2025 - Greater Belize Media

Mount Etna Erupts, Sending Plumes of Ash Over Sicily

Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted early Monday morning, sending large plumes of ash and smoke into the sky above Sicily.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported a series of increasingly intense explosions beginning just after midnight. Volcanic material was seen spilling from the southeastern side of the volcano, near a known 200-metre-wide vent.

Footage shows pyroclastic flows, fast-moving clouds of ash, gas, and rock moving down the volcano’s slopes, likely triggered by a partial crater collapse. So far, no injuries or significant damage have been reported.

Despite the eruption, airports in the region remain open, and disruptions have been minimal. A red alert briefly halted some flights but was later downgraded.

Etna’s last major eruption occurred in February, disrupting flights at Catania airport.

OJ Elrington Indicted on Rape Charge a Day Before His Birthday

Attorney-at-law Orson “OJ” Elrington, 43, appeared in the High Court this morning for his arraignment on a rape charge, just one day before his 44th birthday.

Elrington arrived at court shortly after 9 a.m., accompanied by his father and legal representative, Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington. He was formally indicted before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at 9:12 a.m.

The charge stems from an alleged incident that occurred on January 12, 2024. According to the indictment, Elrington is accused of raping a woman in her mid-20s. He pleaded not guilty.

Before entering his plea, Justice Pilgrim outlined Elrington’s rights as a defendant. These included the right to legal representation, the right to apply for bail (though he is currently out on bail), and the right to a trial by judge alone, without a jury.

Justice Pilgrim has scheduled a Case Management Conference (CMC) for July 1, 2025. Both the defence and the prosecution have been ordered to submit their CMC forms by June 27, 2025. Elrington’s bail, originally granted by the Lower Court in 2024, has been extended until the July court date.

The case is being prosecuted by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal.

City Thieves Caught on Camera Stealing Cycle

Security cameras captured two men stealing a motorcycle from a West Canal residence in Belize City early Monday morning.

The stolen vehicle is described as a black Lifan 110cc motorcycle with green stickers and a torn seat. The bike bears the licence plate number MC 7322.

According to reports, the motorcycle was taken at approximately 3:11 a.m. on June 2, 2025.

Video footage from the scene shows two hooded men with their faces covered literally backing the motorcycle out of the victim’s yard.

Police are asking anyone with information about the theft or the whereabouts of the stolen motorcycle to contact authorities immediately.

Speeding Driver Kills Orange Walk Man Outside His Home

A 43-year-old man was killed and his girlfriend hospitalised after being struck by a speeding vehicle while on a motorcycle Saturday night.

Steven “Ratti” Manzanilla died on the spot outside his home in Orange Walk Town when a vehicle travelling at high speed knocked the couple off their motorcycle around 9 p.m.

According to eyewitness accounts, Manzanilla and his girlfriend had just finished speaking with two friends when the tragic incident occurred. The couple were still seated on their motorcycle when the vehicle struck them.

Manzanilla’s girlfriend was rushed to Northern Regional Hospital.

A person who knew Manzanilla said, “RIP Brother, such a respectful person was carelessly taken away.” Another said, “Never mi know yesterday was going to be the last time we laughed with each other really wah miss yo cuz.”

Asesinan a Hombre de 59 Años en Ciudad de Belize

Egbert Flowers, de 59 años, fue fatalmente herido de bala esta mañana en la calle York, en Ciudad de Belize.

El incidente ocurrió después de las 4 a.m., mientras Flowers se preparaba para salir a trabajar en su motocicleta. Un agresor desconocido lo emboscó y le disparó en múltiples ocasiones.

El cuerpo sin vida de Flowers fue encontrado junto a su motocicleta. Fue trasladado de inmediato al Hospital Karl Heusner Memorial, donde fue declarado muerto.

La policía hace un llamado al público para que proporcione cualquier información que pueda ayudar en la investigación.

Belize City Driver Shot Dead Outside Home

Fifty-nine-year-old Egbert Flowers was fatally shot this morning on York Street in Belize City.

The incident occurred after 4 a.m. as Flowers was preparing to leave for work on his motorcycle. An unknown assailant ambushed him, firing several shots.

Flowers’ unresponsive body was found next to his motorcycle. He was immediately transported to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in their investigation.

How Can Dry Air from Africa Change the 2025 Hurricane Forecast in the Atlantic?

Can dust from the Sahara Desert, thousands of kilometers away, really influence the Atlantic hurricane season? Regional forecasters say yes. In 2025, it could be a major factor in determining whether the Caribbean experiences a lull or a surge in dangerous storms.

Every year, vast clouds of fine, dry particles, known as Saharan dust, are lifted from Africa’s Sahara Desert by strong winds and carried across the Atlantic Ocean. It’s that noticeable haze in the sky one tends to see from mid-June to mid-August. These dust plumes travel more than 5,000 miles westward during the summer months, reaching the Caribbean and even parts of the Americas.

This phenomenon, also known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), consists of an extremely dry, dusty mass of air, typically 2 to 2.5 miles thick, floating about a mile above the ocean surface.

Cédric Van Meerbeeck, a climatologist at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in Barbados, says the Saharan Air Layer is one of the biggest unknowns this season. “What we do not know is how often those intrusions of the Saharan Air Layer will come into the Caribbean and therefore stifle the activity levels,” he said, adding that once the dust clears, the hot ocean waters beneath can fuel rapid storm development.

