Breaking News Archives - Page 92 of 204

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...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flash Floods Shock Drought-Prone Latur Amid Monsoon Onset, IMD Forecasts Under Scrutiny

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The drought-hit city of Latur in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region has been left reeling after a sudden bout of extreme rainfall led to flash floods on May 27, 2025. Independent reports, including from All India Radio and the Press Trust of India, point to cloudburst-like conditions that caught residents and authorities off guard. This severe weather event comes despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) not issuing specific warnings for heavy rain in Latur or surrounding Marathwada districts in its regular regional bulletins. While the IMD’s Mumbai centre had predicted thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds for May 27, it did not flag extreme rainfall for Latur. The only relevant mention was a general note in the national press release that said “isolated heavy rainfall likely...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mumbai Breaks Rainfall Records, Scientists Demand Better Early Warning for Extreme Rains

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Mumbai is witnessing a monsoon like never before. On May 26, the southwest monsoon arrived in the city a staggering 16 days ahead of its usual date, setting a new record for the earliest-ever onset in the financial capital. What followed was relentless rain that brought the city to a halt and shattered century-old records. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai City (Colaba observatory) received 456.5 mm of rain and the Suburbs (Santacruz observatory) 342 mm between May 1 and May 27. This makes May 2025 the wettest May ever recorded in Mumbai, breaking the previous record of 280 mm set in 1918. The most dramatic rainfall occurred in just two days. From 8:30 am on May 25 to 8:30 am on May 26, Colaba received 135.4 mm of rain a 67,600% excess over the average of...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global temperatures likely to stay near record highs till 2029: WMO warns of 1.5°C breach risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Arctic warming at over three times the global rate; chances of surpassing Paris Agreement threshold reach 86% Global temperatures are expected to hover near record highs over the next five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, released May 28, 2025. The findings raise serious alarms about the planet approaching irreversible climate thresholds, particularly with the Arctic heating up at more than three times the global average. Near-term warming trends Between 2025 and 2029, the global average near-surface temperature is projected to range between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900 baseline). Critically, the WMO report notes an 86% probability that at least one year in this period will b...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Texas A&M Researchers Pioneer New Method to Predict Submarine Landslides Threatening Offshore Infrastructure

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

Beneath the vast network of offshore wind farms, oil rigs, and other marine energy installations lies a complex web of underwater infrastructure pipelines, cables, risers, and anchors that plays a critical role in supporting energy operations. Yet these subsea structures are increasingly threatened by natural events like submarine landslides, which can severely disrupt or destroy vital offshore systems. Now, a team of researchers from Texas A&M University has developed a cutting-edge approach that could revolutionize the way engineers predict underwater landslides. By applying a structured sequence of site characterization and leveraging advanced statistical modeling, the method allows for more accurate forecasts of these geohazards, potentially safeguarding billions in offshore inf...