Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Rescuers Saving People from World Trade Center's Fire; P.M. Boris Johnson Under Heavy Scrutiny; Russia and China's Leader Met Virtually; France and Ukraine Strengthen Their Support to One Another; COVID Infections Soaring in European Countries. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 15, 2021 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

UNKNOWN: This is CNN breaking news.

ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello. I'm Anna Coren, and this is CNN Newsroom.

We begin this hour with breaking news out of Hong Kong. A fire has broken out here inside Hong Kong's World Trade Center. Trapping about 150 people on the roof of the building, thousands of others are being evacuated, but crews are still on the scene trying to get this under control.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joins us with the very latest. Kristie, what do we learning?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anna, this is a very fluid, fast developing story. At this very moment Hong Kong firefighters and police are working to rescue over 100 people. At this moment, we know that it's 150 people who remain trapped on the roof of the World Trade Center building.

This is a building that's located in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong, at the Causeway Bay area. A very popular and busy commercial districts.

At least 165 people have been evacuated so far. There are also reports of eight injuries, one male, seven female. Among them, a woman in her 50s or 60s who is seen in a semiconscious state when she was evacuated earlier this afternoon.

Now Hong Kong police, and this is crucial, are also saying that the fire is out. It is now under control, so the focus now is on the rescue operation, and getting those remaining people, especially the 150 people trapped on the roof out of that building.

This is what we know of what happened earlier this day, again, this building is an office tower. It is a shopping mall. A number of restaurants are there. A fire broke out at 12.37 p.m. local time. This is according to the Hong Kong government, right in the middle of lunchtime. This was caused by a switchboard malfunction. It took place on the

first floor. And then, the fire spread. CNN has a team that's been outside the building, taking the footage that you see here on your screen. Talking to eyewitnesses, as well as evacuees. Some of the lucky ones who managed to get out. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: How do you feel after getting out of the fire?

UNKNOWN: I took the lift in time, but no more people tell me about the fire, but now I do thank you very much for the God I am safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Winnie Yuen (Ph) there. She is one of the 165 people at least who have been evacuated so far. At this hour, we are reporting, according to officials, 150 people remain trapped on the building. The World's Trade Center in Wan Chai district at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong. And crucially, the fire is now under control, the rescue operation though, goes on. Anna?

COREN: Kristie Lu Stout, we appreciate the update. Thank you.

To London now where health experts say the Omicron variant has surpassed Delta as the dominance strain of the coronavirus. It comes as British lawmakers will get a chance to question Prime Minister Boris Johnson today about new anti-COVID measures and his party scandal.

And some of the heat may come from members of his own conservative party. M.P.s voted overwhelmingly in support of his plan B COVID restrictions on Tuesday including mask mandates, work from home orders, and COVID passports.

But the embattled leader is facing a scene backlash from conservative backbenchers, many of whom voted against the new rules. Some call the measures draconian, and talked openly about a challenge to Mr. Johnson's leadership.

Well, meanwhile, new COVID cases are spreading quickly throughout the U.K. with close to 60,000 reported in the past 24 hours.

Let's head live to London, and CNN's Salma Abdelaziz joins us now. Salma, rebellion among his own party. A huge embarrassment for the prime minister at a time when Omicron threatens to swamp the country. Is this detrimental to his authority?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: It absolutely is, Anna. And let's just start by laying out what happened yesterday, because there's two separate issues going on here but they are inter related. First, of course, the prime minister highly concerned about the Omicron variant.

Health officials say the number of cases of Omicron is doubling every couple of days. And as you noted, it's already the dominant strain here in London. It has the possibility of overwhelming the healthcare system, of really pushing doctors and nurses to the brink during this holiday season.

So that's why the prime minister wanted to push through these plan b measures, as you mentioned, mandating masks in most indoor settings, but the really contentious one, the controversial one is those COVID passes.

So that's a requirement to show that you're either fully vaccinated, or you've had a recent negative test before you enter a large-scale public venue.

[03:04:58]

So, think of sports events, concerts, nightclubs. Those types of events that's where you would have to show that COVID health pass. Now there's big backlash against this in the conservative party, the prime minister's own party. Nearly 100 conservative M.P.s voting against this measure.

They say that these measures are a step too far for the government, that they curb civil liberties, that they are a form of authoritarianism. Now, I do have to note that these measures are considered quite light across most of western Europe. It's completely accepted in most western European countries that you have to show a COVID pass just to go into a cafe.

So, the U.K. much more lax on these restrictions than other European countries but still, conservative M.P. feeling it is a violation of personal rights. Many of them taking to the podium yesterday in parliament voicing their opposition, but ultimately this is about the prime minister's power over his own party. Because what is politics if not persuasion?

So, the very idea that he can't convince his own lawmakers that he's facing the biggest rebellion he's ever faced since he took office in 2019 from his very own party. That begins to show you there are cracks in the system.

