Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Flood-hit Spain drenched by wettest October on record with 30 inches of rain in a day for the town of Turis

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Spain was soaked in its wettest October on record last month which culminated in catastrophic floods that have killed 219 people and left dozens missing, the government said on Friday.

An average of 147 litres per square metre (147 mm) drenched mainland Spain last month, making it the wettest October since records began in 1961, national weather service AEMET and the ecological transition ministry said.

The deluge was 189 percent above the 1991-2020 reference period for the month and came as temperatures were 0.9 degrees Celsius warmer than average, they added in a statement.

The downpours peaked during a ferocious Mediterranean storm on October 29 which unleashed torrents of muddy water that desolated the eastern Valencia region in Spain's deadliest floods in decades.

At one measuring station in the Valencia region town of Turis, 771 mm of rain fell on that day alone.

Although Mediterranean storms are common for the time of year, scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the intensity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.

Agence France-Presse

Cloud Lightning

Storm-weary Philippines evacuates thousands as Typhoon Toraji hits - 4th typhoon in under a month

Typhoon Toraji is set to make landfall across the Philippines, bringing destructive winds, flooding rains and the potential for landslides.
Typhoon Toraji is set to make landfall across the Philippines, bringing destructive winds, flooding rains and the potential for landslides.
The Philippines has been hit by its fourth typhoon in under a month, leading to thousands of evacuations.

Typhoon Toraji struck near Dilasag town, about 220 kilometres north-east of the country's capital, Manila, the national weather agency said.

"We're getting hit with strong winds and heavy rain. Some trees are being toppled and power has been cut since yesterday," Merwina Pableo, the civil defence chief of Dinalungan town near Dilasag, said.

Rescuers said around 7,000 people were moved from coastal areas as well as flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in Aurora and Isabela, the first two provinces to be struck before Toraji ploughed inland to the mountainous interior of the main island of Luzon.

The government ordered 2,500 villages to be evacuated on Sunday. As of Monday, the national disaster office had not reported the total number of evacuees.


Arrow Down

12 bodies found after deadly landslides following torrential rain in Cameroon on November 6th - dozens of people still missing

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Rescue workers have found 12 bodies after landslides buried a road in western Cameroon, a local official reported on Saturday, stating that there is no expectation of locating any survivors.

State television CRTV relayed the statement made by Augustine Awa Fonka, the governor of the Ouest region.

"In our opinion there is no longer any possibility of finding survivors," he told the station.

"Only 12 bodies had been recovered from the site of the disaster, the last of them on Saturday morning, he added.

"Dozens more people are still missing, and the search for bodies is still continuing", he added.


Comment: An earlier report from Africanews and AP:
At least four people died and over 50 are missing in the west of Cameroon after three passenger buses and several road workers were caught in a landslide, authorities said Wednesday (Nov. 06).

Torrential rains weakened the soil and lead do the landslide on Tuesday, Cameroon's Minister of Public Work Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said after visiting the site of the disaster, a stretch of a highway linking Dschang in the West Region of Cameroon and the country's economic capital of Douala.



Seismograph

6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Cuba after hurricanes and blackouts

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A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling.

The epicenter of the quake was located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Bartolomé Masó, Cuba, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey.

The rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Residents in Santiago, Cuba's second largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabío, 76, said people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family she hadn't heard of any damages.


Snowflake

Colorado snow totals: More than 4 feet of snow in 72 hours recorded in parts of state

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The multi-day snowstorm that pounded Colorado will likely be written down in the November record books after some parts of the state recorded more than 4 feet of snow accumulation.

The system that slowly pushed its way through the state earlier this week dumped more than 19 inches of snow in parts of Denver over the past three days, according to the National Weather Service. The southeast area of the state was the hardest hit, with 54.9 inches recorded in the San Isabel area in the past 72 hours.


Here are the latest 72-hour snow totals reported to the National Weather Service as of Saturday:

7 NW San Isabel, CO 54.9

Cuchara, CO 46

11 NE Ponderosa Park, CO 41.5

8 ENE Cedar Point, CO 40

Comment: A report from 2 days prior: Winter storm cripples New Mexico, Colorado as disaster emergencies issued - over 3 feet of snow dumped


Tsunami

Best of the Web: Houses, schools flooded, cars washed away as storms cause havoc in Spain - at least 223 dead, 78 missing - year's rain in 8 hours (UPDATES)

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Torrential rain in the upper Guadalhorce area of Malaga province has left dozens of houses and schools flooded in Álora and Pizarra this Tuesday morning. The downpours have also caused several cars parked near the river to wash away and float downstream.

