News
Hurricane Beryl Recovery Hampered by Power Outages in Texas
Two days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall, approximately 1.7 million customers in Texas remain without power, severely affecting the restoration of critical oil infrastructure and delaying port operations.
Landfall and Initial Impact: Hurricane Beryl struck as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, about 100 miles from Houston, bringing heavy winds that downed power lines and caused widespread property damage. Reinsurance broker Gallagher Re estimates U.S. economic losses from Beryl at over $1 billion, while AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate ranges from $28 billion to $32 billion in total damages and economic loss.
Power Restoration Efforts: Of the affected customers, 1.4 million are served by CenterPoint Energy, Texas’ largest provider. CenterPoint reported restoring power to over 615,000 customers within 24 hours and aims to restore power to 1 million customers by the end of the day. Questions have arisen regarding CenterPoint’s preparedness, with some customers and officials, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, calling for an analysis post-restoration.
Energy and Infrastructure Impact: Freeport LNG, the third-largest liquefied natural gas facility in the U.S., reduced production on Sunday and has yet to provide an update. Ports along the Texas Gulf Coast, initially closed in anticipation of the hurricane, are gradually reopening with some restrictions. The Port of Houston is set to reopen on Wednesday, allowing restricted inbound vessels.
Port Operations:
- Port of Galveston: Some cruise operations have resumed, with cargo operations expected to restart on Wednesday, though power outages on Tuesday limited operations.
- Port of Freeport: Open and operating, though on backup power with some traffic restrictions.
As recovery efforts continue, the full extent of Beryl’s impact is still being assessed, with significant challenges ahead for restoring full operational capacity across affected regions.
In a devastating incident in eastern India, at least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating the Hindu Jivitputrika festival. The fatalities, which occurred across 15 districts within the past 24 hours, resulted from victims ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day festival, which honors children’s wellbeing, is traditionally marked by mothers fasting and families participating in ritual baths. This year, the swollen water bodies, exacerbated by recent floods, have turned the celebratory ritual into a deadly disaster.
Local disaster management officials have expressed fears that the death toll could rise further. State authorities have promised compensation for the families and relatives of the victims.
Fatal accidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings often take place with insufficient safety measures. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such gatherings, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes in Beirut, reportedly killing Mohammad Hussein Surur, a senior Hezbollah air unit leader. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed two deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. The strikes come amid escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would continue to fight “with full force” against Hezbollah, aiming to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group. This marks a significant intensification of hostilities between the two sides, which have been exchanging rockets and airstrikes for days. The Lebanese health ministry also reported that 28 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched 80 missiles targeting northern Israeli cities, including Safed. Israeli authorities have reported no casualties but noted significant property damage in Safed and Rosh Pina.
Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed calls for a diplomatic solution. The U.S., along with 11 other allied nations, has urged both Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
Ferry travel between the Isle of Man and Lancashire continues to face disruption due to strong winds over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has cancelled Thursday’s 08:45 BST sailing of the Manxman to Heysham and its scheduled 14:15 return journey. This follows the cancellation of the vessel’s return trip from the Lancashire port on Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have affected postal services, with the Isle of Man Post Office reporting delays in deliveries from the UK. While local deliveries within the island remain unaffected, items posted on Wednesday for UK delivery may not reach Royal Mail’s network in time for Friday delivery.
Additionally, the ferry cancellations have caused a delay in newspaper deliveries, with no papers available on the island on Thursday, as confirmed by the island’s wholesale distributor.
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