A powerful summer storm caused severe flash flooding at the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor early Monday morning. As a safety precaution officials decided to close the only functioning reactor. In 1986 Chernobyl was ground zero for the planets worst nuclear accident as an explosion and resulting fire spewed contamination for hundreds of miles. Russian leaders have agreed to permanently shut down the reactor by the end of the year. During the past week heavy rains across northern Bangladesh have triggered a series of flash floods that have left more than 34,000 people stranded.
Many villages remain submerged as several major rivers burst their banks.
Bangladesh often suffers from severe flooding in the summer months as monsoon rains and cyclones impact the low-lying country. July 8- Kirogi Nears Tokyo, Japan Typhoon Kirogi moved just east of the Japanese capital of Tokyo today. Rough seas, strong wind gusts and up to 10 inches of rain fell across portions of the country. Three deaths in Japan have now been blamed on the storm. Earlier this week Kirogi left 16 dead across the Philippines as heavy rains inundated the island of Luzon.