India, Australia TILTING: Tidal waves continue to slam Andhra coast!!! / Flash floods damage Katherine farms

Australia TILTING & BACKWASHING:

/ Flash floods damage Katherine farms /

/ The Cullen and Edith rivers have swelled to dangerous levels due to heavy rains, causing flooding to the Stuart Highway and damaging several bridges north of Katherine. Source/

Melbourne flood video -

India TILTING & BACKWASHING:

/ Cyclone Thane Tidal waves continue to slam Andhra coast!!! Sea water gushed in up to 50 metres in some coastal villages in Krishna, East Godavari and Srikakulam districts. /

/ Tamil Nadu - Thirty coconut trees were uprooted due to soil erosion in the coastal area of Thazanguda in Cuddalore on Wednesday. Due to the imminent cyclone, continuous strong waves had been eroding the soil. As a result, the trees fell. Rough sea and heavy waves were also caused havoc in the coastal hamlets and many fishermen said during high tide, water entered their villages. Meanwhile, the coastline near Puducherry also experienced heavy wind and strong waves that lashed the shores. /

Philippines SINKING:

/ New floods kill 10 in Visayas, Mindanao. THE widespread floods that swept the Visayas and some parts of Mindanao on Tuesday killed at least 10 people and injured four others as of Thursday. Floods affected 360 barangays in 56 towns and 17 cities in 15 provinces in Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga. /

/ Heavy rains cause flooding in Eastern Visayan towns. Some towns in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte in Eastern Visayas experienced flooding /

/ Over 1,200 families in Cebu affected by severe flooding /

/ Floods displace 2,700 families in Maguindanao. On Wednesday, flood waters also submerged the villages of Kayaga, Lumayong and Pedtad. /

/ Floods hit 40 Capiz villages /

/ Leyte flood swallows boy, 5! The giant floodwaters in Dagami, Leyte, had swallowed his son Jassen Bacati, 5. Just seconds earlier, the boy was safely in daddy’s arms. Another child was reported missing in Bgy. Licud, Tanauan, Leyte. She was believed to have also been swallowed by the floods and swept into the sea! /

/ At least 20 barangays in the city face danger in case flood waters coming from upper Agusan and Compostela Valley strike this region’s frontier and capital city of Northeastern Mindanao. As of this posting, the water level in Agusan river was at 1.8 meters. The normal water level of Agusan river is 0.9 meters. The river’s water level reached 2.8 meters last Monday, prompting the city government to declare alert level two in the entire city. /

/ Losses to crops and fisheries in Negros Occidental due to floods in the past days have reached P12.8 million. At least 4,000 families in five cities and one town in northern Negros and two towns in the south were affected by flash floods that followed the heavy rains in the Visayas provinces in the past days. Cities affected in the north are San Carlos, where houses of 1,140 families were flooded, according to a report from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. Others cities hit are Sagay, more than 1,000 families; Cadiz, 230 families; Talisay, 132 families; and Silay, 58 families. Four villages in Calatrava were also submerged. In the south, San Enrique town was once again hit by floods in the same barangays flooded last month. /

/ Nine barangays in a town in Davao del Norte were placed under a state of calamity after flood waters inundated the area on Tuesday. /

/ Several families were forced to evacuate as floods hit riverside towns in North Cotabato, whereas thousands more in the Davao Region sought shelter after their villages were similarly inundated. /

Philippines:

Leyte flood swallows boy, 5!

THE unnamed father’s life changed for the worst in a blink. The giant floodwaters in Dagami, Leyte, had swallowed his son Jassen Bacati, 5. Just seconds earlier, the boy was safely in daddy’s arms. Dad and child were battling the freezing flood when it transformed into a shapeless monster. The waters snapped up the child and gulped him down into a bottomless throat. The victim’s daddy could only watch and scream.

The Bacatis had just stepped out of their home in Bgy. Los Martirez, Dagami, Tuesday morning when the boy was swept away by angry floodwaters. The victim’s body was recovered by local police and Red Cross members 3 p.m. Tuesday, more than 20 meters from their house.

Another child was reported missing in Bgy. Licud, Tanauan, Leyte. She was believed to have also been swallowed by the floods and swept into the sea. A report said the victim went to swim in Bgy. Santo Niño 11 a.m. Tuesday. Her other companions, earlier reported as missing, have already been found. They were identified as Raffy James Pedrosa,13; Arvin Briton,12; Fidel Palaña,15; and Marjorie Arevalo, 12.

