disaster news Archives - Page 3 of 7

Nov282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cyclone Fengal Likely to Hit Tamil Nadu Puducherry Coast by November 30 Morning

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal will intensify into Cyclone Fengal within 12 hours, as it moves northwestward. The system is expected to cross the northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts, between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, on the morning of November 30, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Current Location and Forecast The IMD reported the depression is currently stationary near latitude 9.0°N and longitude 82.1°E, about: 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. 550 km south-southeast of Chennai. 370 km southeast of Karaikal. 470 km southeast of Puducherry. The system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm and move north-northwest, skirting Sri Lanka's coast. Upon lan...

Nov262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Breaking News Depression in Bay of Bengal Intensifies, Landfall Expected Between Chennai and Puducherry

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a critical alert as a depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and East Equatorial Indian Ocean moves toward the Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu coasts. The weather system is expected to intensify into a deep depression within the next 24 hours and could potentially make landfall between Chennai and Puducherry in the coming days. Current Position and Movement As of 11:30 AM IST on November 25, the depression was located at: 5.1°N latitude and 84.5°E longitude Approximately 530 km southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) 810 km southeast of Nagappattinam 920 km southeast of Puducherry 1,000 km south-southeast of Chennai The system is currently moving west-northwestward at a speed of 30 km/h. IMD’s Projections Accor...

Nov212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Snow to West Coast Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric River Bring Heavy Rain

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

The West Coast's rainy season has arrived with a dramatic start as an atmospheric river carrying tropical moisture collides with a powerful bomb cyclone off the Pacific Northwest coast. This weather duo is unleashing widespread heavy rainfall, strong winds, and mountain snow from Northern California to Washington. On Nov. 19, 2024, heavy wet snow began blanketing mountain regions while bursts of rain battered the coasts of Oregon and Northern California. Winds exceeding 70 mph have been recorded in parts of Washington as the bomb cyclone intensifies offshore. This storm’s strength is driven by the meeting of two potent weather phenomena. The atmospheric river a "river in the sky" transporting moisture from the subtropics feeds the bomb cyclone, a rapidly intensifying low-pressure sys...

Nov162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Typhoon Man-yi Nears Philippines Forcing Evacuations Amid Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The Philippines braces for another powerful storm as Typhoon Man-yi approaches, bringing winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour. Expected to make landfall on Catanduanes Island late Saturday, authorities have initiated mass evacuations, moving hundreds of residents to safer areas. Roberto Monterola, operations chief of the Catanduanes civil defense office, expressed concern over the lack of sufficient evacuation centers. “Some evacuees will need to shelter with neighbors whose homes are built with stronger materials,” he stated, adding that thousands more are expected to evacuate before the typhoon strikes. This comes as the nation is still reeling from Typhoon Usagi, which caused extensive flooding, uprooted trees, and damaged infrastructure in Kaigan Province earlier this week. Res...

Nov142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake of Magnitude 5.2 Jolts Jammu and Kashmir, No Reported Damage

Breaking News, Disasters

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Jammu and Kashmir region on Wednesday morning, prompting people in the Kashmir Valley to rush outdoors in a panic. The tremor, originating in the Afghanistan region, was felt at 10:43 a.m. according to local officials. Though the quake was strong enough to be widely felt, initial reports indicate there were no casualties or significant damage to property. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, but early assessments suggest minimal impact on infrastructure. Residents of the valley, accustomed to seismic activity, were nonetheless alarmed as the quake briefly rattled buildings and caused moment. From News Desk

Nov122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Smallest Nations Biggest Impact: Study Shows Small Island States Facing Severe Flooding Risks Due to Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A new study led by the University of Bristol has highlighted how Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which contribute the least to climate change, are already facing severe and escalating flood risks. The research reveals that nearly 20% of people living in these islands about 8.5 million are now exposed to coastal and inland flooding. For nations like the Bahamas, Guyana, and Tuvalu, this figure skyrockets, affecting over 60% of their populations. The study, published with data from Fathom’s Global Flood Map and worldwide population databases, marks the first comprehensive assessment of flood risks across all 57 SIDS. These islands, spread across the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and severe weather due to thei...

Nov72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mysterious Black Balls on Sydney Beaches May Be “Fatbergs” Containing Human Waste and Chemicals

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In mid-October, Sydney beaches were alarmingly littered with black, tar-like balls. Initial suspicions pointed to tar balls from an oil spill, but a detailed analysis revealed a more disturbing source: these black lumps are likely "fatbergs," congealed masses of human waste and pollutants, including chemicals from industrial and domestic runoff. The first sightings appeared on October 16 at Coogee Beach, with subsequent reports from Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, and Maroubra. Authorities closed the beaches amid concerns of toxic exposure, initially linking the spheres to oil. However, scientific analysis, led by a team from the University of New South Wales and multiple environmental agencies, found that only 30% of the black balls’ carbon content was fossil-based, ruling out oil as the prim...

Nov52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flood Maps Backfire at Coastal Residents Feel Less Concerned About Rising Seas

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

The study reveals a surprising challenge for climate risk communication: while maps of projected sea-level rise (SLR) are often used to raise awareness, they may not effectively increase personal concern among coastal residents. Instead, these visual aids may unintentionally reduce perceived personal risk, even for those whose properties are directly threatened by future flooding. When shown maps indicating that their homes could be permanently flooded by 2100, residents tended to view SLR as a broader societal issue, less likely to impact them personally. This detachment underscores a common psychological barrier in risk perception, where people perceive climate threats as more abstract or distant from their immediate lives. Interestingly, the study found that emphasizing infrastruc...

Oct242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Formation of School Safety Committees: Purpose, Leadership, and Agency

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations

At Rubens de Castro Bomtempo Municipal School, the alarm sounds, and the students spring into action, executing a well-rehearsed school evacuation. Guided by their own School Safety Committees, they quickly organize and lead the evacuation, ensuring safety for all. This efficient response is part of a larger initiative in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, where schools are integral to community-based risk management. The students and staff of 51 "Resilient Schools" across the municipality have taken up the challenge of identifying risks, preparing for emergencies, and responding to crises, such as the landslides and floods that frequently hit their region. Petrópolis, located in the mountainous southeastern region of Brazil, is notorious for its high number of socio-environmental disasters. G...

Oct52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global Temperature Surges in 2023-2024 Pressing Challenge for Climate Forecasting Amid Record Heat and Extreme Weather

Breaking News, Climate Actions

As global temperatures are projected to rise above the critical 1.5ºC threshold in 2023-2024, climate scientists are increasingly concerned about the impacts on global weather patterns, forecasting models, and preparedness for extreme weather events. The accelerated pace of climate change, driven largely by human-induced global warming, is intensifying the unpredictability of weather systems and challenging the accuracy of traditional forecasting. This article delves into the factors influencing weather and climate forecasting, examining the impacts of global warming, shifts in atmospheric dynamics, and the limitations of predictive models amid complex, extreme weather events. Global warming refers to the steady rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to the accumulation of gree...