Earth ChangesS


Attention

The world's five deadliest volcanoes

Matthew Blackett
The Conversation
Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:20 UTC
Mount Etna: boiling over … again.
© ShutterstockMount Etna
An eruption of Mount Etna recently caught out some BBC journalists who were filming there. The footage was extraordinary and highlighted the hazards volcanoes pose to humans and society.

Since 1600, 278,880 people have been killed by volcanic activity, with many of these deaths attributed to secondary hazards associated with the main eruption. Starvation killed 92,000 following the 1815 Tambora eruption in Indonesia, for example, and a volcanic tsunami killed 36,000 following the 1883 Krakatoa eruption.

Since the 1980s, deaths related to volcanic eruptions have been rather limited, but this is not entirely a result of increased preparedness or investment in hazard management - it is significantly a matter of chance.

Research shows that volcanic activity has shown no let up since the turn of the 21st century - it just hasn't been around population centres. Indeed, there remain a number of volcanoes poised to blow which pose a major threat to life and livelihood.
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Attention

5.6-magnitude earthquake hits central Philippines


The Australian
Mon, 10 Apr 2017 13:27 UTC
Philippine coast
© AAP
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake has shaken the waters near Samar Island in central Philippines with no damages or casualties reported.

The earthquake struck at 8.40am (local time) on Monday 137 kilometres northwest of Calbayog Town, to the north of Samar Island, and 500 kilometres southeast of Manila, with the epicentre located at a depth of 8.2 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

No tsunami alert has been issued.

On February 11, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in the southern island of Mindanao killed eight people and left 200 injured.

The Philippines is situated on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity that is hit by around 7,000, mostly moderate, earthquakes every year.
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Attention

Another oarfish found in Southern Leyte, Philippines; 3rd this year


ABS-CBN News
Wed, 05 Apr 2017 17:06 UTC
oarfish
© Bayan Patroller Lovella Elejorde
An oarfish washed ashore in Southern Leyte Tuesday evening, sparking fears of an impending earthquake.

In a photo and video shared by Bayan Patroller Lovella Elejorde, residents were abuzz with the oarfish that was found along the shore of Talisay, Libagon, Southern Leyte.

Witnesses said the oarfish was still alive when they saw it but was already weak until it died eventually.

Teresa Regis, Municipal Agriculturist Officer of Libagon Souther Leyte, said two fishermen saw the oarfish.

Regis added the oarfish was female and is estimated to be 14.4-feet long and 1.2-feet wide.

Comment: Three days later in the Philippines: 5.9 magnitude earthquake rocks near Talaga, south of Manila

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Info

10-foot shark left stranded near Pleasure Point, California

Michael Todd
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:54 UTC
Shark stranded off CA coast
© Mark Schwartz
Survival isn't likely for the 10-foot shark that thrashed at bystanders trying to photograph the stranded fish near Pleasure Point Friday afternoon, according to the Pelagic Research Shark Foundation.

While trying to rescue the fish, which some called a white shark and others said was a salmon shark, near 34th Avenue about 6 p.m., Pelagic Research Shark Foundation Executive Director Sean Van Sommeran said large waves were hurting the animal's chances to escape to sea.

Later Friday, Van Sommeran said he did not think the shark would survive as waves up to 11 feet pounded the point. "The shark's still there," Van Sommeran said shortly before 8 p.m. "The swell keeps washing it back in after we released it twice."

If the fish dies, its carcass likely would be hauled to a California Department of Fish and Wildlife facility, Van Sommeran said.


Comment: SFGate reports the shark has died:
The stranded great white shark has died, reports ABC7 and NBC. Researchers believe the cause of death to be a hook caught in its mouth or a nervous system infection.


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Attention

Elliott River full of dead fish in Queensland, Australia

Emma Reid
News Mail
Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:35 UTC
Jett Christensen was shocked to find dead fish spread throughout the Elliott River.
© Jett ChristensenJett Christensen was shocked to find dead fish spread throughout the Elliott River.
A large fish kill in the Elliott River has sparked concerns from a local grandfather and fishermen.

At the weekend Jett Christensen found a variety of dead fish, from mullet, bream, flathead and even a shovel nose shark dead throughout the mangroves and in the water.