The local disaster and risk reduction and management councils reported that at least 3,642 families in Leyte were evacuated to safer grounds since Monday night due to rising floodwaters.

Of the 3,642 families, 1,081 of them were from the town of Javier; 820 from Dagami; 697 from Abuyog; 600 from Palo; 153 from MacArthur; 75 from Baybay City, 58 from Julita; 49 from Tolosa; 40 from Mayorga; and 25 from Sta. Fe.

As this developed, Abuyog has been placed under a state of calamity due to the rising floodwaters. Also affected by the deluge are Tanauan, Dulag, Palo, Sta. Fe, and some barangays in Tacloban.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/top-stories/20578-leyte-fl...

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Butuan City on flood alert

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Amid fluctuating weather condition, the monitoring team of the Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) said on Thursday that it is “redoubling” its efforts in closely checking the water level in Agusan river, one of the longest rivers in Mindanao.

At least 20 barangays in the city face danger in case flood waters coming from upper Agusan and Compostela Valley strike this region’s frontier and capital city of Northeastern Mindanao.

Round-the-clock close monitoring is in effect as all city and riverside barangay officials are directed to closely monitor their respective constituents in case flood waters start coming from Upper Agusan and Compostela Valley.

“We are redoubling our effort to protect our people,” said City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. as he directed CDRRMC personnel and all department heads to be on “alert” at all times.

He said residents in several low-lying barangays like Agao, Golden Ribbon, Ma-on and Baan Riverside have already been evacuated to their respective barangay hall and covered courts.

As of this posting, the water level in Agusan river was at 1.8 meters. The normal water level of Agusan river is 0.9 meters. The river’s water level reached 2.8 meters last Monday, prompting the city government to declare alert level two in the entire city.

Last Monday, a total of 11 barangays were flooded and at least close to 100 families were evacuated. Residents in low-lying barangays have been advised to stay on alert until the water level returns to normal.

The CDRRMC said residents who are housed in evacuation centers are advised not to go back to their homes should the water level go back to normal on Friday because the flood water coming from Agusan del Sur is still traversing the Agusan River.

“Anytime now, water level in the river increases if Agusan del Sur is still flooded,” said an official from the CDRRMC who requested anonymity.

The city of Butuan is considered a river basin of Agusan River. Thus, whenever Davao City and Agusan del Sur get flooded, flood waters will flow to the river and will be deposited here.

In a related development, help from all over the country and abroad keep coming in for families affected by the recent typhoon that hit Northern Mindanao last Dec. 17.

As of this writing, donations in food and non-food, which have been accounted with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, have reached close to P4 million.

Meanwhile in Davao City, state forensic experts have identified 289 bodies that were rescued this this week in Cagayan de Oro City, it was learned Thursday.

Emiliano Galban, information officer of the Department of Health Region 10, said the identification of more bodies would continue to shorten the list of missing people.

Families have claimed identified bodies and most of them have already been laid to rest, said Galban.

There are 100 more unidentified cadavers remaining and are temporarily placed in mass chambers built in a cemetery in Barangay Camaan-an in Cagayan de Oro City, said Galban

“The search and retrieval (operations) will continue,” he said.

At least 600 people are said to be missing still, while 891 bodies have been recovered, reports said.

In Davao del Norte, 9 villages have been declared under state of calamity after four rivers in the province overflowed.

700 families have fled their homes while 26 houses have been permanently damaged in the municipality of Kapalong.

Meanwhile, some residents of Barangay Lapasan and Barangay 22 panicked and run off their homes after hearing reports from the radio that a tsunami allegedly would hit the city.

Most of the residents, it was gathered, stayed at a nearby bus terminal amid fears that a long, high sea wave would cause another disaster in the city due to continuous rains. (With additional reports from PNA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/346421/butuan-city-flood-alert

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Agro-fishery losses due to floods in Negros Occidental reach P12.8M

BACOLOD CITY -- Losses to crops and fisheries in Negros Occidental due to floods in the past days have reached P12.8 million, according to data of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) released late Wednesday.
A total of 79 hectares of rice fields were destroyed due to floods in Cadiz City. Damage amounted to P1.8 million. -- AFP

OPA chief Igmedio Tabianan said more than 250 hectares of fishponds in Sagay City were destroyed with total damage pegged at P11 million.

