Disasters Archives - Page 32 of 42

Jul112024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Temperatures Threaten Global Groundwater Safety: Millions at Risk by 2100

In a stark warning, scientists highlight that without access to lakes or streams, one in four humans relies on underground reservoirs. However, as temperatures soar, these vital water sources face contamination risks. An international study using a global heat transport model reveals that by 2100, up to 590 million people could depend on groundwater that fails to meet safe drinking standards due to warming. This underlines a critical yet often overlooked consequence of climate change on Earth's land. Hydrologist Dylan Irvine from Charles Darwin University emphasizes the need to broaden focus beyond weather events and water availability. The study underscores that warming groundwater can alter its chemical composition, potentially making it unsafe for consumption due to dissolved mine...

Jul92024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Source of Chemical Pollution Found in Electric Vehicle Batteries: Study Claims

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Scientists have uncovered a new source of hazardous "forever chemical" pollution: the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in most electric vehicles (EVs). This discovery highlights a significant trade-off in the transition to cleaner energy solutions, as the drive to reduce carbon emissions inadvertently introduces other environmental and health risks. Role of PFAS in Lithium-Ion Batteries Certain lithium-ion battery technologies use a class of PFAS chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which help make batteries less flammable and more efficient at conducting electricity. These PFAS chemicals, specifically bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs), have been found in various environmental samples near plants manufacturing these chemicals in the US, Belgium, ...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Assam Floods Perennial Flood Crisis and government initiative and Projects Mitigation Efforts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Guwahati, Assam: Last year in October, after flood waters had receded in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced 54 projects aimed at mitigating the effects of swelling rivers. These initiatives, he had asserted, “would bring us close to a flood-free Assam.” Yet, as the monsoon season of 2023 unfolded, the state government finds itself struggling to protect lives and properties from the fury of the floods. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floods have claimed over 50 lives and displaced 360,000 people this year. More than 40,000 hectares of crop area have been affected, with significant portions of Dibrugarh and Guwahati submerged. Chief Minister Sarma has recently expressed despair, attributing the floods to “geographical factors beyond the...

Jul72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Rainfall Brings Relief and Flooding: IMD Warns of More Rain in July

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Heavy rainfall across large parts of India has compensated for the June deficit, bringing the overall monsoon precipitation into the surplus category. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), more spells of heavy to very heavy rain are likely over northwest India and the western parts of peninsular India during the next two to three days and over the northeast during the next five days. India, the world's top producer of critical crops such as rice, wheat, and sugarcane, logged a rainfall deficit of 11 percent in June, with northwest India recording a shortfall of 33 percent. However, heavy rain in the first week of July has compensated for the shortfall but has also caused flooding in many northeastern states. Since the four-month monsoon season began on June 1, the c...

Jul72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Floods in Assam Claim Six Lives in 24 Hours: Desperate Search for Missing Boy Continues

Breaking News, Disasters

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam has taken a dire turn, claiming six lives over the past 24 hours. In Guwahati, the state's largest city, the relentless search for eight-year-old Abhinash Sarkar continues. Abhinash slipped into a flooded drain three days ago, and his father, Hiralal Sarkar, has not given up hope. Armed with an iron rod, Hiralal has been tirelessly searching the sewage, but has only managed to find his son's slippers. Displaying the pair, he lamented, "I have been searching with an iron rod and have managed to find my son's sandals. I possibly cannot find him with the rod. The government has the machinery, they must find my boy." Hiralal handed over the slippers to the police for verification. Abhinash had slipped from his father's scooter and fallen into the drain...

Jul62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Assam Floods Devastate Communities 52 Dead And Thousands Homeless Amid Grim Situation

Breaking News, Disasters

The flood situation in Assam has escalated dramatically over the past 24 hours, claiming the lives of 52 people and displacing several thousand residents, according to a various report. With over 24 lakh people affected across 30 out of the state's 35 districts, Assam is grappling with the second wave of floods this season, which has wreaked havoc on lives, infrastructure, and agriculture. Jubbar Ali, a resident of Barpeta district, recounted the heartbreaking loss of his home due to erosion a month ago, forcing his family including his wife, two daughters, and ailing mother to seek shelter in a makeshift tent at a relief camp. "Almost 500 families in Rowmari Pathar area have lost their lands due to constant erosion and floods every year," Ali lamented, urging the government to interven...

Jul42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Three More Bridges Collapse in Bihar Amid Heavy Rainfall, Total Reaches Nine in 15 Days

Breaking News, Disasters

Bihar witnessed the collapse of at least three more bridges or causeways on Wednesday, marking the ninth such incident in the rain-affected state within the past 15 days. No casualties were reported after the three structures, built 30 to 80 years ago by local authorities, caved in during the day in Saran and Siwan districts, officials said. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, alleged that four bridges collapsed in a single day, and the chief minister and his deputies are silent. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the Road Construction Department (RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair. "Certain portions of bridges/causeways that caved in Siwan and Saran on Wednesday a...

Jun302024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Transformative AI Initiative Revolutionizes Extreme Weather Forecasting in East Africa

Breaking News, Disasters, Tech

In a pioneering effort to revolutionize extreme weather forecasting and early warning systems, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Oxford University Physics Department, IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and various national meteorology agencies across East Africa have joined forces. This initiative comes at a crucial time for East Africa, where climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, from devastating droughts to deadly floods. Dr. Shruti Nath, a climate scientist at Oxford University Physics, emphasized the transformative potential of the new AI-based weather forecasting approach. Traditional models often fall short in predicting extreme weather, particularly in regions with limited resources and infrastructu...

Jun282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Iceland’s Ongoing Volcanic Eruptions Pose Long Term Threats, Researchers Warn

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula is facing ongoing volcanic eruptions that could persist for years to decades, jeopardizing the region's densely populated areas and critical infrastructure, according to researchers studying local earthquake and geochemical data. The series of eight eruptions since 2021 have prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency in this southwestern region, which houses 70 percent of Iceland's population, its sole international airport, and multiple geothermal power plants. The latest eruptions in May and June forced evacuations, including from the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, highlighting the volatility of the situation. Despite Iceland's volcanic activity being linked to its location atop a hot spot, the Reykjanes Peninsula had remained dormant fo...

Jun272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sahara Dust Storm Heads for Gulf of Mexico Could Impact Hurricane Formation

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

The biggest dust storm ever seen from the Sahara this hurricane season is heading across the Atlantic Ocean. The dust giant is expected to reach the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Florida by the end of the week, and experts say it could play a key role in the formation of the storm. The dry and dusty air associated with the Saharan air layer (SAL) absorbs moisture, an important element for tropical storms and hurricanes. Experts believe that this particular plume will block the development of storms as they travel from Africa to the Caribbean and reach Florida. While this may be good news for those expecting a hurricane season, meteorologists warn that the SAL's effects are temporary. This dust is most common in the Atlantic Basin in late June and early July, and its effect diminishe...