Environment Archives - Disasters News

Feb222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Feb222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UK Peatland Fires Release Massive Carbon Emissions, Set to Rise with Climate Change temperatures rise by 2°C

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Peatland fires in the United Kingdom have released an estimated 800,000 tonnes of carbon over the past two decades, with emissions set to rise dramatically as global temperatures increase, a new study has revealed. If the planet warms by just 2°C, emissions from these fires could surge by at least 60%, reaching an annual average of 3.8 million tonnes of carbon, according to findings published in Environmental Research Letters. The study highlights the severe environmental impact of peatland fires, equating the projected emissions increase to those produced annually by 133 commercial aircraft, 820,800 passenger vehicles, or 414,000 homes. Peatlands, a type of wetland, cover about 9% of the UK’s land area and are among the world’s most effective carbon sinks. In a healthy state, they a...

Feb222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Glaciers Lost 6.54 Trillion Tonnes of Ice Since 2000, Driving Sea-Level Rise

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers lost an estimated 273 billion tonnes of ice annually, making them the second-largest contributor to rising sea levels, according to a new study published in Nature. The total global ice loss during this period reached 6.54 trillion tonnes, raising sea levels by 18 millimeters (mm) and contributing 0.75 mm of sea-level rise per year. The study revealed that ice loss accelerated by 36% in the second half of the study period (2012-2023) compared to the first half. Recent years saw the most severe losses, with the 2019-2023 period witnessing annual ice loss exceeding 400 gigatonnes per year (Gt/yr), including a record 548 Gt/yr in 2023. “This underscores the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s call for urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions ...

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Carbon Levels Hit Record in 2024 as Climate Change Escalates

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reached a new high of 422 parts per million in 2024, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This milestone follows another record-breaking year for global temperatures, increasing pressure on policymakers to take more aggressive action against climate change. Recent studies indicate that global warming may be accelerating beyond previous estimates. The world may have already reached 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, a critical threshold for triggering extreme and irreversible climate impacts. Research published in Nature Geoscience in November 2024 used 2,000 years of Antarctic ice core data and found warming at 1.49°C in 2023, based on a longer pre-industrial baseline. Ocean Warming and Storm Intens...

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Gwadar School Tsunami Drill Teaches Life-Saving Skills, Inspires Community Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Gwadar, Pakistan – The usual morning buzz at Government Girls High School Gwadar and Government Boys High School Gwadar Jadeed took on a new urgency as a loud siren pierced the air. On World Tsunami Awareness Day, over 300 students took part in a life-saving exercise a tsunami evacuation drill organized by UNESCO and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan. The drill aimed to prepare students for the rapid response needed during a tsunami. Eight-year-old Ayesha, clutching her backpack tightly, shared her newfound confidence: “I learned how to run to higher ground and help my friends. Now, I know what to do if there’s a tsunami.” Pakistan’s coastline, especially along the Makran Subduction Zone in the Arabian Sea, is highly vulnerable to tsunamis. The 1945 Makr...

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Feb192025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Feb182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sargasso Sea: Earth’s Only Sea Without Shores Faces Climate Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The Sargasso Sea, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea in the world that doesn’t touch any land. It is defined by four ocean currents the North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, North Atlantic Equatorial Current, and Antilles Current forming a natural boundary rather than a coastline. Instead of sandy shores, the sea is blanketed by large mats of Sargassum seaweed, giving it a distinctive appearance. This seaweed has been washing up on the shores of North America and the Caribbean, but out in the open sea, it serves as a haven for marine life. The Sargasso Sea Commission highlights the region’s ecological importance, noting it provides breeding grounds for endangered eels and migratory paths for species like sperm and humpback whales, tuna, and turtles. Historically a...

Feb182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Environmental Groups Urge IMO to Ditch Biofuels, Warn of Deforestation Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Environmental organizations are pressing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reject biofuels as a low-carbon option for the shipping industry, arguing that their expanded use could worsen deforestation, land grabbing, and climate change. Biofuelwatch and the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), along with 65 other groups, submitted an open letter ahead of the IMO’s upcoming discussions on low-carbon fuel standards. The letter warned that biofuel expansion, particularly in the Global South, poses significant environmental and social threats. It also called for stricter sustainability criteria to prevent the negative impacts of biofuel production. Brazil, the world’s second-largest biofuel producer, has emerged as a vocal supporter of biofuels in the shipping sector. The country...