News
Reuters Crew Hit by Russian Strike in Kramatorsk; One Missing, Several Injured
A Russian missile strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, late Saturday night has left one Reuters staff member missing and several others injured. The hotel, known as the Sapphire, was housing a six-person Reuters team covering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The attack, which occurred on August 24, 2024, resulted in significant damage to the hotel. Reuters confirmed in a statement that one of their safety advisers, who was staying with the team, is currently unaccounted for. Two other team members were hospitalized with injuries. The remaining three crew members were located and reported to have sustained minor injuries.
The strike has claimed at least one life and injured several others, according to local officials. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that an American citizen was among those injured, though their identity has not been disclosed.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency services sifting through the debris. Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of Kramatorsk City’s military administration, reported the recovery of one body from the rubble but did not provide further details. Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, stated that the injured journalists include nationals from Ukraine, the United States, Latvia, and Germany.
Footage from the Reuters team shows the extensive destruction caused by the strike. The video depicts emergency crews searching through large piles of rubble and significant damage to the hotel’s infrastructure, including its roof and several rooms.
Kramatorsk, one of the largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the besieged east, has frequently been targeted by Russian shelling since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022. In April 2023, a missile attack on Kramatorsk’s railway station, which was being used as a shelter for civilians, resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including several children. This attack was later described as an “apparent war crime” by Human Rights Watch and SITU Research.
The situation in Kramatorsk remains dire as the conflict continues to impact both military and civilian areas, with ongoing efforts to locate the missing Reuters staff member and provide aid to the injured.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
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