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Canyon rock slide hits tourist boats, killing at least 5 people in Minas Gerais, Brazil

rockslide
Shocking footage showed screaming tourists crushed beneath the massive pillar of rock

At least 20 people went missing after a collapsing cliffside in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais crushed three tourist boats on the river below, killing five people and injuring others. The navy is investigating the tragedy.

The rockslide occurred at around midday on Saturday, in a canyon along Furnas Lake near the city of Capitolo, Minas Gerais. Disturbing videos showed a shower of smaller rocks falling from the cliff, before an enormous sheet of rock separated from the cliff face and collapsed directly onto several boatloads of tourists in the water below.

Cloud Precipitation

'Unexpected' floods in Queensland, Australia leave 15 missing as ex-cyclone Seth wreaks havoc - 26 inches of rain in 24 hours

Flood waters seen at the Woolooga Trader in Gympie, Queensland. Flooding north of Brisbane has closed highways and cut off some towns.
© Woolooga Trader/AAPFlood waters seen at the Woolooga Trader in Gympie, Queensland. Flooding north of Brisbane has closed highways and cut off some towns.
Police search for people trapped in vehicles and one man dies in flood waters in Wide Bay and Burnett regions

Parts of Queensland are experiencing major flooding, with the aftermath of ex-tropical Cyclone Seth causing "unexpected" prolonged heavy rain and storms.

The Bureau of Meteorology said there was major flooding in the Wide Bay and Burnett regions, north of Brisbane, causing highways to close and cutting off some towns.

Marodian near Gympie received more than 670mm in the 24 hours to 9am with many other areas receiving at least 300mm.

The Bruce Highway reopened late Saturday morning after the downpour forced it to close earlier.

There were warnings for more heavy rain on Saturday and authorities issued an emergency alert for Maryborough, urging people to reconsider travel.


Cloud Precipitation

Brazil - Damaging flash floods in Barretos, Sao Paolo, after 4 inches of rain in 2 hours

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The municipality of Barretos in the northern part of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, declared a state of disaster after a short period of torrential rain caused damaging floods.

According to the municipality government, over 100 mm of rain fell in 2 hours during the afternoon of 06 January 2022.

The ensuing floods blocked roads in at least 8 locations, damaged homes and wiped out a bridge. Water infrastructure was also destroyed, leaving 6 districts without drinking water.

One person was reported missing after being carried away by the current. Local media said firefighters searched throughout 06 January but without success. Search operations will continue into 07 January.


Boat

Indonesia - Floods in Papua leave at least 6 dead

Flood evacuations in Jayapura City, Papua Province, Indonesia, January 2022.
© BNPBFlood evacuations in Jayapura City, Papua Province, Indonesia, January 2022.
At least 6 people have died and over 500 evacuated after flash floods and landslides in Jayapura City, the capital and largest city of the province of Papua, Indonesia.

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jayapura City said heavy rain fell for around 3 hours from 22:00 on 06 January. According to WMO figures, the city recorded 140 mm of rain in 24 hours to early 07 January.

The rain caused severe flooding in the districts of North Jayapura, South Jayapura, Abepura, Heram and Muara Tami. Many areas were under water up to 2 metres deep. In Yotefa Abepura Market the water was 3 metres deep. Homes, public buildings and a hospital were all flooded. Over 500 residents are thought to have evacuated their homes, mostly in Abepura District. Authorities said evacuations were ongoing and displacement numbers could rise.


Cloud Precipitation

Flash floods hit Iran's southern region, relief operations underway in 87 Iranian cities - at least 8 dead

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In Iran, flash floods have left at least eight people dead and 14 injured in the southern region of the country, according to the officials, the deluge is expected to last until later this week. The spokesman for the national rescue service has said that the floods and the rainfall reported in the past few days led to an increase in casualties and deaths.


Snowflake

At least 10 fatalities from snowfall, flooding reported across Afghanistan

Heavy snowfall and flooding in various parts of Afghanistan have taken the lives of at least 10 people, said authorities.
Heavy snowfall and flooding in various parts of Afghanistan have taken the lives of at least 10 people, said authorities.
Based on reports, around 10 people have died and more than 30 others have been injured in avalanches and weather-related accidents in Badakhsan, Bamyan, Nimroz, Farah, Jawzjan and Faryab provinces.

Meanwhile, the Salang Pass Protection Department says that heavy snowfall in the south of Salang has closed the Kabul-North highway, and in the past 24 hours, this route has been opened only Intermittently to the traffic.

In the past 24 hours, more than twenty provinces of the country have witnessed heavy snowfall, and a deadly avalanche in the Raghistan district of Badakhsan killed five people and caused significant financial damage.

"It has been three days now that transportation routes have been closed due to heavy snowfall, and many people have died due to floods," said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Badakhshan.



Cloud Precipitation

Army steps in to help flood affectees as heavy rains wreak havoc in Balochistan, Pakistan

Emergency imposed after heavy rains lash southwestern region
Emergency imposed after heavy rains lash southwestern region
Following flash flooding in coastal areas of Balochistan, Pakistan Army along with other forces stepped in to assist the civil administration in rescue and relief operations.

