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Attention

4 false killer whales found dead, 3 stranded off Western Australia beach

One of seven false killer whales stranded at House Beach near Bremer Bay, on WA's southern coast.
© Jenni DawsonOne of seven false killer whales stranded at House Beach near Bremer Bay, on WA's southern coast.
Four false killer whales have died and three more remain stranded off a beach in Western Australia.

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) received a report of seven false killer whales about 20 metres off House Beach, a remote 150 metre-long stretch of sand about 12km east of Bremer Bay and about 540km south-east of Perth.

Staff journeyed to the location to assess the situation and confirmed that four of the whales have died.

Drones are surveilling the area to rule out any further strandings nearby.

Wildlife staff will attempt to refloat the remaining three whales.

Tornado2

Large waterspout spotted off the shores of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico

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Several people on social media posted videos Monday morning of a waterspout forming in the waters off of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico.

Alex Morales, a resident of Rocky Point, started capturing video at 9:40 a.m. of the funnel. In total, he said his videos spanned about seven minutes, as it moved through the water. His video was taken from Las Palomas Resort.

KGUN 9 Meteorologist Cuyler Diggs viewed the video and confirmed it was a waterspout. He explained it was a rare occurrence in that area, but likely was caused by the same low-pressure system moving through Southern Arizona.


Cow

Lightning strike kills 4 cows in Thailand

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© Amarin TV
During a storm, four cows from a herd seeking shelter under a tree were killed by a lightning strike, while two others were knocked unconscious but later recovered.

The owner was in shock as she was herding them back to avoid the rain around 2pm yesterday, May 5. The incident occurred at Pranee Songsawat's cattle pen in Baan Takud Rang, Udomsap subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao district, Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The Hook 21 rescue unit from Udomsap and local administrative officials reported the event, which resulted in the deaths of four cows out of a total of 26. Fortunately, no residents were harmed during the incident.

Wanna Butsamrong, the village head of Takud Rang, Moo 4, Udomsap subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao district, explained that Pranee, the cattle owner, was herding her 26 cows into an open pen enclosed by barbed wire. As the rainstorm was accompanied by thunder, the herd sought shelter under a tree.


Lightning

Lightning strike kills 3 schoolgirls, farmer in Bangladesh

Representative photo
Representative photo
Three schoolgirls and a farmer were killed in two separate lightning strikes in pakundia and Mithamoin upazilas of the district today.

The deceased are Irina, 15, daughter of Jalal Uddin, Priya, 15, daughter of Badal Mia and Barsha, 15, daughter of Borhan Uddin, residents of Charteki village under Pakundia upazila. They all are students of class nine of Charteki Girls School and College. Another deceased was Kadu Mia, 35, son of Motaleb Mia, a farmer of Chamakpur Dakshin Hati under Ghagra union of Mithamoin upazila.

Thunderbolt struck the three schoolgirls when they were returning home from school amid a stormy weather at 12 noon.

Later, they were rescued and taken to Pakundia Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared Irina and Priya dead.

"Barsha also died while undergoing treatment at the hospital," said Md. Sakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pakundia Police Station.

Besides, farmer Kadu Mia was injured in a lightning strike while working on a paddy field in Chamkpur Dakshin Hati area this afternoon.

He was rescued and taken to Mithamoin Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead, said Md. Shafiul Alam, OC of Mithamoin Police Station.

Windsock

Massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, triggering travel chaos and flash floods

In central Saudi Arabia, residents of Al Qassim province witnessed a rare and dramatic phenomenon described as a
In central Saudi Arabia, residents of Al Qassim province witnessed a rare and dramatic phenomenon described as a "wall of dust" that swept through the region on Sunday
A powerful dust storm has blanketed large parts of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, triggering travel disruptions, flash floods and emergency evacuations.

Authorities in all three countries have issued red alerts and warned of further weather instability in the coming days.

Saudi Arabia: In central Saudi Arabia, residents of Al Qassim province witnessed a rare and dramatic phenomenon described as a "wall of dust" that swept through the region on Sunday, reducing visibility to near zero and prompting widespread safety warnings.

