News Watch

January 2017 issue | Appears on page 18

Dominican Rep. floods

Caused by heavy rains, flooding in the northern portion of the Dominican Republic in mid-November forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate their homes. 

The Dominican Republic is the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. On Oct. 5, 2016, Hurricane Matthew killed more than 1,000 people in Haiti along with four in the Dominican Republic.

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 18

Central America natural disasters

Tropical Storm Otto made landfall in Central America in November, briefly being classified as a hurricane. 

Three people were killed in Panama on the 22nd when Otto struck the eastern coast of the country with 70-mile-per-hour winds. The storm then moved north, striking Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador on Nov. 23, killing at least four people in Costa Rica and causing flooding and damage to buildings and agriculture throughout the region before continuing into the Pacific...

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 18

New Zealand quake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island, near the city of Christchurch, on Nov. 13, killing two people. Tsunami waves measuring more than eight feet struck the east coast of the island shortly afterward. 

Dozens of aftershocks, some with magnitudes of more than 6, occurred after the quake. Damage and landslides closed several major roads on the island, isolating some towns.

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 18

Quake in Japan

An earthquake measuring 6.9 occurred off the northeastern coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan, on Nov. 21. It struck near Fukushima, the location of a deadly earthquake in 2011 that caused a large tsunami  that damaged the local nuclear power plant beyond repair. 

Tsunami waves caused by the Nov. 21 quake were small and caused no damage. Only minor damage was reported due to the quake, itself, and there were no injuries.

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 18

Train crash in Iran

An Iranian passenger train traveling northeast from the capital, Tehran, to the city of Mashhad broke down on Nov. 25 due to extreme cold and, while immobile, was struck by another train. At least 35 people were killed and more than 70, injured.

January 2017 issue | Appears on page 19

Europe terror warning

The US Department of State warned travelers of the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. This Travel Alert will expire on Feb. 20, 2017.

Credible information indicates that Daesh (ISIL), al-Qaeda and their affiliates continue to plan terrorist attacks in Europe. Travelers also should be aware that extremist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks with little or no warning. 

Travelers should...

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 19

Burundi unrest

The US Department of State warns against travel to Burundi due to ongoing political tensions, armed violence and civil unrest. 

Politically motivated violence persists throughout Burundi in the aftermath of the country’s contested July 2015 elections and over the current president’s possible ineligibility for his ongoing third term.

Armed criminals are known to ambush vehicles, particularly on the roads leading out of the capital, Bujumbura. Gunfire and grenade...

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January 2017 issue | Appears on page 19

Cyprus reunification talks

The leaders of southern and northern Cyprus met in Geneva in November to negotiate the reunification of the nation, but on Nov. 21 it was announced that they were unable to come to an agreement. 

The Eastern Mediterranean island nation has been split since a pro-Greek coup in 1974 induced Turkey to occupy the northern portion of the country, creating a southern, Greek Cyprus and a northern, Turkish Cyprus, split at the capital, Nicosia. 

The government of the southern...

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