Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Saudi Arabia hit by heavy rains, widespread flooding reported, more rains forecast in Medina

Khitam Al Amir
Gulf News
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 13:48 UTC
Al Eis Governorate in the Medina region experienced particularly severe rainfall, which led to the formation of powerful torrents that overflowed reefs and valleys.
Al Eis Governorate in the Medina region experienced particularly severe rainfall, which led to the formation of powerful torrents that overflowed reefs and valleys.
Heavy rains and thunderstorms have lashed Saudi Arabia over the past 24 hours, causing widespread flooding and significant damage.

Amidst the downpour, visitors at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina were seen enjoying the rain and engaging in prayer, embracing this natural occurrence with a sense of reverence.

Al Eis Governorate in the Medina region experienced particularly severe rainfall, which led to the formation of powerful torrents that overflowed reefs and valleys.

The intense flooding resulted in submerged vehicles, disrupted streets, and damaged infrastructure, prompting immediate response from emergency services.

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No Entry

Late April snowstorm traps 1,000 vehicles near Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, India

Rahul Bhandari
The News Himachal
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 13:24 UTC
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In Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, heavy snow near the Atal Tunnel trapped over 1000 vehicles, with tourists now facing tough weather conditions. The snowstorm hit near the Atal Tunnel Rohtang, blocking roads and trapping over 1000 vehicles, including more than 6000 people.

Rescue operations have been underway since Monday, with teams from District Police Kullu and Manali Police working tirelessly to evacuate stranded vehicles and tourists. DSP Manali KD Sharma said that the snowfall caught many off guard, leading to the massive traffic jam.

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Five killed, several injured in landslides after flash flood in Jammu and Kashmir, India


NDTV
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:50 UTC
mmmmmm
Five people have died and several have been injured in landslides and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir. Several homes have been damaged and hundreds of residents have been affected.

Heavy rain and landslides have hit several hilly districts including Doda, Reasi, Kishtwar, Ramban and Baramulla. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been closed for the last three days due to landslides at multiple places along the road.

In Kupwara, the situation has started to improve, with the water level receding and people returning to their damaged homes. As seen in the visuals from yesterday, a section of the road has washed away due to flash floods and several houses flooded in knee-deep water. A portion of a house facing the river has been washed off. Yesterday, officials issued a danger warning has been issued for Pohru Nallah in Kupwara.

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Horse

Lightning strike kills 5 horses in Jammu, India


Kashmir Life
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:30 UTC
vvvv
At least five horses were killed after lightning struck in a far off area in Banihal, falling in the jurisdiction of Police Station Ramban in Jammu.

Local reports said that the lightning struck in the Kairkoot area of Banihal leading to the death of 5 horses belonging to a nomad Abdul Hamid Kathana, a resident of Qazigund who presently puts up in the Kairkoot area.

Local reports also said that due to inclement weather and incessant rains, several areas of the district Ramban have witnessed flash floods washing away dozens of sheep and goats.

Reports added that teams from the administration have rushed to the affected areas to assess the situation.

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Volcano

Indonesia's Mount Ruang erupts again, closes international airport


France24
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:19 UTC
An eruption from Mount Ruang volcano is seen from neighbouring Tagulandang island
© STR / AFPAn eruption from Mount Ruang volcano is seen from neighbouring Tagulandang island
Authorities had warned the threat from the volcano was not over after it erupted more than half a dozen times this month, sparking the evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

Ruang, located in Indonesia's outermost region of North Sulawesi province, erupted at around 01:15 am local time (1715 GMT Monday) and twice more Tuesday morning, the volcanology agency said in a statement.

The volcano sent a tower of ash more than five kilometres (3.1 miles) into the sky, it said.

The agency also re-instated a six-kilometre (3.7-mile) exclusion zone and said locals should be aware of "the potential for ejections of incandescent rocks, hot clouds and tsunamis due to eruption material entering the sea".

