Earth Changes

Juvenile humpback whale dies after stranding in Seattle, Washington

Christine Clarridge
The Seattle Times
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:10 UTC

From left, Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, Jessie Huggins of Cascadia Research Collective and Kaddee Lawrence of Marine Science and Technology at Highline College, try to keep a humpback whale hydrated after it stranded itself just south of the Fauntler

© Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times
From left, Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, Jessie Huggins of Cascadia Research Collective and Kaddee Lawrence of Marine Science and Technology at Highline College, try to keep a humpback whale hydrated after it stranded itself just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock Sunday.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in West Seattle on Sunday morning to watch the dramatic — and ultimately heartbreaking — attempt to save a juvenile humpback whale that became stranded just 20 feet from shore.

Angela Wood and Michael Sughrue raced from Renton when they learned from the Orca Network that the approximately 30-foot marine mammal was in trouble. Both sat on a log looking out toward the water and cried silently after learning that efforts to save the cetacean had failed.

"We feel we lost a king of this planet," said Sughrue.

"It's devastating," said Wood.

10 people killed as widespread flooding hits Karachi, Pakistan

Al Jazeera
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 15:05 UTC

The flooding has left 45 percent of Karachi without power

At least 10 people have been killed after torrential rain lashed Karachi.

Fifty-six millimetres of rain was reported in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city on Saturday, which was enough to bring traffic to a standstill and cause widespread flooding.

Most of the people who died were killed by electrocution or were crushed when walls or buildings collapsed on them, according to reports by the AP news agency.

The inundation left 45 percent of the city without power. In turn, the lack of electricity affected the pumping stations, disrupting the water supply to the city.

Other parts of the Sindh province have also seen torrential rain in the last few days. Thatta was hit by 116mm of rain in three days, and Hyderabad was swamped when 77mm of rain fell in just one day.

Lightning claims two more lives in Bihar, India; death toll mounts to 82

webindia123
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:59 UTC

A man and his daughter were killed when lightning struck them at Kelabari under Ismailpur police station area in Bhagalpur district today, taking the toll to 82 in the state this monsoon.

Police said here that one Ramvilas Mandal, a native of Kelabari village and her daughter Nikita Kumari died when lightning struck them during heavy downpour. Both were returning home from their field after completing agrarian work when the incident took place.

With the death of two, the toll has reached 82 in this Monsoon. Altogether 80 people lost their lives to lightning in different parts of the state earlier.

Update: Hurricane Earl death toll in Mexico rises to 39

Greg Toppo
USA Today
Mon, 08 Aug 2016 01:05 UTC

The community of Coscomatepec, Veracruz, in eastern Mexico was among many towns and villages hit by landslides.

As Tropical Storm Javier formed off Mexico's Pacific Coast on Sunday, the death toll from the remnants of Hurricane Earl grew to 39.

Earl, which was briefly a hurricane before hitting Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula, dumped rain and triggered deadly landslides across parts of eastern Mexico, The Associated Press reported.

The governor of the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, Javier Duarte, said Sunday that 11 people had died in landslides in the towns of Cocomatepec, Tequila and Huayacocotla. Officials in the central state of Puebla also reported at least one death in a landslide in the mountain town of Xaltepec.

Authorities were still searching the area for residents who were reported missing, according to a statement from the state government.

At least 28 people died in multiple mudslides in the mountainous north of Puebla state, National Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Felipe Puente said in an interview with ForoTV. He said 25 of the dead were in various parts of the township of Huaucinango and three were in Tlaola.

Comment: Six dead as Tropical Storm Earl triggers landslides in Veracruz, Mexico

At least 10 dead or missing after flooding in Vietnam

Viet Nam News
Fri, 05 Aug 2016 20:12 UTC

A suspension bridge is drowned under the water in Dong Tuyen Commune.

At least 10 people are reportedly dead or missing following a flood last night in the northern Lào Cai Province, authorities said this morning.

