Earth ChangesS


Hardhat

Intense hailstorm with giant hail hits Fujian, China

Giant hailstone in Fujian, China - March 3, 2025.
© Eric WangGiant hailstone in Fujian, China - March 3, 2025.
A severe hailstorm battered Zhangpu, Fujian Province, on March 2 - 3, 2025, unleashing hailstones reportedly as large as 14 cm (5.5 inches) in diameter.

If confirmed by the China Meteorological Administration, this could rank among the largest hailstones ever recorded in China.

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Tsunami

Cars swept away after flooding turns streets into rivers in Gran Canaria, Spain

The Atlantic Ocean appears to have claimed several cars after flood waters washed them away
© Lily AshThe Atlantic Ocean appears to have claimed several cars after flood waters washed them away
Floods swept cars down ravines and into the sea after heavy rain hit nearby hills in Spain's Canary Islands.

Passersby yanked one woman from car as it was starting to be dragged away by fast, muddy water overflowing from a stream on Gran Canaria.

Moments before, another vehicle had been battered against the banks and bridge as it was washed away on Monday.

The hardest hit region was Telde, in the east of the island, where the local authority has closed the beach and warned against travel.

Cars have been spotted floating in the sea off the coast. Remarkably, no injuries have been reported.


Attention

Philippines shark attack: 2 tourists killed at popular diving spot

Great white shark
Two tourists were reportedly killed by sharks in the Philippines after getting swept away by an undercurrent at a popular diving location.

The divers, identified as Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, from Russia, were in an area off Verde Island known for its vibrant marine life and corals when they were carried away Thursday towards a group of hungry sharks that were resurfacing, according to Viral Press.

"There was a strong current, and the group were separated. Two of them who were with the master diver were able to return to their boat, but the other two failed to resurface," Philippine Coast Guard Captain Airland Lapitan told Viral Press.

"We had a difficult time recovering one of the divers because there were sharks circling around the body," he added. "We believe the individual was attacked by sharks because their right hand was missing."

Fire

Evacuation orders issued as 175 wildfires erupt across South and North Carolina

wildfire north south carolina
© Brandon RunnellsSmoke rises from a wildfire in the Carolina Forest in Horry County, South Carolina, Mar. 1, 2025.
The cause of the Carolina Forest Fire is under investigation. The blaze erupted amid wind gusts of up to 40 mph and extremely dry conditions, fire officials said.

A fire in Horry County north of the Carolina Forest had scorched more than 300 acres by Sunday morning and was burning out of control, officials said.

Red flag fire danger warnings were issued across South Carolina.

"Our first responders are risking their lives to contain many fires across South Carolina tonight," McMaster said on Saturday.

Video footage captured plumes of smoke and flames wafting above a tree line and houses in the Carolina Forest.

Cloud Precipitation

Severe flooding in Spain's Almería strands tourists, triggers rescues

an elderly couple had to be rescued from their caravan amid flash floods in southern Spain.
An elderly couple had to be rescued from their caravan amid flash floods in southern Spain.
Torrential rains have caused severe flooding in Almería, Spain, leaving tourists stranded and prompting urgent rescues. The Spanish Civil Guard evacuated French nationals caught in rising waters as storms battered the region. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as extreme weather impacts southern Spain.


Snowflake

Close to 50 cms (19.6 inches) of snow in March fell overnight in mountainous regions of Gangwon Province, South Korea

A cafe in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is covered in snow on Monday.
© YonhapA cafe in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is covered in snow on Monday.
South Korea was hit by heavy rain and snow from Sunday night to Monday, causing travel disruptions and safety concerns, with more snow and rain forecast nationwide starting Tuesday morning.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heavy snow was observed overnight in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong provinces.

Monday's heavy snowfall resulted in several accidents in different parts of the country, though no injuries or deaths were reported as of 11 a.m. Four reports were made to officials regarding stranded vehicles, leading to the rescue of 10 people. Eleven traffic accidents were also reported and 51 additional safety reports were made to officials regarding accumulated snow.

