Strong quake sparks panic in Indonesia
AFP. Jakarta
A strong earthquake rattled Indonesia Tuesday, sparking panic, damaging scores of homes and leaving at least half a dozen students seriously injured.
Office workers in the capital Jakarta rushed outside as highrises began swaying, while some riders were thrown off their motorbikes by the force of the 6.0 magnitude rumble.
There were no reports of fatalities, but the government said six students were seriously hurt after the roof collapsed at their high school at Cianjur on Java island near the epicentre of the quake. Two other students sustained minor injuries.
Gas leak closes train station
in London
Reuters, London
A major gas leak in central London forced the closure of Charing Cross train station and the evacuation of hundreds of people from nearby nightclubs and hotels on Tuesday.
Police closed the Strand, a major road artery that leads into Trafalgar Square – the very heart of the capital city – and advised people to avoid the area.
The fire brigade said it was called at 2 a.m. (0200 GMT) and was dealing with a ruptured gas main emitting “high levels of natural gas”. Some 20 firefighters were at the scene.
Heavy snow block Alpine roads, rail links
AP, Berlin
Landslides and heavy snowfall across the Alps have prompted the closure of several rail and road links, including a highway leading to Switzerland’s Gotthard tunnel toward Italy.
Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported that the A2 highway near Gurtnellen was hit by an avalanche and will remain closed in both directions until at least midday Tuesday.
The Swiss ski resorts of Zermatt, Andermatt and Saas-Fee are cut off from the outside world due to the risk of avalanches.
Srong quake off Alaska prompts tsunami warning
Reuters, Alaska
An earthquake of magnitude 8.2 hit 256 km (157 miles) southeast of Chiniak, Alaska at a depth of 10 km at 0931 GMT on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake prompted a tsunami warning for parts of Alaska and Canada and a tsunami watch for the entire U.S. west coast, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System said.
Day of destiny looms for Brazil’s Lula
AFP, Brasilia
A Brazilian appeals court will rule on Wednesday whether to overturn a corruption conviction against ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, effectively deciding if he can run in this year’s election.
Lula was sentenced in July to 9.5 years behind bars after being convicted of corruption in Brazil’s huge “Car Wash” graft scandal. All eyes are now turning to the court in Porto Alegre which said it will rule on his appeal on January 24.