It comes as 100mm of rain was dumped on the upper Guadalhorce during the early hours of this Tuesday morning, according to the Junta de Andalucía's Hidrosur network, with rain continuing throughout the morning.


Comment: Update October 30

Reuters reports:
At least 72 people have been killed in the deadliest flooding to hit Spain for three decades after torrential rain battered the eastern region of Valencia, sweeping away bridges and buildings, local authorities said on Wednesday.


Meteorologists said a year's rain had fallen in eight hours in parts of Valencia on Tuesday, causing pile-ups on highways and submerging farmland in a region that produces two-thirds of the citrus fruit grown in Spain, a leading global exporter.

Residents in the worst-hit places described seeing people clambering onto the roofs of their cars as a churning tide of brown water gushed through the streets, uprooting trees and dragging away chunks of masonry from buildings.

"It's a river that came through," said Denis Hlavaty, who waited for rescue on a ledge in the petrol station where he works in the regional capital. "The doors were torn away and I spent the night there, surrounded by water that was 2 metres (6.5-feet) deep."






Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild infrastructure that had been destroyed and said in a televised address: "For those who at this moment are still looking for their loved ones, the whole of Spain weeps with you."

Footage shot by emergency services from a helicopter showed bridges that had collapsed and cars and trucks piled on top of each other on highways between flooded fields outside the city of Valencia.

Trains to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona were cancelled due to the flooding, and schools and other essential services were suspended in the worst-hit areas, officials said.

Power company i-DE, owned by Europe's biggest utility, Iberdrola, said about 150,000 clients in Valencia had no electricity.

Emergency services in the region urged citizens to avoid all road travel and to follow further official advice, and a military unit specialised in rescue operations was deployed in some places to help local emergency workers.

Some parts of Valencia such as the towns of Turis, Chiva or Bunol recorded more than 400 mm (15 inches) of rainfall, leading the state weather agency AEMET to declare a red alert on Tuesday. It was lowered to amber on Wednesday as the rain eased.

There was also flooding in other parts of the country, including the southern region of Andalusia, and forecasters warned of more bad weather ahead as the storm moved in a northeasterly direction.

The regional weather service in Catalonia issued a red alert for the area around Barcelona, warning of high winds and hail, while the AEMET state agency placed the city of Jerez in Andalusia on red alert.

"(The floodwaters) took away lots of dogs, lots of horses, they took away everything," said Antonio Carmona, a construction worker and resident of Alora in the southern region.

DEADLIEST SPANISH FLOODS SINCE 1996

The death toll appeared to be the worst in Europe from flooding since 2021 when at least 185 people died in Germany.

It is the deadliest flood-related disaster in Spain since 1996, when 87 people died near a town in the Pyrenees mountains.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that Europe was ready to help. "What we're seeing in Spain is devastating," she said on X.

ASAJA, one of Spain's largest farmer groups, said on Tuesday it expected significant damage to crops.

Spain is the world's largest exporter of fresh and dried oranges, according to trade data provider the Observatory of Economic Complexity, and Valencia accounts for about 60% of the country's citrus production, according to Valencian Institute of Agriculture Investigations.
Update October 31

Al Jazeera reports:
Spain floods death toll rises to 158 as rescuers search for survivors

The death toll from Spain's worst floods in decades has soared to 158, emergency services and officials say, as rescue services work frantically to find survivors.

The body coordinating rescue work in the eastern region of Valencia announced on Thursday that 155 bodies had been recovered there. Officials in Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain reported two deaths, and Andalusia in the south announced one.

The widespread damage resembled the aftermath of a hurricane or tsunami. Cars were piled on top of one another like fallen dominoes. Uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items were all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in Valencia. The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognisable.

Local authorities have not disclosed how many people are still unaccounted, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the final national death toll could be much greater.

Opposition politicians accused the central government in Madrid of acting too slowly to warn residents and send in rescue teams, prompting the Ministry of Interior to say regional authorities were responsible for civil protection measures.
Update November 1

The Associated Press reports:
Death toll from Spanish floods rises to 205 as residents appeal for aid

Three days after historic flash floods swept through towns in Spain and killed at least 205 people, the initial shock was giving way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity on Friday.

Spanish emergency authorities raised the death toll to at least 205 victims, 202 of them in Valencia alone.

Many streets are still blocked by piled-up vehicles and debris, in some cases trapping residents in their homes. Some places still don't have electricity, running water, or stable telephone connections.

The damage from the storm Tuesday and Wednesday recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn loved ones lost in Spain's deadliest natural disaster in living memory.
Update November 9

ShiaWaves.com reports:
The confirmed death toll from last week's catastrophic floods in Spain has reached 223, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday citing an announcement made by Transport Minister Oscar Puente.

