Page 24 - Natural Disasters

Tropical cyclone Fiona sweeps away houses, knocks out power in Canada

Fiona washed houses into the sea, tore the roofs off others and knocked out power to the vast majority of two Canadian provinces as it made landfall before dawn Saturday as a big, powerful post-tropical cyclone. Fiona transformed from a hurricane into a post-tropical storm late Friday, but it still had hurricane-strength winds and brought drenching rains and huge waves. There was no confirmation of fatalities or injures. Ocean waves pounded the town of Channel-Port Aux Basques on the southern coast of Newfoundland, where entire structures were washed into the sea. Mayor Brian Button said Saturday over social media that people were being evacuated to high ground as winds knocked down power lines. "I'm seeing homes in the ocean. I'm seeing rubble floating all over the place. It's complete and utter destruction. There's an apartment that is gone," said Ren J. Roy, a resident of Channel-Port Aux Basques and chief editor at Wreckhouse Press, said in a phone interview. Roy estimated betw

Pakistan facing risk of fresh floods, more deaths as toll crosses 1,500

Although waters have started receding in some areas, authorities are worried heavy rains in parts of neighboring India could swell key rivers in Pakistan

Bengaluru rains: How bad infra took Indian Silicon Valley under the weather

The flood on August 30, which brought parts of Bengaluru to its knees, led to a loss of about Rs 225 crore in a single day

3 dead after 7.6 earthquake hits remote part of Papua New Guinea

At least three people are dead after a powerful earthquake hit a remote part of Papua New Guinea Sunday morning, authorities say. Others were injured and infrastructure damaged in the magnitude 7.6 jolt that was felt across the Pacific country. The three people died in a landslide in the gold-mining town of Wau, said Morobe Provincial Disaster Director Charley Masange. Other people had been injured from falling structures or debris, and there was damage to some health centers, homes, rural roads and highways, Masange told The Associated Press. Masange said it could take some time to assess the full extent of the injuries and damage in the region. But he said the sparse and scattered population and lack of large buildings near the epicenter in the nation's largely undeveloped highlands may have helped prevent a bigger disaster, given the earthquake was so strong. One resident from the town closest to the epicenter described his ordeal to the AP. Renagi Ravu was meeting with two ...

7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea; damage extent unclear

The US Geological Survey has detected a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northeastern Papua New Guinea. The quake hit at 6:46 am. Initial readings put the quake at a depth of some 50 to 60 kilometers (30 to 40 miles) located 67 kilometers (42 miles) east of Kainantu, a sparsely populated area. NOAA has since removed the tsunami threat for the area. Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia and north of eastern Australia. It sits on the Pacific's Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity occurs.

Is brand Bangalore being washed away by flood?

Bangalore's authorities had no plan B ready when the city was flooded recently. Visuals emerging from India's Silicon Valley were shocking! We ask if brand Bangalore is taking a hit

East China suspends ferries, classes as nation braces for typhoon

Cities in eastern China have suspended ferry services and suspended classes as they brace for the arrival of Typhoon Hinnamnor, a strong storm that is expected to also affect neighbouring Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Shanghai on Sunday suspended ferry services and deployed more than 50,000 police officers to aid with rescues and guide traffic away from danger areas. The eastern business hub of Wenzhou also ordered all classes suspended on Monday. Typhoon Hinnamnor is the strongest global storm of 2022, and is forecasted to move gradually northward into the East China Sea. Evacuations and flight cancellations have been ordered in Japan's Okinawa. The storm is also expected to bring intense rainfall to the Korean peninsula, bringing the possibility of flooding. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 175 km (109 miles) per hour, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. China's National Meteorological Center issued a yellow typhoon warning at 10 am Sunday, and warned of heavy rains in

3 killed, 4 injured in Philippines as tropical cyclone Ma-on intensifies

The Philippine government said tropical cyclone Ma-on that battered the main Luzon island this week killed at least three people and injured four others

China issues first drought alert, battles to save crops in extreme heatwave

But heavy rainfall in Liaoning province has damaged crop output

Portugal's largest protected area records biggest fire since 2018

The fire in Serra da Estrela, Portugal's largest protected area, is the largest in the country since 2018, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests reported.

84 Amarnath pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh rescued, 2 remain untraced

About 84 pilgrims from various parts of Andhra Pradesh, who went on the Amarnath yatra, were reported safe while only two women still remained untraced as on Sunday afternoon

Global charity provides $28.5 million to 19 countries hit by drought

A global charity has announced $28.5 million to help families in 19 countries, mostly in Africa, facing the worst global hunger crisis in decades

Afghanistan earthquake kills 1,000 people, deadliest in decades

A powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border early Wednesday, killing at least 920 people and injuring 600 others, authorities said

4 killed, several injured as 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolts China

Four people were killed and 14 others injured after a powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted the city of Ya'an in China's Sichuan province

10 dead, 20 missing as Hurricane Agatha brings damage in south Mexico

Hurricane Agatha caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 10 people and left 20 missing, the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca said

Strongest hurricane on record in May makes landfall in southern Mexico

The strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific swept ashore on a stretch of tourist beaches and fishing towns in southern Mexico on Monday

World not spending enough to avert disasters as global calamities rise: UN

Of the $133 billion in available disaster-related financing in 2010 to 2019, only 4% went to reducing risks with the rest being spent on more costly post-calamity responses, a UN official said

At least 1 killed, 23 hurt as tornado tears through northern Michigan

A tornado tore through a northern Michigan community, killing at least one person and injuring 23 others as it flipped vehicles, tore the roofs off of buildings, and downed trees and power lines.

Tornadoes strike Texas, Oklahoma; more storms in forecast, says report

There were no reports of serious injuries following the Wednesday night tornadoes

Disasters are rapidly increasing due to climate change, human behaviour: UN

The number of medium- to large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year, or 1.5 disasters a day, by 2030 if the current trends continue