And it shows you why health officials are worried, Anna, because if the prime minister cannot push through these very basic restrictions, let's say, for Omicron right now. Well, what if it gets worse? What if more health measures are needed? What if doctors and nurses are asking for more restrictions. How can you do it without his party?

COREN: It's extraordinary when many of these policies are implemented across other parts of Europe. A general election in the U.K. is still another two years away. But there is talk his party could overthrow his leadership. What are you learning?

ABDELAZIZ: Well, the conservative party is quite notorious in this country for flipping the script, changing leadership. Calling for a no confidence vote if in when it is politically expedient to change leadership.

And so that is Prime Minister Boris Johnson's worst fear right now. Look, he came to power, sort of through populism. He was seen as the prime minister who could get Brexit done. He was seen as a winner who could win other M.P.s they're seen in office.

Now if that starts to change, if M.P.'s start to feel pressure at home, locally. And you're already seeing that. I mean, the very fact that M.P.'s were willing to go against the prime minister's message on this, shows a willingness to defy him.

So that concern there is if M.P.'s begin to feel that Prime minister Boris Johnson simply no longer wins in the court of public opinion because of these Christmas scandal, the allegations that multiple Christmas parties were held in Downing Street during lockdown last year.

And all of the additional scandals that have happened during the course of the pandemic. That's when things can begin to turn, that's when Prime Minister Boris Johnson would have to start fighting for his office.

COREN: And it's such a critical time for the country. Salma Abdelaziz, great to see you. Many thanks.

Well, the Omicron variant is also spreading rapidly in Europe. The European CDC says there are now more than 2,000 cases there with growing community transition. A new research out of South Africa is giving an even clearer picture of how vaccine stack up against the Omicron variant.

David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg. And David, we're learning about this new study out of South Africa that indicates that people are less likely to be hospitalized with the Omicron variant. What more can you tell us?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Anna. It's a first real-world study, you know, there's been lab studies that have tested the possible effect that Omicron has on existing vaccines. This is based on analysis of health care statistics through the discovery health group here, the largest private insurer.

Now the very tentative early results show the there is a drop in severity of Omicron in comparison to previous waves. But the major caveat on this is it's not clear whether that's because of something about the virus variant itself, or whether this is because there's a great deal of prior immunity through infection, and a relatively high level of vaccines for some vulnerable groups.

And so, these details will have to be teased out. But just anecdotally, in hospitals and clinicians I've been speaking to, there is at least a sense that locally here, and in the region, this isn't as bad as previous waves.

But the head of the WHO warned that even if that turns out to be true, there is still a great deal to worry about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe diseases, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems. I need to be very clear. Vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE (on camera): He went on to say that a key -- a key to this is not just vaccines. It's of course the non-pharmaceutical interventions we all know very well, and probably a lot of people are quite tired about. And that's wearing masks, socially distancing, avoiding large groups.

[03:10:08]

And you've seen some of those measures been put in again in parts of the world. There is a very high climbing of cases here in South Africa, Anna. But at this stage, it isn't translating into a crash on the hospitals.

This is going to take several weeks to tease out, to fully understand. And it could be different, of course, in different countries based on vaccine coverage, prior infection and what kind of vaccines have been given. It's all quite complex, and it's unfortunately, it's impossible to get easy answers on what will happen next. Anna?

COREN: Yes. With only 26 percent of the population in South Africa vaccinated, still a very long way to go. David McKenzie joining us from Johannesburg, thank you very much.

Well, with more on the spread of Omicron across Europe, Eleni Giokos joins us now from Athens. Eleni, the surge that is happening across Europe, how widespread is it?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: yes. And it's so interesting just to hear the vaccination rates in South Africa sitting at 26 percent, and we're looking at Germany that's just below 70 percent. And saying that they're not going to have enough vaccines to offer those booster shots in the first quarter of 2022. And that's going to be a big risk in terms of fighting Omicron, which is spreading in parts of Europe.

And you are seeing, you know, not only record numbers coming through in Germany in terms of daily positivity rates. But also, ICU beds are filling up. And then clamping down on the unvaccinated they're saying that if you are unvaccinated you can't go into certain public places, only essential businesses.

And that is being met with many protests. And you are seeing protests action happening across Europe, particularly targeting the unvaccinated and then also talking about vaccine mandates.

Similar situation playing out in France. And it's interesting, if you look at it continental wide you've got some deceleration occurring in some countries, but you've got an acceleration of COVID-19 cases happening in, for example, the Nordic countries with Denmark and Norway have warned that the Omicron variant is going to be the dominant variant in the coming days. In other words, by the end of the week. And they put down restrictions

in terms of offering alcohol in bars and restaurants, and of course, putting now new caps on schools, as well as public areas. And that's one way to try and bring down these cases.