Reports in local media said heavy rains have been brought by a strong westerly wave that has entered the western and upper parts of the country which left several parts in Balochistan inundated.

A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Army troops immediately assisted civil administration in rescue and relief efforts including dewatering of various areas and shifting of stranded tourists and their vehicles in flooded areas to safer places.


Boat

Indonesia - Floods affect over 67,000 in Sumatra, 1 dead in Aceh

Floods in East Aceh, Indonesia, January 2021
© BPBD East Aceh RegencyFloods in East Aceh, Indonesia, January 2021
At least one person has died and thousands have evacuated their homes after floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Severe flooding has also affected wide areas of Malaysia on the other side of the Malacca Strait.

Aceh

Disaster management authorities reported severe flooding and landslides in the province of Aceh in the north of Sumatra Island after heavy rain from 30 December and the overflow of Krueng Peutoe, Krueng Keureuto, Sepanjang, and Langsa Rivers. The city of Lhokseumawe recorded 149 mm of rain in 24 hours to 30 December 2021.

The regencies of East Aceh, North Aceh and Aceh Tamiang were all affected, along with areas in Langsa City. As of 03 January 2022, a total of 67,871 people were affected, 19,947 displaced and 17,646 homes damaged. One fatality was reported in East Aceh Regency.


Snowflake

Snowstorm leaves nearly 1 million without power in the US

CHART
A quick-hitting blast of winter weather left several inches of snow blanketing parts of the Southeast, before spreading into the mid-Atlantic, where it shut down much of the nation's capital.

A dramatic weather pattern change marked the first days of 2022 across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, replacing the 80-degree warmth in some locations with an all-out snowstorm. The onslaught of the first accumulating snow of the season for many left several cities along the East Coast nearly shut down, snarled traffic, left nearly 1 million without power on Monday and has been blamed for at least one fatality, according to officials.

The storm unleashed hefty snow amounts across parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, with accumulations climbing to 9.0 inches in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and 11.0 inches in Swiss, North Carolina. Even areas as far south as Alabama were hit with a blast of wintry weather, and Moores Mill, Alabama, picked up 7.0 inches of snow.


Cloud Precipitation

Thunderstorm and severe floods sweep across Shinas, Oman - 6 killed (UPDATE)

floods
A majestic thunderstorm, unprecedented huge clouds and massive floods sweeping the state of Shinas, Sultanate of Oman.


Comment: Update: The National reported on January 1:
Flooding in Oman, triggered by heavy rainfall that began on New Year's Eve, has killed six people and left several towns completely cut off.

Oman TV reported on Saturday that a man was found dead in his vehicle after he tried to cross a wadi in Samail province.

A vehicle is trapped by floodwater after the tropical Cyclone Shaheen in Al Khaburah city in Al Batinah on October 4, 2021
© AFPA vehicle is trapped by floodwater after the tropical Cyclone Shaheen in Al Khaburah city in Al Batinah on October 4, 2021
Another victim "was drowned in a wadi in Liwa," the report said.

The towns of Liwa, Sohar, Samail, Sur and Wahibah were cut off when the country received more than 72 millimetres of rainfall.


For many in Oman, New Year plans were a washout.

"We were planning a party on the beach on New Year's Eve. We already pitched a large tent right on the sands but rains spoiled everything last night. Not much of a New Year in Muscat this time around," Khalaf Al Saeedi, 33, a resident of Seeb, told The National.

The New Year coincided with the weekend in Oman and many people had planned to spend the day outdoors.

Shamsa Al Saleh, 23, said she had to cancel an all-girls trip with her friends.

"Roads are closed towards Wahiba Sands in Sharqiyah because of the rains. We were planning to have lunch there today," she said.

Wadi flood danger

Oman Television showed vehicles floating down streets in the raging torrents of flooded wadis, as owners desperately tried to tow them out.

Salam Al Wahaibi, 27, who was in Sur in the eastern region on Friday, said the heavy rainfall caught people by surprise.

"Many of us have been caught in areas around the wadis. We were trying to camp in one of those places, thinking the rain will not be heavy. I saw at least six cars floating in the water and owners could not do anything but shout," he said.

The Batinah region, which was devastated by Cyclone Shaheen in October, escaped with no "significant" damage to homes, Oman Television said, although trade and traffic were disrupted.

"I will not be able to open my restaurant for few more days until the water that flooded the road has been cleared," Ali Al Shamsi, a restaurant owner in the town of Liwa, told The National.

Parents expressed caution, saying that they may not send their children to school on Sunday, the first day of the week.

"I will not drive my two children to school tomorrow in case the rains get worse. I will wait and see until Monday," Fareed Al Abri, 44, who lives in Muscat, told The National.

The meteorological office said moderate to heavy rains would continue until January 5 and warned the public to avoid wadis and low-lying areas.