Indonesian volcano spews ash as officials grapple with disasters

JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Bloomberg): Mount Semeru volcano on Indonesia’s main Java island spewed hot ash as high as 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) on Saturday, prompting authorities to warn people to keep a distance.

Going with the flow

Drop in flood evacuee numbers

KUALA LUMPUR: The flood situation in Sarawak, Pahang and Sabah has improved, leading to a drop in the number of evacuees, but the situation in Johor remains pretty much unchanged.

Damaged roads, lack of gear hinder Indonesia quake rescue

MAMUJU (Indonesia), Jan 16 (AP): Damaged roads and bridges, power blackouts and lack of heavy equipment on Saturday hampered rescuers after a strong earthquake left at least 46 people dead and hundreds injured on Indonesia's Sulawesi island.

Authorities using all possible means to reach victims of natural disaster in Pitas

KOTA KINABALU: Authorities are continuing to extend food assistance to rural Pitas communities who have been cut off due to recent flooding using all means possible.

SAR ops underway for fishermen feared drowned in Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: A search and rescue operation is on for two fishermen feared drowned after their vessel capsized in waters off Kuala Meruap, Sandakan early Friday (Jan 15).

Food aid rushed to 3,000 villagers

KOTA KINABALU: Food rations are being rushed to some 3,000 villagers in Pitas after all links to the main road were cut off by floods, landslips and damaged bridges caused by Monday’s heavy rain.

A dozen Covid-19 patients discharged

BEIJING: Hebei province has seen its first 12 coronavirus patients discharged from the hospital. They are the province’s first recoveries in this year’s outbreak amid a continued uptick in cases.

4,222 moved to 49 flood relief centres in Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is seeing a three-fold increase in the number of flood evacuees as relatively fine weather has allowed floods in the peninsula to ease off.

No visits to Orang Asli village allowed

JOHOR BARU: The Seletar community in Kampung Sungai Temon has taken proactive measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 into the village by blocking the main road to the settlement in Skudai here.