Latest news with #flooddamage
Japan Times
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Toyota files $361 million South Africa flood damage lawsuit
Toyota has filed a lawsuit for 6.5 billion rand ($361 million) in a South African court over 2022 flood damages that shuttered its plant near Durban, Business Day reported. The claim against Transnet SOC, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and eThekwini Municipality has been brought to the high court in Durban by Toyota South Africa Motors' insurer, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance. It alleges that the floods, which closed the Prospecton plant for four months, cost the company about 4.5 billion rand in plant repairs and rehabilitation and more than 2 billion rand in business interruption, the newspaper reported. The suit, which claims interest on the sum, alleges that by failing to maintain waterways and drainage systems that carried the floodwater, the three defendants shared responsibility for the damage. "A successful case on behalf of Toyota could encourage others to seek compensation from municipalities and state-owned enterprises whose failure to deliver causes them losses,' Business Day cited a lawyer unconnected to the case. Immediately after the flood, Toyota predicted a 33% drop in planned vehicle production in 2022 and potential sales revenue losses of over 27 billion rand, the newspaper reported. Prospecton builds the Hilux pickup truck, the Fortuner SUV, Quest and Corolla Cross cars, HiAce minibuses and Hino trucks and buses. About half of production is exported, mainly to Europe. The 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods and landslides were declared a national disaster and left more than 400 people dead.
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Eastern Cape transport dept crew robbed while repairing flood-damaged road
A provincial transport department crew was robbed while repairing a flood-damaged road in Cala, Eastern Cape. Gunmen stole the crew's bakkie. The robbery comes days after humanitarian aid workers were intimidated while assisting people affected by flooding in the province. A group of armed men robbed provincial transport department construction workers who were sent to repair a flood-damaged road in Cala in the Chris Hani district in the Eastern Cape. 'The incident occurred in Cala late [on Wednesday] as the workers were out to attend to a rural bridge damaged by the recent floods in a village in Cala,' Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha said. 'A bakkie driven by a group of balaclava-clad men armed with rifles approached them while working at a nearby quarry,' Nqatha added. He added that the men tied up the workers, demanded keys to their bakkie, and removed several tyres from their tipper truck. 'They loaded them onto the stolen bakkie, and both bakkies sped off, leaving the [crew] stranded but unharmed,' Nqatha added. The incident comes only days after Gift of the Givers Foundation aid workers were intimidated while providing essential aid to flood victims in Mthatha on Saturday. According to the OR Tambo District Municipality, the workers were threatened by people who demanded that they stop supporting hundreds of displaced residents affected by recent flooding in the province. Police are now escorting Gift of the Givers teams when delivering essential aid to affected people. The Mthatha area was the hardest-hit part of the province with 68 of the total death toll of 92. Two bodies were found on Wednesday night, including that of a teenage girl, Premier Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement. It was discovered along the Mthatha River. Mabuyane added: 'The provincial government continues to work tirelessly to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 4 308 individuals who have been left homeless across the province, and processes are under way to ensure the provision of temporary residential units. Significant progress has also been made in the restoration of critical infrastructure,' he said. The premier said an intensive response and recovery effort was under way.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Downing Centre to remain closed for four weeks due to flooding, some part-heard trials aborted
The busiest courthouse in New South Wales will be closed for at least one month, and some part-heard trials aborted, due to flood damage from earlier this week. The Downing Centre on Tuesday was shut down due to a burst water main on Castlereagh Street in Sydney's CBD. Electricity in the courthouse complex went out just before 10am, in the middle of court sittings, and the building was evacuated, with other neighbouring buildings also impacted. The court's media team said "extensive damage" was caused to the infrastructure of the building, the electricity, IT systems and other equipment. It is believed the building still has no power or water. "As a result, the Downing Centre will be closed for at least four weeks … it is clear that extensive repairs will be required which will take a lengthy period of time," a spokesperson said. Further updates from the Department of Communities and Justice are expected in the coming weeks as repairs commence to ensure the building is safe and fully operational prior to its reopening. "Judicial officers and court staff are making every effort to ensure matters are able to proceed wherever possible," the spokesperson said. The NSW Bar Association said it had received notice from the Chief Judge of the District Court, noting the likelihood of some trials being terminated due to the flooding situation. "The District Court's present focus is to complete trials that are part-heard, particularly those where the proceedings are of some age and where the accused is in custody," a statement read. The statement said arrangements were being made to source courtrooms elsewhere within the metropolitan area. Those with matters scheduled in the Downing Centre Local Court or District Court were advised to check the online court, relevant websites or get in touch with Downing Centre advisors. People with matters scheduled in the Drug Court were advised to contact the registry or their Community Corrections Officer. Jurors currently empanelled in criminal trials in the Downing Centre were told they will be contacted by the NSW Sheriff's Office with further updates. "I would ask that legal practitioners prepare parties and witnesses for the fact that over the next few weeks matters listed before the District Court in Sydney may not proceed as originally anticipated," a spokesperson for the Chief Judge of the District Court said. "I assure you that we are doing all we can to ameliorate the significant disruption the Court is facing."