But the Omicron variant is spreading. And if you look at the trends in the U.K., that's the concern, that other countries will mimic those types of change. Here in Greece, you had the highest daily death toll recorded of 130 people since the start of the pandemic of COVID-19, we don't know just how endemic the Omicron is right now.

But of course, it has been detected in the country. But there is no sort of surety in terms of a community spread at the moment. So, it's patchy, but it's serious, and there's major concern from authorities.

COREN: Eleni Giokos joining us from Athens, many thanks.

Well, New South Wales and Australia are seeing some of its worst COVID numbers in months. But that's not stopping the federal government from relaxing the country's strict COVID border controls.

Lauren Tomasi from 9News has more from Sydney airport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUREN TOMASI, REPORTER, 9NEWS: Australia's COVID rules are becoming means come down with fully vaccinated travelers from Japan and Korea being welcomed into the country today. Australia's border is also reopening to more than 200,000 visa holders and international students who have been kept out of universities around the country for almost two years now.

The reopening was originally slated for December 1, but was put on hold for two weeks over concerns of the Omicron variant. Today, the wheels were put in motion.

UNKNOWN: It's like my home away from home, here.

TOMASI: How long have you been waiting to get back to Australia?

UNKNOWN: Two years.

UNKNOWN: I've changed my flight ticket for four times. Because no one knows what will be happening in the next minute.

TOMASI: Those travelers who are permitted to enter Australia will need to undertake 72 hours of quarantine and get a test within 24 hours of arriving. And again, on day dix. Despite the Australian federal government beginning to lift the international border restrictions, not all of the country states are on board.

Western Australia will keep both its interstate and international border close to vaccinated travelers until at least February of next year. While this is now the beginning of Australia opening back up, the government here is yet to give a firm date on when our international borders will open to travelers worldwide. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN (on camera): Well, Keith Neal is professor emeritus of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham and he joins us now from Derby in England.

Great to have you with us, professor.

[03:14:58]

The British prime minister, Boris Johnson is warning of a COVID tidal wave. His health minister says cases of Omicron are doubling every day, and the country needs to brace itself for difficult weeks ahead. What are you expecting?

KEITH NEAL, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM: I think we can see a rapid increase in Omicron cases, it certainly seems to be spreading faster than the Delta strain, which is essentially eliminated all other strains. And it's very likely Omicron will eliminate the Delta strain.

I think cases will slow down into doubling, because we know from the start of anytime a new variant comes in, those people who makes most and those most at risk will get infected first.

And then the people who are less at risk get infected later. So, the doubling won't carry on, but it's still a potential issue with increased social mixing, with Christmas parties and family gatherings.

COREN: Of course, the holiday season is upon us, and people obviously have COVID fatigue. Professor, this isn't just happening where you are in the U.K. We are seeing a surge of cases across Europe, as Eleni describes. We know it's happening in Africa. And it's expected to dominate U.S. cases, perhaps by next month.

Look, while there are reports of mild symptoms in the vaccinated, for the unvaccinated the threat of severe infection is very real. Please tell us more.

NEAL: I think, certainly, any person who is unvaccinated, there's only three bits of advice. Get the first dose, get the second dose, and get the third dose. We know that's going to have an effect even if Omicron isn't quite as severe as Delta.

There is a lot circulating in this, is Omicron less severe. I think the one thing we can say, it isn't more severe, but there are different factors in South Africa over the much younger population with a high previous disease rate that complicates that picture.

We'll rapidly get a picture in Europe with the number of people admitted with serious issues with Omicron. We have to be careful with the people, a number of people in hospital with Omicron because a classic example is a person in a care home used to trips over a niece to go to the hospital or devolves a chest infection, which is unrelated to Omicron and is found to have COVID on their routine testing. So not everybody in hospital with COVID is there because of COVID.

COREN: The Pfizer COVID pill that has recently been announced. Obviously very promising against Omicron and other variants. The FDA in the United States could authorize the drug in the coming days. Could it be that the magic pill that we've all been waiting for?

NEAL: We've had the magic pill. It's actually injected into you. Because that really is the long-term solution. We have data coming in from the boosters or the third dose, showing incredibly high levels of antibody response, which seems to be more than enough to propagate protection to virtually the whole population with against Omicron.

We can always change the vaccine. The drug itself, I think, is useful in the sense that it will help keep -- it seems to keep people out of hospital, which is a good thing. But I think people shouldn't think -- there is now a drug, that I don't need to be vaccinated. I think that's a very short sighted, and probably fatal approach.

COREN: Well, we know that waning immunity among the vaccinated is proving to be a problem. Governments are pushing people to get their booster shots, that's obviously something that you just mentioned people need to do.

And yet, the WHO is concerned about vaccine inequity, and whether those vaccines should go to poorer and harder hit nations. How is this dilemma addressed?

