Earth Changes

"Day After Tomorrow" scenario in full swing: At least 8 dead as wave of tornadoes rolls into north Texas

RT
Sun, 27 Dec 2015 07:34 UTC

Eight people have been confirmed dead since a series of tornadoes ravaged north Texas. A preliminary count by weather authorities show 11 tornadoes have already hit the Dallas area, but that number is likely to grow.

Officials in Garland had first confirmed the death of five people after one tornado hit an intersection. Another three have been confirmed dead in Collin County, according to the Sherriff's Office, as cited by CBS DFW. One infant died in Blue Ridge, and another two people in Copeville; all as a result of the storms.

The National Weather Service's Anthony Bain said it is too early to know the extent of the damage, and more should be known about the situation in Texas after daybreak.

The exact number of people injured remains unknown. "As of right now, we are still in the search and rescue mode. We still have some homes that have been demolished and not everyone in the homes has been accounted for," Rowlett police spokesman Detective Cruz Hernandez said, according to the AP.

Comment: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - November 2015: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

Film shows moment family drive through California wildfire

BBC
Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:32 UTC

California wildfire

The terrifying moment a Dutch family drove through a California wildfire has been captured on mobile phone.

Maaike Maks was visiting California from the Netherlands when she and her family were caught driving through the middle of the raging fire in Ventura County.

The fire burned across 1,250 acres in the Solimar Beach area triggering mandatory evacuations and temporarily shutting the highway in both directions.

Footage courtesy of @MaaikeMaks

Comment: See also: Wildfire shuts down Highway 101 and Pacific Coast Highway in California

Kamchatka cut off from outside world by heavy snowfall, Russia

Robert Felix
Ice Age Now
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 12:06 UTC

In Kamchatka, the airport "Yelizovo" was closed due to coming to the region of a snow cyclone.

The ministry reported that a powerful cyclone from Japan hit the southern regions of Kamchatka and brought heavy snow and wind.

Rescuers were working on high alert to quickly respond to possible emergency situations. However, residents of the region do not survive because of huge snowdrifts and snowstorm.

Social networking photos and videos reveal the snow disaster.

Here some video's from Kamchatka, all posted Dec 26, 2015.

Dead minke whale found on Ynyslas beach, Wales

Tyler Mears
Western Mail
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 11:07 UTC

A dead minke whale on Ynyslas beach in Ceredigion, Wales

A dead minke whale on Ynyslas beach in Ceredigion

A dead 15ft long whale washed up on a West Wales beach on Christmas morning.

The body of the cetacean, believed to be a Minke whale, was discovered on the sands at Ynyslas, near to Aberdyfi and eight miles north of Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion .

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: "We had reports about a whale washed up on shore on Christmas Day, however due to the bad weather we were unable to remove it

UK flooding: Emergency services stretched to breaking point after "unprecedented" rainfall

William Worley, Tom McTague, David Connett
The Independent, UK
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:53 UTC

As many as 2,000 homes in danger of being flooded tonight after nearly a month's rain falls in 24 hours

Emergency services are being stretched to breaking point overnight after "unprecedented" rainfall caused severe flooding in parts of England, Scotland and Wales, forcing thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.

A total of 22 severe flood warnings - meaning there is a threat to life - have been put in place, with a further 238 less severe flood warnings and 146 flood alerts issued.

As many as 2,000 homes are in danger of being flooded tonight, and thousands of people are spending the night in temporary accommodation after nearly a month's rain fell in 24 hours.

The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee this morning. Mr Cameron said he would take charge of the response to "ensure everything is being done to help".

The Environment Secretary, Liz Truss, said: "Our priority throughout this period continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses."

Mexico's Colima volcano erupts, spewing smoke and ash 2 km high

Mexico News Daily
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 07:22 UTC

Residents warned to watch for falling ash and rock

The Colima Volcano was looking lively for Christmas with eruptions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and again today.

Yesterday's sent ash and smoke skyward to a height of 2.2 kilometers, prompting more warnings from federal Civil Protection authorities.

