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Air India Express Flight from Dubai-Kerala Crash, Plane Splits in Two as it Skids Off Runway in Kerala

air india express crash dubai to india

An Air India Express plane flight accident occurred on (Friday) August 7, 2020 when the plane skidded off a runway in Kerala’s Kozhikode.

The plane is reported to be a special repatriation flight from Dubai to Kerala.

Tragedy struck Air India Express Flight IX1344 as it crash-landed with at least 180 passengers. Photos posted online from reports show the plane had split into two.

Special Mission Flight from Dubai to Kerala Tragic Accident in India

The airline company, Air India Express, posted a Tweet confirming the said crash: “We regret that there has been an incident regarding our aircraft VT GHK, OPERATING IX 1344 DXB CCJ. We will update as we get the details.”

This is a developing news so please stay tuned for updates.

Below are some updates posted on social media regarding this tragic incident:

 

Bride’s Wedding Photoshoot in Beirut Captures Horrific Explosion

It was supposedly the happiest day of her life – until her entire world shook, literally. 

A happy couple in Beirut was spending a blissful moment recording their prenuptial photoshoot when all of a sudden a massive explosion, which now has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 130 people and left 5,000 injured with hundreds still missing, took place in a port at the Lebanon capital. 

Here is the video captured and posted by Mahmoud Nakib via his YouTube Channel:

[Watch] Bridal Photoshoot Interrupted by Horrific Beirut Blast

Dr. Israa Seblani and Ahmad Sbeih were on the streets of Beirut on Tuesday, with Seblani posing for the camera in a dramatic, white wedding gown. It was a day like any other in the city’s Saifi Village, the doctor recounts, with people out and about shopping and dining in restaurants. 

Then all of a sudden, a loud noise was heard from a distance, followed by a deafening blast that was captured on video by the couple’s wedding photographer, Mahmoud Nakib.

In an interview with CNN, Nakib said: “We were filming an outdoor photo session for the (Seblani and Sbeih) wedding, then we heard an explosion.” 

“That was the first explosion, we thought that it was far away, so we continued filming normally,” he added.

However, a few seconds after that, as we can see in the video, the entire situation changed.

Nakib shared, “In just one second, the sky turned black and we heard the second explosion.”

When the explosion went off, an intense gust of wind created by the explosion’s shockwave roared through the square, as seen in the video.

Seblani shared, “The area I was in — within a matter of seconds — it went from this beautiful place to a ghost town filled with dust, shattered glass and people yelling [and] bleeding. It was like a nightmare scene.”

Meanwhile, Nakib recounted that he was shaken by the shockwave, pushing him down the street nearly knocking him over. But his camera kept rolling, shakily documenting the chaotic scene for a few seconds longer.  

As this happened, Seblani, Nakib, and the rest of the wedding party headed inside as the blast echoed through the streets of Beirut. Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident. 

Nakib shared that as he was running, he first thought about his wife and daughter back home. “I called her to let her know that I’m fine and do not go out. And I went live at Facebook to let people know what happened.“

The explosion at the Lebanese capital wiped out entire city streets, leaving hundreds of thousands of the city’s residents homeless and damaging structures as far as six miles away.

The blast was suspected to have come from a warehouse storing thousands of tons of an unsecured and volatile chemical compound, although investigations as to the cause of the incident are still ongoing as of this writing.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Hero Housemaid Saves Little Girl During Beirut Explosion

WATCH: Hero Housemaid Saves Little Girl During Beirut Explosion

migrant worker saves toddler from beirut blast

An unnamed female migrant worker has been labelled a hero online after her noble act of saving her ward during the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.

Also Read: Before and After Photos of Beirut Port from UAE Khalifa Satellite

As shown in a home camera footage, the housemaid instantly jumped into action and grabbed a child when the blast took place. The housemaid did not event hesitate and instantly grabbed the child to safety.

migrant worker saves toddler from beirut blast
Video screenshot: @evisionmn

VIDEO: Beirut Housemaid Swiftly Saves Toddler During Massive Blast

In the video which has now gone viral, the nanny could be seen cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner while the child was standing in the room. While continuing her work, she noticed the vibration and immediately grabbed the toddler and saved her from the shattered glass and windows.

