Breaking News Archives - Disasters News

May312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

May 2025 turns wet and wild: record rains, rare floods, and farm losses sweep India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

May in India is usually a story of blistering sun and relentless heatwaves, but 2025 has rewritten that script in dramatic fashion. Instead of scorching temperatures, this month has brought persistent downpours, thunderstorms, and unseasonal weather to vast swathes of the country a rare and remarkable shift from the norm. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the surprising spell of rain is a result of two powerful factors converging: an earlier-than-usual arrival of southwest monsoon winds and an unusually high frequency of western disturbances (WDs). Between five and seven of these extratropical weather systems which usually affect northwestern India during winter were recorded in May alone, well above average. This extended activity of WDs into the pre-monsoon se...

May312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Deep depression crosses Bengal coast, triggers heavy rain and squalls across eastern, northeastern India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal crossed the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast near Raidighi on the morning of May 29, 2025, bringing with it widespread heavy rainfall and squally winds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the system moved inland between 10:30 am and 11:30 am, between Sagar Island and Khepupara. The weather system is expected to move north-northeastwards and gradually weaken into a depression by the evening. However, its impact will continue to be felt across large parts of eastern and northeastern India. The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in Meghalaya on May 30, with isolated areas likely to see over 30 centimetres of precipitation. Assam is also bracing for extreme rainfall, with forecasts of over 20 cm in some places. Th...

May312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Glacier Crisis Deepens: Just 24% of Global Ice to Survive If Warming Hits 2.7°C, Warns Study

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Only a quarter of the world’s glacier ice will remain if global temperatures rise to 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels the path the planet is currently on according to a new study published in the journal Science. The findings come as over 50 countries gather in Tajikistan for the United Nations’ first-ever international conference on glaciers, held against the backdrop of alarming global melt rates. The study, conducted by 21 scientists from 10 countries, used eight advanced models to simulate the long-term fate of more than 200,000 glaciers worldwide. The results reveal a stark difference in outcomes depending on the world’s climate action trajectory. Under the current path, with warming expected to reach 2.7°C, only 24 per cent of the 2020 glacier ice mass would survive in the long r...

May312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Relentless rains bring landslides and tragedy to Aizawl

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Delhi, May 31 — Torrential rainfall has wreaked havoc across Mizoram's capital, Aizawl, triggering deadly landslides, road collapses, and widespread disruptions to daily life. A tragic incident in the Thuampui area marked the beginning of the crisis when a retaining wall at a laborers’ camp collapsed around 7 am, killing a 37-year-old man and injuring another. The intense and continuous downpour has destabilized hillsides, causing landslides and rockfalls in multiple parts of the region. Key roadways, including inter-district and national highways, have been blocked by debris, effectively cutting off several routes and delaying transportation. In Mauchar village within Aizawl district, at least two houses were severely damaged due to land subsidence. Meanwhile, in the Bethel Veng locali...

May312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Niger state reels as floods kill 117 and submerge thousands of homes

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Catastrophic flooding has left a trail of devastation across Niger state, where at least 117 people have been confirmed dead and more than 3,000 homes have been submerged. The death toll, which surged dramatically within a day, highlights the growing severity of seasonal floods in the region. The disaster struck two communities hardest, where torrential rainfall on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning caused rivers to overflow, inundating residential areas and sweeping away structures. The impact has been overwhelming, with dozens still unaccounted for and entire neighborhoods now under water. This tragedy bears grim similarities to Nigeria’s 2022 floods, the deadliest in over a decade, which claimed more than 600 lives and displaced approximately 1.4 million people across the...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tropical Storms Drive Infant Deaths in Poor Nations, Global Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study has revealed a sharp rise in infant mortality following exposure to tropical cyclones in low- and middle-income countries, raising concerns about how climate change is intensifying health risks for the most vulnerable. Published in Science Advances, the research shows that even low-strength storms not just major hurricanes are linked to increased deaths among infants. The study analyzed health data from nearly 1.7 million children across seven countries and found that infants exposed to tropical cyclones in the womb or within their first year of life were significantly more likely to die. On average, infant mortality rose by 11 percent, equivalent to 4.4 additional deaths per 1,000 live births, following storm exposure. The elevated risk was most pronounced within the first ...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cyclonic Storm Brings Torrential Rain, Squalls Across Eastern and Southern India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A deep depression brewing over the northwest Bay of Bengal made landfall between Sagar Island and Khepupara near Raidighi in West Bengal late morning on May 29, 2025, bringing with it heavy rainfall and squally winds, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed. The system is expected to track north-northeastward, maintain its strength through the evening, and gradually weaken into a depression overnight. Widespread weather disturbances are expected over the next 48 hours, with the northeast and eastern parts of India bracing for intense rainfall and strong winds. Meghalaya is forecast to receive extremely heavy rainfall on May 30, with some areas expected to see more than 30 cm of rain. Assam is also likely to witness extremely heavy rainfall, with accumulations crossing 20 cm ...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Building Resilience: How Smarter Development Can Reduce Disaster Losses

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

On March 30, 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar. Among the survivors was Ma Phyu Sin Win, who clutched a relief package filled with essentials food, medicine, hygiene supplies, and solar lamps. “Every little item helps,” she said, highlighting the harsh reality many face when disasters strike. Around the globe, disasters are growing more frequent and intense. From cyclones and floods to earthquakes, the impacts are devastating not just in the moment, but for months and years that follow. In 2024 alone, extreme weather caused 93% of all economic damage worldwide, totaling $320 billion. The road to recovery is long and often diverts critical resources away from education, health, and infrastructure. But disasters aren’t “natural” by default. They happen when natur...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rethinking Disaster Preparedness: Why Behavioural Insights Matter

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

When disaster strikes, having early warnings and strong infrastructure saves lives. But often, even when people know the risks, they don’t act. Why? The answer lies in human behaviour. In March 2025, Myanmar was hit by a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Survivors like Ma Phyu Sin Win were grateful for emergency kits basic things like food, solar lamps, and hygiene products. “Every little item helps during this time,” she said. But the damage went far beyond broken buildings. Around 1.6 million structures were exposed to intense shaking, many not built to survive it. Disasters like this are becoming more frequent and more destructive. In 2024 alone, extreme weather caused $320 billion in economic losses. But the real damage continues long after the floodwaters recede or the ground st...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Warming world: 80% chance next five years break heat records

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Europe and the world are heading toward uncharted climate territory. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns there's now an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will break 2024’s record as the warmest year ever. Even more striking: there’s an 86% chance that at least one of those years will temporarily cross the critical 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement. While these temperature spikes may be short-lived, they’re still troubling. The latest WMO update, produced by the UK’s Met Office, forecasts a 70% chance that the 5-year average from 2025–2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels a sharp jump from 47% last year. The report stresses that every fraction of a degree matters, pushing the planet closer to climate tipping points. The Arc...