The flooded ponds, owned by 26 operators, grew milkfish, tilapia and shrimp.

Crops affected were mostly rice particularly in Cadiz City where 79 hectares of rice fields owned by 78 farmers were also submerged. Damage totaled P1.8 million so far.

Sagay and Cadiz are among the five cities in northern Negros hit by flash floods Tuesday after two days of continuous rains.

Mr. Tabianan said OPA personnel continue to conduct an assessment of the flood-hit plantations as there are still areas they haven’t reached.

“After that, we will know what kind of assistance or rehabilitation support we can provide to them,” he said.

For fishpond owners, the provincial government usually extends food-for-work assistance where workers who will repair the destroyed dikes will receive rice in exchange for their labor.

Affected rice farmers may also receive planting materials, including seeds.

Mr. Tabianan said the rice farmers from Cadiz will undergo evaluation to determine if they can be covered by the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program.

Implemented through the OPA, the program provides a comprehensive insurance package to rice farmers to help them mitigate the impact of climate change and to lessen the impact of crop damage brought about by natural calamities like drought, earthquake, and others.

Floods

At least 4,000 families in five cities and one town in northern Negros and two towns in the south were affected by flash floods that followed the heavy rains in the Visayas provinces in the past days.

Cities affected in the north are San Carlos, where houses of 1,140 families were flooded, according to a report from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

Others cities hit are Sagay, more than 1,000 families; Cadiz, 230 families; Talisay, 132 families; and Silay, 58 families.

Four villages in Calatrava were also submerged.

In the south, San Enrique town was once again hit by floods in the same barangays flooded last month. -- Nanette L. Guadalquiver

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=A...

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9 Davao del Norte villages under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines – Nine barangays in a town in Davao del Norte were placed under a state of calamity after flood waters inundated the area on Tuesday.

The local government of Kapalong town placed 9 barangays under a state of calamity after knee-deep waters forced at least 700 families to flee their homes.

An overflowing Pagsabanan River also triggered evacuation in Barangay Poblacion.

No casualties were reported, but incessant rains destroyed hectares of crops.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), meanwhile, said at least 26 houses were totally destroyed in Kapalong by the flooding.

Meanwhile, about 1,500 families from Barangay Guadalupe in Carmen town sought higher ground.

Nine people died due to floods caused by heavy rains.

Two persons were reported missing, while 4 were injured.

Weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday said Visayas and Mindanao will experience better weather condition since the tail-end of the c

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/29/11/9-davao-del-nort...

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N. Cotabato, Davao families flee floods and landslides

TACURONG CITY, SULTAN KUDARAT -- Several families were forced to evacuate as floods hit riverside towns in North Cotabato, whereas thousands more in the Davao Region sought shelter after their villages were similarly inundated.

As many as 50 families have been evacuated to safer ground after Pulangi River -- which connects Bukindon with North Cotabato -- overflowed, causing floods in Kayaga, Kabacan in North Cotabato, and the neighboring town of Pikit.

North Cotabato Governor Lala T. Mendoza confirmed in a radio interview that since Tuesday, floating logs on the river have alarmed the residents of Kabacan, causing them to flee.

The flooding, the governor said, worsened after the National Power Corp. (Napocor) released water from its dam on Pulangi River. Napocor operates a major hydroelectric facility on the Bukidnon side of the Pulangi River.

Ms. Mendoza, however, said her office received an advisory from Napocor officials ahead of time, as did the local government leaders in Bukidnon, where flash floods also occurred.

The provincial government has enough resources at this time to provide relief assistance to the affected families, the governor assured.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been on high alert to respond to emergency situations, she added.

Ms. Mendoza commended the alertness of the residents who had immediately fled to higher areas but also sent word to community leaders when the flooding started.

She said the province’s residents, especially those living in low-lying areas, have learned from what happened in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan after tropical storm Sendong ravaged Northern Mindanao earlier this month.

Meanwhile, 48 villages in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley remain flooded as of Thursday morning, due to heavy rains, the regional Office of the Civil Defense revealed.

To date, 29,571 individuals were affected by the sudden surge of waters, including 11,555 persons now seeking shelter after 11 villages in Asuncion town in Davao del Norte were flooded.

