Incident description: At least five people have been killed and half a dozen others injured after two buses were hit by roadside bombs in the Bajaur Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on 22 September. The explosions, which took place in the Chamarkand area of the agency, were reportedly triggered by remote control. The death toll is expected to rise as the full extent of the blasts emerges.

Analysis: The attack is not unusual for the area as terrorist bombings targeting civilian, security force and pro-government tribal elements are frequently reported in north west Pakistan. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the likely suspect at this time is the Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has claimed a number of high-profile attacks in the country in recent months, including a 13 September ambush on a school bus near Peshawar, which left four children dead. Further attacks by the group are expected in the north western tribal areas and other parts of the country in the short-term.

Advice: Due to the ongoing insecurity in Pakistan, clients are advised against all travel to the country. Persons in or planning to travel to Pakistan are strongly advised to implement robust personal, residential and travel security measures. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A public transport strike, which began on 21 September in the Jammu region of northern India in protest against high petrol prices and to demand that the authorities increase fares, has caused widespread travel disruptions on 22 September.

Analysis: Talks between the All Jammu and Kashmir Transporter Welfare Association (AJKTWA) and the government have failed to reach a settlement to date and there is a strong possibility that the strike will continue on 23 September.

Advice: Please note that clients are advised against non-essential travel to the Jammu and Kashmir Valley regions in Indian-administered Kashmir due to high levels of conflict and terrorism. Persons in or planning to travel in the Jammu region in the coming days are advised to source alternative forms of transport, such as private car rental. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has been reported some 380km north west of Tonga's Vava'u island. There have been no immediate reports of damages or fatalities, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Advice: Clients in the affected region are advised to brace for aftershocks, and should monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the local authorities

. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Pakistan's port city of Lahore was placed on a red security alert on 22 September amid intelligence reports suggesting that Islamist extremists may be planning a terrorist attack in the city. While security installations were delineated as being the most probable targets of a potential terrorist attack, security measures were also heightened in and around government buildings, media houses, crowded public venues, mosques and other places of religious congregation.

Analysis: There is an extreme threat from terrorism in Pakistan, including in Lahore, with various groups frequently carrying out attacks throughout the country. In terms of probable targets, non-Sunni religious places of worship, such as the Sufi Data Darbar and Baituraza shrines, the al-Mahdi Model Town and Garhi Shahu mosques, and the Karbala Gamay Shah, Bhati Chowk, and Anarkali Bazaar areas of the city are considered to be at a significant threat. While the majority of attacks in the city target worshippers of non-Sunni Muslim sects, Islamist extremist have also targeted a number of civilian and security installation areas in the past. Areas of Lahore which are considered to be at an elevated threat of insurgent attacks include the city's Jinnah Hospital, the RA Bazaar and Moon Market shopping areas, as well as the headquarters of the city's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Advice: Due to various security concerns, clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan, including Lahore. Clients in the city are advised to maintain a low profile and report all suspicious persons, packages, and/or vehicles to the local authorities.——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Over 30,000 people have been displaced amid ongoing flooding since 22 September in the province of Maguindanao located in the southern Minadanao region. Ongoing rains have caused the Rio Grande De Mindanao river, Lake Buluan and Liguasan Marsh to overflow leading to flooding in at least a dozen towns in Maguindanao; Mangudadatu, Paglat and Buluan are the worst affected. In addition, at least 140 people have been displaced in the city of Mati in the Davao Oriental Province, also located on Mindanao.

Analysis: Further rain is expected in the coming weeks and months, as the affected area falls within a region of the Philippines that receives the majority of its rainfall between May and October. Authorities in Maguindanao have warned of further flash flooding and landslides as a result of the heavy rains.

Advice: Due to a number of ongoing security concerns, including terrorism and conflict, all travel to the southern Mindanao region, including the Sulu archipelago, is advised against; clients currently in the region are advised to implement robust security measures. Furthermore, clients are advised to monitor local media for broadcasts and advisories from local authorities regarding the ongoing flooding. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reportedly cancelled a number of domestic flights due to a mechanical problem on one of its Avion de Transport Regional (ATR) aircraft. PIA domestic route disruptions are possible until 30 September.

