Earth ChangesS


Volcano

Major Italian volcano speeds toward transition, major eruption could be on the way: 'The system is likely to reach a breaking point'

Stephanie Pappas
Live Science
Thu, 21 May 2026 19:36 UTC
Campi Flegrei Volcano caldera
© KONTROLAB via Getty ImagesA view of Solfatara crater, part of the Campi Flegrei Volcano in Pozzuoli, Italy.
Campi Flegrei, a volcanic caldera west of Naples, is speeding toward a transition within the next decade, a new study suggests, but researchers can't yet say whether that transition will be an eruption or some other change in the volcano's internal plumbing.

The caldera, also known as the Phlegraean Fields, is home to about 500,000 people who would be at risk in the event of an eruption. The caldera stretches about 9 miles (15 kilometers) in diameter and formed in a massive eruption 40,000 years ago. Other, smaller eruptions have happened since, including an explosive one in 1528 that built Monte Nuovo, a 433-foot (132 meters) cinder cone.

"Our paper identifies when the system is likely to reach a breaking point, but it cannot determine what will happen at that breaking point with the current data," said study first author Davide Zaccagnino, a postdoctoral researcher who studies geological hazards at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China.
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Airplane

Sinkhole causes delays, cancellations at New York City's LaGuardia Airport

Adeja Shivonne
Fox 5 New York
Wed, 20 May 2026 21:09 UTC
sinkhole la guardia
© CBS New YorkA sinkhole found on a LaGuardia Airport runway Wednesday, May 20, 2026 led to flight delays, as workers scrambled to make repairs, officials said.
A sinkhole near a runway at LaGuardia Airport caused delays and cancellations Wednesday after crews discovered the issue during a routine inspection, officials said.

According to FlightAware, LaGuardia Airport was experiencing arrival delays for airborne aircraft averaging 35 minutes and increasing.

What we know:

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the sinkhole was identified around 11 a.m. near Runway 4/22 during the airport's daily morning airfield inspection.

Comment: More reports:



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Snowflake Cold

Record cold follows U.S. front; South America's cold push deepens


Cap Allon
Wed, 20 May 2026 12:22 UTC
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Record Cold Follows U.S. Front

A sharp cold front is sweeping the United States, flipping the central, northern, and eventually eastern states from spring warmth to late-season freezes.

The Weather Prediction Center has stark lows spreading from the Southern Plains into the Midwest and Northeast through week's end, as a very cold air mass drops in, returning the Rockies, Plains and Upper Midwest to snow, frost and freeze territory.

The likes of Wyoming have already taken a hit.

On Tuesday, Rawlins fell to 8F (-13.3C), breaking its May monthly low-temperature record of 10F (-12.2C), set on May 2, 2013, in books dating back to 1951. NWS Cheyenne also expects another daily record low there Wednesday, May 20.
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Volcano

Ash from Bezymianny volcano eruption covers 2 villages in Kamchatka, Russia - ash column of up to 10 km high


nemoskva.net
Tue, 19 May 2026 11:11 UTC
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In the Ust-Kamchatsky district in the village of Mayskoye and the settlement of Kozyrevsk fell out Ash from the eruption of Bezymyanny volcano. Ash column burst out to a height of up to 10 km with the volcano's height being 3020 meters.

Volcanologists have assigned the volcano a "red" hazard rating, meaning it poses a hazard to air travel. Emergency services have not received any complaints or calls from residents. There was minor ash fall in Kozyrevsk, and about 3 mm in Maysky.

Volcanic ash is dangerous to humans. Emergency workers recommend staying indoors and closing windows and doors whenever possible. Inhaling ash can cause allergic reactions, so wear respirators and headbands soaked in a soda solution. It's best to cover equipment with plastic and avoid using it until the ashfall subsides. Bringing ash into your home, including on your clothing, is not recommended. When cleaning ash from your home, wear a mask and goggles.

In the administration of the Ust-Kamchatsky District announced theThey will distribute free masks in the villages of Krutoberegovo and Mayskoye, the settlements of Kozyrevsk, Klyuchi, and Ust-Kamchatsk.

Previous major ashfall passed In Kamchatka three years ago, after the Shiveluch volcano eruption, the ash layer on the snow reached several centimeters.

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Attention

Honey badger terrorises village in Odisha, India injures 5 in repeated attacks


ANI
Wed, 20 May 2026 10:48 UTC
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Honey Badger terrorises village in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, injures 5 in repeated attacks
Panic gripped Khudputli village in Odisha's Udala forest range of Mayurbhanj district after a honey badger went on a rampage, repeatedly attacking villagers over the past 24 hours. The aggressive wild animal has left five people seriously injured, triggering fear among residents of the remote hamlet.

