Earth ChangesS


Seismograph

At least two killed by 5.8 magnitude earthquake off coast of Ecuador


The Independent (UK)
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 21:27 UTC
Two people were killed during the earthquake
© EPATwo people were killed during the earthquake
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken Ecuador's Pacific coast early, killing at least two people, injuring 15 others and halting production at the Esmeraldas oil refinery, officials said.

The country's geological institute recorded the quake off the coast of Atacames in Esmeraldas province, northwest of Quito, the capital. The quake was followed by 15 lesser-magnitude aftershocks.

President Rafael Correa was meeting with local officials in the area, which earlier this year was devastated by a 7.8-magnitude quake that killed about 670 people, displaced thousands and caused millions of dollars in damage.
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Attention

Paddler survives shark attack in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Selene Brophy
traveller24
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:30 UTC
Shark attacks
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Plettenberg Bay is urging the public, paddlers and bathers, to be cautious by swimming close to lifeguards in the area, who are on alert following what it has described as an "out of the ordinary shark incident".

News24 reports a paddler was knocked off his surf ski after a shark apparently breached and took a bite out of the lightweight vessel near the breaker line at Keurbooms Lagoon in Plettenberg Bay.

Local NSRI station commander Marc Rodgers says Ben Swart, 55, had been in the water with two friends when he felt a "hard bump" shortly after 07:00 - read the full report here.

Rodgers told Traveller24 they have spoken to a resident shark expert who is currently investigating the bite marks to determine the size and type of shark.

The shark took a fair bite out of Swart’s surf-ski.
The shark took a fair bite out of Swart’s surf-ski.
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Attention

Rhino kills woman in Nepal


The Himalayan
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:19 UTC
Charging rhino
© Dhritiman MukherjeeIndian rhino
A woman died in a rhino attack incident near the Chitwan National Park on Monday.

The victim has been identified as Motimaya Tamang (69) of Chitwan district.

The sexagenarian was attacked by the wild animal on the bank of Rapti River in Sauraha, Ratnanagar Municipality-19.

The District Police Office said she had been to the river area to quench the thirst of her cattle.

The woman had died on the spot.

Further investigation is underway.

Source: Rastriya Samachar Samiti
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills couple in Malawi

Bright Malenga
Malawi24
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:48 UTC
lightning
A couple has died after being struck by lightning in Mangochi district.

Mangochi Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Amina Daudi has identified the two as Yusuf Mbalako, 66, and his wife Annie Akibu, 56, both from Chilinda village, Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi.

Daudi told Malawi24 that the two went to their garden which is few meters away from their house and whilst there rainfall started.

They decided to return home but suddenly a lightning struck them on the way and were pronounced dead at Makanjira Health Centre.
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Attention

Whale dies on beach in Cape St Francis, South Africa


The Herald (South Africa)
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:09 UTC
Swimmers try to push the whale out to sea, but it was already dead
© Catherine Richards Swimmers try to push the whale out to sea, but it was already dead
A brave attempt by about 20 beachgoers to save a whale in distress at Seals Beach in Cape St Francis ended disappointingly when it was discovered that the whale was already dead.

The whale had been stranded in shallow water about 100m from the shore.

Residents and holidaymakers had flocked to the beach in droves as word spread about the distressed whale.

Bayworld marine mammal curator Dr Greg Hofmeyr said the whale was probably of the Bryde's species.

As a man, identified only as Ryan, and a friend waded into the surf to try to save the whale by pushing it into deeper water, they were quickly joined by other men, women and children.

But NSRI members who arrived shortly afterwards urged them to get out of the water because it was dangerous. Onlookers on the shore then started chanting "shark, shark, shark", which had the desired effect, with those in the water all out within minutes.
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Igloo

Resembling a scene from 'The Day After Tomorrow': Chilly winter turns Michigan lighthouse into frozen castle

Marcus Gilmer
Mashable
Sun, 18 Dec 2016 16:59 UTC
Icy lighthouse in Michigan
© Via YouTube/Great Lakes Drone Company
It's been really, really cold in some parts of the country this week (don't say we didn't warn you) but one side effect has been some incredible images like this lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan, along the southwest shores of Lake Michigan.


Another terrific video, captured by photographer Joshua Nowicki gives you an even closer look at the frozen castle that looks straight out of a fairy tale.


Comment: From January 2014:

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Cloud Grey

Strange bird-like cloud forms over Poland


Strange Sounds
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:51 UTC
A strange cloud suddenly appeared in the sky over Poland on December 18, 2016.
Bird-like cloud over Poland
© vK.com
Bird-like cloud over Poland
© vk.com
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Snowflake Cold

Average U.S. temperatures 16°F colder than any time last winter and winter hasn't started yet...

Anthony Watts
Watts Up With That
Sun, 18 Dec 2016 16:45 UTC
If you think it is colder than you remember last year, your'e right. Winter hasn't officially started yet, it begins on Wednesday, December 21st. But the numbers tell a cold hard fact: as of 7 a.m. EST this morning, Sunday, Dec. 18, the average temperature across the Lower 48 states of the U.S. is colder than any time all last winter.

As this plot of hourly temperatures shows, the average temperature is 16 degrees. F, which is 4 degrees colder than any time last winter. What's worse, the coldest part of winter is still six weeks away.
Average US temperature
© Weatherbell
I can't wait for Monday, March 20th, 2017, when spring starts.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 2 children and injures 3 others in central Tanzania


Global Times
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:09 UTC
lightning
Lightning killed at least two children from the same family and injured three others in Tanzania's central region of Dodoma, authorities said on Sunday.

Oreiness John, a Mlinduzi ward councilor in Mpwapwa District, said the incident occurred on Saturday evening in Chaludewa village when the two children were playing near their home.

He said while the youngsters were playing, a storm, which was accompanied with lightning, hit the village located 150km from Tanzania's capital Dodoma.

"There was no rain, but the storm was very strong to the extent that parents who were inside the house were forced to come out. When they came out they found the two children already dead," the local official said, adding that the injured were rushed to Chipogolo Health Centre for treatment.
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Attention

Colima volcano in Mexico erupts three times in one day


Global News
Sun, 18 Dec 2016 13:31 UTC
Colima Volcano
Mexico's Colima Volcano has sent three eruptions in the space of a few hours, spewing ash and vapour more than a mile into the air.

The civil defence office of that western state of Jalisco says the three eruptions occurred Sunday morning. The biggest columns of ash reached 1.25 miles (2 kilometres) in height, and the smallest was just under a mile tall.

Video showed a large explosion around 9 p.m. Saturday night (0200 GMT Sunday) with glowing lava, smoke and ash shooting from the volcano in front of a starlit, night sky.


An earlier explosion sent a large plume of ash and smoke some 2,000 meters (4,921 feet) into the air around 4 p.m. (2200 GMT).
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