Saturday, February 22News That Matters

Disasters

Six Workers Trapped in Telangana’s SLBC Tunnel Collapse

Six Workers Trapped in Telangana’s SLBC Tunnel Collapse

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
At least six workers are feared trapped after a roof collapse in the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, on Saturday. A senior police official confirmed that six to eight workers were inside the tunnel, 12-13 km from the entrance, when the incident occurred. The company handling the project reported the missing workers. CM Orders Urgent Rescue Operations Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock and immediately alerted officials to rush to the site. His office issued a statement confirming that some workers suffered injuries, though no exact number was provided. The district collector, superintendent of police, fire services, HYDRAA, and irrigation officials have been directed to oversee the rescue efforts...
Global Heatwave Breaks Records Sparks Wildfires and Water Crises Canada

Global Heatwave Breaks Records Sparks Wildfires and Water Crises Canada

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
A historic heatwave is sweeping across the Northern Hemisphere, breaking temperature records and triggering widespread wildfires, droughts, and power outages. With multiple countries facing extreme weather conditions, scientists warn that the crisis is a direct consequence of accelerating climate change. Records Shattered Across Continents The heatwave has gripped vast regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, pushing temperatures to unprecedented levels. In Phoenix, Arizona, thermometers hit 53°C (127°F), making it the hottest day in the city’s history. Across the Atlantic, Paris, France, recorded 45.9°C (114.6°F), forcing the government to issue emergency health warnings. In India’s capital, New Delhi, the mercury soared past 50°C (122°F) for the first time ever, causing mass hos...
Greenland Melting Ice And Landslide-Prone Fjords Pose Threats to Donald Trump Resource Aspirations

Greenland Melting Ice And Landslide-Prone Fjords Pose Threats to Donald Trump Resource Aspirations

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Donald Trump has reignited his ambition to take control of Greenland. Trump has declared that the U.S. should claim the island autonomous territory of Denmark by diplomatic means or potentially by force. At a recent congressional hearing the island vast natural resources critical minerals, fossil fuels, and hydropower were highlighted. Experts did not discuss the significant environmental hazards that resource extraction would face exacerbated by human-induced climate change. Extreme Climate and Challenging Landscape Greenland covered by an ice sheet up to two miles thick and home to about 56,000 people in frigid climate. Much of its coast remains frozen for large parts of the year. Historically Greenland climate has defeated numerous military and colonial efforts. During World War I...
Arctic Marine Mammals Facing High Mortality, Low Reproduction Due to Marine Heatwaves

Arctic Marine Mammals Facing High Mortality, Low Reproduction Due to Marine Heatwaves

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Marine mammals in the Arctic and Subarctic are suffering from increased mortality, reduced reproduction rates, and heightened vulnerability to disease due to marine heatwaves (MHWs), according to a new study. MHWs are periods of significantly elevated sea temperatures lasting from days to years, and the Arctic Ocean is predicted to be a future hotspot for such events. These temperature spikes can cover vast areas, ranging from a few kilometers to thousands. The study analyzed MHWs in the Bering and Barents Seas key pathways to the Arctic Ocean focusing on the 2017-2019 MHWs in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and the infamous 2014-2016 "Blob" in the northeast Pacific. Marine mammals like whales and sea lions often show delayed responses to MHWs due to their higher mobility and blubber ...
Australians Face Death Risk in Heatwaves: Study Reveals Cities as Hotspots for Extreme Temperature & HVI

Australians Face Death Risk in Heatwaves: Study Reveals Cities as Hotspots for Extreme Temperature & HVI

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland and Griffith University has revealed that urban residents in Australia face a significantly higher risk of death during heatwaves compared to their rural counterparts. The research, published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review in March 2025, examined two decades of temperature and mortality data across Australia’s major cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, and Darwin. The study utilized the Heatwave Vulnerability Index (HVI) to identify regions most susceptible to heatwave-related fatalities. Even during mild heatwaves, there was a notable correlation between deaths and HVI scores in Australia’s capital cities. The far north and southern regions of Western Aust...
Burundi Faces Rising Challenges as Climate Disasters Magnify Vulnerabilities

