Storms, flash floods, landslides affect lives of millions of people around world
The year 2020 saw many environmental disasters that have fueled climate change and vice versa across the world, including tropical storms, hurricanes, landslides, and deadly floodings caused by heavy rains.
Thousands of people have been killed and millions of more have been displaced due to these disasters as well as states of calamity announced in different countries.
The following are the major global environmental disasters of 2020 compiled by Anadolu Agency:
The flood situation in the east coast of the peninsula has worsened, with the number of victims evacuated to temporary relief centres (PPS), at of 8 am today, rising to 7,308 evacuees compared to 6,627 yesterday evening.
In Terengganu, the number of victims increased to 6,305 people from 1,663 families as of 8 am compared to 5,776 people (1,478 families) at 4 pm yesterday, which led to the opening of three more PPS, making it 49 PPS in total so far.
Terengganu disaster management committee secretariat chief lieutenant colonel (PA) Che Adam A Rahman said Kemaman district was the worst hit with 5,108 evacuees (1,238 families) placed in 25 PPS as opposed to 4,729 people (1,135 families) yesterday.
In Dungun, the number of evacuees rose to 381 (104 families), all placed in 10 PPS, compared to 326 (95 families) in seven PPS before this while in Hulu Terengganu, there are now 806 evacuees (318 families) compared to 710 (245 families) yesterday evening.
Emergency services rescued a delivery van driver stranded in flood water in Newbridge on Usk, Wales
There is more heavy rain for western parts of the UK, with flood warnings and alerts still in place.
Caravans were evacuated and drivers rescued after parts of the UK saw half a month of rainfall in one day.
On Saturday, a delivery van driver had to be rescued from flood water at Newbridge on Usk in Wales.
And on Friday night, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to a caravan site on the border with Devon after water breached flood defences.
Local resident and photographer Yevgenia shared pictures and video of the spectacular natural phenomenon, recorded at the beginning of December in Tyumen.
Dozens of vertical lights appeared in the sky just before midnight, and were visible for several minutes, prompting many residents to rush outside to enjoy the sight.
She posted on her Instagram: 'It was exactly midnight and quite cold outside, -15C degrees. I quickly grabbed the camera, pulled on my pants, put a pair of the most compact lenses in my jacket pockets, 50mm and 35mm, and run outside.
'My hands were stiff from the cold, but I managed to capture the lights!
On Dec. 17 New Hampshire had quite a snowstorm, one for the record books - almost!
Although the national weather service reports the state's snowfall record still stands at 49.5 inches, Thursday's snow set several records, including in Concord, where the official totals are monitored. Manchester saw an official 12 inches.
In a tragic incident, a forest guard watcher and a volunteer were killed in an elephant attack in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve on Thursday. The two were part of a team of forest personnel that had set out into the reserve to carry out a wildlife census.
The team, consisting of guard watchers and volunteers, had entered the dense reserve and begun the survey under the guidance of a guard watcher. However, a lone elephant attacked them leading to the death of a forest guard watcher and a volunteer while another forest guard watcher sustained injuries.
The deceased were identified as forest guard Satheesh Kumar (24) and volunteer Muthu Prabhakara Serapandiyan. Guard watcher Ponganeshan sustained grievous injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital.
At least five people died in the Philippines in the onslaught of tropical depression Vicky in what has proved to be a record-breaking storm season in the nation, media reported.
Two people died and a minor was injured after a landslide swept away a section of road in the southern region of Leyte amid heavy rains, state Philippines news Agency reported.
Another three people drowned in floods in the Surigao Del Sur province, where some 50 homes were severely damaged, the CNN Philippines reported citing the local governor.
The Philippine National Police deployed nearly 1,600 search and rescue personnel to aid in mitigating the consequences of the storm, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Comment: In the same state of Tamil Nadu a day earlier a man riding a bicycle was trampled to death.