The Sikkim administration has evacuated over 1,200 tourists stranded in North Sikkim following landslides triggered by heavy rains. The evacuation began on June 17th, with the Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps playing a crucial role. The situation worsened after a newly constructed suspension bridge collapsed, cutting off access to North Sikkim and Dzongu. The government has also ordered the closure of all government schools in Mangan district due to safety concerns.
On Tuesday, May 21, an Australian military C130 Hercules aircraft carrying tourists stranded in New Caledonia during a week of rioting and looting finally arrived in Brisbane. The flight, the first successful evacuation since the unrest erupted, brought approximately 50-60 passengers to safety, including children and pregnant women. The unrest, which began on May 13, has left six dead and hundreds injured, prompting the French government to send forces to quell the protests fueled by opposition to French rule.
Tourists on the Greek island of Crete participated in a mock earthquake drill, unaware that it was a simulation. The drill, named ‘Minoas’ after the mythical Cretan Bronze Age king, involved evacuations and first aid simulations. The exercise aimed to prepare for real earthquakes, as Greece is located on multiple fault lines and has a history of seismic activity. The drill comes just days after a real quake measuring 3.8 hit the island’s southwestern coast. Despite Greece’s vulnerability to earthquakes, tremors have not caused severe fatalities or damage since a strong quake killed 143 people near Athens in 1999. However, the country has faced other emergencies in recent years, including wildfires and floods.
Hong Kong has implemented a ban on single-use plastic items in hotels, including bottled water, toothbrushes, and toiletries. Tourists and regular business travelers expressed understanding and support for the ban, indicating that they often bring their own toiletries or can easily purchase them in Hong Kong. Hotels are adjusting to the ban by providing wooden toothbrushes and combs in some rooms and charging for wooden cutlery for takeaway food orders.