An additional 78 individuals remain missing, with 48 bodies yet to be identified. The floods, triggered by historic rainfall on October 29, particularly devastated the province of Valencia, where rivers overflowed, leading to widespread flooding that caught many residents off guard.

Despite prior warnings from some local mayors, the Valencian government issued an emergency alert only after the worst of the flooding had passed. In response to the disaster, protests are planned to voice frustration over the government's handling of the crisis.

Cleanup efforts are ongoing, affecting over 75 municipalities and approximately 450,000 hectares of land. Spain's government has committed €10.6 billion ($11.4 billion) in aid to support recovery efforts. The floods, caused by a prolonged storm system, also impacted other regions, including Cadiz, Barcelona, and Girona, marking one of the most significant natural disasters in recent Spanish history.
Two days earlier in the nearby Balearic Islands: Stormy night in Mallorca, Spain: Heavy rainfall, flash floods, road closures, 8 rescues and 77 emergency operations


Doberman

Woman dies after attack by 2 pit bulls in Fontana, California

PIT BULL ATTACK
A 35-year-old woman died after getting attacked by two pit bulls at the Fontana home where she was staying, Fontana police said.

Juanita L. Sanchez was injured on Sunday, Nov. 3, and pronounced dead that day at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, according to the San Bernardino Coroner's Office. The family had taken in four stray pit bulls some months earlier, said Sgt. Nathan Weiske, a Police Department spokesperson. The family later invited Sanchez, a family friend, to live with them.

There had been no problems between Sanchez and the dogs, Weiske said. But around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Sanchez and another resident were in the backyard of the home in the 13800 block of Jurupa Avenue when suddenly two of the dogs bit Sanchez in the neck. Two other people were injured attempting to rescue Sanchez.

"They were feverishly trying to pull them off of her," Weiske said. Animal control officers euthanized the two dogs, he said.

Investigators recommended that no criminal charges be brought. "They could tell that this was just a horrifically tragic accident," the sergeant said.

Source: San Bernadino Sun

Tsunami

Georgia declares state of emergency after severe flooding, 23 counties severely hit

FLOOD
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Friday for 23 counties severely impacted by torrential rainstorms that caused widespread flooding. The downpours, which hit Wednesday and Thursday, led to overflowing rivers, submerged roads and prompted emergency rescues in some areas. The affected regions include those still recovering from earlier weather events such as Hurricane Helene in September and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in August.

The emergency declaration allows state resources to aid the flood-stricken communities. In rural Evans County, more than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain fell over two days, prompting first responders to use boats for rescue operations along the Canoochee River near Claxton. The river was predicted to crest at a record 18.7 feet (5.7 meters) by Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.


Comment: Related: Heavy rainfall floods parts of South Carolina, causing damage to over 35 roads - downpour of 15 inches


Volcano

Lewotobi volcano in Indonesia sends massive ash cloud 5 miles into sky - 2nd big eruption in 5 days

Residents watch the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki from Lewolaga village in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on November 9, 2024.
© AFPResidents watch the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki from Lewolaga village in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on November 9, 2024.
A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted once more on Saturday, launching a massive ash plume that soared nine kilometers (over five miles) into the sky.

This eruption came just days after the previous one claimed the lives of nine people and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, has erupted more than a dozen times this week, killing nine people after its initial burst on Monday.

"The ash column was observed at approximately 9,000 metres above the summit. The ash column appeared grey with thick intensity," the country´s volcanology agency said in a statement about the eruption that began at 04:47 local time (2047 GMT).

There were no immediate reports of damage to nearby villages from Saturday´s fresh eruption.

But the agency warned residents to "remain alert to the potential for cold lava floods" due to heavy rainfall.


Comment: Details of the earlier eruption: At least 10 dead as Indonesia's Laki-Laki volcano erupts


Snowflake Cold

Winter storm cripples New Mexico, Colorado as disaster emergencies issued - over 3 feet of snow dumped

First responders rescue stranded driver
© (Union County Sheriff's OfficeFirst responders rescue stranded driver near Des Moines, NM overnight on Friday.
First responders had to rescue drivers stranded by snow overnight Friday and well into the morning, as a potentially historic winter storm had dumped more than 3 feet of snow on New Mexico and Colorado, with more to come.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency on Thursday and deployed the National Guard to provide winter weather support.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued two statewide emergency declarations, unlocking $1.5 million to help state agencies dig out.

The Union County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico reported that they rescued several stranded drivers on state and local roads Thursday evening into Friday morning.