Falling chunks of rock of up to 50 centimeters in diameter and ash are the two dangers to watch for by anyone in the vicinity of the volcano.

Civil Protection, state authorities in Jalisco and Colima and the University of Colima maintain ongoing monitoring of the active volcano, also known as the Volcano of Fire, to keep area residents informed of any danger.

In the event of ash fall, they say, a damp cloth or face mask should be used to cover the nose and mouth and the use of contact lenses should be avoided. The eyes and throat should be kept clean with pure water.

The volcano straddles Jalisco and Colima and has been erupting regularly.

Comment: According to Volcano Discovery, 39 volcanoes around the world have recently erupted, and 32 of them are associated with the Ring of Fire, where seismic activity appears to be dramatically increasing amid a progression of recent disasters.

See also: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - November 2015: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

New landslide hits Hpakant, Myanmar jade mine; as many as 50 missing

Adonai
The Watchers
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 20:18 UTC

A new landslide hit jade mining region in Hpakant, Myanmar on December 25, 2015, leaving, according to witnesses, as many as 50 people missing.

Nilar Mying, an official from Hpakant Administrative Office, said for AFP that the rescue process has started. "We are searching for dead bodies but we can't tell the numbers yet."

The same area was hit by a massive landslide on November 21, 2015, leaving more than 100 people missing. Many of those killed were people who made their living scavenging on or near the waste dumps left by large-scale industrial mining firms. This is a "remote region, with little phone coverage and poor roads making it difficult to obtain precise and swift data after such incidents," AFP explained.

Advocacy group Global Witness said the value of jade produced in 2014 alone was $31bn (£21bn), the equivalent of nearly half of Myanmar's GDP, yet hardly any of the money was reaching ordinary people or state coffers, BBC said.

According to Myanmar's Ministry of Mines, about 800 jade mining firms operate around Hpakant, but activity is dominated by about ten firms, mostly Chinese-led ventures.

Much of the jade mined in Hpakant is believed to be smuggled to neighbouring China, Reuters writes, "where the green stone is highly prized and is widely believed to bring wealth and longevity."

Comment: Devastating landslide near jade mine in Myanmar kills at least 90 people

Wildfire shuts down Highway 101 and Pacific Coast Highway in California

Doug Stanglin
USA Today
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 12:18 UTC

Sections of California's two scenic coastal routes — Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway — were shut down west of Ventura early Saturday because of a rapidly expanding 1,200-acre wildfire driven by high winds, according to fire officials.

The Solimar Beach area, about 10 miles northwest of Ventura, was under mandatory evacuation orders and authorities also urged residents in nearby beach communities to leave the area, according to Capt. Mike Lindbery of the Ventura County Fire Department.

Authorities said about 30 homes were threatened by the fire, which began around 10:30 p.m.PST Friday.

The Union Pacific Railroad was also asked to stop train traffic in the area.

The National Weather Service predicted sustained winds over over 60 mph in Ventura County Saturday evening.

Lindbery said that more than 600 firefighters were sent to battle the fire that is feeding off thousands of acres of drought-stricken forest and grasslands.

Comment: A meteor was seen in Nevada and California a few days ago. Is this wildfire connected?

From the article: "The object was also later seen flying across [Ventura] California."

@KTLA so this just happened in Ventura.... #ufo pic.twitter.com/hLT8dUVX1G— Kolbe Gillette (@TheRealKolbabe) December 23, 2015

Sinkhole swallows garbage truck in New York

Ali Stewart
News 10
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 16:55 UTC

Garbage truck in sinkhole

There was an unusual sight in Latham on Thursday.

A garbage truck was caught sinking through the pavement in a parking lot on Troy-Schenectady Road in Colonie. A crane had to come and lift the truck up so the tire could be freed.

The truck drove off undamaged, but there was a huge hole in the lot. People who live and work nearby say this is only a small incident but it reveals a much bigger problem. They say a pipe that runs underneath the lot from a creek on one side to a creek on the other has collapsed.

Comment: See also: Flooding causes massive sinkhole at mobile home park in Gretna, Virginia