Advice: Clients flying on domestic routes with PIA are advised to contact their travel provider or the airline for further information on the status of their flight(s) and for travel alternatives. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Chile's central regions are experiencing widespread power outages, reportedly due to a malfunctioning power station. The affected regions include Coquimbo, Valparaiso, O'Higgins, Mauleto, Biobio and the Santiago Metropolitan Region. It is currently unclear when the electricity supply will be fully restored.

Advice: Clients in regions affected by the power outages should anticipate disruptions to essential services, including transport and telecommunications. Clients are advised to plan accordingly and to monitor local media sources for updates and advisories. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least 18 people were killed, including 16 foreign tourists, after a Buddha Air passenger aircraft crashed near the village of the Bisankunarayan, located a few kilometres south of the capital Kathmandu. The aircraft, which was manned by three crew members, was purportedly returning from Mount Everest to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport when it crashed. Although unconfirmed, it is believed that poor visibility conditions may have been the cause of the accident.

Advice: While there are no overt safety concerns associated with commercial air travel in Nepal, clients are advised to monitor the weather developments if conducting this form of travel as adverse conditions can prove hazardous due to Nepal's mountainous terrain. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Bangladesh's main opposition party, namely the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to hold an anti-government rally in the capital, Dhaka, on 27 September. Thousands of BNP activists are expected to attend the protest rally, which will take place outside the political movement's party headquarters in central Dhaka's Naya Paltan district.

Analysis: The demonstration has been organised by the BNP as part of an ongoing protest campaign against the ruling Awami League (AL) party, which is being accused of economic mismanagement, political oppression and the adoption of anti-Islamic policies. Similar demonstrations organised by the BNP in the past have often descended into violent confrontations between protesters and security forces, in addition to inciting counter-demonstrations by AL activists.

Advice: Due various security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Bangladesh, including Dhaka. Clients who will be in Dhaka on 27 September are advised to avoid all related gatherings and should, if possible, defer travel to the city's Naya Paltan district. If travel to the area cannot be avoided, clients should ensure to keep copies of all relevant identification documentation and the contact details of their diplomatic representation on their person in case of an emergency. Furthermore, the anticipated protest is likely to cause significant travel disruptions in central Dhaka and visitors can expect travel delays and should plan accordingly. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least one person has been killed and eight others wounded when a suspected suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest at the Sepenuh Injil Bethel Church in the city of Solo, located in Indonesia's central Java province. There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack.

Analysis: The threat from terrorism in Indonesia is high. This stems primarily from Islamist extremists, such as the al-Qaeda-linked regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI), which is opposed to the presence of Westerners in the region and seeks to create an Islamist super-state incorporating Indonesia, Singapore and parts of southern Thailand and the Philippines. Areas of heightened risk from terrorist attacks include tourist spots such as bars, restaurants, nightclubs, sports clubs, shopping malls, marketplaces and hotels.

Advice: Clients in Solo are advised to exercise heightened security awareness at this time and should defer all travel to the vicinity of the Sepenuh Injil Bethel Church, particularly due to the fact that a secondary attack cannot be discounted. In addition, clients should also be aware that the attack may likely prompt a significant increase in security measures across city and the implementation of security checkpoints, random identification checks and vehicle searches should be anticipated at sensitive sites such as government buildings, security installations, major transportation hubs, and religious places of worship. As such, it is advisable that travellers ensure that certified copies of all relevant identification information are kept on their person at all times if they intend on transiting to the aforementioned areas. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: (Update) Ongoing flooding, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, has left at least 11 people dead and inundated an estimated 3,003 villages in India's eastern Orissa state in recent days. Areas worst affected by the adverse weather conditions include the districts of Jajpur and Kendrapara where floodwaters have effectively severed transportation, communication and electricity links.

Analysis: Since the beginning of India's annual monsoon season, which generally runs from June to November, a combination of flooding and landslides has left at least 41 people dead, submerged in excess of 4,000 villages, and periodically cut off an estimated 2.2 million people from receiving much needed humanitarian assistance. As further heavy rains are forecast for the region, it is considered highly likely that the situation will worsen in the coming days and weeks.