According to locals on Tuesday, the honey badger entered the village on Monday night and attacked two people, biting them severely. The victims were immediately rushed to Udala Medical for treatment. On Tuesday morning, the animal struck again, injuring three more villagers in separate incidents. Eyewitnesses said the creature, which resembles a small bear, aggressively bites and mauls anyone it encounters before retreating into the nearby jungle.

Villagers described the animal's behaviour as highly territorial and fearless. It only targets people and disappears into the forest after every attack. "We are living in constant fear," said a local. The honey badger, known for its bold and ferocious nature, is rarely sighted in the region, making this incident particularly alarming.
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Doberman

Investigation underway after woman killed in apparent dog attack in Chatham County, North Carolina

Cindy Bae
abc11.com
Tue, 19 May 2026 10:33 UTC
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A death Investigation is underway in Chatham County after family members say a woman was attacked by dogs.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened around 11 a.m. in the 200 block of Alston Road near Apex.

The victim was identified as 85-year-old Betty Alston.

Alston's daughter told ABC11 that Betty Alston was in her yard when three dogs attacked her.

Deputies said a family member found the dogs near Alston's body and scared them off.

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Volcano

Undersea volcano erupts in Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea prompting tsunami concerns

Patrick Martin and Dana Kirimof
abc.net.au
Tue, 19 May 2026 11:17 UTC
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© NASA WorldviewThe eruption has been seen from space in recent days.
A volcano is erupting under the ocean in the Bismarck Sea, prompting warnings of possible tsunamis from authorities as ash and smoke bellow into the sky.

Papua New Guinea authorities have warned of falling pumice, ash, unpredictable swells and turbulent currents in the area near the eruption of the provisionally-named Titan Ridge Volcano.

Satellites have captured the event unfold from space, while seafarers in the area have seen it unfold.

One fisherman, Kennedy Masis, was searching for tuna when he "saw smoke coming out of the sea", he told the ABC.

"Twelve years as a fisherman I've never seen anything like that ... it's scary.

"It sounds like thunder and the sea smells like metal burning."

He said the next day he saw plenty of dead fish near the reef which was like a "boiling spring".

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Attention

Russian hiker attacked by black bear in Japan amid spike in incidents

Maroosha Muzaffar
Independent (UK)
Tue, 19 May 2026 11:02 UTC
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A Russian hiker has been mauled in a bear attack in Okutama, a mountainous town west of Tokyo, becoming the latest victim of intensifying human-animal conflict in Japan.

Authorities said the man, reported to be in his 30s but not named, sustained serious injuries to his arm and face. He remained conscious and was airlifted to a local hospital.

According to local media, emergency services received a call reporting the incident at around noon on Sunday.

The man had been hiking alone when he came across the bear. He was not carrying a bear bell or other deterrent.

In the wake of the attack, police and local hunters searched the area but could not find the bear, Kyodo News reported.
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Windsock

Heavy sandstorm hits Iraq as hospitals battle respiratory issues


Al Jazeera
Mon, 18 May 2026 10:40 UTC
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A view of a sandstorm sweeping through the city of Najaf, Iraq, affecting daily life and reducing visibility in traffic on May 18, 2026.
A powerful dust storm has swept across Iraq, including Najaf and Baghdad, sending people to hospital with breathing difficulties.

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Tsunami

8.4 inches of rain in 48 hours triggers flood warnings and traffic chaos in South East Queensland, Australia


Gold Coast Magazine
Mon, 18 May 2026 18:25 UTC
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South East Queensland is facing an intense weather event, with parts of the region recording more than 200 millimetres of rainfall over a 48-hour period. A 4000-kilometre northwest cloud band, stretching from Darwin to past Melbourne, has merged with an offshore surface trough to trigger the relentless downpours along the east coast.

Gold Coast Hinterland and Coast Saturated

The Gold Coast has experienced some of the highest precipitation totals since Sunday morning, with weather stations logging upwards of 175 millimetres across two days. Natural Bridge recorded a staggering 214 millimetres. The persistent wet weather carried through Monday, bringing substantial rainfall to the hinterland. Since 9am Monday, Mount Tamborine recorded 84 millimetres, Numinbah saw 86 millimetres, and Clearview took the brunt of the downpour with 104 millimetres over just six hours leading up to 3pm.

In the Brisbane region, Geebung and Holland Park West emerged as some of the hardest-hit suburbs, both collecting more than 50 millimetres of rain within a six-hour window on Monday.

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