At least 10 forestry and rescue workers have died while fighting wildfires in Turkey's Eskisehir province, with additional personnel injured or trapped. The fires, exacerbated by high temperatures exceeding 40°C, have caused widespread evacuations across multiple regions, highlighting the severe wildfire crisis in Turkey this summer.
A plane crash occurred on Interstate 684 near exit 2 in Armonk, close to Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY. Rescue workers are on the scene, and the southbound entrance to I-684 at Exit 3 has been closed by North Castle Police to manage the situation. The incident has caused significant traffic disruption in the area.
Gaza rescue workers in the blockaded Gaza Strip are facing immense challenges as they try to save lives amidst the Israeli bombardment. With over 10,500 Palestinians killed, including many women and children, the war has left neighborhoods destroyed and families displaced. Rescue workers lack resources, heavy machinery, and equipment needed to move rubble, while damaged roads and shrapnel hinder their operations. Telecommunications blackouts add to the stress, preventing coordination between rescue teams. Despite the dangers, these workers remain determined to protect their people and call for a ceasefire and the transfer of injured individuals for treatment.
Rescue workers in Gaza are facing extreme challenges as they try to save lives amidst the relentless Israeli air strikes. With over 1,500 people dead, including ten medical workers, and health facilities damaged, the rescue efforts are hindered by cratered roads, rubble, and a lack of equipment. The emotional toll on the rescue workers is immense, as they retrieve the bodies of children and fear for their own families' safety. The intense bombardment has left many buildings destroyed, making it difficult for rescue services to reach new bomb sites quickly. The rescue workers are operating round the clock, with little time for rest or communication with their families.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting rescue workers in a "double tap" missile strike in the city of Pokrovsk, resulting in the death of seven people, including civilians, rescuers, and a soldier. The Russian missiles hit within 40 minutes of each other, causing extensive damage to buildings and injuring dozens of people, including police officers and emergency workers. This tactic, also used in Syria, involves targeting the same spot after a certain period, often hitting those who have deployed to assist after the initial strike. Russia claims to have hit a Ukrainian army command post, but neither side's claims could be independently verified. The conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, with reports of attacks in other regions resulting in additional casualties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of shelling Ukrainian emergency workers who are trying to rescue people from floodwaters caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. Zelenskyy called on international humanitarian organisations to immediately deploy to and help people abandoned in occupied areas now hit by flooding. Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated Moscow’s line that Ukraine was to blame for the dam's destruction. The UN’s World Food Programme warned that the flooding could destroy crops and lead to greater hunger worldwide. Greenpeace also warned of enormous damage to the country’s water supply and food security.
At least 11 people have died in a coal mine explosion in central Colombia, with 10 others still trapped underground. The incident occurred due to an accumulation of gases that exploded after a worker’s tool caused a spark. Colombia is home to numerous open and underground gold and coal mines, with incidents frequently occurring, mostly at operations that are illegal or do not adopt sufficient security measures. Over 100 rescue workers are working to free the trapped miners.