Giant flying boat air tanker drops water on Southern California’s Mount Wilson

October 1st, 2009 THEKKADY - The boat tragedy in Kerala's Thekkady tourist spot that killed 42 people Wednesday evening could have been avoided if the state government had taken measures like appointing a water transport safety commissioner, an official who inquired into a similar incident in 2002 said Thursday. Justice K. Narayana Kurup, who headed the inquiry commission into the Kumarakom boat tragedy in Kottayam district that killed 27 people, said a competent authority should have been appointed to look into all the safety aspects.

September 20th, 2009 Water drops continue against LA-area wildfireLOS ANGELES — Air crews continued to drop water on the massive wildfire still burning in the forest north of Los Angeles Sunday, in anticipation of hot, dry winds moving into the area this week. The arson-caused fire, which erupted Aug.

September 14th, 2009 Boat sinks in Congo river, killing at least 15KINSHASA, Congo — A government official says a boat sank in a river in southwestern Congo, killing at least 15 and leaving 34 missing. Francois Kashinda, government spokesman for Katanga province where the boat went down Sunday, says that 95 passengers have been found alive.

September 1st, 2009 Wildfire destroys 53 homes in LA CountyLOS ANGELES — Fire officials say a deadly wildfire that has blackened a wide swath of tinder-dry forest around Los Angeles has destroyed a total of 53 homes and threatens thousands more. The fire has scorched 164 square miles of brush since it broke out last Wednesday.

September 1st, 2009 Raging wildfire menaces observatory, TV towersLOS ANGELES — Mount Wilson opened the heavens and then became a modern hub for communications on Earth. Now it is threatened by a force of nature that humans may be powerless to control.

August 31st, 2009 Calif. fire to reach mountain's TV transmittersLOS ANGELES — Authorities say flames from a major wildfire north of Los Angeles are about to reach Mount Wilson, home to a historic observatory and transmitters for every major television and radio station in the area. Los Angeles County Fire Capt.

July 16th, 2009 Junior lifeguard dies in SoCal training accidentHUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — An 11-year-old junior lifeguard was fatally slashed by the propeller of a lifeguard boat piloted by a veteran marine safety officer during training outside the surfline of this famed beach, authorities said Wednesday.

June 19th, 2009 NOIDA - Two students in their early 20s were killed when a water tanker hit their motorcycle here Friday afternoon, police said. Ravindra Yadav and Pankaj Yadav were coming from Sector-60 towards Mamura crossing when a water tanker hit their motorcycle, police added.

June 4th, 2009 Dead whale lodged on tanker towed out to seaANCHORAGE, Alaska — The carcass of a dead humpback whale that was brought into Alaska's Port of Valdez on the bulbous bow of an oil tanker has been towed out to sea. The tanker contracted a fishing vessel to drag the whale out of port Wednesday.

June 3rd, 2009 Humpback whale struck, lodged on bow of oil tankerANCHORAGE, Alaska — Wildlife officials say an oil tanker struck an endangered humpback whale and carried its carcass on its bow into Alaska's Port Valdez. Crewmen on an escort vessel spotted the 40- to 50-foot whale along the water line of the tanker Kodiak when the ship docked late Tuesday.

May 23rd, 2009 MANILA - At least 12 people were drowned Saturday when the boat in which they were travelling sank off the coast of Verde Island in northern Philippines, the police said. Rescue officials retrieved 12 bodies from the water, while 40 others were rescued, local police chief Luisito Palmera said.

May 13th, 2009 Officials: Fla. boat flips, about 28 people thrownMIAMI — A boat filled with migrants from Haiti and the Bahamas capsized off the coast of Florida on Wednesday, dumping as many as 28 people in the water.

May 13th, 2009 Officials: Fla. boat flips, 28 migrants thrownMIAMI — Coast Guard officials in Florida say they are responding to a report that a boat capsized and threw about 28 migrants into the water off the Fort Lauderdale coast.

May 13th, 2009 Fla. boat flips, dumping migrants in oceanMIAMI — A boat filled with migrants from Haiti and the Bahamas capsized off the coast of Florida on Wednesday, dumping as many as 28 people in the ocean. Twenty-one people were pulled from the water off Fort Lauderdale, seven of them unresponsive, the Coast Guard said.

May 13th, 2009 9 dead after boat carrying migrants sinks off Fla.MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — At least nine people are dead after a boat carrying Haitian migrants sank off the Florida coast, the Coast Guard said Wednesday.