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Fukushima operator ordered to pay $10 million in new damages

French watchdog points at Russia over radiation cloud

Eight dead, three missing after China road collapse

Got a coastal bridge to retrofit? There's an optimal approach for that

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Quantum cocktail provides insights on memory control

VR helps surgeons to 'see through' tissue and reconnect blood vessels

Latest Data From IMAGE Indicates Spacecraft's Power Functional

Virtual reality goes magnetic

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
'Sinking' Pacific nation is getting bigger: study

'Monster fatberg' goes on public display in London

Vulnerable fear Cape Town's water shut-off

Galapagos fights temptation of lucrative mass tourism

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
North American ice sheet decay decreased climate variability in Southern Hemisphere

Algae under Arctic sea ice blooms in near-darkness

Scientists find massive reserves of mercury hidden in permafrost

Arctic ponds potentially a major source of carbon emissions

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Study warns of return of forgotten crop pathogen

Bordeaux's 'magnificent' lost vintage pushes small growers to the edge

Amazon unveils grocery delivery via Whole Foods chain

China's need to turn milk green

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Taiwan demolishes quake-hit buildings as rescue efforts intensify

Bali volcano evacuees allowed to return home as alert level lowered

Taiwan quake toll rises to 15 as bodies pulled from rubble

September 2017 earthquakes highlight successes of Mexico's early warning system

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Cameroon's army denies alleged atrocities in restive anglophone regions

African Union head calls China spying report 'lies'

Nigeria to send troops to restive central states: army

France freezes assets of DR Congo general over civilian 'massacres'

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Brains, reproductive success explain humans' early evolutionary advantage

Chimpanzee self-control is related to intelligence

Lasers reveal ancient Mayan civilization hiding beneath Guatemalan canopy

Scandinavians shaped by several waves of immigration









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.