Notably, two sub-villages in New Bataaan, Compostela Valley were totally cut off after the road leading to those areas was damaged and became impassable.

More than 2,000 families were also evacuated following landslides, particularly in the mining area of Camanlangan and Mt. Diwata.

However, a third of the total families affected have been able to return to their homes. -- Louie O. Pacardo and Joel B. Escovilla

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=N....

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Heavy rains cause flooding in Eastern Visayan towns

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 29 (PIA) -- Some towns in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte in Eastern Visayas experienced flooding after three days of nonstop rains due to the low pressure area in Mindanao.

The report from the regional Office of Civil Defense said the floods affecting 1,000 families or 5,200 individuals were from the towns of Abuyog, Mayorga, Palo, Dagami, Julita, Sta. Fe, Pastrana and Dulag all in Leyte and Saint Bernard town in Southern Leyte.

Edgardo Esperancilla, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology said that data from installed rain gauges showed that Tacloban City in Leyte and Maasin City in Southern Leyte received a rainfall of 200 milliliters in the last 24 hours while those in Borongan City in Eastern Samar and Catbalogan City in Samar respectively recorded rains of 110 mm and 58 mm.

Leyte experienced recorded rainfall of 35 milliliters beyond the normal rainfall of six to nine milliliters which explains why flooding were experienced in the most number of towns in the province.

Esperancilla classified the rains in both provinces as heavy since it was 200 mm and lasting for one day.

Meanwhile, OCD officer-in-charge Epifanio Pabilona said, “Local officials are closely monitoring swollen riverbeds and have alerted barangay officials to take appropriate actions”.

He also said that trucks from the Philippine National Police and rubber boats from their office and from the 8th Infantry Division are on standby for rescue operations to areas affected by floods. (PIA-8)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=70151

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Over 1,200 families in Cebu affected by severe flooding due to recent heavy downpour, RDRRMC 7 says

CEBU CITY, December 29 (PIA) -- Over 1,260 families in the province of Cebu have been affected by the extreme weather condition early this week that brought non-stop heavy downpour and thunderstorms resulting to severe flooding in some areas.

Based on the latest progress report issued by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) 7, there were 27 barangays in nine towns and four cities in Cebu that have been severely affected by the continuous heavy downpour that caused flooding to the said areas.

The affected families were temporarily housed in identified evacuation centers such as barangay halls, sports complex or gym and public markets.

The RDRRMC 7 said preemptive evacuation efforts were also conducted as precautionary measures in case the situation would worsen in some affected areas due to river swelling.

Floodwaters also invaded about 300 houses in Cebu City alone, although no major damages were reported, the same RDRRMC 7 report stated.

In Mandaue City however, four houses were totally washed out with the affected families currently housed in the evacuation center. Likewise, nine families also reported minor property damages to their houses.

But the aftermath of the continuous heavy downpour left three casualties who drowned due to heavy flashfloods; two in the northern town of Tabogon and one in Mandaue City.

Two persons were also reported injured in Toledo City when big rocks hit the bunker house where the victims stayed.

The affected, families except for those whose houses were totally washed out, have returned to their respective homes as the floods have already subsided, this is reported.

RDRRMC-7 Operations Officer Neil Sanchez said they have regularly updated and disseminated weather advisories to RDRRMC members, OCD Provincial Offices and other local DRRMCs for appropriate measures and pre emptive actions.

The AFP-Central Command, likewise, notified OpCon Units and coordinated with the local DRRMCs to monitor hazard- prone areas and to provide manpower augmentation in case of preemptive evacuation and staging of equipment and response.

Sanchez said the various barangay disaster response teams have also conducted warning notices to hazard-prone areas and activated the Barangay SAR Teams.

The Cebu Coast Guard meanwhile, is continuing its weather monitoring and regularly coordinates with the police, not to allow fishing crafts to venture in case of bad weather conditions to prevent sea accidents. (FCR/AS//PIA-CEBU)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=70112

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Floods displace 2,700 families in Maguindanao
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – More than 2,700 families were evacuated to higher grounds as heavy rains due to hovering Low Pressure Area in Mindanao swelled big rivers crisscrossing Maguindanao’s Montawal and Pagalungan towns.