Burundi Faces Rising Challenges as Climate Disasters Magnify Vulnerabilities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check
In April 2024, torrential rains in southwestern Burundi triggered a devastating landslide in Gabaniro village, Rumonge province. Nearly 500 homes were flattened, one child was killed, and 2,500 residents were left homeless. Alongside the tragic loss of life, 500 hectares of cropland were destroyed, threatening livelihoods in one of the country’s most vulnerable regions. Survivors are struggling to recover from the disaster. Evangélique Hatungimana, a resident of Gabaniro, recalled the terror of the event. "We have been living in constant fear since witnessing something we never thought possible," she told Dialogue Earth. In nearby Mubone, Christine Tuyisenge’s home now bears deep cracks from the flooding. "When it rains, I take my children and leave the house for fear it will be swept a...
Goma Dual Crisis M23 Rebel Group Takeover & Mount Nyiragongo Threat

Goma Dual Crisis M23 Rebel Group Takeover & Mount Nyiragongo Threat

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
In January 2025, the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fell under the control of the M23 rebel group. This marked a deadly escalation in a decades-long conflict that has led to mass displacement and numerous deaths. Goma, home to two million people, faces a compounded risk. Just 12 miles from the city lies Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world’s most dangerous active volcanoes. The volcano’s lava flows can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour faster than a person can run. During its 2021 eruption, thousands were displaced and at least 250 people lost their lives. An earlier eruption in 2002 left 13% of Goma buried in lava. The DRC exemplifies the dangers faced by fragile, conflict-affected regions when natural disasters strike. Climate change further intensifies v...
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Claims Two Lives in Andhra Pradesh, Sparks Health Alert

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Claims Two Lives in Andhra Pradesh, Sparks Health Alert

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
In Andhra Pradesh, health authorities have sounded the alarm after two deaths from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were reported. Dr. Sivananda, Superintendent of King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam, described GBS as a rare, non-contagious post-viral condition that can cause paralysis and autoimmune disorders. He noted that GBS affects only two out of every two lakh people. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed the deaths occurred in Guntur and Srikakulam districts. While acknowledging the syndrome’s 5-7% global mortality rate, Yadav reassured the public that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed comprehensive response measures. He urged people to remain calm and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear. The state’s first GBS-related death was recorded at Gun...
Delhi-NCR Jolted by 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Residents Evacuate High-Rises

Delhi-NCR Jolted by 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Residents Evacuate High-Rises

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
In the early hours of Monday, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook Delhi-NCR, sending residents into a state of alarm. The National Center for Seismology confirmed the earthquake struck at 5:36 am, with its epicenter located near Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education in Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, at a shallow depth of five kilometers. The tremors were felt across Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, prompting residents of high-rise buildings to evacuate as a precaution. The region has a history of small tremors, with a similar 3.3 magnitude quake recorded in 2015. Local leaders quickly responded to the situation. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi and the Delhi Police used social media to urge residents to remain calm and prioritize safety. Authorities assured that emergenc...
Cyclone Zelia Set to Hit Western Australia with Destructive Force

Cyclone Zelia Set to Hit Western Australia with Destructive Force

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is barreling toward Australia’s northwest coast and is expected to make landfall near Port Hedland early Friday evening. This powerful category five storm poses a significant threat to Western Australia’s coastline and inland regions, with the potential to cause widespread damage. Port Hedland, Australia’s busiest iron ore export port, is directly in Zelia’s path. Surrounding towns like Marble Bar, Tom Price, and Paraburdoo are also on high alert for strong winds and heavy rainfall. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns that sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts reaching 290 km/h could flatten homes, topple trees, and down power lines. Zelia’s strength underscores growing concerns about the increasing severity of tropical cyclones as global warming conti...