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9-September-2022

ASIA

China (Security threat level – 4): On 9 September 2022, Hong Kong authorities announced that airline crew members based in the city will no longer be required to quarantine for three nights at a government mandated facility upon arrival, effective 10 September. According to the new protocol, airline crew members can return to their country of origin after obtaining a negative result from a nucleic acid test conducted at the airport. Additionally, travelers to Hong Kong will no longer be required to submit to temperature screenings on arrival; however, visitors must continue to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, a PCR test taken 48 hours prior to arrival and complete a health and quarantine declaration to enter Hong Kong.

EUROPE

Spain (Security threat level – 2): On the morning of 9 September 2022, train services throughout the Catalonia region, including in Barcelona, were temporarily suspended due to a telecommunications issue. The suspension occurred after a malfunction in the computer systems of the centralized traffic center in Barcelona. According to Spain’s railway infrastructure managing company, the glitch occurred during a standard update of the computer systems. High-speed rail lines were not affected. Train operations resumed approximately three hours later.

United Kingdom (Security threat level – 3): Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the afternoon of 8 September 2022. The queen was 96 years old and had served as the monarch since 1952. Prince Charles, the queen’s eldest son, ascended to the throne upon his mother’s death and returned to London earlier on 9 September. He is expected to be officially proclaimed as the new monarch at St. James’s Palace in London during the morning of 10 September. No schedule is announced for when the formal coronation ceremony will take place.

The U.K. government on 9 September declared the beginning of a period of national mourning that will last until the end of the queen’s state funeral, which is anticipated to occur at Westminster Abbey in less than two weeks. Multiple state gatherings are expected to take place. The main events will likely take place in London and other major cities; however, gatherings are also likely in cities and towns throughout the country. These events have the potential to result in significant ground transportation delays; airport operations may also be affected as foreign dignitaries arrive in England for official services. The government has published a National Mourning Guidance, which can be read here.

NORTH AMERICA

Bermuda (Security threat level – 1): As of 0800 local time (1200 UTC) on 9 September 2022, Hurricane Earl — a Category 2 storm — was located approximately 305 km (190 mi) east-southeast of Bermuda and was moving north at a speed of 29 kph (18 mph). At that time, Earl had maximum sustained winds of 155 kph with higher gusts, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm passed its closest point to Bermuda at approximately 0300 local time and is presently tracking toward the northeast farther away from the island. Earl is expected to produce 25-75 mm (1-3 in) of rain across Bermuda throughout the day, generating hazardous surf and riptide conditions along the island’s coastline. Approximately 1,300 residents in the parishes of Paget, Pembroke, Devonshire and eastern Warwick temporarily lost electricity. Ferry services were disrupted, but L.F. Wade International Airport (TKXF/BDA) continued its normal operations. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Bermuda.

Mexico / United States (Security threat levels – 4 / 2): On 8 September 2022, Hurricane Kay made landfall as a Category 1 storm near the sparsely populated Bahía Asunción Bay — located in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur — and weakened into a tropical storm. As of 0500 local time (1200 UTC) on 9 September, Tropical Storm Kay was located approximately 265 km (165 mi) north-northwest of the Punta Eugenia area of the Vizcaíno Peninsula, and about 315 km south-southeast of the U.S. city of San Diego, California. At that time, Kay was moving north-northwest at a speed of 20 kph (13 mph) and had maximum sustained winds of 80 kph with higher gusts, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Tropical Storm Kay is expected to further weaken near Baja California Peninsula’s west-central coastline later in the evening hours and become a post-tropical storm by 10 September. Kay’s passage near the Baja California Peninsula caused power outages that affected more than 32,000 residents, felled trees and downed power lines.

Approximately 150 to 255 mm (6 to 10 in) of rain is expected in the Baja California Peninsula, with isolated maximums of up to 380 mm, through 10 September. Additionally, 50 to 100 mm of rain is expected in northwestern Mexico and the southern areas of the U.S. state of California. A Tropical Storm Warning is currently in effect for areas located north of the town of Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur state to the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as for the coastline between the city of Santa Rosalia and the town of Bahía Kino, Sonora state.

SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia (Security threat level – 3): On 8 September 2022, police officers and coca farmers engaged in clashes in the capital La Paz for approximately one hour after the protesting farmers attempted to break down police barricades surrounding the Association of Coca Producers (ADEPCOCA) market headquarters. The demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and other projectiles at police officers, who used their batons to disperse the crowd. Some protesters eventually breached the barricades and set ablaze the coca leaf market. At least 10 police officers and 11 farmers were injured in the violence. Thousands of farmers marched to La Paz from the Yungas region beginning on 4 September to burn down the ADEPCOCA market, which was legally established in October 2021; however, they claim that the market is illegal and harms them economically.

Brazil (Security threat level – 3): On 8 September 2022, a vessel with dozens of passengers sank near the northern island of Cotijuba off the coast of Pará state in northern Brazil. The boat — which was not licensed to transport passengers — departed Marajó Island and was en route to the state capital Belém at the time of the accident. Emergency personnel rescued 63 people and recovered 11 bodies during search and rescue operations.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

South Sudan (Security threat level – 5): On 9 September 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Juba issued a Security Alert, which reads in part as follows: “The Embassy is aware of a significant increase in violence, including fighting between armed groups in some areas of Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity states. Fighting is reported in Malakal, Tonga town and nearby areas. All Americans are advised not to travel to the affected areas. If you are there now, you should consider departing if it is safe to do so.”

The full text of the alert is available here.