NEAL: I think the issue is more we need to support Africa in giving the vaccinations. In the sense that I understand about is we have sent 380 million doses to Africa. And I think only, I've heard reports, only 260 million have been used.

We had our previous prime minister, Tony Blair, saying we should be sending vaccinators help there. I think the idea is sound, but I think it's far more sensible we send people out to train vaccinators. Because I might be able to vaccinate 2 to 300 people a day if I went out there, but I could train 20, 30 people a day to give 200 to 300 doses a day.

And that's the answer, is to increase the number of trained vaccinators. It's not a big task, it just needs organization inside the countries with support from other agencies.

COREN: Professor Keith Neal, great to get your insight. Many thanks for joining us.

NEAL: Thank you.

COREN: Well, still to come, a virtual meeting between the leaders of Russia and China, what's expected to be on their agenda list.

[03:20:00]

And in the hours ahead, another meeting is set to take place, this time between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart. We are on this in a live report ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN (on camera): Welcome back. Well, tensions between Russia and Ukraine will likely be high on the agenda during two key meetings today. In Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet during the eastern partnership summit.

It comes amid tensions of a Russia's military buildup along Ukraine's border. At this hour, Vladimir Putin is set to hold virtual talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Kremlin said the two will discuss quote, "aggressive U.S. and NATO rhetoric."

Well, CNN correspondents are tracking both of these meetings. Frederik Pleitgen is in Berlin covering the virtual talks, and Cyril Vanier is in Paris ahead of Mr. Macron's meeting with Ukraine's president.

Fred, let's start with you. This is obviously a show of unity of solidarity between Russia and China after, you know, both of these countries were sidelined by President Biden in his summit for democracy.

And it also comes as Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border has been condemned by the United States and G7. What do we expect from this meeting?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, do expect a lot of friendship between President Putin and President Xi. They are of course two leaders who have a very long-standing relationship. And in the past, President Putin has -- Russian President Putin has said, he considers the Chinese president to be one of his -- only two -- or one of his few true friends in international politics.

The two of them speak obviously very frequently. But then we will see most probably, the two of them talk about the fact that both of them believe that the United States is trying to get its allies to gang up on them. And it's quite interesting, Anna, because with both China and Russia are both currently challenging the United States.

China, of course, in its policies towards Taiwan and some of the military moves that we have seen there over the past couple of weeks, the past couple of months. And then of course as you mention, Russia and that massive military buildup near the border with Ukraine.

And we did hear the spokesman for the Kremlin just yesterday come out and said that, first of all, the summit is going to be taking quite a long time. So, it is going to be longer than the Putin-Biden summit that we saw last week.

And that they are going to be talking about what the Russians considered to be some of those aggressive moves as they put it by NATO. All of this comes, Anna, as the Russian president himself really has started a diplomatic offensive over the past 24 hours. He spoke with Emmanuel Macron of France, he spoke with the president

of Finland, and told both of them that he wants negotiations immediately about what the Russians consider to be their security concerns as they put it. The Russians of course are demanding that there should not be any more eastward expansion of NATO.

[03:25:01]

And then also that Ukraine should not become a NATO member, either they say they want guarantees that that's not going to -- that that is not going to happen. The NATO states, the United States are saying that simply isn't in the cards. And it's going to be NATO and the possible new members that are going to decide the way forward.

So, certainly, look for these two leaders to show that they are on the same page. And one of the other sort of, interesting sort of little nuances about this, Anna, is also that we are going to see a lot more of this virtual summit than we saw of the Putin-Biden summit a week ago where there was really only a few shots at the beginning. We saw some video.

In this case we are going to see the opening speeches of both presidents on a live stream. So, it really seemed as though the Russians are trying to showcase this a lot more than they did the meeting between the U.S. and Russia a week ago. Anna?

COREN: Yes. Certainly, playing out that close friendship. Cyril, Ukraine's president, he's obviously looking to shore up support. What can the French offer him?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the French are going to throw their weight behind Ukraine. And they are going to publicly and privately reiterate their undiluted support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. And the French and the Germans I should say, because it's going to be both Mr. Macron and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz who will be meeting Mr. Zelensky.

They are keen to restart negotiations in what is known as the Normandy format. That is four countries. So, Ukraine, Russia and then you have two Europeans, France, and Germany who are trying to kickstart those negotiations. It's a four-country format.

That is how the French want to resolve the crisis. The other message they're going to send. So, number one is support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. Number two is going to be a warning to Vladimir Putin. And that was expressed privately by President Macron to Mr. Putin yesterday during their phone call. But expected to be expressed in some public fashion again today.

Which is that, if Russia tries to invade Ukraine or engage in some other hostile act, including non-military, then it will find the Europeans on its way. Not so much in a military way. They are not going to send troops there and nor as the U.S. But the Europeans say that they will -- there will be very high economic cost to be paid by Russia if it engages in military aggression in Ukraine.