Check out the video below:

The heroic act is very inspiring and showed the nanny’s instincts. Many netizens across various social media platforms have praised the nanny’s swift action. This truly shows the importance of migrant workers to families and it shows that we need to value these migrant workers and treat them better.

The explosion occurred at the port of port area of Lebanon’s capital city where tonnes of ammonium nitrate were reportedly stored.

According the World Health Organization, more than 5000 people were injured, over 130 admitted to intensive care units, and up to 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes and need urgent support for shelter and food assistance.

Hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of injured people and many buildings are destroyed. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Below are some moving images after the blast as shared by netizens:

Huge Fire Breaks out in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

A large fire broke out Saudi Arabia. The fire erupted in makeshift offices in Haramain Sulaymaniyah district in Jeddah.

According to reports, Saudi Arabia Firefighters and civil defense teams were able to battle a large fire at a railway station in Al Sulaymaniyah, Saudi Arabia

After news in the Middle East where Beirut, Lebanon’s port experienced a massive explosion, massive fire in Ajman, UAE, and fire in Iraq, recently a train station in Jeddah in KSA caught fire.

Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported so far. Investigations are ongoing on the cause of the fire.

Below are some images and videos posted online:

Before and After Photos of Beirut Port from UAE Khalifa Satellite

beirut before and after photo map

Last August 4, Beirut, Lebanon suffered a massive explosion in the capital’s port area which left dozens dead and thousands injured. The said cause of the blast was due to ammonium nitrate found in the port area.

While investigations are ongoing below are some photos taken from the United Arab Emirate’s Khalifa satellite as shared by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s Twitter page.

The photos show a Before and After shot of Beirut’s port area.

Beirut before blast
Beirut’s port area before the blast. Image: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
Beirut's port area after the blast
Beirut’s port area after the blast. Image: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

Below is a close-up and chilling video of the blast that left thousands injured and dozens killed.

BREAKING: Massive and Shocking Blast in Beirut, Lebanon Leaves City in Chaos

deadly explosion beirut lebanon

Lebanon’s capital city, Beirut, has been hit by a massive explosion that left the city in panic and chaos. According to reports, the explosion was equivalent to a 3.3 magnitude earthquake.

The explosion occurred at the city’s port area and according to latest updates, about 78 people have been killed and over 4000 people are wounded. Many people are missing and

Reports also mention that Ammonium nitrate was stored in the port which had caused the explosion. However, investigations are ongoing. As this is a breaking story, more updates are to follow.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Lebanon.

Below are some videos posted online regarding this shocking blast:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lebanon.

Pakistan International Airlines Flight from Lahore to Karachi Crashes

pakistan international airlines flight crash

Breaking News. A flight from Lahore to Karachi had crashed in a residential area near Karachi. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight 8303 crashed during its approach to Jinna International Airport.

The aircraft is an Airbus A320 and it had taken off from Lahore and crashed during approach.

As per report from newspapers, PIA spokesperson Abdul Sattar confirmed the Flight 8303 crash which carried 90 passengers and 8 crew members on board.

Pakistan Armed Forces posted a statement sharing that they have flown army aviation helicopters to assess the damages and conduct rescue efforts. Search and rescue teams are also sent on site.

Saudi Closes Mosques; Curfew in Jordan; Iran Tallies 135 Deaths

Saudi Closes Mosques; Curfew in Jordan; Iran Tallies 135 Deaths

As the trend of new cases and deaths due to SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) in many parts of the world continue in an upward trajectory, several governments in the MENA region including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iran have begun to implement stricter measures to manage the spread of the disease. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the coronavirus has swept across the Middle East and North Africa with nearly every country in the region confirming cases of the new virus. 