Advice: Due to various security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the rural and remote areas of Orissa state. Clients currently in the region are advised to avoid low-lying, flood-prone areas and should monitor local news for possible flood warnings and emergency broadcasts. Furthermore, clients should avoid travel to locales in close proximity to storm drains, rivers, drainage channels and saturated hillsides, as these will generally be at greatest risk of further flooding and landslides. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Typhoon Nesat is projected to affect the Philippines' northern Luzon Island within the next 30 hours. The storm, which is currently located to the east of Luzon Island, is expected to pass over the northern regions of the island in the coming days; however, strong winds and heavy rainfall is expected across most of the island.

Analysis: Heavy rains, strong winds and coastal storm surges should be anticipated in the coming days. Localised disruptions to air, maritime, road and rail transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), are also possible.

Advice: Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Clients should also note that the Philippines experiences tropical cyclones from May to November and further storms are likely in the coming months. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Tropical Storm Haitang is expected to affect a number of provinces in central Vietnam within the next 24 hours. The storm is currently located some 200km east of the Quang Binh and Quang Nam provinces and is expected to bring heavy rainfall over the area; areas likely to be worst affected include the North Central Coast region and the South Central Coast region.

Analysis: Heavy rains, strong winds and coastal storm surges should be anticipated in the coming days. Localised disruptions to air, maritime, road and rail transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), are also possible. There is also an elevated risk of flooding and landslides in central Vietnam, specifically in the Quang Nam and Ha Tihn provinces, where heavy rainfall in recent months has resulted in rising water levels. Vietnam's typhoon season generally runs from June to December and further storms are thus likely in the coming months.

Advice: Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Caution is advised in low-lying, elevated and coastal regions due to the threats of flooding, landslides and storm surges. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A ferry carrying at least 400 passengers caught alight, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, in Indonesia on 26 September. The ferry, KM Marina Nusantara, caught fire when it collided with a barge while travelling between the Indonesian cities of Surabaya, located in eastern Java, and Banjarmasin in the South Kalimantan province on Indonesian Borneo.

Analysis: Ferries, although a popular mode of transport in Indonesia, are often overcrowded and poorly maintained, causing frequent accidents.

Advice: Clients in the region are advised to exercise caution if travelling by ferry; inspect the craft prior to departure, and if the craft becomes overcrowded travellers are advised to disembark and await the next ferry. Travel delays and disruptions as a result of the accident and the subsequent rescue operations should be anticipated in the short-term. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Tropical Storm Haitang likely to impact central Laos within the next 30 hours.

Analysis: The approach of the storm coincides with Laos' main rainy season, which runs between June and December. The expected storm is likely to result in heavy rainfall across the country, which could lead to flooding and landslides. Communities near the Mekong River, other low-lying areas and in elevated regions, are most susceptible to the threat of flooding and landslides. Localised disruptions to public and private transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), are possible.

Advice: Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Caution is advised in low-lying and elevated regions due to the threats of flooding and landslides. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced it will hold demonstrations in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) state (Jammu region, Kashmir Valley region and Ladakh region) on 28 September. The demonstrations are in protest against moves by local political parties to grant clemency to Afzal Guru.

Analysis: Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri, was sentenced to death in 2004 for his involvement in the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament; he has been on death row ever since. There are a number of groups, including a number in J&K state, which have called for Guru's release. These groups argue that Guru did not receive a fair trial. The BJP, which was the Indian ruling party at the time of the attacks, are opposed to the proposed clemency for Guru, and have stated that the Indian National Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) are pushing for clemency to appease Muslim voters in the Kashmir area. A resolution calling for clemency for Guru is expected to be presented at the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on 28 September. Should Guru be granted clemency, BJP rallies could be extended in J&K and in other Indian states. There is a threat of violence at all protest gatherings.

Advice: Due to a number of security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the Jammu and Kashmir Valley regions in J&K state. Clients in the state and in the Ladakh region are advised to monitor political developments closely and should avoid all street demonstrations as a precaution. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Philippine Airlines has cancelled at least 50 international and 35 domestic flights following a mass walk out of its ground crew aligned to Philippine Airlines Employees' Association (PALEA). The strike is in response to, and in protest against, plans by the airline to outsource hundreds of jobs from 1 October. The airline has stated that only flights via Manila have been affected and that operations will resume at 18:00 local time on 27 September.

Advice: Clients using Philippine Airlines are advised to contact their travel provider or the airline (http://www.philippineairlines.com) for further information. ——From Travel Alert.