The commanders of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion and 5th Special Forces Group dispatched dozens of soldiers to evacuate civilians away from the towns' riverside villages, the gateways to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh.

Rivers from as far as Bukidnon and the mountainous borders of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur drained at Liguasan Marsh, which is located at the tri-boundary of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Benjie Hao, commanding officer of the 7th IB, said nine riverside barangays in Montawal town were inundated while more than a dozen others were flooded in Pagalungan areas.

In North Cotabato, more than 100 families in Kabacan town were evacuated to safety as floods submerged several villages in the area.

Residents from the low-lying villages of Kayaga and Lumayong fetched their tents along the Kabacan-Carmen highway as rains continue to pour since Tuesday.

On Wednesday, flood waters also submerged the villages of Kayaga, Lumayong and Pedtad.

Kabacan River has also registered increase in water level, prompting resident along its banks to evacuate to higher grounds.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryi...

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Floods hit 40 Capiz villages

MANILA, Philippines - Floods brought about by the recent Low Pressure Area affected 40 barangays in five municipalities in Capiz province.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), floodwaters submerged 15 villages in Sigma town, 12 in Panit-an, five in Pontevedra, five in Pan-ay, and three in Dao.

PDRRMC action officer Esperedion Pelaez said they are keeping a close watch on the weather condition in flood-stricken areas, particularly the low-lying areas.

Since Tuesday, Western Visayas is experiencing continuous rains, which resulted flooding in some areas in Capiz and Negros Occidental provinces.

Pelaez called on residents living in low-lying villages to be vigilant to avoid lost of lives.

Flashflood has also affected in eight municipalities and six cities in Negros Occidental.

The Provincial Agriculture’s Office in Negros Occidental said some 79 hectares of rice lands and 265 hectares of fishponds were affected by floodwaters.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryi...

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New floods kill 10 in Visayas, Mindanao

THE widespread floods that swept the Visayas and some parts of Mindanao on Tuesday killed at least 10 people and injured four others as of Thursday.

Benito Ramos, executive officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said rescuers were also looking for two missing people even as assistance continued to pour into the affected areas.

The floods were caused by continued rains that were spawned by a low-pressure area in Butuan City and the northeast monsoon that affected Luzon, including Cagayan Valley, over the weekend.

The weather condition was aggravated by a similar low-pressure area in Zamboanga City over the weekend and the cold front in the Visayas that also brought rains in the Bicol region.

Ramos said deaths were recorded in Isabela province in Northern Luzon, Cebu and Leyte.

A total of 32,106 families, or 137,908 persons, were also affected.

The NDRRMC said the floods affected 360 barangays in 56 towns and 17 cities in 15 provinces in Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga.

A landslide also occurred in Banga, Aklan, destroying five houses and affecting 15 families.

In Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities which suffered more than 1,200 deaths in the flash floods generated by Typhoon Sendong two weeks ago, search and retrieval teams continued to look for bodies of victims by using trained dogs from the K-9 unit.

The retrieval teams are still looking for more than a thousand missing people but the NDRRMC has stopped issuing a monitoring report.

As of Thursday, the official count stood at 1,257 killed, 4,619 injured and 1,023 missing.

Ramos said that besides searching for bodies, the teams were also clearing the affected areas from carcasses of animals.

“Even the K9 units deployed for the retrieval operations are now confused as the dogs could no longer identify decomposing humans from decomposing animals,” Ramos said.

In Iligan City, Ramos said soldiers who were involved in the operations were issued special gear to withstand the foul odor.

Navy divers were also searching the waters around Iligan and Cagayan de Oro for bodies.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday assured families affected in Iligan that the government, in partnership with the local government units, would help them rebuild their houses.

He said those whose damaged houses were outside of the danger zone would be given materials for the reconstruction of their houses. Those whose houses were in the danger zone and who are members of Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig) could also avail themselves of insurance claims.

Non-Pag-ibig members, on the other hand, were assured of assistance from the National Housing Authority through socialized housing.

Binay said he had already asked Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz to search for relocation sites for those who live in danger areas such as along rivers, creeks and other waterways.

Binay also told the residents that President Aquino has given orders that they not be allowed to return to the danger zones to keep them safe.

Philippine Red Cross Gov. and former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri distributed relief good in least nine flood-affected areas and evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and Bukidnon the past three days.

