disaster Archives - Page 4 of 8

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...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cyclone Zelia Set to Hit Western Australia with Destructive Force

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is barreling toward Australia’s northwest coast and is expected to make landfall near Port Hedland early Friday evening. This powerful category five storm poses a significant threat to Western Australia’s coastline and inland regions, with the potential to cause widespread damage. Port Hedland, Australia’s busiest iron ore export port, is directly in Zelia’s path. Surrounding towns like Marble Bar, Tom Price, and Paraburdoo are also on high alert for strong winds and heavy rainfall. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns that sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts reaching 290 km/h could flatten homes, topple trees, and down power lines. Zelia’s strength underscores growing concerns about the increasing severity of tropical cyclones as global warming conti...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Reveals Why Rock-Ice Avalanches Travel Farther, Proposes Key Friction Equation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments

Rock avalanches are a significant hazard in mountainous regions, but when ice is present, the risk escalates dramatically. In colder regions, rock-ice avalanches avalanches consisting of both rock and ice tend to travel much farther than those made up of rock alone. Despite this well-known behavior, scientists have long struggled to understand the exact mechanism behind this increased mobility. A recent study led by Fan et al. [2024] sheds new light on this mystery using advanced experimental methods. The researchers developed a state-of-the-art flume setup equipped with high-speed cameras that can operate at temperatures as low as −10°C. This allowed them to closely observe how ice fragments interact with rock fragments during avalanche simulations, offering unprecedented insight into ...

Feb122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Harvey Mudd College Launches Course Exploring STEM’s Role in Wildfire Mitigation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Harvey Mudd College has introduced a groundbreaking course designed to help STEM students critically analyze the societal impact of scientific and technological interventions. Developed as part of the college’s revised Core Curriculum in 2020, the course aims to address the long-standing challenge of ensuring students fully grasp the consequences of their work beyond technical proficiency. Taught by a team of eight instructors spanning disciplines such as biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, media studies, political science, religious studies, and science and technology studies, the course focuses on California wildfires. By examining the intersection of science, policy, and historical context, students explore how decisions in STEM fields shape real-world outcomes. One...

Feb112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Without FEMA Disaster Recovery Could Crumble, Are States Ready to Go It Alone?

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

ruins and millions in urgent need of aid. In such a crisis, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would typically deploy supplies, financial relief, and emergency assistance within hours. But what if FEMA no longer existed, and states had to handle disasters alone? With former President Donald Trump questioning FEMA’s future and proposing that states take over disaster recovery efforts, the debate over disaster management is more relevant than ever. Climate change is driving more frequent and severe catastrophes, raising concerns about whether states could cope without federal assistance. Role of FEMA in Disaster Relief FEMA was established in 1979 to coordinate national disaster response efforts, but the federal government has been involved in relief efforts since the 18...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about wh...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kobe 1995 Deadly Earthquake Legacy Shapes Japan’s Disaster Preparedness

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

On January 17, 1995, a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, killing over 6,400 people and leaving a lasting impact on the country’s disaster preparedness. The Hanshin region bore the brunt of the destruction, with tens of thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. The economic toll was staggering, reaching approximately $130 billion as infrastructure, homes, and businesses crumbled under the quake’s force. The disaster exposed critical weaknesses in urban planning and construction, prompting sweeping reforms. Stricter building codes, retrofitting programs, and advancements in early warning systems became the foundation of Japan’s strengthened approach to earthquake resilience. The tragedy also led to a surge in earthquake insurance coverage, bolstering fi...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Made LA Wildfires 35% More Likely, Study Finds

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Los Angeles witnessed one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in January 2025, and according to a new World Weather Attribution (WWA) report, human-induced climate change played a key role in making the conditions 35% more likely. The fires, which began on January 7 in Palisades and Eaton counties, quickly spread, fueled by dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds. Over the following weeks, additional fires erupted in San Diego County, ultimately burning over 57,000 acres and causing 28 deaths. For the first time in history, global temperatures surpassed 1.5°C in 2024. The WWA report warns that if temperatures rise to 2.6°C by 2100, the likelihood of such wildfire-friendly conditions will increase by another 35%. Clair Barnes, a researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized how p...