And in that respect, they are on the same page as their partners the U.S. and the U.K.

COREN: Fred, I believe we've got some live pictures of that Xi-Putin virtual summit. Their second virtual summit this year. What message do you think this summit will be sending to the U.S. and to other western powers?

PLEITGEN: Well, it's a very important message, Anna. And I think the main message that these two nations are going to send to one another is that they want to have even closer ties than they've had before. They want to strengthen those ties.

And that obviously also means that they want to strengthen them against some of their critics that they have among western nations and show them that there is a united front on that level as well. Of course, both the Chinese and the Russians as well have faced scrutiny, not just from the United States but also from the United States' western and also in the United States -- some of the United States' Asian allies as well.

And so, certainly, we are seeing both countries move closer to one another. And that's especially pronounced when you look at Russia. Russia certainly, after some of the sanctions that its faced, especially over its policies in Ukraine in the past. Of course, the annexation of Crimea and also supporting those pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine.

The Russians have said that there is going to be, and there has been a pivot towards China. They want deeper diplomatic ties with China, deeper economic ties with China, obviously also to prop up their economy which certainly is suffering from those sanctions that they're facing from the west.

So, this, this relationship is very important on an economic front, especially for the Russians, but certainly also very much on a diplomatic front as well, as both of these countries are facing deep scrutiny from western nations and from others as well over some of the policies that we're seeing. And some of the policies that some countries consider to be quite aggressive.

So, we do expect both of those leaders to pronounce the fact that they have very good personal relations with one another. But we also expect that there are going to be announcements about deeper economic ties, and also Anna, about deeper military ties as well.

Especially if you look at the Russian side. There have been a lot of military exercises, especially over the last, sort of three -- two to three years where there have been more exercises by the Russian military that have also featured Chinese forces as well.

So, you do see some of that integration going on. You do see the Chinese, for instance, buying some military hardware from the Russians as well.

[03:30:00]

And these countries certainly are extremely important partners for one another, and these two leaders certainly are very close to one another as well. Anna?

ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Just reminding our viewers who might be tuning in, the summit, the virtual summit, between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin is happening right now. We have been watching those pictures of the summit. Thanking our Fred Pleitgen, and Cyril Vanier for your reporting, much appreciated.

Well, still ahead, an incredible story of survival. After last week's -- last weekend, I should say, deadly tornado outbreak in the United States. A man who was crushed under a pile of rubble describes the moment rescuers pulled him to safety.

Plus, a typhoon is gaining strength as it heads for the Philippines. When it is expected to make landfall. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: A moment of hope amid the devastation brought by last weekend's deadly tornado outbreak in the United States. Joined by his family, he rode out the storm in their basement. Their home was destroyed, as you can see. But while going through the debris, Jordan saw his piano was still mostly intact. He sat down to play and his sister started recording this video which has since gone viral.

In the coming hours, U.S. President Joe Biden will be visiting some of the areas hit hardest by the storms, which left at least 88 people dead. More than 100 are still missing. CNN's Brynn Gingras is in Mayfield, Kentucky, one of the several towns devastated by the tornadoes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORREPOSNDENT (voice over): A massive effort to clean up in eight states devastated by Friday's catastrophic storm. And now, an Amazon facility in Illinois under investigation by the occupational safety and health administration. And a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky by the states labor division.

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D-KY): Everybody is expected to live up to certain standards of both the law of safety and being decent human beings.

JIM DOUGLAS, SURVIVE CANDLE FACTORY COLLAPSE: I was just (inaudible) would take me. I didn't want to endure the pain no more.

GINGRAS: Jim Douglas worked at the candle factory for more than two years and says, the company treated him well and was prepared for Friday night's storm. From his hospital bed in nearby Paducah, Douglas reliving what was it like inside when the tornado struck.

[03:34:01]

DOUGLAS: It was like different layers would come down, and I can feel my body would like compact more. I was getting -- my face was already on the ground. But there was something trapped in my pelvic area.

GINGRAS: You are being crushed? DOUGLAS: I was definitely being crushed. There were people trying to

escape from there. And what they were doing was walking over at least me, and when they were doing that, it was pushing my chest flat. So it was really difficult to breathe.

GINGRAS: Douglas telling CNN, he estimates 15 feet of debris lay between him and the rescuers using heavy machinery to get to him.

DOUGLAS: I think the guy said I see him right below this glass. And there was a door with glass in it. And Jim, close your eyes, so I close my eyes and they broke the glass and the guy who was at y feet, he kind of grab the back of my shorts and a couple of guys grab my arm, and they just lift me up.

