Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms

Tropical storm Yagi was located about 295 nm west-northwestward of Iwo To, Japan. While Tropical Storm Yagi should endure for a few more days, it doesn't appear as if it will be much of a threat to Okinawa, Japan.

Tropical Storm Dante is moving away from the Philippines. Tropical Storm “Dante,” the fourth cyclone to enter the country this year, slightly accelerated Sunday evening while moving over the Philippine Sea.

Thousands flee Central European floods

Some 23,000 people were forced to leave their homes in the east German city of Magdeburg after a dam burst on the flood-swollen River Elbe.

Although water levels in Magdeburg were reported to be receding on Monday, the city and areas of the country further north remain on high alert.

In Hungary, 1,200 people had to leave their homes but flood defences in the capital Budapest appeared to have held.

At least 19 people have died in the floods in Central Europe.

Ten victims from the Czech Republic and five from Austria died after rivers rose to dangerous levels in both countries last week.

Analysts say the damage will cost billions of euros to clean up.

Meanwhile, parts of Poland's capital Warsaw were flooded on Sunday after hours of heavy rain.

One of the city's busiest motorways was inundated, and firefighters had to help stranded drivers to safety.

Flood defences in Budapest appeared to have held on Monday as waters from the Danube River started to recede, having reached an historic peak of 8.91m (29 ft) on Sunday.

Along more than 700km (470 miles) of the River Danube, thousands of people, including many volunteers and even convicts from the prisons, worked to reinforce earth and sandbag barriers.

More than 1,200 people have been evacuated from their homes, although no flood-related deaths have yet been reported in Hungary.

In Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, flood waters rose to 7.44m (24ft), nearly four times higher than normal (2m) - forcing some 10% of the population, 23,000, to leave their homes.

Around 700 soldiers worked to build a dam of sandbags around a power sub-station in the badly-hit area of Rothensee in a bid to keep the power on.

But other parts of Saxony-Anhalt and neighbouring Brandenburg remain under threat as the flood crest moves north, testing flood defences already weakened by days of heavy rain.

A dyke at Fischbeck, west of Berlin, was breached overnight leading to the evacuation of nearby villages.

A railway bridge on the line between Berlin and Cologne, Frankfurt and Amsterdam had to be closed, leading to significant delays or cancellations for train travellers.

Other News:

Flash floods have hit Alor Star, the Kedah province of Malaysia. Around 1,000 residents have been affected.

Flash floods in Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh have affected over 40 villages. Several low lying areas in Teesta and Dharla river basins have been affected by the flood waters. Displaced people are taking shelter on government roads.

At least four people have been injured and several homes have been damaged in a storm in Kentucky, USA.

Witnesses watched a waterspout zip across the Baltimore harbour in Maryland, USA on Monday, tossing pieces of a warehouse roof into the air, as storms bringing heavy downpours and flooding moved through the region. At least one other tornado was reported in the area.

Monsoon rains are expected to cover the whole of drought-struck western India by Monday, bringing relief to millions of farmers who have suffered through a dry spell for more than a year.