“This is exactly what we saw with Hurricane Beryl last year,” Van Meerbeeck said. “It formed in a break between dust episodes and intensified rapidly.”

So why does Saharan dust suppress storms? According to the National Hurricane Center, the “Saharan dust” contains about 50% less moisture than the typical tropical atmosphere. This extreme dryness promotes downdrafts, creating conditions that can suppress the formation and intensification of tropical storms.

The 2025 forecast is already calling for an active season, with 19 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes expected, numbers well above the long-term average. While early-season activity may be stifled by dust, Van Meerbeeck warns the latter half could be far more active.

Beyond its influence on storms, Saharan dust also affects health and the environment. The fine particles can irritate the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, and they pose particular risks for individuals with allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic bronchitis.

During dust events, it’s advisable for vulnerable individuals to remain indoors and use allergy medications as needed.

Understanding how Saharan dust interacts with tropical storm systems is crucial for accurate forecasting and preparedness. “The first half, we don’t know for sure yet, because it will depend on Saharan air layer intrusions,” Van Meerbeeck said. “What we need to remember is that especially the second half of the season has a higher chance to be really active.”

Kings Park Residents Safe to Go Outside After Bee Removal

A private exterminator was dispatched to Sixth Street in the Kings Park area on Saturday afternoon after a swarm of bees killed six dogs and attacked residents earlier that morning.

“Must give thanks to Mayor Bernard, who took care of operations while all others were giving excuses why they were unable to do anything,” local resident Steve Mahler told News 5.

The attack occurred around 8:00 a.m. Mahler said he was alerted by a worker and discovered all six of his dogs “dead and swell up.”

“A young man who worked for me came, and he called me immediately and told me that when he entered the yard, he noticed my 6 dogs, and all of them were dead,” Mahler said. “He said that when he entered the yard, the bees attacked him. At the same time, a man who was working downstairs for me, the bees also attacked him.”

According to Mahler, the bees originated from an abandoned house on the same street, owned by the Anglican Church. The property has not been maintained and has become a public hazard.

Despite multiple calls to the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Mahler was told no officials were available due to the ongoing National Agriculture and Trade Show in Belmopan.

“They just tell me to stay in the house and no come out because the bees might rise up again since they rose up this morning,” Mahler added.

Photos from the scene showed the extent of the infestation, with exterminators removing large sections of honeycomb from inside the abandoned house’s walls.

Did Trump’s Border Policies Actually Reduce Fentanyl Flow into the US?

After years of record-high fentanyl seizures at the US-Mexico border, US authorities are now seeing a noticeable and unexpected decline.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, average monthly fentanyl seizures have fallen from 1,700 pounds in 2024 to 746 pounds so far this year. The trend has left officials confounded, especially as overdose deaths have also plunged by nearly 27% compared to 2023, The Washington Post reported.

The Trump administration credits its tough border policies, saying the drop is “thanks to President Trump’s policies empowering law enforcement officials to dismantle drug trafficking networks.” However, The Washington Post reported that records show seizures were already decreasing before Trump took office.

Experts are exploring multiple possible explanations, from infighting within the Sinaloa cartel to shortages of chemical precursors from China. “One cannot deny there is a big drop,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution to The Washington Post. “How long it’s going to last is the critical thing.”

Some researchers believe users may be consuming less fentanyl due to adulterants like xylazine. “They don’t want to conk out all the time,” said epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta. Others suggest smoking, rather than injecting, could be helping reduce overdoses, indicating that this shift in the opioid crisis in North America remains largely unexplained.

At Least Six Dogs Killed in Kings Park Bee Attack

Residents of the Kings Park area in Belize City are being urged to stay indoors after a swarm of bees attacked and killed at least six dogs in the neighbourhood.

The incident occurred early this morning along Sixth Street in the Kings Park Area. Local resident Steve Mahler told News 5 that he woke up just after 8:00 a.m. to find all six of his dogs “dead and swell up.”

He said, “A young man who worked for me came, and he called me immediately and told me that when he entered the yard, he noticed my 6 dogs, and all of them were dead. He said that when he entered the yard, the bees attacked him. At the same time, a man who was working downstairs for me, the bees also attacked him.”

According to Mahler, the bees are coming from an abandoned house owned by the Anglican Church on that same street. The property has not been properly maintained and has become a public hazard.

“The last time I called the city council, they came and clean it out and chop it down and so, but nobody go in the house like that except for some people, like some guys who go there to smoke weed or something,” he said.

Mahler added that he made several attempts to get help from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and was told that officials were unavailable due to the annual National Agriculture and Trade Show happening this weekend in Belmopan.

“Then somebody else called back and said they could get a private exterminator to come and deal with it for me, but the person who he was going to send works at BAHA, but then he wanted me to pay around $1000 and more depending on what’s going on. But I said that this property belowngs to the Anglican church. The property is abandoned. There’s nobody there,” Mahler said. “They just tell me to stay in the house and no come out because the bees might rise up again since they rose up this morning.”

He added that other animals in the area were also affected. “My daughter passed by the house and saw other animals that died. A guy had a horse outside, but he managed to get him out.”

Mahler said that the city mayor, Bernard Wagner, confirmed that a private exterminator will be visiting the area to address the issue this afternoon. Meanwhile, residents are being advised to stay inside, especially children and pets, as the bees may become aggressive again.