BUGS FLOODING QUAKE

Story 1-BUGS INFEST QUEBEC, 2-QUEBEC ROADS FLOODED OUT FOR WEEKS. 3-22 KILLED IN CHINA FLOODING.4-Iran Quake.

Mosquitoes, blackflies on attack in Quebec Last updated Jun 2 2006 05:13 PM EDT

,CBC News-Quebecers are under attack from more mosquitoes that are acting aggressively under ideal breeding conditions, an expert says.A mild winter and wet spring in Quebec have led to about triple the usual number of mosquitoes in the province, said Jacques Boisvert, an entomologist at the University of Quebec Trois Rivières who tracks bug populations.There's a lot more mosquitoes, more blackflies,Boisvert told CBC News. But to me, what's important is they are more aggressive towards people.May was largely rainy in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. In such weather, mosquitoes and blackflies delay their emergence, so their bites are
also delayed.

When conditions improved at the end of May, the emerging females quickly took a large blood meal to prepare for egg laying. Mosquitoes spread West Nile virus, but the infective species doesn't tend to emerge until early July in the province, when dead birds start to appear, Boisvert said. You can move to Antarctica, but it's quite difficult," Boisvert said. "Otherwise, you dress properly.He advised against wearing dark coloured clothing, which attracts mosquitoes.

Donning long sleeves and pants, and putting repellent on exposed skin such as the face and hands is recommended.

Washed-out roads to be closed for weeks near La Tuque Last updated Jun 1 2006 05:41 PM EDT ,CBC News

Officials in La Tuque, Que., say it will be weeks before roads damaged by heavy rains can be reopened. They have issued another dozen evacuation notices, except this time the notices were voluntary. More homes were evacuated Thursday, and officials say people who choose to stay could be cut off for a while. The Sûreté du Québec's helicopter brought loads of people from areas isolated by the heavy rains.

Denis Bilodeau and his wife had access to their cottage cut off by a washed-out road. On Thursday, the two were hoisted up to a helicopter in harnesses. We had enough food for another week," Bilodeau says, "but our kids were worried about us, so we decided to leave. Water from the heavy rain is still swelling small streams and ditches, but the flow is reducing every hour. Officials say it will be weeks before all damaged roads are repaired.

And until then, evacuees won't be going home, and people who choose to stay in isolated houses will have to make do.At least one death is being blamed on the severe weather in the region. A 28-year-old man was struck by lightning north of La Tuque Wednesday.The Quebec government has promised financial aid to residents.

Twenty-two killed, 19,000 homes destroyed in south China floods Fri Jun 2, 2:29 PM

ET BEIJING (AFP) - Rainstorms and floods have killed 22 people and destroyed thousands of homes in southeast China, state media reported. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated from central and northern Fujian province which has been lashed bynon stop rainstorms since Tuesday, according to the ministry of civil affairs, Xinhua news agency said. About 19,000 homes have also been destroyed, according to the ministry, which despatched a rescue team to the flood-hit areas, Xinhua said.

Floods have always been part of life in China.Since serious flooding of the Yangtze River in 1998, China has spent billions of dollars on flood mitigation. Major rivers have been brought under greater control and early warning systems have been put in place, but flash floods and landslides caused by unprecedented rains continue to cause major damage.

Strong quake hits southern Iran, one dead Sat Jun 3, 7:49 AM ET

TEHRAN (AFP) - A strong earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale has jolted southern Iran, killing a young girl and injuring two others. The head of Hormozgan province Natural Disaster Department, Masoud Dalman, told state radio that the four-year-old girl was killed in the village of Ramkan on the Gulf island of Qeshm just off the coast from Bandar Abbas.The quake struck at 10:45 am Saturday, official media reported, with the epicentre at the port town of Khamir.

In November last year, 10 people were killed when a 6.0 intensity quake hit Qeshm.Iran suffers frequent earthquakes. The worst quake in recent times razed the southeastern town of Bam in December 2003, killing 31,000 people.In late March, a powerful earthquake hit western Iran, killing at least 70 people and leaving thousands homeless.In February 2005, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale killed more than 600 in Zarand.