One dead in Wales plane crash Sunday, 13 March 2011 23:48

LONDON: One man died and another was hospitalised yesterday after a light aircraft crashed in a field near Swansea, south Wales, police said.

“Shortly after 1330 GMT today a light aircraft made an unscheduled and forced landing on agricultural land near Pontarddulais, Swansea,” a South Wales Police spokeswoman said.

“There were two males on board the plane. One of the casualties has been transferred to Morriston Hospital by air ambulance. The second male was pronounced dead at the scene,” the spokeswoman added.

It is believed the plane flipped over as it attempted its emergency landing.

Britain sends rescue team

to Japan  

LONDON: A British team arrived in Japan Sunday to assist local rescuers in their search for survivors from Friday’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, the Foreign Office (FCO) confirmed.

Fifty-nine search and rescue experts, four medics, two sniffer dogs and 11 tonnes of equipment were on board the private charter aircraft which arrived yesterday in the crisis-hit nation.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke with his Japanese counterpart on Saturday to “discuss the latest situation and coordination with our Embassy in Tokyo,” the FCO said in a statement.

“He (Hague) expressed concern about the explosion...at Fukushima nuclear power station and offered UK help and expertise to the Japanese authorities if needed,” the statement said.

Colombian village bans prying tourists  

NAZARETH, Colombia: Just off the Amazon River, lies the village of Nazareth. But don’t think about dropping by. Tired of being a curiosity to the outside world, the indigenous people have banned tourists.

Thousands of adventurous, backpacking tourists flock to southern Colombia every year, drawn by eco-tourism and the hope of interacting with the peoples who live and commune with the Amazon jungle following age-old traditions.

Here in Nazareth, guards armed with their traditional sticks stand ready to deter unwelcome visitors.

Agencies

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