1 post tagged “disaster”
Ok so my city, Newcastle is a small harbour-side city and for the past 24 hours it and the entire state has been whipped with gale force winds and strong storms. The Pasha Bulker, a Filipino ship with 21 people aboard, ran aground into a reef just off Nobby's beach this morning. Before the 21 people were rescued one by one the crew were threatening to jump over board due, having already waited a long time for help (which was slow coming due to the conditions) and saying they would rather take their chances swimming than staying on the ship which is now at risk of breaking up. There are major concerns about this happening as the ship is reported to have around 700 tonnes of fuel aboard. Authorities are now looking at using tug boats to haul the ship into deeper waters.
Three other ships are in immediate danger, one is trying to anchor just off Nobby's beach but is having trouble getting the anchor to take. It is expected to run aground anytime soon. There are around 60 ships just off Newcastle port battling these weather conditions and even more accidents are thought possible.
It has also been reported that an elderly couple in a car have been swept off a bridge by a wave into a creek. Helicopters from the harbour have come to search for them, but so far apparently there is no sign of them or their car. Another vehicle is also thought to have been swept into the same creek but also hasn't been found.
Sirens have been going all day, many people have had to be rescued from their submerged cars due to flooding on the roads. It has obviously been a pretty intense day in my area and I don't think it will be one that will be forgotten any time soon...
