Earth ChangesS


Snowflake

First winter storm paints northern Mexico and volcanoes further south with snow

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The first winter storm of the season has swept across northern Mexico, painting its landscapes in snow and bringing with it a chill that has surprised residents. The communities of El Vergel in Balleza and Guadalupe y Calvo were particular recipients of the snowfall, with temperatures plummeting to -8 and -3 degrees Celsius respectively. The city of Parral also felt the chill with temperatures dropping to -1 degree Celsius, accompanied by a notably cold wind.


Tornado1

Rare tornado in Michoacán, Mexico damages avocado groves

The tornado took residents of western Michoacán by surprise on Tuesday. (@vozmichoacan/X)
The tornado took residents of western Michoacán by surprise on Tuesday. (@vozmichoacan/X)
A tornado came for a town in Michoacán yesterday, ruining avocado crops and leaving many wondering, "what just happened?"

The tornado formed late Tuesday afternoon in western Michoacán. After passing through a rural area, residents attacked the tornado with hail cannons to try to reduce its size and stop it from reaching the town of Peribán. Primarily used to decrease the severity of hailstorms, hail cannons are shock wave generators that are supposed to reduce the size of hail by disrupting the formation of new clouds, however there is limited scientific evidence to support their use.


Attention

Mud volcano erupts in southern Taiwan

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Attention

Two children among four killed in elephant attack in Assam, India

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In a shocking incident, wild jumbos trampled to death four persons including two minor children, at Lalo Basti near Barmanthi under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district on Thursday.

The deceased have been identified as Rebecca Kerketa (28), Kanya Tiria (50) and two kids.

All of them are from the same family. The incident took place in the Bormanthi village under East Forest range, Bokajan at around 3 pm on Thursday.

The family was returning home from their Citronella field when they met the herd of two elephants on their way. The herd charged them and trampled them immediately.

Seismograph

No tsunami threat from shallow magnitude 6.9 quake that shook Marianas Islands

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There is no threat of a tsunami in the Philippines after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked the Mariana Islands in the northwestern part of Pacific Ocean, state seismologists said.

According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake in the Marianas had a depth of focus of 10 kilometers.

"No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data," Phivolcs said.

"This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake," it noted.

The agency added there are no recommended actions after the tremor.

Boat

Floods inundate 41 villages in Aceh, Indonesia

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 22, 2023 shows houses submerged by flood after heavy rain in Aceh Barat district, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
© Yulham/XinhuaThis aerial photo taken on Nov. 22, 2023 shows houses submerged by flood after heavy rain in Aceh Barat district, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh, recorded that 41 villages spread across nine sub-districts were flooded with water levels reaching more than one meter.

"The regional government along with the TNI (Indonesian Military), Polri (the National Police), Tagana (Disaster Response Team), and other related parties are still trying to help people affected by the natural disasters," the Nagan Raya BPBD chief Irfanda Rinadi said in Nagan Raya, on Thursday, Nov. 23.

He attributed the flooding to heavy rains that occurred since Monday, November 20, which caused the river to overflow into nearby residential areas and roads.


Boat

Severe flooding hits Kenya's Mombasa - death toll reaches 20 in the region (UPDATE)

A woman is assisted to safer ground after heavy
© JOHN CHESOLIA woman is assisted to safer ground after heavy downpour caused flooding on Bamburi - Kiembeni road in Mombasa on November 17, 2023.
Heavy rains pounded the streets of Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, with some passengers evacuated from a flooded bus by holding on to a rope amid chest-high water.

Others stood on top of the bus with umbrellas and raincoats as they waited for their turn to pull themselves to safety in Kisauni district, nearly 500 km (310 miles) from the capital Nairobi.

At least 46 people have died in flood-related incidents in Kenya since the rainy season began less than a month ago, according to aid group Save the Children. The toll is expected to rise.

Heavy rains followed by flash floods have submerged towns across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless.


Comment: Update November 23

The Standard reports:
The death toll from floods wreaking havoc in Coast has risen to 20 after six more people died in Kilifi county.

On Wednesday, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro said a total of nine people have died in the county, up from the three announced earlier. The deceased include six adults and two children in Malindi, Magarini, and Kilifi South.

In Majengo, Kilifi South, a child drowned after their house was marooned by the floods, while a widow and his grandchild were also found dead inside their house that was submerged.

Munga'ro, who issued a report on the impact of the ongoing El Nino rains in Kilifi, said that the body of another victim who drowned at River Sabaki is yet to be retrieved.

"The victim was swept away by floods in Burangi area while crossing the river last week. We have dispatched divers to search and retrieve the body," he said.

One person is missing in Malindi, while two others are recuperating in hospital after sustaining injuries from fallen trees during the heavy rains.

On Saturday, Coast Region Coordinator Rodha Onyancha said one person died in Mombasa, three in Kwale, three in Kilifi, and two in Tana River.

A boda boda rider drowned in Taita Taveta, and the bodies of two Kenya Revenu Authority (KRA) officers were retrieved from Ramisi River, taking the number of those who have perished from floods to 20.

Meanwhile, a war of words has erupted between Coast leaders and Deputy President Righathi Gachagua, who on Tuesday accused Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir of lamenting instead of helping the affected people.
Kenya - 46 dead and 58,000 displaced as floods worsen


Arrow Down

Sinkhole near school in Charvil, UK, suffers further collapse

The land is owned by Wokingham Borough Council
© LEE CRIPPSThe land is owned by Wokingham Borough Council
A large sinkhole that opened up in a car park near a primary school has suffered a further collapse.

The sinkhole appeared in East Park Farm Car Park in the village of Charvil, Berkshire, on Monday.

Charvil Parish Council said it was working to keep the area safe but confirmed more ground had given way.

Workers have inspected the hole, and the rest of the car park will now be scanned to make sure there is no more deterioration beneath the surface.


Doberman

Pit bull attack claims man's life in Lutzville, South Africa

PIT BULL ATTACK
Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after pit bulls attacked a 47-year-old man in Lutzville.

Johannes Lewis, affectionately known as "Bam", had a mental disability. His family said the brutal attack had left them in shock.

Lewis's brother-in-law, Gert Flink, said: "He always woke up early and took a walk around the house. On Sunday he woke up early and walked around the outside of the house as is his habit.

"Before they bit another two men, the one guy ran through the neighbour's backyard and into our property.

What we think happened is that the man tried to escape the dogs (but) when he came around the back of the yard they caught up and they attacked Bam in front of the door before he could get inside the house.

Arrow Down

Landslide in Guatemala City, 6 missing

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A devastating landslide in Guatemala's capital has led to the disappearance of at least six people, with thirty affected, sixty evacuated, and five homes severely damaged.

The incident occurred in the Las Calaveras sector, El Gallito colony, near the historic center.

The search for the missing has commenced, led by the Disaster Reduction Coordinator (Conred) and rescuers.

This type of tragedy is not alien to the region; another river overflow at the end of September resulted in ten deaths and disappearances in a nearby sector.