Disaster management Archives - Page 16 of 22

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

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...

Jun252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Building Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty: IDA’s Role in Mitigating Global Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

Over 400 natural disasters occur worldwide each year, placing millions of people at risk, particularly those living in countries supported by the International Development Association (IDA). In 2023, these disasters resulted in a staggering $250 billion loss and claimed 74,000 lives globally. Severe regional storms were responsible for 76% of the economic losses. Furthermore, the looming threat of climate change is expected to trigger even more destructive weather events in coastal regions worldwide, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Disasters can be natural (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods) or human-made (e.g., war, climate change, accidents). The Oxford English Dictionary defines a disaster as "An event or occurrence of a ruinous or very distressing nature; a...

Jun252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Informing Multi-Hazard Risks for Decision Makers in Moldova’s Agriculture Sector

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Moldova's economy, comprising nearly 74% of its territory and being the primary livelihood for 70% of the rural population. However, the sector faces significant threats from prolonged droughts and climate change, particularly in regions like Anenii Noi known for their fertile chernozem soils. These conditions can degrade soil health, reduce crop yields, and increase food prices, illustrating the cascading effects on food security and the economy. IMPACT, in collaboration with the STRIVE Consortium (comprising Acted, Libraries Without Borders, and REACH), and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), conducted an ABRA to understand and mitigate these risks. The assessment utilized geospatial data to identify natural hazards and social vulnera...

Jun242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs High-Level Meeting on Flood Preparedness and Management

Breaking News, Disasters

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to evaluate the nation's preparedness for flood management and to develop long-term strategies to mitigate the recurring menace of floods in India. The session focused on reviewing previous actions and integrating new technologies for improved flood management. During the meeting, Shah assessed the progress made on the decisions from a similar meeting held last year. He examined the adoption of new technologies by various agencies and the expansion of their networks for flood management. Emphasizing the importance of innovation, Shah highlighted the need for the optimal use of satellite imagery from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to enhance flood and water management efforts. The home minister review...

Jun212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

WMO Report Highlights Urgent Need for Enhanced Hydrometeorological Services in Vulnerable Nations

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a founding member of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, has released the 2024 Hydromet Gap Report, revealing critical deficiencies in hydrometeorological services (hydromet) across Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The report, launched during the 8th SOFF Steering Committee meeting, underscores the severe impact of these gaps on climate adaptation and resilience efforts, with significant implications for sustainable development and disaster preparedness. Key Findings The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of hydromet services in 20 countries, highlighting the following critical gaps: Weak Observational Infrastructure: Many National Meteorological and Hydrological Service...

Jun212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Scientists claims record storm surges to help predict future flooding

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

Southampton, UK: Researchers at the University of Southampton have conducted the most comprehensive spatial analysis to date of storm surges along the UK and Ireland's coastlines. The findings, published in the June edition of the journal Weather and Climate Extremes, reveal significant regional variations in the intensity and duration of storm surges, with the north of the Irish Sea experiencing the longest and largest surges, while the southwest coast of England sees the shortest and smallest surges. Over a period spanning four decades, the winter seasons of 1989/90 and 2013/14 emerged as the periods with the highest number and most severe storm surge events. These findings were derived from data collected between 1980 and 2017, highlighting 270 extreme storm surge events based on the...