Zubiri, who was joined by Mayor Inyaki Zubiri of Malaybalay City, Red Cross volunteers and his staff, noted that, “while the victims managed to smile when you give them the relief goods, you could see in their eyes the pain and suffering they are going through. They also have amazing stories to tell on how they survived the floods.”

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/21369-new-floods-kill-10...

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India:

Cyclone Thane: Tidal waves continue to slam Andhra coast

Hyderabad: High tidal waves continued to slam the Andhra Pradesh coast today under the influence of severe cyclonic storm 'Thane' in the Bay of Bengal which is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai tomorrow.

All nine coastal districts went on high alert while authorities with the help of Coast Guard launched efforts to rescue fishermen trapped on the high seas off the coast in East Godavari district.

Third warning signal was hoisted at all ports off the Andhra coast while rain accompanied by strong gale began lashing Nellore and Srikakulam districts in the morning, officials said.

Commissioner of disaster management T. Radha has requested the commandant of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) based at Mangalagiri to keep the force ready for movement on the request of the district collectors.

A helicopter was pressed into service to rescue five fishermen trapped at sea, 15 km from the coast at Antravedi in East Godavari district, since Wednesday. Their boat is unable to reach the shore due to high tidal waves.

About 100 fishermen from Uppada in the same district have also not returned for the last two days, causing anxiety to their families. Authorities have sought the help of Coast Guard in tracing them.

Four fishermen from Bapatla in Guntur district are also reported missing. They have not returned home for four days.

Authorities have also launched efforts to rescue another nine fishermen stranded at sea near Machilipatnam in Krishna district.

Panic prevailed among people living along the coast due to rough conditions in the sea. Sea water gushed in up to 50 metres in some coastal villages in Krishna, East Godavari and Srikakulam districts.

For the second consecutive day, the beach road between Uppada and Kakinada was inundated by high tidal waves.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was on a visit to Delhi, reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi over phone and directed him to alert all district collectors.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued 'orange' alert - which stands for a severe cyclone - for north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coasts.

According to an IMD bulletin, the severe cyclonic storm lay centred about 300 km east-southeast of Chennai.

The storm is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai, close to Puducherry Friday morning.

However, as the cyclonic storm will come further close to the coast, there is probability of slight weakening before landfall.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/andhra-pradesh/cyclone-thane-tidal-wave...

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30 coconut trees uprooted

CUDDALORE: Thirty coconut trees were uprooted due to soil erosion in the coastal area of Thazanguda in Cuddalore on Wednesday.� Due to the imminent cyclone, continuous strong waves had been eroding the soil. As a result, the trees fell. Rough sea and heavy waves were also caused havoc in the coastal hamlets and many fishermen said during high tide, water entered their villages.

The eighth level cyclone warning was issued at Cuddalore port late on Wednesday. Boats had been docked at the fishing port for the fourth consecutive day.Port office source said� heavy rains were expected from Thursday and the cyclone would cross Cuddalore and Nellore on Friday morning. Fisheries department had issued warning to fishing hamlets asking them to be on alert.

Meanwhile, the coastline near Puducherry also experienced heavy wind and strong waves that lashed the shores.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/30-coconut-trees-uprooted/216007-60-118....

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Australia:

Flash floods damage Katherine farms

Several farms near Katherine in the Northern Territory have lost crops and machinery in a flash flood that occurred on Tuesday.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Grant dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain in the region causing the Edith River to surge and wash away the Stuart Highway.

John Etty from Wilderness Farms says water swept through his house and sheds taking various equipment and tools down the river.

"There's 20 years' worth of work scattered in front of our eyes. It's a huge disaster for us.

"Some of our personal belongings might be half-way to the Daly River mouth by now, the floaty stuff.

"The heavy bits and pieces are scattered and hooked up on trees and fences.

"A lot of our above-ground irrigation has disappeared."

Road crews are hurriedly working to repair the Stuart Highway which links Katherine to Darwin.

A freight train carrying copper concentrate derailed on the Edith River bridge on Tuesday also.

Mr Etty says he's worried about the environmental implications of the train wreck.

"It's potentially damaging to the water and the animals and the ecosystem that live on it.

"If that's not cleaned up satisfactorily, then there's going to be an ongoing pollutant coming down the water of the Edith River."