The mountainous Bát Xát District suffered the heaviest human loss with three people dead and six missing being swept away by the flood.

Updates from the Bát Xát Permanent Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Prevention as of 8am today said the people were residents from three communes of Cốc San, Tòng Sành and Phìn Ngan.

The flood also swept away another person in the tourist destination of Sa Pa District.

Six dead as Tropical Storm Earl triggers landslides in Veracruz, Mexico

The Guardian
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:51 UTC

© Eduardo Murillo
Soldiers help dig out damaged homes in Veracruz, Mexico. Six people died in the state when their homes were buried by landslides.

Six people died in eastern Mexico when they were buried in landslides caused by intense rainfall from the remnants of now-downgraded Tropical Storm Earl, an emergency services official said.

The six deaths involved two separate families in eastern Veracruz state, emergency services spokesman Manuel Escalera said.

He added that local authorities were continuing to monitor rising rivers and saturated soil that could trigger additional landslides.

Earl's maximum wind speed dropped to 30mph (48km/h) by Saturday afternoon, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

It was located approximately 105 miles (169km) east of Mexico City after pounding portions of Central America and crossing Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula over the past few days.

7 die as floods wreak havoc in Balochistan, Pakistan

ARY News
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 19:37 UTC

At least seven people lost their lives as floods wreaked havoc in Harnai district of Balochistan this morning, ARY News reported Sunday.

According to details, several houses were destroyed and cars got washed away after floods hit the Harnai on Sunday. Several people, asleep in their houses, drowned in the flood water.

Rescue officials confirmed that seven people have been killed while three people were rescued.

The provincial and district administration have imposed an emergency in the area whereas doctors and rescue teams have began the relief operation. Civil Hospital in Quetta confirmed that four bodies were brought to the medical facilities.

The deceased included two journalists. Balochistan Government has announced a relief package for the affectees whereas the provincial rulers have also ensured compensation to the families of the deceased.

Crazed dog savages over 20 people on two-hour rampage in Guizhou, China

Jake Polden
Daily Mail
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:23 UTC

The man hits the dog as it continues to bite him in the arm during its two-hour rampage

This is the shocking moment a crazed dog savages more than 20 people on the streets of China before it is shot dead by police.

The video was captured on CCTV and shows the aggressive animal stalking a man in Guizhou Province before lunging at him and biting him in the leg.

The dog sinks its teeth into the man, who turns around in shock and attempts to bat it away with his hand and then his hat.

But the canine reacts too quickly and after dodging his efforts, jumps into the air and grabs hold of the man's arm - biting down hard.

The man swings around in pain while trying to get the dog off before eventually hitting it on the head with his hat.

4.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Eastern Ukraine, tremors felt as far away as Russia

RT
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:00 UTC

An earthquake in the eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol caused a mild panic amongst the residents, with some believing the shaking was being caused by renewed shelling around the city.

The epicentre of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake, which had a depth of 10 kilometers, was around two kilometres west of the city, according to the US Geological Survey.

In videos released on social media, local residents discuss what really happened. They speculated if it was in fact powerful shelling or gunfire.

Man ends up in hospital after vicious attack by 'demon' cat near Dundee, Scotland

Harley Tamplin
Metro (UK)
Sun, 07 Aug 2016 15:12 UTC

Darren Scott, 24, was attacked by a cat in Invergowrie

A sneak attack from a 'demon' cat left a man needing treatment at A&E.

Darren Scott was waiting for an ice cream van near his home in Invergowrie, near Dundee, when he was approached by the friendly-looking cat.

But its cute appearance proved deceptive as the pet bit the 24-year-old on the arm as he went to stroke it.

He told the Evening Telegraph: 'The cat came up and started rubbing itself against my leg.

'It was acting like it was all nice and friendly.

'I bent down and put my hand out but suddenly the cat jumped up and bit right into my arm — it was like a demon. It bit me and then just took off.'