Page 7 - Natural Disasters

Tropical storm battering Philippines leaves 23 dead in flooding, landslides

Widespread flooding and landslides set off by a tropical storm in the northeastern Philippines on Thursday left at least 23 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers, some on roofs. The government shut down schools and offices except those urgently needed for disaster response for the second day on the entire main island of Luzon to protect millions of people after Tropical Storm Trami slammed into the country's northeastern province of Isabela after midnight. The storm was blowing over Aguinaldo town in the mountain province of Ifugao after dawn with sustained winds up to 95 kph and gusts up to 160 kph. It was blowing westward and was forecast to enter the South China Sea later on Thursday, according to state forecasters. At least 23 people died, mostly due to drowning in the hard-hit Bicol region and nearby Quezon province but the toll was expected to rise as towns and villages isolated by flooding and roads ...

NDRF deploys 56 teams across five states as Cyclone Dana approaches

The NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in five states, including Odisha and West Bengal, in view of cyclone 'Dana', which is expected to make landfall along the Odisha coast between October 24 and 25. Mohsen Shahedi, deputy inspector general (operations) of the NDRF, told PTI that the teams are equipped with pole and tree cutters, inflatable boats, basic first-aid tools and other flood rescue equipment. "The focus areas for us, and as informed by the IMD and other agencies, are the states of Odisha and West Bengal," the officer of the federal disaster contingency force said. A senior officer added that a total of 45 teams were sought by the states in view of the cyclone. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked a total of 56 teams, out of which 45 are on active deployment right now. Those in reserve will be positioned on active duty as the situation develops, he said. There are 20 teams in Odisha, out of which one is in reserve, while of the 17 in West Bengal,

China's Q3 economic losses from natural calamities surge to $32.3 billion

In September, the financial hub of Shanghai was brought to a standstill by Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly hit the city in 70 years. Earlier that month, Super Typhoon

Circulation over Andaman Sea may intensify into low-pressure area: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that a cyclonic circulation has formed over Andaman Sea and it is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area by Monday. It may have an impact on coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh next week. In a bulletin, IMD said, "The cyclonic circulation is formed over central Andaman Sea. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea around October 21. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further into a depression around October 23." Amid speculations on the formation of a cyclone this month as forecast by certain international models, IMD Director General Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra said that a clearer picture will emerge only after formation of the low-pressure area. "The IMD has made no prediction on whether the system will develop into a cyclonic storm. October is known as the month of cyclones and some weather models are

Flood situation in Bihar grim with most rivers flowing above danger mark

The flood situation in Bihar remained grim on Saturday as many rivers were still flowing above the danger mark, officials said. In its bulletin, the Water Resources Department (WRD) said Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, and Ganga were flowing above the danger mark. It said that personnel were on alert and flood protection works were being carried out at vulnerable sites. Over 40 lakh people have been affected by the flood, which has hit 30 of the state's 38 districts since last month, officials said. Among the worst-affected districts were East and West Champaran, Araria, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Supaul, Madhepura and Muzaffarpur, they said. The Disaster Management Department (DMD) said that in the third week of September, 28.34 lakh people were affected by the flood caused by the rise in the water level of the Ganga. "And in the second phase, a total of 16.68 lakh people were affected by the flood caused by the heavy discharge of water in the Gandak, Kosi,

Taiwan clears up, slowly re-opens after devastation from Typhoon Krathon

Typhoons almost always hit Taiwan's mountainous and sparsely populated east coast which faces the Pacific Ocean

Weakened but still strong Typhoon Krathon hits Taiwan, two people dead

An approaching typhoon bringing strong winds and torrential rainfall to Taiwan killed two people and injured more than 100 people over the past few days while forcing thousands to evacuate from low-lying or mountainous areas. At least 102 people were injured and two people died due to weather conditions attributed to Typhoon Krathon, Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Center said on Wednesday. One elderly man died after falling off a ladder while pruning tree branches in the eastern city of Hualien. Another man died after crashing into fallen rocks while driving in Taitung county. Two others were missing. The typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 173 kilometres per hour and gusts of 209 kilometres per hour, was expected to make landfall early on Thursday on Taiwan's densely populated west coast, according to the Central Weather Administration. The strongest winds are expected on the island's southwest portion. Typhoons rarely hit Taiwan's west coast, affecting instead the .

Days after Hurricane Helene, powerless mess remains in US Southeast

Sherry Brown has gotten nearly the entire miserable Hurricane Helene experience at her home. She's out of power and water. There is a tree on her roof and her SUV. She is converting power from the alternator in her car to keep just enough juice for her refrigerator so she can keep some food. Brown is far from alone. Helene was a tree and power pole wrecking ball as it blew inland across Georgia, South Carolina and into North Carolina on Friday. Five days later, more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in the three states don't have power, according to poweroutage.us. It's muggy, pitch black at night and sometimes dangerous with chainsaws buzzing, tensioned power lines ready to snap and carbon monoxide silently suffocating people who don't use generators properly. While there are fewer water outages than electric issues, plenty of towns and cities have lost their water systems too, at least temporarily. Brown said she is surviving in Augusta, Georgia, by taking "bird baths" with ..

