Posted on 02/27/2007 8:10:33 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Strong wind derails train, killing 4 in Xinjiang
www.chinaview.cn 2007-02-28 09:16:48
URUMQI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least four passengers were killed and more than 30 injured in a train derailment in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region early Wednesday, rescuerssaid.
According to sources with the Urumqi Railway Bureau, 11 cars of Train No. 5806 were derailed by a strong windstorm around 2:00 a.m,, soon after it left the Turpan station. The train runs between Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang region, and Aksu, a city in southern Xinjiang.
The accident occurred between Zhenzhuquan station and Hongshanqu station, about 20 to 30 km away from Turpan.
The windstorm was observed to have a force of 13, which is more powerful than a hurricane, according to the railway bureau.
The railway south of the Tianshan Mountains from Turpan to Korla has been closed, said the railway bureau.
"A strong sand storm cracked window panes soon after the train left Turpan, and blrew some of the cars off the rail when we were trying to plugging up the windows," said a passenger named Su Chuanyi, a local TV journalist.
"The first rescue team of more than 100 people, including doctors and police officers, arrived by 4:30 a.m. They are now working at the scene," Su said.
The mishap occurred near a windmill farm 120 km away from Urumqi. The area is well known for strong winds all the year round.
The Zhenzhuquan station was attacked by a windstorm in April 2001, which derailed 11 cars of a train parked there.
Ping!
Any translation of force 13 into mph wind?
They say 'force 12' has the speed of 73-83 mph. The chart I dug up does not have 'force 13.' 'Force 12' is the maximu scale.
Force 12 goes to 93mph. On the extended Beaufort scale, force 13 would prolly be around 100mph.
Thanks both of you.
Interesting.
I think this is but an example of far worse to come in coming months and years.
Gave ya some bum dope before. (Although I did find that force criteria did seem to fluctuate between different sites)
Try this for a scale
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/history/beauwscl.htm
"I think this is but an example of far worse to come in coming months and years."
I don't know. They extended the Beaufort Scale from 12 to 17 back in the 40's mainly to be able to classify land winds in China. So these events are not that unusual there.
Then again, the asteroid could strike next week.
Thanks.
Much appreciate your helpfulness.
Yeah. I don't know what will cause it all . . . just have felt for years and years that there will be a time of extremely destructive winds.
How many time we told Karl Rove stop his weather machine please LOL!
And of course, whatever happens, we all know who's fault it will be. ;-)
Countdown to 2012.
Yet another consequence of global warming.
Plenty true on all counts! LOL. Sigh.
to 2012
Perhaps so.
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