Friday, April 4News That Matters

Tag: natural disasters

Kyrgyz Republic Faces Double Climate Threat as Rising Temperatures Intensify Water Scarcity and Natural Disasters, UNEP Atlas Reveals

Kyrgyz Republic Faces Double Climate Threat as Rising Temperatures Intensify Water Scarcity and Natural Disasters, UNEP Atlas Reveals

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
Climate change has driven temperatures in the Kyrgyz Republic to rise at twice the global average worsening water stress and amplifying the risk of natural disasters, according to a new Atlas of Environmental Change launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The report highlights alarming climate trends that threaten the country’s hydropower-dependent economy, fragile ecosystems, and disaster-prone geography. Between 1960 and 2023, the Kyrgyz Republic’s average annual temperature increased by 1.2°C double the global average of 0.6°C. This trend is expected to accelerate in the coming decades, placing significant strain on water resources. River flows are projected to decline while demand for water increases posing serious risks for agriculture, energy production, and r...
Himalaya Glaciers Vanishing at Alarming Rate Melting 65% Faster as Climate Crisis Worsens

Himalaya Glaciers Vanishing at Alarming Rate Melting 65% Faster as Climate Crisis Worsens

Breaking News, Climate Actions
  Glaciers across the globe are shrinking at an unprecedented pace, with the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region witnessing the most dramatic losses, retreating 65% faster in 2011-2020 than in the previous decade, according to a United Nations report released on the World Day for Glaciers. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s highest mountains and vast glacier systems, is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Spanning five million square kilometers of high-altitude terrain, the HKH region contains nearly 100,000 square kilometers of glaciers, often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its immense ice reserves outside the Arctic and Antarctic. This region serves as a crucial water source, feeding ten major river systems and sustaining nearly two billion...
US Disaster Los Angeles Wildfires Kill 24 Destroy Thousands of Homes

US Disaster Los Angeles Wildfires Kill 24 Destroy Thousands of Homes

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Los Angeles: Massive wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, leaving at least 24 people dead and thousands of homes in ruins. California Governor Gavin Newsom has called it one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. The fires, which have been burning for six consecutive days, have spread across two major zones the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. Officials confirmed that eight victims were found in the Palisades Fire zone, while 16 were discovered in Eaton Fire’s path. Among those killed was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, known for his role in the British TV show Kiddy Kapers. The Palisades Fire has now scorched 23,600 acres and is only 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire has spread to 14,000 acres with 15% containment. Firefighters also reporte...
Disaster Over Ethiopia 9 Million Children Out of School Due to Violence

Disaster Over Ethiopia 9 Million Children Out of School Due to Violence

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Ethiopia is facing a severe education crisis with more than nine million children unable to attend school due to ongoing conflicts, natural disasters and economic struggles. Despite having a school-aged population of over 35 million in 2023 only 22.9 million were enrolled, leaving more than 35% of children without access to education. The crisis has worsened due to conflicts across several regions, including Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. The war in Tigray which began in 2020 led to the destruction of schools and drained national resources forcing over a million children out of classrooms. Continued violence and clashes among different communities have further disrupted education. Natural disasters such as recent earthquakes have also displaced thousands of families making it even harde...
Satellite Data Reveals Warning Signs Before Anak Krakatau Tsunami Disaster

Satellite Data Reveals Warning Signs Before Anak Krakatau Tsunami Disaster

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A new study has revealed that Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano, which collapsed in a devastating 2018 eruption and triggered a deadly tsunami, had been slipping for years showing warning signs that could have been detected in advance. Researchers at Penn State analyzed satellite data and found that the mountainside had been slowly shifting before its collapse, offering valuable insight into predicting similar disasters in the future. Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the study used a technique called Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to track surface deformation over a 12-year period. The analysis showed that the detachment fault beneath Anak Krakatau experienced approximately 15 meters (50 feet) of movement from 2006 to 2018, with notable acceleration just befo...
Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
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: A 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...
Earth Sixth Ocean in the Making Africa’s Dramatic Rift Signals a New Era

Earth Sixth Ocean in the Making Africa’s Dramatic Rift Signals a New Era

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check
A stunning geological event unfolding in East Africa could forever reshape the continent and the world. The East African Rift, a massive crack running through Ethiopia and beyond, is not just a scientific curiosity; it marks the early stages of a process that will eventually split Africa in two, creating a brand-new ocean. A Rift That Could Change the World Since 2005, a 35-mile-long fissure has been expanding across Ethiopia’s deserts. Scientists confirm that this rift is caused by the slow but powerful movement of tectonic plates, the enormous slabs of Earth’s crust that have shaped the planet for billions of years. The Somalian plate is gradually drifting away from the larger Nubian plate at a rate of a few millimeters per year  minuscule shift in human terms, but a monumental for...
Why Disaster Evacuations Take Longer Than Expected & How Technology Can Help

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

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, ...
Storm Éowyn Bomb Cyclone Unleashes Fury Over British Isles

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...