Displaying items by tag: deaths

Relatives of the 57 victims of the 2023 Tempi train disaster have gathered in court in Larisa, seeking justice three years after Greece’s deadliest rail tragedy. The collision between passenger and freight trains claimed many young lives, including students returning to university; some victims reportedly died in fires following the crash. Proceedings have been marked by frustration, with limited courtroom access and concerns over transparency. Thirty-six defendants, including railway officials, face charges in an extremely complex case expected to last years. The disaster sparked widespread anger, with accusations of systemic negligence, safety failures, misused funding, and possibly a cover-up. As families continue to voice deep grief and demand accountability, this trial represents a critical moment in addressing long-standing concerns over infrastructure, governance, and public safety.

Amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the IDF’s plans to establish a buffer zone deep inside southern Lebanon have intensified fears of prolonged instability. Foreign minister Israel Katz, stating that the aim is to protect northern communities, has proposed military control up to the Litani River and the demolition of border villages even after the war with Hezbollah ends. Lebanese leaders and international voices have condemned the move, warning it risks further displacement and destruction. Since early March, widespread violence has resulted in significant casualties, including civilians, healthcare workers, and journalists, while more than a million people have been displaced. Critical infrastructure, including hospitals, has been severely affected, worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation. The crisis shows how civilians are bearing the heaviest burden as insecurity, loss, and uncertainty continue to shape daily life across affected areas.

In rural areas of Nepal, families living near protected forests face growing danger as tiger populations increase. Pushpa Tamang, a survivor of a brutal tiger attack in 2019, lives with severe disabilities and ongoing medical needs which her family cannot afford. Like others in neighbouring districts, her household struggles under heavy debt from treatment costs while navigating slow and inadequate government relief systems. Although Nepal has been praised internationally for its conservation efforts which have successfully expanded tiger numbers, local communities bear the consequences through injury, trauma, and financial hardship. Many rely on the forests for daily survival, increasing their exposure to risk. While some local authorities offer limited support, gaps remain significant. The situation highlights a deep tension between conservation success and human vulnerability.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, leaving widespread power outages and civilian hardship. In Russia’s Belgorod region, around 450,000 people were left without electricity, with heating and water supplies also disrupted amid freezing temperatures. Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, about 150,000 residents lost power after damage to key facilities, with repairs delayed by ongoing security risks. Additional attacks in Odessa caused casualties and property damage, while a Ukrainian drone strike sparked a fire at a major Russian oil export terminal in Ust-Luga. These escalating attacks form part of a broader strategy to weaken energy capacity on both sides. As the conflict continues, concerns are growing over regional stability, especially after a Russian drone reportedly crashed in Latvia, raising fears of wider international escalation.

On 16 March, coordinated bomb attacks by suspected suicide bombers struck the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing at least 23 people and injuring over a hundred. The explosions hit a crowded market, a hospital entrance and a nearby area just after people broke their Ramadan fast, and caused  panic as survivors fled. The military have blamed the jehadist Boko Haram group, which originated in the town in 2009, and warned of increased threats during the final days of the holy month. The attacks shattered a period of relative calm in the city, long associated with insurgency but recently more stable than surrounding rural areas. Violence across northeastern Nigeria has persisted, with extremist groups continuing assaults which have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Officials have increased security presence and pledged stronger action, though concerns remain about ongoing vulnerability. The resurgence of attacks highlights the fragile security situation and the continued challenges facing efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

The Middle East has entered a new period of instability following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran which reportedly killed more than a thousand people and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. Among those killed was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leaving uncertainty about the future leadership of the country. The strikes, described by US and Israeli officials as necessary to address security threats, have drawn global attention and concern. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting military installations and other sites across several countries in the region. The escalation has disrupted diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and raised fears of a wider conflict. Civilians across the Middle East face growing risks as violence spreads, while thousands of foreign nationals have struggled to leave affected areas. The conflict has also shaken global energy markets and travel networks, reflecting the far-reaching consequences of the crisis. Recent news: at least 87 were killed when a US submarine sank an Iranian tanker (see), and the US Senate voted against a bipartisan measure which would have limited Trump’s war powers (see).

Heavy fighting has erupted along the long border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, raising fears of a prolonged regional conflict. The clashes began after Pakistani air strikes targeted locations in Afghanistan, including sites linked to Taliban forces, following accusations that militants were launching attacks on Pakistan from Afghan territory. Taliban authorities have denied supporting such groups. Pakistan says it has struck military facilities used by militants, including locations near the former Bagram air base, while Afghan officials report that their forces have resisted several attacks and captured at least one Pakistani military post. Both sides claim to have inflicted significant losses, though details remain difficult to verify. The UN mission in Afghanistan reports that dozens of civilians have been killed and more than a hundred injured. Aid agencies warn that ongoing violence is worsening humanitarian conditions and limiting access for relief efforts, including continuing to help those affected by the earthquakes in August and September which killed more than 1,400 people.

Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has called for stronger action by state governments as the country faces a worsening outbreak of Lassa fever. The viral disease, endemic in parts of West Africa, typically peaks during the dry season from November to May, and at least 18 Nigerian states have reported cases, notably Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo. By mid-February, 326 infections and 75 deaths (including three healthcare workers) had been confirmed. Officials say weak infection-prevention practices and limited access to personal protective equipment have contributed to transmission in hospitals, including maternity and outpatient wards. The virus spreads through contact with food or household items contaminated by rat urine or droppings, or through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Gaps in contact tracing, along with stigma and misconceptions which delay treatment, have also increased risks. There is currently no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever.

The government has deployed thousands of troops after deadly unrest followed the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. Around 9,500 soldiers have been sent to western states, including 2,500 reinforcements to Jalisco, where he was captured. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, long regarded as one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations, responded with coordinated attacks. Roads were blocked with burning vehicles, spikes and debris, while banks and businesses were set alight. Clashes between cartel members and the National Guard left dozens dead, including security personnel and alleged gang members. El Mencho was seriously wounded on 22 February during a firefight with special forces and died while being transported to Mexico City. President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the operation and pledged to restore peace. Authorities say order is gradually returning, though tensions remain high in affected communities. The level of violence has been made worse by warfare between and even within different cartels: see

A brutal massacre in Nigeria’s Kwara state left more than two hundred dead after gunmen attacked two Muslim-majority villages for rejecting extremist teaching. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, entered a mosque and shot worshippers, then moved house to house killing, kidnapping and burning residents. Many victims were tied before execution, and entire families were wiped out. Survivors fled, leaving only a few men to bury bodies among destroyed homes. Authorities blamed Boko Haram-linked militants, and the army deployed troops while local groups struggled to respond. The violence reflects Nigeria’s wider insurgency, where armed factions target both Muslims and Christians, spreading fear across communities. International partners are now providing intelligence support, yet the tragedy shows the urgent need for protection, reconciliation and healing for traumatised survivors who have lost loved ones and livelihoods. In related news, the USA is to send two hundred soldiers to Nigeria to train local forces: see Nigeria’s military recently claimed to have killed a senior Boko Haram commander and ten other militants in Borno.