GINGRAS: Those rescuers or heroes as Douglas calls them remain on- site continuing to sift through the debris, where at least eight people died. More than 100 people are feared dead in Kentucky alone, according to the Governor. Some of them, infants.

BESHEAR: The age range has gotten even harder, it ranges now from two months to 98 years of the Kentuckians that we have lost.

UNKNOWN: I heard cries for help.

GINGRAS: The weight of the loss is heavy here, this woman is still traumatized because she couldn't save the life of a little boy who was trapped in his home.

CARILLA SMITH, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: As a mom, to know that my son is safe and I can't help save the life of that baby, I just kept trying to breathe life into him.

GINGRAS: Now, a test of resiliency. As residents look to the future. Douglas says nothing will get in his way for what he knows is a long road toward healing.

DOUGLAS: I believe I get a second chance. And a lot of people didn't.

GINGRAS: Douglas thanking each and every one of his rescuers. Amazed that they were even able to find him that night. Recovery efforts continue across the state in Kentucky. With dozens of National Guard members helping out with those efforts. And as we wait for the president to arrive here on Wednesday, we are expecting bad weather, which could impede those efforts.

Brynn Gingras, CNN, in Mayfield, Kentucky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: The Philippines is bracing for a typhoon Rai, which is gaining strength in the Western Pacific. This is an easy, it is expected to make landfall in the coming day. Let's go to our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for the very latest. And Pedram, typhoons in this part of the world are actually are not that unusual in this time of the year.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on camera): that's right, you know, across the Western Pacific, there really isn't a designated season for tropical systems. And certainly, you can go many months of the year. December, not unusual whatsoever. And you take a look, this particular typhoon here, really poised to strengthen over the next 24 hours.

That's a concern, up to hundred 130 kilometers per hour, we could easily see this get to 160, maybe 170. At that point, we're talking about a strong category three equivalent. Maybe even a major hurricane equivalent storm here, maybe a category three upon landfall there across northern Mindanao, portions of the Central Visayas. Certainly areas back towards the west of this region, as well.

And again, climatologically, not unusual whatsoever to see this. Eight to nine times a year, you see tropical systems work their way and make landfall in the Philippines. This will be storm number seven to do so, so far in 2021.

And again, landfall Thursday afternoon. And we think, once it makes landfall, notice where it heads, the Central Visayas, of course, we know the archipelago is made up of 7,600 islands. So these islands certainly is going to see multiple landfalls, with a system that we expect to reach maximum intensity right at landfall, Thursday afternoon, local time.

So, it is a serious storm system, locally, the storm is given the name of Odette, internationally, it is Rai. Notice the storm surge amounts of up two meters, in some of these low-lying areas. It's why we see by the way, population of almost a million people.

So, the impacts are going to be significant as well once the system come ashore and the rainfall amounts also going to be staggering in an area that certainly cannot take this much water in a short time period, Anna. You are looking at it as much of maybe a quarter of a meter of rainfall within the next couple of days, as the storm system makes landfall. Back to you.

COREN: Hopefully plenty of warning, so people can get out of harm's way, Pedram Javaheri, great to see you. Thank you very much.

Well next on "CNN Newsroom," the deadly ramifications of Haiti's fuel crisis. Dozens were killed after trying to collect gas from a broken down tanker which then exploded.

And later, the UAE says it suspending negotiations over a major deal to buy F-35 fighter jets from the United States. What's behind that decision, just ahead?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

COREN: Officials in Haiti are pleading for blood donations, and other aid, after a fuel tank exploded on Monday in the country's second largest city. At least 62 people were killed, many of whom were trying to collect gas directly from the truck when the blast happened.

CNN's Matt Rivers has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Massive flames illuminating the night sky in Cap-Haitien, the northern port city and Haiti's second largest. A fuel truck had exploded moments before, in the middle of a dense neighborhood, it's not clear what caused the explosion but the city's mayor said the truck had mechanical problems, it had stopped and it began leaking fuel and people had crowded around, hoping to collect some for themselves.

That crowd is what made the explosion catastrophic. Dozens of people dead and dozens more injured. Frontline workers clearing bodies, covering them with white cloths the next morning, moving the dead into a waiting truck. It was a brutal scene in part caused by a critical fuel crisis on the island. Spot protests have gone on for months. People angry over not being able to get fuel.

We don't have a government, this man says. If we don't demand change, who will? Tire set on fire and debris thrown into the street are desperate attempts to cause enough chaos that the government tries to fix the problem, but it won't be easy.

Not only is the government so broke, it often can't buy enough fuel. But when some arrives, they can't get delivered. The vast majority of fuel is imported at these two locations. But gangs in Port-au-Prince are so powerful, they have near complete control over this crucial stretch of highway. Which means they control the flow of fuel into the capital.

A gas retailer, identity hidden due to security concerns, told us what happens if you try and dry the tanker into pick up fuel.

So, I might get kidnapped. I might get shot.

