Disasters Archives - Page 5 of 42

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Africa Vanishing Glaciers Threaten Water Security, Urgent Action Needed

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

As the world marks World Water Day 2025 on March 22 under the theme Glacier Preservation, attention turns to the fragile ice formations that sustain millions. Glaciers, often called the "water towers of the world," feed rivers, support ecosystems, and provide essential water for agriculture and livelihoods. However, climate change is accelerating their disappearance, posing a severe threat to global water security. Though Africa is not typically associated with glaciers, it is home to iconic ice caps atop Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mount Kenya (Kenya), and the Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda-DR Congo border). These glaciers, once stable reservoirs of freshwater, are melting at alarming rates. Research by Anne Hinzmann and her team at Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany, shows that ...

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapses After Myanmar Earthquake Rescue Operations Underway

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday triggered a devastating collapse of a 33-storey high-rise under construction in Bangkok over 1,000 km from the epicenter. The incident has raised serious concerns about building safety, with experts questioning the structural integrity of the skyscraper. Rescuers are racing against time to locate and extract those trapped beneath the rubble. So far eight bodies have been recovered, while thermal imaging drones have detected at least 15 people who may still be alive. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a rapid inquiry into why the high-rise crumbled while other buildings withstood the tremors. The structure was being built as the new headquarters of Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO), a pro...

Mar302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Is Delhi Prepared for a Massive Earthquake? Experts Raise Alarm Over Seismic Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

March 30, 2025 – The recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has once again raised concerns about Delhi’s ability to withstand a major seismic event. The tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, where a viral video showed a multi-story building collapsing in seconds, sending shockwaves across the region. With Delhi NCR falling in Seismic Zone 4, experts are questioning whether the national capital is prepared for a similar disaster. How Vulnerable is Delhi NCR? Delhi's geographical location places it in a high-risk earthquake zone, making it extremely vulnerable to seismic activity. According to experts, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake could cause severe destruction, with buildings collapsing, roads cracking, and thousands of lives at risk. A 2020 Ministry of Earth Sciences and Municipa...

Mar302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Sends 80 NDRF Personnel to Myanmar for Earthquake Relief

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

New Delhi, March 29, 2025 – India is deploying an 80-member National Disaster Response Force( NDRF) team to assist in rescue and search operations in earthquake hit Myanmar where nearly 700 people have died. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing city on Friday afternoon followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, flattening buildings and causing severe damage in Mandalay and surrounding areas. The disaster has left over 1,700 people injured, with casualties also reported in Thailand. A senior NDRF officer confirmed that the team from the 8th battalion in Ghaziabad, which previously assisted in Turkey’s 2023 earthquake rescue efforts, is carrying specialized equipment for immediate deployment. Depending on the ground situation, more personnel may be sent. This marks In...

Mar292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Braces for Intense Summer as IMD Predicts Doubling of Heatwave Days

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that northwestern parts of the country will likely endure an unusually hot summer, with nearly twice the usual number of heatwave days. Typically, the region experiences five to six heatwave days per season, but this year, the IMD forecasts 10 to 12. Extreme Heat Expected Across West and Central India IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy stated that heatwave conditions will be "slightly above normal," particularly in West and Central India. However, she clarified that this seasonal outlook does not mean every day will be excessively hot. A heatwave is officially declared when temperatures reach at least 40°C in the plains, 30°C in the hills or rise five degrees above the seasonal average. Will 2025 Break Last Year’s Record Heat? Whi...

Mar282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Issues Rain Thunderstorm Alerts Across India Odisha Braces for Heatwave

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across multiple states, with a heatwave warning issued for parts of Odisha. According to the latest advisory, the Western Himalayan region including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh will experience scattered to fairly widespread rainfall and snowfall over the next few days due to an active Western Disturbance. Weather Across India Cold winds are likely to sweep through Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, while isolated heavy rain is expected in Arunachal Pradesh. Rainfall activity will also extend to central Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh until March 31. The IMD has forecast above-normal rainfall for South Peninsula...

Mar282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday March 28, causing widespread damage in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where several buildings shook, and in parts of India and Bangladesh. In Mandalay, parts of the historic former royal palace suffered damage, and multiple buildings collapsed. The Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, reported the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge and damage to sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Yangon. In the capital Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes sustained damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Tha...

Mar272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

South Korea Faces Worst Wildfire Crisis as Blazes Leave 18 Dead, Thousands Displaced

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

South Korea is battling its deadliest wildfire outbreak, with at least 18 fatalities and 19 injuries reported as flames continue to consume vast areas of the country's southeastern regions. The fires, which erupted on March 21 in Sancheong County, have spread rapidly to Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, forcing over 23,000 people to evacuate. Acting President Han Duck-soo described the situation as “unprecedented”, marking a historic wildfire disaster in a country where such fires are relatively rare. The National Fire Agency has escalated its response to the highest emergency level, deploying thousands of firefighters, 5,000 military personnel, and US military helicopters to combat the blazes. Among the devastation is Gounsa Temple1,300-year-old Buddhist site, w...

Mar252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rethinking Flood Control Letting Rivers Roam Freely for a Sustainable Future

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Traditional flood management relies on higher stop banks, stronger levees, and concrete barriers to contain rising waters. But what if the best solution isn’t to confine rivers but to give them more space to move naturally? This alternative approach is gaining traction as a sustainable method to mitigate flood risks while providing crucial ecological benefits. Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, making floods more frequent and severe. In places like Aotearoa New Zealand, decades of river confinement through artificial channels and land development have worsened flood risks. Restricting rivers transfers flood dangers downstream, increasing water speed and pressure while disrupting ecosystems that rely on natural water flow. Historically floodplain rivers have been d...

Mar222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Hidden Climate Clues Help Scientists Predict Unseen Extreme Weather

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications unveils new methods to forecast extreme weather events that modern records have never captured. Conducted by researchers from the Climate Adaptation Services Foundation, the University of Reading, and other global institutions, the study expands the understanding of climate extremes beyond the last century’s conventional weather records. By tapping into nature archives such as tree rings and forgotten historical documents scientists have uncovered centuries of climate data that modern instruments missed. Lead author Timo Kelder emphasized the significance of this breakthrough, stating, “We’ve been limited by thinking extreme weather is only as bad as what we’ve measured. But looking back hundreds or even thousands of years reveal...