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Huge avalanche, landslide in Kashmir, India after heavy rain, snowfall


NDTV
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:41 UTC
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The avalanche was seen rumbling down a snow-covered mountainside.

An avalanche hit the Sonmarg area of Jammu and Kashmir today amid heavy rain and snowfall. In a video, the avalanche was seen rumbling down a snow-covered mountainside and a few people and livestock were seen rushing out of the area.

Heavy rain has triggered landslides in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir. A hillside house was seen crumbling down after being hit by a landslide in Uri near the Line of Control, showed a dramatic video.


Comment: Related: Highway along China border washed away after massive landslide due to heavy rain in Arunachal Pradesh, India

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Boat

3 bodies retrieved, 21 still missing in boat accident in flood-hit Kenya

Stephen Astariko
The Star (Kenya)
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:18 UTC
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Three bodies have been retrieved in a flooded area at Kona Punda along Garissa - Madogo road where a boat carrying 45 people capsized last evening.

The tragic incident happened at around 6:30 on Sunday making it hard for the rescue team to operate since it was getting dark and only managed to rescue 22 people.

The two bodies are part of the 23 people missing and rescue teams from the Kenya Redcross, Garissa and Tana River counties are already at the tragedy site.

Due to the closure of the road section connecting Madogo and Garissa, the people resorted to using boats charging Sh1500 for the short distance normally charged Sh30 by public service vehicles.

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42 killed in Kenya after dam bursts following weeks of heavy flooding


France24
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:20 UTC
People gather on the main road after a dam burst in Kamuchiri Village Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya on April 29, 2024.
© APPeople gather on the main road after a dam burst in Kamuchiri Village Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya on April 29, 2024.
The dam burst near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru county, washing away houses and cutting off a road, with rescuers digging through debris to find survivors.

"Forty-two dead, it's a conservative estimate. There are still more in the mud, we are working on recovery," said Nakuru governor Susan Kihika.

Monday's dam collapse raises the total death toll over the March-May wet season to 120 as heavier than usual rainfall pounds East Africa, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern.


Comment: Related: Death toll from floods rises to 78 in Kenya as over 130,000 displaced

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Bizarro Earth

British tourist hospitalized after shark attack; Tobago closes several beaches


Fox News
Sun, 28 Apr 2024 23:04 UTC
trinidad and tobago shark attack
© Encyclopaedia Britannica/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesA shark attack on a British tourist in the southeastern Caribbean prompted the government of Trinidad and Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park.
There were 69 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide last year

A shark attacked a British tourist on Friday in the southeastern Caribbean, prompting the government of Trinidad & Tobago to close seven beaches and a marine park. The man was hospitalized in an intensive care unit following the attack, officials said.

The closure included beaches along the northwestern coast of the island of Tobago. The attack occurred at Turtle Beach along Great Courland Bay.

The government said in a statement that shark sightings were reported in the Grafton area and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. Officials said the closures will allow the Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries to investigate the incident and "neutralize the shark threat, if possible."

Shark attacks are rare. Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide, along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
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Ozone hole: Why Antarctic wildlife is being 'sunburnt'

Paul Homewood
notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com
Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:55 UTC
h/t Philip Bratby/Paul Kolk

In BBC world, everything bad is due to climate change!
Penguin Sunbathing
© WattsUpWithThat
BBC Headline
© BBC
For Antarctic wildlife, exposure to the Sun's damaging rays has increased in recent years, scientists say.

A hole in the ozone layer - the protective barrier of gas in the upper atmosphere - now lingers over the frozen continent for more of the year.

A major cause of ozone loss is believed to be the amount of smoke from unprecedented Australian wildfires, which were fuelled by climate change.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68906013
As we know, the 2019 drought was far from being unprecedented in SE Australia, the region worse affected, so climate change had no effect. Instead there is plenty of evidence that poor forestry management was the biggest factor.
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