Venezuela quake toll hits 1,430 & more today
Venezuelan and Middle Eastern communities in Ireland face news of major crises abroad, while residents in Northern Ireland are advised of several safety incidents. Rescuers are searching for tens of thousands missing after a massive earthquake, and tensions have escalated in the Persian Gulf.
In Venezuela, the death toll from a major earthquake has reached 1,430, with approximately 55,000 people still missing. About 1,600 foreign rescuers have arrived to assist in the search for survivors. This follows a period of intense seismic activity that has left the country in an urgent humanitarian crisis.
Further international tension is affecting the Middle East after Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait. The Kuwaiti military confirmed its air defenses intercepted the incoming strikes on Sunday morning. The escalation follows recent military actions by the United States in the region.
In Northern Ireland, emergency services have issued a "stay away" warning for Downpatrick, County Down, following a major fire at a former convent. Ten fire engines were sent to the scene to contain the blaze. Meanwhile, police in Derry are investigating an attack on a bus by masked youths that resulted in several broken windows, and a post-mortem is scheduled following a suspicious death in west Belfast.
Travelers and those with family in Europe are alerted to extreme weather as France reports 1,000 excess deaths linked to ongoing heatwaves. Temperature records are being broken across the continent, prompting public health warnings from French authorities.
In legal news, Doug Beattie, an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly), has called for the Police Ombudsman to investigate what the police knew regarding Jeffrey Donaldson before his conviction for child sex abuse. An MLA is a member of the Northern Ireland parliament, and an ombudsman is an independent official who investigates complaints against public bodies.
For more updates, including a plane crash in eastern France and a car accident in Malaga, visit the News section in the app.