preparedness Archives - Disasters News

Apr222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Himachal Pradesh Ramps Up Forest Fire Readiness Calls for Community Vigilance

With forest fire season underway Himachal Pradesh is stepping up its preparedness efforts, combining technology, ground-level action, and public cooperation to safeguard its extensive forest cover. Chief Conservator of Forests, Shimla Circle, K Thirumal, announced on Monday that while recent rainfall has delayed major fires, the threat remains high due to the state's 68% forest cover well above the national average. Thirumal said during a press briefing “Thanks to good rainfall, fire incidents are still low, with only 90 cases recorded statewide, He noted that Himachal typically sees 1,500 to 2,000 fire incidents annually, with last year recording nearly 2,500 cases. Authorities have launched awareness drives and deployed fire personnel in vulnerable areas. “Community participation i...

Apr122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

From Panic to Preparedness: How Early Warnings Are Changing Lives in Flood-Prone Philippines

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

Sitting quietly on her sofa eyes on the TV and phone in hand, Ma. Lourdes D. Ramas stays calm as a yellow warning alert flashes on her screen. Just a few meters from a river basin in Surigao del Sur, her home is vulnerable but unlike before, fear no longer grips her at every thunderclap. She doesn't need to step outside to check the water level. Technology and a community-first approach to disaster preparedness is making all the difference. “Don’t worry, Ma,” she tells her elderly mother. “It’s only a yellow warning. Nothing serious. You can sleep now.” In a country that faces about 20 typhoons a year, scenes like these are familiar. The Philippines tops the 2023 World Risk Index as the most climate-vulnerable nation among 193 countries. Typhoons bring floods, landslides, and storm s...

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...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNDRR, WMO Launch Global Early Warning System Investment Observatory

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have launched the Global Observatory for Early Warning System (EWS) Investments to improve tracking and coordination of funding for disaster preparedness. This initiative aims to support the UN’s goal of global EWS coverage by 2027, announced by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022. Early warning systems are critical in saving lives during extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to the climate crisis. However, fragmented financing has limited their global reach. Launched in December 2024, the Observatory provides an overview of funding flows from nine key financing institutions. It identifies gaps, avoids duplication, and ensures investme...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

State of Emergency Declared in Santorini as Earthquake Swarm Intensifies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The Greek government has declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini as the region experiences a relentless series of earthquakes. The "earthquake swarm," which began as minor tremors in late January, has escalated into a significant seismic event, shaking the island multiple times a day. The tremors are also affecting nearby islands in the Aegean Sea, with some quakes occurring just minutes apart. Escalating Seismic Activity Over the past two weeks, seismologists have recorded thousands of earthquakes, with as many as 30 daily exceeding magnitude 4.0. The largest so far, a magnitude 5.1 quake on February 6, was felt in Athens, Crete, and even parts of Turkey, more than 240 kilometers away. The earthquakes, occurring at depths of less than 10 kilometers, are shallow enou...