As of 11 a.m., 53 ferry services were canceled and 10 flights were grounded. Thirteen national parks remain closed to the public while 13 roads have been closed off to prevent further safety incidents.


Attention

Dead fin whale washes ashore near Delaware Memorial Bridge

Daniel Ritter from Ritter Dragonfly Dronography captured this image of a dead whale at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Pigeon Point, Delaware, just north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge
© Daniel RitterDaniel Ritter from Ritter Dragonfly Dronography captured this image of a dead whale at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Pigeon Point, Delaware, just north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
New video shows a dead whale that washed ashore in Delaware.

Drone pilot RITTER Dragonfly Dronography released a video of the dead whale just north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Delaware, on Sunday, though there were reports of the mammal being spotted ashore as early as last week.

Officials with the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation (MERR) Institute told NBC10 the whale is a 35-foot fin whale. They believe the whale is a juvenile since the species can grow up to 80 feet long. The MERR is currently working with the United States Coast Guard and other officials on a plan to move the whale to a different location.

The fin whale is the second largest whale species on earth, behind only the blue whale, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

There are three subspecies of fin whale that are known to travel in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, the Southern Ocean and the mid-latitude Southern Ocean. Over the years, fin whales have been threatened by vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, ocean noise and climate change, according to the NOAA.


Arrow Down

Avalanche traps 42 workers under snow near India-Tibet border - 7 killed (UPDATE)

Rescuers carry workers after an avalanch
© State Disaster Response ForceRescuers carry workers after an avalanche near Mana village in Chamoli district of India's Uttarakhand state on February 28, 2025
More than 40 construction workers are trapped under the snow due to an avalanche near India's border with Tibet.

Blizzard-like conditions caused the avalanche on Friday at a camp near the mountain village of Mana in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

It initially trapped 57 workers who were clearing out snow from the camp. Fifteen of them were rescued while 42 are still missing, said Ridhim Agarwal, an official from the state's disaster relief force.

Disaster response teams are trying to reach the trapped workers at the high-altitude camp, which had been under an avalanche warning since Thursday evening, according to Indian media reports.

However, the treacherous weather is hampering their efforts, said Deepam Seth, the state's top police officer.


Comment: Update March 2

The Statesman reports:
The death toll in the Uttarakhand avalanche disaster has risen to seven after rescue teams recovered three more bodies of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers on Sunday.

The victims were buried under a mass of glacier and snow near Mana village, ahead of the Badrinath shrine. One worker remains missing.

According to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Department, the three recovered bodies belonged to BRO workers trapped under the avalanche at Mana.

"The death toll of BRO workers in the Mana avalanche has reached seven, as three more bodies were discovered by rescue teams on Sunday. The deceased workers were from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh," said Vinod Suman, Secretary, State Disaster Management.

The bodies of all seven victims have been sent for post-mortem to Joshimath, and arrangements will be made to transport them to their respective hometowns.



Arrow Down

Enormous sinkhole suddenly opens up and swallows car in Taiwan on February 27

mmmmm
This is the terrifying moment a massive sinkhole opens up in the middle of a commercial district in Hsinchu County, Taiwan on February 27. Officials say they discovered the entire platform had been illegally built to provide more parking space, and was held up by steel beams that had rusted and collapsed. An unoccupied vehicle fell into the hole, no one was injured.


Fire

Thousands evacuated as Japan's biggest fire in decades continues to burn

A wildfire in Ofunato, Japan, on March 2.
© Hidenori Nagai/The YomiuriA wildfire in Ofunato, Japan, on March 2.
Japan has deployed more than 2,000 firefighters to battle the country's biggest forest fire in three decades.

At least one person has died in the blaze, which has torched more than 5,200 acres around the northern Japanese city of Ofunato since Thursday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA).

Although January to March is typically Ofunato's driest season, the area saw less rainfall last month than any February in more than 20 years - recording just 2.5 millimetres, compared to the usual average of 41.

About 4,600 people remain under government-issued evacuation orders as the fire continues to burn.

Some 2,000 have already left the area to stay with friends or relatives, and more than 1,200 have evacuated to shelters, officials said.