Thursday, July 10News That Matters

Tag: Disaster management

China Shaanxi Earthquake Deadliest Disaster in History Killed 830,000 people

China Shaanxi Earthquake Deadliest Disaster in History Killed 830,000 people

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
On January 23, 1556, China experienced the deadliest earthquake in recorded history, claiming an estimated 830,000 lives. The massive 8.0-magnitude quake struck the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi, causing widespread destruction and altering the course of history. The disaster, also known as the Jiajing Earthquake, after the ruling emperor of the Ming dynasty, devastated entire cities. Homes, city walls, and infrastructure collapsed as the ground cracked open. The effects were felt far beyond the epicenter, reaching as far as China’s southern coast. Historical records describe how the quake triggered landslides, floods, and ground fissures that swallowed entire settlements. The Yellow and Wei rivers reportedly turned clear for days due to the upheaval. The aftermath led to famine, di...
Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg, No Casualties Reported

Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg, No Casualties Reported

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
An avalanche hit Jammu and Kashmir’s Sonamarg tourist resort on Wednesday, officials confirmed. The incident occurred in Sarbal village, the last inhabited area in the Kashmir Valley. While no casualties or damage have been reported, the avalanche triggered panic among residents. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of locals and tourists. From News Desk
Cyclone Alfred Threatens Southeast Queensland 2.5 million people

Cyclone Alfred Threatens Southeast Queensland 2.5 million people

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is set to strike densely populated regions of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales with Brisbane among the areas in its direct path. The Queensland capital home to over 2.5 million people faces a significant threat from storm surges and flooding as the cyclone nears. Brisbane City Council has warned that nearly 20,000 properties could be affected, urging residents to consider relocating before the cyclone makes landfall. The peak flooding and storm surges are expected to begin Thursday, with the cyclone forecast to cross the coast early Friday morning. New flood modeling, based on the latest Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, indicates that affected properties could experience anything from minor yard inundation to severe flooding inside homes. Whi...
Digital Twin Tech Set To Revolutionize Disaster Response

Digital Twin Tech Set To Revolutionize Disaster Response

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Tech
Japan is taking a major leap in disaster management with cutting-edge digital twin technology aiming to improve disaster prediction and response. Led by Professor Oishi Satoru from Kobe University’s Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, the initiative seeks to create virtual replicas of real-world environments to simulate the impact of earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods with unprecedented accuracy. The technology is part of Japan’s Cross-Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), which prioritizes real-time information-sharing among agencies like the Cabinet Office, Self-Defense Forces, and Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The goal is to avoid delays in emergency response, a lesson learned from the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, where critical informatio...
Cyclone Alfred Set to Strike Southeast Queensland After landfall

Cyclone Alfred Set to Strike Southeast Queensland After landfall

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Southeast Queensland is bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, expected to make landfall late Thursday as a Category 2 storm. This marks the first cyclone to hit so far south in half a century, since ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974. Cyclone Alfred, which initially formed over the Coral Sea nine days ago, intensified to a severe Category 4 storm before weakening as it moved into cooler waters. However, it has now regained strength and changed direction, making a direct approach toward Queensland’s heavily populated coastal areas. With wind gusts reaching up to 164 km/h, the cyclone is expected to cause damage to homes, trees, power lines, and beachside infrastructure along the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. Authorities have issued a flood watch for regions from Maryborough...
28 Buried Chamoli Avalanche Climate Change Behind Deadly Disaster, Say Experts

28 Buried Chamoli Avalanche Climate Change Behind Deadly Disaster, Say Experts

Breaking News, Disasters
A devastating avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28 buried 55 workers of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), killing four and leaving five missing. Experts blame climate change for shifting snowfall patterns, which may have triggered the disaster. The workers were clearing snow on the road between Badrinath and Mana when the avalanche struck. Some reports suggest it happened around noon, while others claim it hit at 5 am when the workers were sleeping in their tin shed. Rescue teams, facing heavy snowfall and poor communication, have managed to save 50 people. Efforts continue to locate the missing. Changing Weather Patterns Raise Avalanche Risk Uttarakhand’s winter was drier than usual, with only 6.9 mm of rainfall recorded between January 1 and February 15 ...
Shockingly Avalanche Strikes Near Badrinath chamoli 55 Workers Still Trapped

Shockingly Avalanche Strikes Near Badrinath chamoli 55 Workers Still Trapped

Breaking News, Disasters
A massive avalanche hit Badrinath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday morning, trapping 57 workers engaged in snow-clearing operations to facilitate army movement. So far, 32 workers have been rescued, while 25 remain stranded near a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village. Rescue Operations Underway The avalanche struck between Mana and Mana Pass, burying a BRO camp where the workers, employed by a private contractor, were stationed for road construction. Despite continuous snowfall and rain, rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and BRO are working tirelessly to locate and extract the stranded workers. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured that...
Rescue Operations Underway After Avalanche Traps 57 Near Badrinath

Rescue Operations Underway After Avalanche Traps 57 Near Badrinath

Breaking News, Disasters
A massive avalanche struck near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, trapping 57 workers at a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site. So far, 33 people have been rescued and shifted to an ITBP camp in Mana for treatment, while rescue teams continue efforts to save the remaining workers. Mana, located 55 km from the India-China border, is a well-known tourist destination once referred to as "the last village of India" but now recognized as "the first Indian village" before the border. Every year, residents migrate to lower altitudes between November and April to escape extreme winter temperatures, which often plunge below -17°C. At the time of the avalanche, the village was deserted, with its residents staying in Gopeshwar, the district headquarters, about 1...
Rising from Ruin: How Pakistan Flood Disaster Sparked a Revolution in Resilience

Rising from Ruin: How Pakistan Flood Disaster Sparked a Revolution in Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
In the heart of devastation, where floodwaters swallowed entire villages and millions were left stranded, a remarkable transformation began. The 2022 Pakistan floods were among the worst climate disasters of the century, leaving one-third of the country submerged. But within this crisis lay an opportunity—one that would redefine how nations respond to catastrophe. From tragedy to triumph, the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) has emerged as a global model for disaster recovery. In just two years, it rebuilt lives, strengthened infrastructure, and pioneered a new approach to resilience that could change how the world confronts climate disasters. A Disaster of Unprecedented Scale The numbers were staggering. Over 33 million people affected. Nearly $15 billion in d...
Colombia Landmark Disaster Risk Assessment to Strengthen National Resilience

Colombia Landmark Disaster Risk Assessment to Strengthen National Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
In a bold step toward fortifying national safety, Colombia has launched a comprehensive disaster risk assessment covering all 1,122 municipalities, marking a milestone in resilience planning. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in collaboration with the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), represents a breakthrough in disaster preparedness, leveraging cutting-edge data analysis to mitigate threats ranging from landslides to extreme weather events. Colombia, one of the most disaster-prone nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, has already been implementing major risk reduction measures, including a landslide early warning system in Medellín, transportation infrastructure upgrades, and urban greenway projects designed to combat extreme heat...