February 2025 - Disasters News

Feb282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rare Triple Cyclone Event Seen on South Pacific Raising Climate Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Tech

Satellite imagery has captured an extraordinary meteorological phenomenon in the South Pacific, where three tropical cyclones Rae, Seru, and Alfred are simultaneously active. Stretching over 8,000 kilometers from the eastern coast of Australia into the Pacific Ocean, this rare occurrence underscores the unpredictability of extreme weather patterns. Unprecedented Cyclone Activity Amid La Niña This triple cyclone event coincides with the peak of the region’s cyclone season. Meteorologists note that while such occurrences are rare, they are not without precedent the last recorded instance was in January 2021, with cyclones Lucas, Ana, and Bina. However, what makes this event particularly striking is that it is happening during a La Niña phase, a climate pattern that typically cools ocea...

Feb282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Nepal High Casualties Feared as Tremors Shake Himalayan Region

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Kathmandu: A powerful earthquake struck Nepal early Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the Himalayan region and triggering widespread destruction. The tremors, felt in neighboring India, China, and Bhutan, caused buildings to collapse, landslides to block key highways, and panic among millions. The full scale of the disaster is yet to be determined, but officials fear high casualties as rescue efforts intensify. According to seismologists, the quake was a result of the Indian tectonic plate pushing into the Eurasian plate at a rate of approximately 5 cm per year, a process that continuously builds stress beneath the Earth's surface. When this stress reaches a breaking point, it is released as a powerful seismic event. The Himalayas, being one of the most geologically active regi...

Feb282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Texas Child Dies from Measles in First US Fatality in a Decade

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A measles outbreak in West Texas has taken a tragic turn with the death of an unvaccinated child, marking the first measles-related fatality in the United States in ten years, state health officials reported Wednesday. The child, who succumbed overnight at a children's hospital, was among the more than 130 cases reported across Texas and eastern New Mexico. The outbreak has primarily affected children, with health experts linking its spread to a large under-vaccinated population in a rural Mennonite community. Texas health officials have warned of the disease’s severity, emphasizing its high hospitalization rate. A press conference with local and state health authorities is scheduled to provide updates and address community concerns. From News Desk

Feb282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Snowfall Hits Himachal Higher Reaches IMD Predicts heavy Rain Snowfall

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The higher-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh have been blanketed in fresh snowfall, while widespread rainfall has drenched the state over the past 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued snowfall in upper reaches and rain across most regions for the next 48 hours. According to IMD’s Senior Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Kullu received 22 mm of rain, while Manali witnessed 20 cm of snowfall. Other higher-altitude areas, including Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, recorded nearly one to one and a half feet of snow overnight. The snowfall is expected to persist in districts like Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmaur, Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kinnaur, with heavy rainfall likely in parts of Kangra. Daytime temperatures across Himachal Pradesh are currently ...

Feb272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Threatens Thames with Increased Algal Blooms Despite Phosphorus Reduction 80%

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A new study has warned that climate change could fuel a rise in algal blooms in the River Thames, even though phosphorus levels an essential nutrient for algae have significantly decreased over the past four decades. Led by Helen Jarvie, a professor at the University of Waterloo, the research found that phosphorus loads in the Thames have dropped by 80% due to improved wastewater treatment and agricultural practices. Despite this progress, rising river temperatures driven by climate change are increasing the risk of both spring diatom blooms and summer cyanobacterial blooms. These algal blooms can harm aquatic ecosystems by suffocating marine life, depleting oxygen levels, and releasing potentially toxic cyanobacteria. Water Quality Management at Risk Jarvie emphasized that while ...

Feb272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Intensifies Extreme Rainfall Behind Brazil’s 2022 Deadly Floods

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A rapid attribution study has confirmed that human-induced climate change played a significant role in the catastrophic floods and landslides that struck Eastern Northeast Brazil in May 2022, leading to severe human and material losses. The study analyzed daily rainfall patterns over the region, focusing on 7-day and 15-day mean rainfall events. Findings revealed that the 2022 extreme rainfall events were exceptionally rare, with a 1-in-500 chance of occurring in any given year for the 7-day period and a 1-in-1000 chance for the 15-day period under current climate conditions. Using a multi-model ensemble of climate simulations, researchers found that global warming had significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of such extreme rainfall. By integrating observational data wit...

Feb272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Snowfall Rain Kill 39 in Afghanistan Dozens of Homes Damaged

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

At least 39 people have died due to heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and flash floods across three Afghan provinces, disaster management officials confirmed on Wednesday. Flash floods in western Farah province swept away 21 people on Tuesday, while three more lost their lives when a hailstorm caused their house to collapse. In Helmand province, six people were killed, including a child struck by lightning. In southern Kandahar, nine people, including women and children, died in several locations due to heavy rains. In a tragic incident, four women washing clothes were carried away by floodwaters, with only one managing to survive, according to local officials. Afghanistan has faced prolonged drought conditions, including in flood-hit Farah, which has struggled with water shortages sinc...

Feb272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Africa Faces Climate Crisis as Warming Threatens Burn Agriculture

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions Africa is bearing the brunt of climate change. A new study warns that the continent is “highly likely” to surpass 1.5°C of warming by 2040, worsening extreme weather and threatening agriculture-based livelihoods. Africa’s annual average temperature has been rising at over 0.5°C per decade for 30 years. Southern Africa has already warmed by 1.2°C since pre-industrial times, with North, Southern, and West Africa expected to experience the most intense temperature increases. While rainfall patterns remain unpredictable, many regions especially in the north and west are seeing significant declines. Meanwhile, East and Central African highlands have recorded more frequent heavy rains and floods. Coastal regions also face...

Feb272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Women in Least Developed Nations Struggle for Voice in Climate Talks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

A recent study has revealed that women from the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) face significant barriers to participating in global climate negotiations. Conducted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the research highlights the gender imbalance in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) discussions, particularly among delegates from the 45 LDCs. Since 2008, women have made up only one in three UNFCCC delegates, with just 10% serving as heads of delegation. The study, which included surveys and case studies from Rwanda, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone, found that cultural norms, restrictive laws, and institutional barriers limit women’s roles in climate talks. Limited access to education, training, financial resources, and ...

Feb262025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising from Ruin: How Pakistan Flood Disaster Sparked a Revolution in Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

In the heart of devastation, where floodwaters swallowed entire villages and millions were left stranded, a remarkable transformation began. The 2022 Pakistan floods were among the worst climate disasters of the century, leaving one-third of the country submerged. But within this crisis lay an opportunity—one that would redefine how nations respond to catastrophe. From tragedy to triumph, the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) has emerged as a global model for disaster recovery. In just two years, it rebuilt lives, strengthened infrastructure, and pioneered a new approach to resilience that could change how the world confronts climate disasters. A Disaster of Unprecedented Scale The numbers were staggering. Over 33 million people affected. Nearly $15 billion in d...