Credits: WHO

Middle East Gov’ts Impose Stringent Measures to Control Community Spread of COVID-19

In this light, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will no longer allow Muslims to conduct their five daily prayers and the weekly Friday prayer inside mosques as part of efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus, as shared in a report by Saudi Arabia’s state news agency, SPA. 

The prayers will continue only at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, the holiest places in Islam, referring to a decision from the Council of Senior Scholars, the kingdom’s highest religious body.

Meanwhile, Iran on Tuesday announced another 135 deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the overall toll to 988 in one of the world’s worst-hit countries. 

According to health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpou, “Reports by more than 56 laboratories indicated that we have had 1,178 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the past 24 hours.”  

This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 16,169 as of noon on March 17. 

Jehanpour also noted that there are 5,389 people who were infected had been discharged from hospitals “with general good health”.

Tehran province recorded the highest number of new infections with 273 fresh cases. Alborz, to the west of Tehran, was next with 116, followed by East Azerbaijan with 78. 

“As of Tuesday morning, more than 15 million of our countrymen have been screened” for symptoms, Jehanpour shared.

The health minister reiterated calls for Iranians to stay at home during the outbreak and asked them to report possible symptoms on a ministry website. 

The website identifies the individual using their national identity number and asks if they have symptoms such as coughing or fever. It also asks if anyone suspected of having the virus, under treatment or recently recovered lives with them. If the symptoms are not serious, it advises them to stay at home and tells them where the nearest healthcare center is located.

Meanwhile, Jordan has also announced a lockdown beginning March 17, ordering all citizens to stay in their homes apart from emergencies and banning travel between provinces, to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Troops were deployed at the entrances of cities starting Monday to help impose the measures when they take effect the following day, the army explained.

In this regard, the Kingdom has already shuttered shops and closed its borders to halt the spread of coronavirus. Also, its government is expected to issue a royal decree declaring a state of emergency that will give the authorities widespread power to control movement. 

Jordan has closed land and sea border crossings with Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Israel, and suspended all incoming and outgoing flights. Only cargo flights and commercial overland shipments will be allowed in and out of the country.

ALSO READ: Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners due to Coronavirus

Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners due to Coronavirus

Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners due to Coronavirus

Amid the rising cases of COVID-19 around the world, countries in the Middle East have imposed travel restrictions and other precautionary measures. At present, the hardest hit in the region is Iran, with more than 8,000 confirmed cases and almost 300 deaths.

To combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 in jails, Iran has temporarily released about 70,000 prisoners, the country’s head of the judiciary stated on Monday, 9th March 2020.

Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners due to Coronavirus

70K Prisoners Freed from Jail due to COVID-19

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi announced the temporary release of prisoners, as the country faces the rapidly spreading COVID-19, Arab News reported. Iran has one of the highest case and death rates outside China, where the novel coronavirus originated.

The release of prisoners shall continues “to the point where it doesn’t create insecurity in society,” Raisi said, as cited by the Mizan news site of the judiciary. However, he did not mention any details about when the released prisoners would have to return to jail.

On Monday, the United Nations (UN) stated that Iranian prisoners have been infected with COVID-19. Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said: “Recent reports indicate that the COVID-19 virus has spread inside Iranian prisons.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has canceled his speech in Mashhad city for the Persian New Year, 20th March. Based on a statement on his official website, the decision was made as part of a campaign to prevent further infections.

“The ceremony for the speech of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution, which happens every year on the first day of the new year in [Imam Reza’s holy shrine] will not take place this year and the Supreme Leader will not travel to holy Mashhad,” according to the statement, which added that the move was based on the recommendation of health officials, for the Supreme Leader to avoid large gatherings and minimise travel.

Likewise, officials have expressed concern about the possibility of COVID-19 spreading during Nowruz, which is the beginning of the Iranian new year. During this period, families usually travel to different vacation spots across the country.