Intensifying Typhoon Krathon forecast to hit Taiwan's populated west coast

The typhoon is expected to further intensify into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, packing powerful winds

Flood and landslides claim around 200 lives, 30 still missing in Nepal

The death toll from rain-triggered floods and landslides across Nepal climbed to 170 with 42 people missing on Sunday, officials said. Large swathes of eastern and central Nepal have been inundated since Friday, with flash floods reported in parts of the country. According to police, 170 people have been killed so far due to floods and landslides across Nepal. According to Home Ministry officials, 42 people are missing in floods, landslides and inundation. As many as 111 people have sustained injuries in flood-related incidents, Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Rishiram Pokharel said. Search and rescue operations are underway with the mobilisation of all the security agencies, he said, adding that the Nepal Army has airlifted 162 people from across the country. As many as 4,000 people affected by flood and inundation have been rescued by the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel, Pokharel said. All necessary relief materials, including food grains, have

Hurricane Helene: Toll hits 100, aid rushed to North Carolina, Florida

President Joe Biden described the impact of the storm as stunning and said he would visit the area this week

Powerful typhoon lash northernmost islands of Philippines, schools shut

A powerful typhoon was lashing the northernmost islands of the Philippines on Monday, prompting officials to evacuate villagers, shut down schools and inter-island ferries and warn of "potentially very destructive" damage to coastal villages. Typhoon Krathon was last tracked over the coastal waters of Balintang island off the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes with sustained winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 215 kilometres per hour, according to government forecasters. The slow-moving Krathon was blowing westward and could strengthen into a super typhoon when it veers northeastward on Tuesday toward Taiwan, they said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The weather agency warned of "moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge" in the next 48 hours in the coastal villages of Batanes, the nearby Babuyan islands and Cagayan province and said fierce winds could rip off roofs, topple trees, damage farmlands and whip up high waves. "T

64 dead, millions without power after Helene's march across Southeast US

Helene blew ashore in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140 mph

Hurricane Helene hits Florida, raising fears of widespread damage, deaths

Officials pleaded with residents in the path of the storm to heed mandatory evacuation orders or face life-threatening conditions

Rare 'doomsday fish' caught by fishermen off Tiwi Islands in Australia

A massive oarfish, which is seldom seen and often linked to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, was captured during a moonlight fishing session around Tiwi Islands, Australia

Leaders at climate meetings in NY warn of growing mistrust between nations

National leaders addressed the group after adopting a 'Pact for the Future' aimed at ensuring and increasing cooperation between nations

Super typhoon Yagi wreaks havoc in China's Hainan, kills four, 95 injured

Four people were killed and 95 others injured as super Typhoon Yagi pounded south China's island province of Hainan with heavy rain and gusty winds, forcing thousands of people to be relocated for safety, local authorities said on Saturday. Yagi, the 11th typhoon of this year, made two landfalls in China on Friday, first striking Hainan and later the Guangdong province. Super Typhoon Yagi has pounded south China with heavy rain and gusty winds, leaving four people dead and 95 injured, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing authorities. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged beefed-up disaster relief efforts after the typhoon struck the country's southern region. In Hainan, a popular tourist destination, the storm uprooted trees, caused power outages and flooded roads. Over 2,200 workers have been mobilised to restore power to more than 1.5 million affected households, Xinhua reported. High-speed rail services circling the island are expected to resume on Saturday aftern

Andhra deploys drones for flood relief; 'setting new precedent', says govt

Andhra Pradesh has launched a pioneering effort to use drones for flood relief operations, marking a significant shift in the country's disaster management approach, the government said on Thursday. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry said drones capable of carrying payloads up to 40 kg have been deployed in Vijayawada city to deliver essential supplies in areas currently inaccessible by traditional means. The drone technology has vast potential to ensure "timely and effective responses to emergencies", Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a statement. "In the future, we will expand the use of drones beyond surveillance and agricultural applications to include dedicated models for disaster relief," he added. The ministry stated drones are being sourced from various parts of the country to further strengthen the relief efforts. The minister, who inspected the drones alongside the Drones Corporation of Andhra Pradesh on September 3, is actively engaging with manufacturers t

Pakistan hasn't learned lessons from 2022 deadly floods, say experts

Millions of people in Pakistan continue to live along the path of floodwaters, showing neither people nor the government have learned any lessons from the 2022 devastating floods that killed 1,737 people, experts said Thursday, as an aid group said half of the victims among 300 people killed by rains since July this year are children. Heavy rainfall is currently drenching those areas that had been badly hit by the deluges two years ago. The charity Save the Children said in a statement that floods and heavy rains have killed more than 150 children in Pakistan since the start of the monsoon season, making up more than half of all deaths in rain-affected areas. The group said that 200 children have also been injured in Pakistan because of rains, which have also displaced thousands of people. Save the Children also said that people affected by floods were living in a relief camp in Sanghar, a district in the southern Sindh province, which was massively hit by floods two years ago. The

Alaska Triangle: Over 20,000 people vanished from this mysterious place

The Alaska Triangle came into the limelight when two US politicians suddenly disappeared while travelling to Juneau from Anchorage in 1972. Here's all you need to know