UNKNOWN: Yes. If you don't stop.

RIVERS: I might get killed.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

RIVERS: Or at the very least I'm going to have to pay an exorbitant bribe.

UNKNOWN: Yes. Of course.

RIVERS: Haiti's government and law enforcement are either unwilling, or unable to secure a flow of fuel from the ports.

But not having enough fuel doesn't just mean you can't use your motorbike, consider this. Here in Port-au-Prince, the electricity grid is not reliable. So let's say you own a small store and you sell cold drinks, in order to keep that refrigerator running, you need to use a generator.

And if the fuel going into that generator is way more expensive than it was before, that means you need to charge your customers more for those cold drinks. Not having enough fuel, makes all kinds of things more expensive. And that is brutal in a country already dealing with so much poverty.

This is the scene from about six weeks ago, inside the empty hallways of hospital (Inaudible). Normally packed with patients, just a few were inside when we were there. Ketia Estille's son almost died during an overnight asthma attack.

She says the doctor was using the flashlight on his phone to put my son on oxygen, because there is no electricity. It is so bad, I almost lost him.

[03:45:08]

Normally, all of those cribs would be filled with sick kids. But the hospital is turning away nearly every single patient that comes here, because right now there is simply not enough doctors, nurses or electricity to take care of them. That means that one of Haiti's one largest hospital, is essentially not functioning.

The doctors are trying, but they cannot do anything, she says. They have no help, only God can help at this point. Her son survived, but other victims of this fuel crisis did not. So many crowded around the leaking fuel trucks said the mayor, in part because they were so desperate for gasoline, what happened, in Cap-Haitien a horrific consequence of a country starving for fuel.

Matt Rivers, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: The United Nations is sounding the alarm over a wave of extra judicial killings under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. U.N. officials say that there has been dozens of extra judicial killings mostly at the hand of the Taliban since the militant group seize control of the country in August, a myth a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. led forces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADA AL-NASHIF, U.N. DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Between August and November, we received credible allegations of more than 100 killings of former Afghan National Security Forces and others associated with the former government. With at least 72 of these killings attributed to the Taliban. In several cases, the bodies were publicly displayed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: The Taliban have rejected the U.N.'s findings, saying there is no proof of the allegations. U.N. officials also say that Afghanistan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis. With women's rights curtailed in a disintegrating economy and has families facing severe poverty and hunger.

United Arab Emirates says it is suspending discussions with the U.S. to acquire F-35 fighter jets. The UAE says technical requirements and sovereign operation restrictions were some of the reasons that led to that decision.

CNN's Sam Kiley has more from Abu Dhabi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): And yet another blow to Emirati-American relations, which have already been a little bit strained over the Emirati policy of (Inaudible) with nearby Iran. The Emiratis have now announced that they are going to suspend negotiations over a $23 billion deal to buy F-35s stealth fighters from the United States.

They are citing technical problems, sovereignty issues and of course benefit analysis. The real key there in their statement though is issues over sovereignty, in other words, they do not feel comfortable with restrictions, post purchase that the United States may wish to impose on their use of fighter jets that they have paid for.

It is also worth noting that just a few weeks ago, they struck a $19 billion dollar with French arms manufacturers, the biggest deal between France and the Emirates. And this is yet another sign that the Emiratis are going their own way, being very much more robust in what they perceive to be their own individual interest as a part of the Gulf nations, rather than necessarily reflecting almost automatically, American foreign policy.

They've already been reaching out diplomatically, and in economic terms, to Iran with the recent announcement, with a bit of construction over a large solar farm, using Emirati money in Iran. This is something coming at a time when the Americans have been trying to talk about increasing sanctions against Tehran, in order to squeeze them back to the negotiating table, to revivify the nuclear agreement that was supposed to suspend Iran's nuclear program, nuclear weapons program which was torn up effectively by the Trump administration.

The Biden administration is in lockstep on many other issues with the Emiratis, but it is very clear here in the Emirates that they are forging their very much their own path.

Sam Kiley, CNN, in Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: In Washington, U.S. House lawmakers voted Tuesday to hold former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, in contempt of Congress. And they are recommending the Department of Justice pursue criminal charges against Meadows, for failing to cooperate with the January 6th investigation.

The vote, despite being pushed through by a Democratic majority, marks a significant moment in the probe, given Meadows's role in the Trump's White House and his knowledge of efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Still ahead on CNN Newsroom, there is a break in the action, from the

NBA, to the Premier League. How teams are coping with rising COVID cases.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:50:00]

COREN: Welcome back. Well, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the world of professional sports. Tuesday's Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford had to be postponed due to an outbreak on the menu squad. The league said the decision was made following guidance from medical advisers and that the match would be rescheduled for later date.

