disasters risk Archives - Page 3 of 5

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Hidden Risk Behind Earthquake Destruction: How Migration Shapes Disaster Impact

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study has uncovered a hidden factor behind the devastating impact of earthquakes in suburban areas migration. Researchers at the University of Washington found that workers moving from rural regions to city outskirts often live in low-quality housing, making them more vulnerable to destruction when a major quake strikes. The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, analyzed the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, which killed over 2,400 people. Surprisingly, the most severe damage was not in city centers but in suburban areas where migrants had settled. Similar patterns were observed in past earthquakes in China, Chile, and Nepal. Lead researcher Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen explained that many migrants do not officially update their residence, leading to underestim...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Needs Comprehensive Climate Justice Policy for Disaster Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

As climate change-driven disasters intensify across India, experts are calling for a comprehensive climate justice policy that integrates disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and adequate budgetary allocations. In 2024, extreme weather events impacted 255 out of 274 days, leading to 3,238 deaths, destruction of 2.35 lakh houses, and damage to 3.2 million hectares of land, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported a 24% rise in disaster-related fatalities compared to the previous year. Key Policy Gaps & Recent Amendments The 2024 amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, now include "disaster risk reduction", but effective implementation and budget oversight remain crucial. Urban Disaster Management ...

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...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sikkim Flood Disaster Highlights Growing Climate Risks in the Himalayas

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

An international research team has concluded that the devastating flood disaster in Sikkim, India, in October 2023 was caused by the collapse of 14.7 million cubic meters of frozen moraine material into South Lhonak Lake, triggering a tsunami-like flood wave that reached up to 20 meters in height. This tragic event, which claimed at least 55 lives and caused widespread damage along the Teesta River, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating dangers posed by climate change in high mountain regions. A Massive Tsunami-like Wave On October 3, 2023, the collapse of frozen moraine material into the lake unleashed a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), releasing about 50 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to the volume of 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The flood c...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flooding After Wildfires LA Faces Growing Risk Amid Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

In the aftermath of devastating urban wildfires, a rainstorm might seem like a welcome relief. However, fire-scorched landscapes are highly vulnerable to floods, which can bring further destruction. Los Angeles has experienced this repeatedly, from the 1933 Griffith Park Fire to the 2009 Station Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains and the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Mitul Luhar, an expert in fluid dynamics and associate professor of aerospace, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering at USC, is studying these risks. At the City of Los Angeles's Hydraulic Research Laboratory in Frogtown, Luhar and his team have developed a 1:120 scale hydraulic model of a section of the L.A. River to simulate flood scenarios. Luhar explains why floods often follow wildfires and what engineers c...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Centre Approves ₹3,027 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Projects

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check

New Delhi: The Union Government has approved ₹3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects across multiple states, focusing on drought resilience and lightning safety. The decision was made by a high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and comprising Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman. Major Allocations of ₹2,022.16 crore for drought mitigation in 12 most drought-prone states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. ₹186.78 crore for lightning safety measures in 10 state are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

How Schools Can Stay Open Amid Disasters: Six Key Strategies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Children are often the first to suffer when disasters strike, facing serious threats to their safety, health, and education. According to UNICEF, nearly a billion children worldwide live in countries classified as “extremely high risk” due to climate change. In 2024 alone, over 242 million students experienced school disruptions due to climate-related hazards, with floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes damaging thousands of schools globally. Between 2015 and 2021, data from the Sendai Framework Monitor recorded more than half a million schools being either destroyed or severely impacted. Schools play a critical role in disaster response, often doubling as emergency shelters and community centers, providing safety and continuity in education. Beyond this, they also serve as spaces for disa...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why Disaster Evacuations Take Longer Than Expected & How Technology Can Help

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

When a wildfire evacuation alert flashes on your phone, panic can set in. You might not see smoke, but the message tells you to grab your "go bag" and leave. As you scramble to gather documents, medications, and essentials, another message arrives this time urging immediate evacuation. Outside, chaos unfolds. Some neighbors are still packing, while others hesitate, unsure of what to do. Traffic clogs the streets, and a plume of black smoke rises in the distance. This frantic scenario highlights a major challenge in disaster evacuations: they often take much longer than people expect, increasing risks for evacuees and emergency responders. Researchers are now turning to computer simulations to predict where evacuation delays will occur and how to prevent them. Confusion and delays ...

Jan292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Offering Spectacular Displays at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted once more, marking its seventh episode in a series of recent volcanic activities. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed that this latest eruption began with minor spattering before escalating to sustained lava fountaining on Monday, captivating visitors with its fiery spectacle. Lava fountains have reached heights of 100 to 120 feet (30 to 40 meters) on the volcano’s northern side, while smaller flows have been observed to the south. This episode is part of a pattern of eruptions since December 23, with each phase lasting between 13 hours and eight days, interspersed with pauses ranging from less than a day to nearly two weeks. The current activity is expected to persist for 10 to 20 hours. Situated within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, ...

Jan282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Storm Éowyn Bomb Cyclone Unleashes Fury Over British Isles

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Storm Éowyn has swept across the British Isles, bringing devastating winds and record-breaking gusts, particularly to Ireland and Scotland. Meteorologists have classified this weather phenomenon as a “bomb cyclone” due to the dramatic drop in air pressure at its center a staggering 50 millibars in just 24 hours, more than double the threshold for explosive cyclogenesis. The extraordinary intensity of Storm Éowyn was anticipated, prompting red weather warnings from the Met Office and Met Éireann. These alerts covered all of Ireland and central and southern Scotland, warning of widespread gusts between 80-90 mph and up to 100 mph in exposed areas. Mace Head, on Ireland’s west coast, provisionally recorded a record-breaking gust of 114 mph. Storm Éowyn’s ferocity places it alongside inf...