Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Severe flooding hits the city of Pariquera-Açu, Brazil - 4 inches of rain in just 1 hour, 63% of normal February total in 24 hours

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A devastating storm hit the city of Pariquera-Açu early on Saturday morning, February 8, causing massive flooding and significant property damage. According to the Brazilian National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters (Cemaden), the area experienced 99.7 mm of rain between 7 AM and 8 AM, contributing to widespread havoc across the Vale do Ribeira region.

Reports indicate total rainfall reached 174 mm since Friday morning, which is 63% of the average precipitation expected for February. Streets turned to rivers, and numerous homes and vehicles were submerged under the unrelenting downpour. Images circulated on social media captured scenes of cars washed away by the water and residents struggling to evacuate.


Doberman

Five-year-old girl mauled to death by stray dogs in Jammu Kashmir, India

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A five-year-old girl lost her life after being mauled by stray dogs in the Upper Shadra area of Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said.

The deceased, identified as Samreen Kouser, daughter of Mohammad Shafayet, was attacked while returning home from school. According to officials, she had been walking in a group but was left behind when the dogs set upon her. By the time locals arrived, she had already suffered grievous injuries, including severe cut marks that led to acute blood loss.

She was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. Block Medical Officer Thanamandi, Dr Ruksana, confirmed her death.

Meanwhile, authorities have initiated proceedings into the incident.

Seismograph

Tsunami alerts cancelled after major Caribbean earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on February 8

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Tsunami warnings issued after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the Caribbean Sea have been cancelled, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said.

Officials say the earthquake's epicentre was about 20 miles (32.1km) north of Honduras and 130 miles (209.2km) south-west of the Cayman Islands when it struck on Saturday evening local time.

The US Tsunami Warning System had initially issued warnings to more than a dozen of countries - including waves of up to three metres (10ft). But, it later said the threat had passed.

Advisories were also issued by the Tsunami Warning System for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands following the earthquake - which were both also later cancelled.

Tsunami

North Queensland in Australia cops yet more major flooding

The Ollera Creek Bridge between Ingham and Townsville has collapsed
© Aaron KellyThe Ollera Creek Bridge between Ingham and Townsville has collapsed
Fresh bursts of monsoonal rain have seen flood threats renew in Queensland's north.

Towns remain cut off tonight, after highways went underwater - while the collapsed Ollera Creek Bridge has closed again, after reconnecting communities.


Comment: An earlier report from about a week prior: More flooding and extreme rainfall hits Queensland, Australia - 39 inches of rain in 48 hours


Snowflake

Hokuriku region of Japan experiences record snowfall - 19.6 inches in 12 hours

A car is covered by snow in Niigata City on Saturday.
© KyodoA car is covered by snow in Niigata City on Saturday.
The strongest cold wave of the season has caused record snowfall in the Hokuriku region since Friday night.

In 12 hours from Friday night to Saturday morning, 50 centimeters of snow fell in Niigata City, and 38 centimeters in Aikawa, Sado City, both of which are the highest ever recorded, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Snow has also fallen in areas that usually get less snow, such as Kyushu, Shikoku and the Pacific side of the Tokai region.

Nagoya observed one centimeter of snow for the first time in about a month.

The maximum amount of snow forecast to fall though Sunday morning is expected to be 80 centimeters in the Kanto-Koshin region, and 70 centimeters in Tohoku, Hokuriku and Kinki regions, the agency said.

On the Sea of ​​Japan side, authorities urged caution against poor visibility due to a whiteout.


Comment: See also this report from February 4 of earlier, exceptional heavy snow in another region of the country: Record-breaking snowfall hits Hokkaido as cold front sweeps Japan - 120 cms (nearly 4 FEET) of snow in just 12 hours with more heavy falls forecast


Arrow Down

At least 30 missing after China landslide triggered by heavy rain - at least 1 dead (UPDATE)

Emergency workers search the site of a landslide in Jinping, Sichuan province, on Saturday.
© WeiboEmergency workers search the site of a landslide in Jinping, Sichuan province, on Saturday.
At least 30 people have been reported missing after a landslide in south-western China, according to Chinese state media.

The landslide struck Jinping village in Sichuan province at 11:50 local time (03:50 GMT) burying 10 houses and trapping several residents. Two people were rescued.

A command centre has been set up at the scene according to a statement by the county's emergency management bureau.

China's President Xi Jinping has ordered an "all-out" rescue of those trapped.

Hundreds of emergency workers are searching for survivors, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Emergency Management.


Comment: Update February 9

Al Jazeera reports:
Rescuers in southern China are searching for dozens of people missing after a landslide tore through a village, killing at least one person, according to Chinese state media.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, took place in Jingping village in Yibin city in China's Sichuan province on Saturday morning.

It left 28 people unaccounted for and buried 10 houses, according to state broadcaster CCTV.



Doberman

Woman killed in dog attack in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

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A woman died Thursday after she was attacked by a pack of dogs at a residence in Tuscaloosa County.

At around 9 a.m., deputies, along with NorthStar EMS, the Echola fire department and Animal Control, responded to 13000 Block of Boyd Road on a medical call, said Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.

A 911 caller reported that a woman was being attacked by a pack of dogs in front of the residence. Deputies arrived and attempted lifesaving measures, but the woman did not survive.

The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit assumed command of the investigation.

The mauling occurred in the yard and on the property that the dogs belonged to and the woman came to the residence to feed the dogs for the owner who was out of town, Kennedy said.

He said the woman's death appears to be a non-criminal incident and out of respect for the woman's family, no other details will be released.

Doberman

Woman killed in dog attack in her own home in Colorado City

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A woman is dead after she was the victim of a dog attack in her southern Colorado home.

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a call at a home on Jefferson Boulevard in Colorado City Monday night and found a 76-year-old woman who was unresponsive. Colorado City is located south of Pueblo and north of Walsenburg.

There were several dogs loose in her home and a dozen or more dogs in cages, they said in an update Friday. They're attributing her death to a dog attack.

The sheriff's office said they worked with Animal Law Enforcement to seize "numerous" dogs from the home and a related property.

The woman's name will be released by the Pueblo County Coroner's Office.

Source: KUSA-TV Denver

Seismograph

6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes south of Fiji Islands

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An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted south of the Fiji Islands at 22:27 local time on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

There were no immediate reports of casualty or damage, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The epicenter, with a depth of 59.2 km, was determined to be at 23.918 degrees south latitude and 176.143 degrees east longitude, according to the USGS.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue any tsunami warning based on the quake.

Pacific island countries such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu lie on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones where continental plates collide, producing frequent seismic activities.

Tsunami

5 hours of heavy rains trigger flash flood in Nazca, Peru

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A flash flood hit Nazca in Peru's southern Ica province on Thursday (February 6) following five hours of heavy rainfall. Onlookers watched on in the city as a storm drain, also known locally as an 'quebrada', surged dramatically, sweeping away mud, stones, and trees, according to local media.