MANILA: Satu gempa bumi magnitud 5.6 berlaku di luar pesisir selatan Filipina hari ini, menurut Kajian Geologi Amerika Syarikat (USGS), namun setakat ini tiada laporan mengenai kerosakan atau kecederaan.

USGS memaklumkan bahawa gempa itu berlaku berhampiran pulau Mindanao pada kedalaman 30 kilometer (km).

Institut Vulkanologi dan Seismologi Filipina melaporkan pusat gempa terletak kira-kira 43km di barat daya bandar Maitum, iaitu kawasan pergunungan dan kurang penduduk.

Pihak berkuasa tempatan berkata, siasatan awal menunjukkan gempa itu tidak menyebabkan kerosakan besar.

"Gegaran itu kuat tetapi hanya berlaku sekejap. Kami membuat pemeriksaan dan tiada kerosakan atau kecederaan dilaporkan," kata pegawai bomba Maitum, Gilbert Rolifor.

Filipina terletak di kawasan 'Lingkaran Api Pasifik', iaitu zon yang sering mengalami gempa bumi dan letusan gunung berapi, dari Jepun ke Asia Tenggara hingga ke seluruh kawasan Pasifik.

Gempa bumi sering berlaku di negara itu, kebanyakannya terlalu lemah untuk dirasai.

Namun, gempa kuat yang memusnahkan boleh berlaku pada bila-bila masa kerana sehingga kini, belum ada teknologi yang mampu meramalkan bila dan di mana ia akan berlaku. - AFP

WASHINGTON – Sebuah keluarga di negeri Tennessee, Amerika Syarikat berjaya menyelamatkan rumah mereka daripada ditenggelami banjir dengan membina benteng di sekeliling kediaman tersebut, lapor portal berita MailOnline semalam.

Rumah keluarga Humphrey di Ridgely dilihat tidak disentuh oleh air banjir keruh pada 8 April lalu selepas hujan lebat menjejaskan lebih 100 orang di kawasan itu. 

GEORGE TOWN: About 200 residents in Sungai Pinang were impacted by floods triggered by torrential rain, as rising waters swiftly inundated their homes early today.

Some of the residents in the neighbourhood were forced to seek shelter in the upper floors of their homes with the assistance of the Civil Defence Force (APM).

Photos shared by local authorities showed knee-high waters inside their low-lying homes and rescue officials assisting the sick and elderly to a higher place.

Residents also tried to save their belongings by placing items on tables and moving their motorcycles to a safe location.

The affected areas include Jalan P. Ramlee and Kampung Masjid.

These locations have historically experienced flooding due to heavy downpours, making residents particularly vulnerable when it rains continuously.

Meanwhile, a resident of Jalan P. Ramlee, Saiful Hazri, 39, said he realised his home was flooded after being contacted by a neighbour.

He said that he, along with six other family members, including elderly individuals, moved their car to higher ground.

"However, two motorcycles couldn't be saved because the water rose so quickly, reaching waist level," he said.

The Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had issued a thunderstorm warning at 11.45pm yesterday.

A spokesman said checks by the northeast district APM team at 1.40am showed floodwaters had risen and entered several homes in the area.

"Our team assisted residents by relocating them to higher ground within their homes and helping move personal belongings and public vehicles to safer locations.

"As of 3am, the rain had subsided, and floodwaters were reported to be receding," he said.

No temporary evacuation centre (PPS) was opened, and no injuries have been recorded.

Meanwhile, Northeast District APM Warrant Officer II, Sergeant Major II Muhamad Haidzir Abai Zulkifli Abai, said they received information from the public at 1.35am regarding victims in several affected homes on Jalan P. Ramlee.

Upon arriving at the location with five other members, they found that the water level had already risen to around knee height.

"We located a house occupied by individuals with disabilities and senior citizens before moving them to the upper floor for safety," he said today.

Surrounding areas such as Lorong Kampar, Kampung Dodol, Jalan Perak, Jalan Terengganu, and Jalan Anson were also flooded.

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood victims at relief centres (PPS) in Sabah recorded an increase this morning, while in Johor it remained the same as yesterday (April 15).

In Sabah, the number of flood victims increased to 228 people (75 families) from 203 people (67 families) yesterday.

According to the Secretariat of the Sabah Disaster Management Committee, 152 of the victims, involving 54 families, are at a PPS in Beaufort, while the remaining 76 victims ( 21 families) are at a PPS in Keningau.

"Eight villages are still affected by the floods. Six villages are in Beaufort and the other two are in Keningau," it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Johor, the number of flood victims in Segamat remained at 56 people involving 17 families.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said 41 of the victims are at the PPS at Balai Raya Kampung Batu Badak, while 15 others, from Kampung Seberang Batu Badak and Kampung Batu 5 Jalan Muar, are at the PPS at Dewan Komuniti Kampung Tasek.

Two locations of Sungai Muar in Segamat, at Jeti Kampung Tekam and Buloh Kasap, are at a warning level, he said in a statement today (April 16). — BERNAMA