Washington Post
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
As disasters loom, emergency managers say they aren't counting on FEMA
Preparation for the unknown was always in Alan Harris's job description as emergency manager for Seminole County, Florida, where thousands of homes suffered flood damage during Hurricane Ian in 2022. But as hurricane season begins this year, there is a fresh layer of uncertainty to contend with. The Trump administration has declared a desire to reshape a federal disaster response system widely considered to be too complicated and winding, and has already taken steps to upend it.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Farmers coming to terms with how much they've lost after devastating NSW floods
Tony Buttsworth describes his farm on NSW's Mid North Coast as "the heart and soul" of his family. But right now, the proud third-generation farmer can barely stand to look at the land he has loved for 50 years. As he points to the dairy cows surrounded by slush and mud, waiting to be fed, his voice breaks. "I don't know how to get out of this one," he says, wiping away tears. When torrential rain soaked the region last week, it left the Moorland property underwater, causing significant damage to the land and destroying around $100,000 worth of fertiliser and seed. Tony and his brother Bobby Buttsworth now have more than 500 hungry mouths to feed — and only one green paddock remaining. The animals are quickly deteriorating, and many will need to be sent to the abattoir. "We were milking 500 cows but we're going to have to lessen the herd a fair bit," Bobby says. As his brother quietly tells him, he's already contacted the meatworks to organise for 100 cows to be taken away. Bobby turns away with tears in his eyes. The two men took over the family business from their father, who spent a lifetime building it to where it is today. Tony left school at the age of 14 to work on this land with his dad. His two adult sons now work alongside him. The farm is now spread across 2,800 acres and produces "a few million litres" of milk a year. The brothers estimate it would take at least 12 months to return the farm to its former condition. "It's not a straight away recovery, it's going to take a long time," Bobby says. The two farmers are hoping the state and federal governments will offer grants to help with their recovery. They also believe a temporary freeze on interest repayments on loans would help the hundreds of producers in the region affected by the floods. Despite the emotion etched on their faces, they insist other farmers around Coopernook are doing it much tougher. One local producer at Coopernook lost a herd of 800 cows, they say. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is planning to visit flood-affected communities on the Mid North Coast on Tuesday, after an earlier attempt to reach the worst-hit areas was thwarted by wild weather. On Monday he confirmed the federal government will provide concessional loans for primary producers and small businesses affected by the crisis. "The primary producer loan allows for concessional rate loans as well as freight subsidies to help transport livestock, and also to support fodder being given to those areas," he says. Premier Chris Minns says the state government will announce a recovery package soon. "I'm cognisant in natural disasters in the past, governments have, very laudably and very understandably, launched the package and it has missed the mark, it hasn't quite worked, it hasn't gone to the right areas," he notes. NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders is urging the state government to declare the incident a Category C or Category D disaster, using council assessment data. This would activate grants for primary producers through a cost-sharing arrangement between the state and federal governments. "People don't want concessional loans," Mr Saunders says. He argues they need immediate financial support to fix fences and infrastructure. "They need things that make a difference immediately to get work happening on the farm so people can get back to operations is critical," he says. "And we really need to see that in the next few days." NSW SES has been dropping emergency feed supplies to farms in the region, but not all are accessible by chopper. Western Sydney-based charity Turbans 4 Australia is also planning to deliver fodder to the region later this week. Founder Amar Singh tells ABC News the organisation is aiming to send eight to 10 trucks of hay to Taree and other parts of the Mid North Coast. "It's an act of solidarity with these regional communities — they do so much for us," he says.