In U.S. Sports, 65 National Football League players have tested positive in the last two days and are now in the COVID protocol. In the National Hockey League, the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes have had games postponed this week because of COVID-19 outbreaks.

And in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers canceled practice on Tuesday because of coronavirus concerns. The week postponed two games for the Chicago Bulls after 10 players and several staff members entered COVID protocols. The Bucks and Nets also have players affected.

Well, joining me now from Hawaii is Dr. Scott Miscovich, president and CEO of Premier Medical Group, USA and a national consultant for COVID- 19 testing. Doctor, great to have you with us. It would appear the major disruption is ahead for the world of sport, especially with the expected surge of the omicron variant. What are you anticipating in the weeks ahead?

SCOTT MISCOVICH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP USA (on camera): Well Anna, I am very concerned that we are going to see many more cancellations unless there is action taken. And I will tell you, I have been following this very well since I was very fortunate to be the COVID medical director for the U.S. Olympic teams. And I spent a lot of time in sports to keep athletes safe.

Well, Premier League did the right thing. They are now basically going to do daily testing of all of their players. And that is the first step that needs to happen to keep everyone safe. Now, we have a lot of other things that we are worried about which is the waning immunity and the omicron variant. So there is a lot of concern right now.

COREN: As you say, you were in charge of COVID testing for the U.S. Olympics team, you have design testing protocols for high schools and states among others. I mean, how do sporting teams continue to place safely when there are outbreaks and surge is going on?

MISCOVICH: Well, you know, again, it does start with testing. Because you can identified if you use the right type of test, within hours almost, of when someone becomes positive. I was fortunate to design a program in the state of New Mexico, what we called test to play, where we just have frequent testing on a daily basis. So that if there is one player that's positive, we can continue to

test the other players without having to have them quarantine. And that program is very successful. It is adapted off of a program in the U.K., which is test to stay. Which is what's keeping the students in school, which we've also designed.

So, there is a great way to do it. But it also is getting a booster. Right now we are seeing waning immunity, just like we are seeing across the world. And there is breakthrough. And all of the leagues still seem to have two vaccine as to what they are providing to their players.

COREN: What in your opinion is the biggest problem that you are seeing among teams and players in relation to COVID? Is there a reluctance to get vaccinated? You mentioned waning immunity, is there COVID fatigue?

[03:55:06]

MISCOVICH: Yes, I think it is COVID fatigue. And all of these leagues are well above 85 percent. In some cases they are into the high 90s. So I think that again the, big issue is the failure to really accept and adopt change based on the waning immunity.

And I do believe COVID fatigue, where people are looking to have a normal holiday, and people are looking to group together. And players are like family, so I don't challenge the fact that they want to get together. And their families want to get together. But the fact that everyone's vaccines -- anybody they are exposed to also is having waning immunity. And as we are seeing with omicron. 75 percent of the positives can be upwards of the people that are positive right now are vaccinated.

COREN: Let me ask you about the fans. I mean, the people who attend these games. Should they have to be vaccinated to come and watch sporting events?

MISCOVICH: Well, there are different protocols. For example, in the NBA, and I believe the NHL has the same, I don't think the Premier League does since it is more of an outdoor event, but they require people within the first 15 feet to 20 feet of the arena or rink, to be tested. At least prior to -- proof of testing.

And that is correct in indoor events. I do believe we are going to have another major problem, which is the fans. And I think soon we are going to move to having the entire rink show, or arena show that they have to be tested or have vaccinations.

COREN: The news about this Pfizer pill, are you hopeful? Do you think this will be a game-changer in our fight against COVID?

MISCOVICH: I am so much looking forward to it. You know, we were so excited to see the announcement again in the last 24 hours. That they are still saying that it is 88 percent, 89 percent, close to 90 percent effective in reducing severe disease and hospitalization. And the number of doses they are going to produce is really looking solid. This is a massive game-changer. I'm concerned about supply and demand.

There is going to be such a demand for this everywhere. And actually, I am already working across the country, trying to put protocols in play, where soon as somebody gets a positive test, that those prescriptions are then called in and made available. Started within 24 hours. Because three days creates the first window of improvement for severe hospitalization or death. And you want to definitely start within five days. The sooner the better. Game-changer for sure, Anna.

COREN: Fingers crossed, let's hope so. Dr. Scott Miscovich, great to see you, many thanks for joining us.

MISCOVICH: Thank you, Anna.

COREN: Well, the National Basketball Association has a new all-time three point leader. Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors broke the record for the most career threes, with this shot in New York. Well, that moves him ahead of Ray Allen, who retired in 2014. Curry has twice been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player and has lead the Warriors to three championships and at the age of 33, Curry likely still has years of basketball and plenty more three-pointers ahead of him. Good for Steph Curry.

Well, thanks so much for your company, I'm Anna Coren. Have yourself a wonderful day. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Isa Soares, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)