In Real Life

The Fairmont Hotel at Dubai’s man-made island The Palm erupted into flames after an explosion as Iran launched retaliatory strikes in the Gulf following US-Israeli attacks.

Authorities reported that four people have been injured and residents heard several loud bangs following that explosion.

The strikes from Iran are in response to those launched by the US and Israel, which US President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the US and allow Iranians to topple their rulers.

Credit RTÉ News

Absolutely heartbreaking 💔😭

Texas flooding latest: desperate search for girls swept away at summer camp as flood kills 24

As of Saturday morning ~ the search for survivors in Texas is ongoing. Here is what we know so far:

At least 24 people have died and up to 25 people are missing after torrential rain caused flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas on Friday.

Rescue teams are searching for the people who were attending the Christian all-girls Camp Mystic summer camp just outside the town of Kerrville 104km (64 miles) north-west of San Antonio.

As of Friday night, emergency personnel had rescued or evacuated 237 people, including 167 by helicopter, Reuters reports.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management had 14 helicopters and hundreds of emergency workers, as well as drones, involved in search-and-rescue operations.

A month’s worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours. In less than an hour the river rose 26 feet (7.9m) in what Kerr county sheriff’s office called “catastrophic flooding”.

The flooding swept away mobile homes, vehicles and holiday cabins where people were spending the 4 July weekend, the BBC said.

A state of emergency has been declared in several counties.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, US President Donald Trump said, “We’ll take care of them,” when asked about federal aid for the disaster.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the top local elected official, said a disaster of such magnitude was unforeseen. “We had no reason to believe this was going to be anything like what’s happened here,” he said. “None whatsoever.”

More rain is expected in the state, including around Waco, and flooding is anticipated downriver from Kerr county.



(Source: NPR & BBC)