Securely Travel Brief – 16 May 2018

Today’s Securely Travel brief is culled from the travel warnings and travel alerts found via news media, government and social networks.

SUMMARY:

Sri Lanka - Visiting UK rugby players die of breathing problems
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - Tourist kidnapping in Eastern Congo
Senegal - Demonstrations in major cities
United States - Volcano activity in Hawaii

Sri Lanka - Two visiting British rugby players die following breathing complications

Inexplicably, two British rugby players died after complaining of breathing difficulties while on a tour of Sri Lanka.

Thomas Howard, 25, and Thomas Baty, 26, from Durham, England were admitted to hospital on Sunday after visiting a nightclub in the Sri Lankan capital, the BBC reports. After returning from the nightclub late Saturday night, the two men told hotel staff they had trouble breathing and were taken to Colombo’s Nawaloka Hospital. The players “suffered non-rugby related breathing problems,” according to a statement from the Durham City Rugby Football Club (DCRFC), which organized the trip. The club confirmed that Howard died in hospital on Sunday.

The cause of death of Baty and Howard has not been determined, and while their death may be connected to their night club visit, it has not yet been confirmed.

Everyone at South Shields are devastated and joins the rest of the rugby community in sending our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Thomas Howard and Tom Baty and to our friends at @DurhamCityRFC at this sad time. pic.twitter.com/RRBMYetALB

— South Shields RFC ⚫️🔴🌕 (@ShieldsRugby) May 15, 2018

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - Tourist kidnapping in Eastern Congo

The US State Department advises of an attack on a group of tourists around the Virunga National Park in Goma area of the DRC. The tourist’s convoy was attacked and a ranger was killed and two British tourists kidnapped. Subsequently, the kidnapped tourists were released. Time magazine reports that on April 9, six park staffers were killed in the deadliest known ambush of its kind in Virunga. Park officials blamed Mai Mai militia members.

Travelers visiting Virunga National Park should make their presence known to park officials and obtain a comprehensive update on the current security situation.

#Kinshasa, #DRC Security Alert: Avoid the area around Virunga National Park in Goma. On May 11, just north of Goma rebels attacked a convoy and killed a park ranger and kidnapped two tourists traveling within Virunga Park. Kidnappings in the Eastern Congo remain a serious concern pic.twitter.com/SvFO6xg6Do

— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) May 15, 2018

Senegal - Demonstrations in major cities

The UK’s FCO warns travelers about the onset of violent demonstrations in major cities.

#Senegal Student protests have broken out in Dakar, St Louis and other major cities in Senegal, with violent confrontations between students and law enforcement. You should avoid university campuses while protests continue https://t.co/MrjodrZ4EG pic.twitter.com/RugXrGHoZX

— FCO travel advice (@FCOtravel) May 15, 2018

United States - Volcano activity in Hawaii

The Kilauea volcano activity continues. Mainstream media cautions of catastrophic eruption, while scientists at the USGS advise any eruption will be localized, with possible ash fall to other portions of the Big Island of Hawaii or the other Hawaiian Islands dependent on wind direction.

Lava spews out of fissures from Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano against the early morning sky as a 20th fissure has opened up on Hawaii's Big Island. https://t.co/WdsfGCvWZR pic.twitter.com/Vte9TORPmL

— ABC News (@ABC) May 15, 2018