Editorial 30.09.24
The US front pages report on the devastation brought across many states by Hurricane Helene. At least 116 people have died nationwide since the hurricane made landfall in Florida on Thursday, according to CBS, and that figure is expected to rise as officials reach more areas.
Hurricane Helene unleashed devastating winds and torrential rain across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The response to the hurricane has now taken on a notable political angel as Joe Biden along with his potential successors – Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – planning visits to some of the hardest-hit areas. Many of the hardest-hit areas are key swing states for the upcoming November presidential election, so the political response will be under a magnifying glass.
The latest from the Middle East is another lead for many of the newspaper front pages.
‘Israel targets Yemen in airstrikes whilst continuing attack in Lebanon’
‘Authorities struggling to get food and water to isolated areas,’ says Anchorage Daily News.
Anchorage Daily News writes about the rising death toll on its front page. The paper notes “authorities struggled to get water and other supplies to isolated, flood-stricken areas across the U.S. Southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene as the death toll from the storm rose to nearly 100.”
‘Supplies to be airlifted by Monday,’ claims Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says supplies are being airlifted to the region around the “isolated city.” The County manager has said she will have food and water in Asheville by Monday.
‘Overwhelming destruction,’ writes Naples Daily News.
Naples Daily News characterises the hurricane as ‘overwhelming destruction’. The paper speaks to locals affected by the hurricane. ‘I’m done’: Voices from Helene’s Eye in Perry is another headline for the front page.
Tallahassee Democrat speaks to the locals in Cedar Key, hit hard by the hurricane.
Another Florida newspaper, Tallahassee Democrat, also speaks to locals. The paper speaks to people in Cedar Key an area where almost a quarter of the houses have been destroyed.
‘All hands on deck,’ as locals grapple with storm’s destruction, says the Palm Beach Post.
The Palm Beach Post reports on those helping out in the aftermath of the devastation. The paper says “all hands on deck to help out after Helene.”
‘Israeli airstrikes kill dozens across Lebanon’
‘Israel strikes target civilian buildings, death toll expected to rise, says Dothan Eagle.
Dothan Eagle shows a large image of a hole in the ground along with the headline: ‘Israeli airstrikes kill dozens across Lebanon’. The strikes have targeted buildings where civilians were living and the death toll was expected to rise, the paper writes.
‘Fragile Lebanon now faces calamity,’ says The Washington Post.
The Washington Post says “a fragile Lebanon now faces calamity”. The hospitals are filled with the wounded and shelters are over capacity. Israel dramatically expanded the scope and pace of its operations over the last week — largely contained to the south over the last 11 months.
‘The US calls for resolution but also authorized its military to reinforce in the region,’ writes the Daily Times.
The Daily Times says the new strikes have escalated the conflict in the Middle East. “The U.S. has urged a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Lebanon but has also authorized its military to reinforce in the region in a sign of the growing unease.” the paper writes.