This year, the health ministry has imposed travel restrictions between provinces, and advised Iranians to stay home. However, heavy traffic has been observed along roads leading to the Caspian Sea (a popular Nowruz vacation spot), despite the warnings.

Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners due to Coronavirus

COVID-19 Cases Worldwide

As of this writing, Channel News Asia reports that there are 118,180 confirmed cases and 4,292 reported deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide. Majority of these are in China, with 80,778 confirmed cases and 3,158 reported deaths.

As cited earlier, Iran has one of the highest number of cases outside China, with 8,042 confirmed cases and 291 reported deaths. Italy and South Korea have reported high figures as well: 10,149 cases and 631 deaths (Italy); 7,755 cases and 60 deaths (South Korea).

Elsewhere in the region, the numbers of COVID-19 cases are as follows:

  • Bahrain — 109 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • Iraq – 71 confirmed cases / 7 reported deaths
  • Kuwait — 69 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) — 59 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • Saudi Arabia — 20 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • Oman — 18 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • Qatar — 18 confirmed cases / 0 reported deaths
  • Jordan — 1 confirmed case / 0 reported deaths

At this time, all of us should stay tuned for the latest updates on COVID-19 cases, wherever we may be in the world. We should also rely only on trusted sources of information, and avoid spreading unverified news, as this could only cause unnecessary fear and panic.

Saudi Arabia Bars GCC Citizens from Entering Mecca, Medinah

Saudi Arabia Bars GCC Citizens from Entering Mecca, Medinah

On Friday (February 28), Saudi Arabia has announced that it will deny entry of GCC citizens to two of Islam’s holiest cities amid fears over the new coronavirus.

The decision to halt access to Mecca and Medinah comes a day after the kingdom suspended visas for the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage, an unprecedented move that has left hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims around the world in limbo.

Saudi Arabia Bars GCC Citizens from Entering Mecca, Medinah
Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Saudi Gov’t Suspends Entry of GCC Citizens to Mecca, Medinah

According to the foreign ministry, “the temporary suspension of entry of (GCC) citizens to the cities of Mecca and Medina,” as shared in a report by Gulf News.

The GCC states include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar.

However, the ministry announcement did not specify whether this suspension extended to Saudi citizens, as well.

On the other hand, the ministry statement said the decision excludes “GCC citizens who have been in the kingdom for 14 consecutive days and did not show signs of coronavirus infection.”

So far, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reported no coronavirus cases but there are mounting concerns over a spike in infections across the Middle East, including neighboring Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.

Meanwhile, GCC citizens are allowed to enter the kingdom with their national identity document. But on Thursday, the government said they could only enter using their passports and not IDs.

In a report by the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, the move is designed to check the travel history of the GCC citizens, including any recent visits to countries impacted by the virus.

On Thursday, the Kingdom also suspended visas for tourists from countries affected by the virus as fears of a pandemic deepen.

According to state media, electronic tourist visas for people arriving from seven countries, including China, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Kazakhstan, have all been suspended.

And while Saudi Arabia said the suspensions were temporary, it did not provide any time frame for when they will be lifted.

The announcements have also triggered speculations and uncertainty over the annual hajj pilgrimage scheduled for July.

In a statement, the foreign ministry shared: “The government of Saudi Arabia… is closely following developments in the spread of the virus and its repercussions on an ongoing basis, and that the precautionary measures are being reviewed according to any new developments.”

Every year, Saudi Arabia hosts millions of pilgrims in the cities of Mecca and Medina, and this has become one of the Kingdom’s major source of revenue since the decline in demand and production of oil globally.

Interestingly, the pilgrimage forms a crucial source of revenue for the government, which has said it aims to attract 30 million religious visitors annually to the kingdom by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah has informed that the Saudi government is closely following developments in the spread of the virus and its repercussions on an ongoing basis and that the precautionary measures will be reviewed according to any new developments, and additional measures shall be taken if the need arises.

ALSO READ: [VIDEO] Here’s How Muslims Celebrated Eid on Final Days of Haj in Saudi Arabia