He is concerned the fish may have been poisoned and is worried for the safety of people who may consume them.

Not only this but he wants answers as to why the fish were dead?

Last week saw a large amount of rain hit the region and a number of areas became flooded.

But, the 19-year-old's grandfather, Graham Christensen said he had never seen anything like it.

"Before you ask I don't think it's flood related," he said.
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Attention

Elephant kills man in Lupane, Zimbabwe


The Chronicle ( Zimbabwe)
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 12:22 UTC
Elephant
A 28-year-old man was on Wednesday night killed by an elephant in Lupane while guarding his field as wild animals wreak havoc in the district.

Sifelani Ncube's body was found on Thursday morning with intestines protruding.

Kusile Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Christopher Chuma confirmed the death.

"A villager was trampled to death by an elephant while guarding his fields.

"The challenge is that the elephants are outside our area of jurisdiction at a private A2 Farm across Gwayi River and we don't get there unless by invitation.

"However, this particular incident happened in our area and our rangers are on the ground hunting for the elephant," said Mr Chuma.
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Arrow Down

Giant sinkhole swallows pug in northern Florida


New York Post
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 18:15 UTC
the sinkhole
the sinkhole
A 10-year-old pug named Cookie is safe and sound after falling into a giant sinkhole following a heavy rainstorm in north Florida.

Crews from multiple agencies worked five hours to lift her to safety Tuesday night near Gainesville.

The Gainesville Sun reports Cookie followed owner Patricia Langston to her barn on Tuesday evening. The dog stopped to scratch. As she took a step forward, the ground opened up and Cookie tumbled into the hole.
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Cloud Precipitation

Torrential rainfall and mudslides destroy "80% of Comodoro Rivadavia" in Argentina


Merco Press
Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:48 UTC
FLOOD
Comodoro Rivadavia, in Argentine Patagonia, also known as the "Oil capital" of the country is estimated to have experienced an "80% destruction" of the city, according to a first report from an Army engineers' battalion sent to set up bridges and repair highways. The city suffered a week of historic torrential rains (330mm) and strong winds with flooding, mudslides which swept away with bridges and tracts of roads and major highways.

Mud and water continue to cover most of the city's streets and emergency centers have been set up at schools, churches, clubs, neighbor centers, with hundreds waiting for daily rations, clothing but most desperately, praying for the end of rain and the return of sunshine.

One of the neighborhoods, Caleta Cordova, with an estimated 5.000 middle class people finally will be able to purchase food and other provisions following the mounting of a Bailey Army bridge which again connected it with the city. Until now provisions arrived by sea to the beach in Zodiacs or Army heavy trucks. A major pluvial pipe which did not resist the outburst of the water lies among the debris as witness of the magnitude of the disaster.

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Attention

Nearly 1,000 to be evacuated as volcanic activity increases in East Indonesia


Manila Bulletin
Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:35 UTC
Banda Api
© volcano.si.edu Banda Api
Authorities are preparing to evacuate nearly 1,000 people living in dangerous zones as Banda Api volcano in Maluku province in eastern Indonesia has turned more active, officials said Thursday.

Mount Banda Api in Maluku Tengah district has issued several tremors in the past few days, forcing authorities to ban any activity within a 1-km. radius from the crater, Devi Kamil, head of the observation unit of the national volcanology agency said.

"We have issued a recommendation for evacuation. There must not be any activity in the area of 1 km. from the crater," the volcanologist told Xinhua over the phone.
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Cloud Precipitation

Ferocious hailstorm pelts Guiyang City, China


CCTV Plus
Wed, 05 Apr 2017 15:25 UTC
HAILSTORM
A ferocious hailstorm and heavy rain battered the city of Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, causing scenes of chaos across the city on Wednesday night.

The downtown was seriously flooded by the deluge, with the precipitation level rising to 23 millimeters in an hour. The dramatic hailstorm brought traffic to a standstill as huge hailstones pelted the city, with the largest having a diameter of 15 millimeters.

Police officers were mobilized to important intersections to direct the traffic amid the challenging weather conditions.

"Our sub-office has been working on the second-tier contingency plan. All police officers, no matter if they are off-duty or on-call, were ordered to get to work and control the traffic in this district," said Yang Ying, a local police officer.

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