Videos shared on social media showed the sky turning orange as the storm surged forward like a towering wave, blocking out sunlight.


Comment: See also: Flash flood tragedy in Jordan: Belgian tourists found dead, 1,700 evacuated from Petra


Tsunami

Heavy rains continue to pound Puerto Rico, flooding streets and causing 2nd death

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Heavy rains continued to lash Puerto Rico and flash flood warnings persisted across the U.S. territory, submerging streets, stranding families and causing at least one death this weekend, authorities said on Sunday.

A 44-year-old man was killed and a 43-year-old woman hospitalized when a tree fell on their car as they were driving in the northern town of Toa Baja at 8:10 p.m. local time on Saturday, police said the next day, as the fierce rains that have pounded Puerto Rico for two weeks triggered a landslide.

That brings the total death toll from the rains over the past weeks to two, after a man who tried to drive his car through floodwaters was swept away and killed last Monday.

Authorities said Saturday's landslide sent a tree crashing into a highway in Toa Baja, and onto the hood of Febus Padilla's car. The woman in the passenger seat, Yesenia Díaz Pacheco, was in stable condition on Sunday, they said.


Lightning

2 siblings die in lightning strike in Bangladesh

Representational image
Representational image
Two siblings were killed when a thunderbolt struck them while catching fish in the River Jamuna in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura district on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Manmat Hawladar and Sabur Hawladar, sons of Kartik Hawladar from Boroitoli village.

Quoting witnesses, Jamirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sariakandi police station, said a streak of thunderbolt struck them while they were catching fish in Debdanga area in the river around 3:00pm, leaving them dead on the spot.

The bodies were later handed over to the family members of the deceased.

Tsunami

Flash flood tragedy in Jordan: Belgian tourists found dead, 1,700 evacuated from Petra

More than 1,700 tourists were evacuated on Sunday after heavy rainfall caused sudden flooding in parts of the archaeological site.
More than 1,700 tourists were evacuated on Sunday after heavy rainfall caused sudden flooding in parts of the archaeological site.
Jordanian search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of a Belgian mother and her son who went missing during flash floods in the Shoubak district, in southern Jordan.

The Public Security Directorate confirmed that the bodies were located and evacuated after hours of continuous search efforts by rescue teams operating under challenging weather and rugged terrain.

The authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The search operation involved coordinated efforts from civil defence, local police directorates and gendarmerie forces working across the southern region.


Cloud Lightning

Storm kills 10 in China as tourist boats capsize

An aerial photo shows search and rescue
© EPA-EFEAn aerial photo shows search and rescue operations at the site where boats capsized in southwest China's Guizhou province, May 4, 2025
A sudden storm in southwestern China's Guizhou province has capsized four boats, killing 10 people and injuring 70.

More than 80 people fell into the water, state media reported on Monday, when the rain and hailstorm struck the vessels on a stretch of the Wu River near Qianxi City on Sunday afternoon.

Rescue operations ran overnight. Initial reports said nine people had died, with one person missing. However, rescue personnel discovered the missing person, who "showed no signs of life", around noon, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

In one video shared by state media, a man could be seen performing CPR on a person, while one of the vessels drifted upside-down.

Initial reports suggested two tourist vessels had capsized. However, CCTV later confirmed that four boats were involved - two of which were not carrying passengers at the time - in the incident, which occurred on the upper reaches of the waterway, which is a tributary of the Yangtze River, China's longest.

The seven crew members on board the two vessels, carrying no passengers, managed to swim to safety, the broadcaster said.


Lightning

Lightning strike kills 8 sheep in Jordan

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Eight sheep owned by a local resident died Sunday evening in the Al-Ghweir area, south of Karak Governorate, after being struck by lightning during heavy rainfall across the region.

Karak Agriculture Director, Ma'moun Adaileh, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that an investigation is currently underway to examine the incident. The sheep owner reported that the animals perished after a lightning bolt struck a nearby power line.

Adaileh noted that lightning strikes are among the natural hazards that can lead to property damage and loss of life, particularly during the winter season and periods of weather instability.

Petra