Earth ChangesS


Fish

Second rare deep-sea oarfish washes up on Encinitas beach in California in 2024

A dead deep=sea oarfish is shown washed up on Grandview Beach in Encinitas on Nov. 7, 2024.
A dead deep-sea oarfish is shown washed up on Grandview Beach in Encinitas on Nov. 7, 2024.
For the second time this year, a rare deep-sea oarfish has washed ashore in San Diego County, giving scientists a chance to study the species without plumbing the depths of the ocean, it was announced Wednesday.

Last week, Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD candidate Alison Laferriere found the deceased 9.5-foot specimen at Grandview Beach in Encinitas — just the 21st of its species documented to have washed up on California beaches since 1901, officials said.

The previous 12.25-foot long fish was found in August by kayakers and snorkelers in La Jolla Cove.


Ben Frable, manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection — one of the largest collections of deep-sea fish in the world — contacted the NOAA Fisheries West Coast team to recover the specimen and transport it to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, according to a Scripps statement.


Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Red Alert on Pacific Coast as flooding worsens in Costa Rica - November rainfall already up to 10 times more than normal - 3 feet in 6 days

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The National Emergency Commission (CNE) in Costa Rica has issued a red alert for the Pacific coast as severe flooding and heavy rains continue. The rest of the country remains under an orange alert, with the Southern Caribbean under a yellow alert.

This heightened alert follows forecasts that the intense rainy conditions are expected to persist throughout the week. "Rainfall is projected to continue for the next several days, especially along the Costa Rican Pacific coast. Additionally, there is significant soil saturation across much of the country," the CNE reported.

In just six days, Guanacaste has recorded rainfall totals that typically match the entire month of November. "In some areas, rainfall levels have been 8, 9, or even 10 times the usual amount for November. If the average monthly rainfall is 130 millimeters, some areas have received up to 900 millimeters in just six days," explained meteorologist Daniel Poleo.

Many areas are experiencing unprecedented rainfall levels, with the North Pacific region especially impacted. "It's been an extraordinarily rainy month, which explains the numerous incidents in Guanacaste and the South Pacific," Poleo added.


Tsunami

Woman killed as flood waters wash away vehicles in Grenada - one month's rainfall in 6 hours (2.7 inches)

Screengrab of a vehicle being washed away along River Road, Grenada on November 12, 2024.
Screengrab of a vehicle being washed away along River Road, Grenada on November 12, 2024.
Authorities in Grenada have confirmed the discovery of a woman's body inside a vehicle that was swept away by floodwaters caused by excessive rainfall on Tuesday.

Head of the Community Relations Department, Inspector Maureen John, said that officers are now investigating the matter to determine whether the woman had been a victim of the floods. He said police are unable to confirm that her death was directly related to the flooding.

The Met Office at the Maurice Bishop International Airport said that 69 millimetres of rain had been recorded during the six-hour period on Tuesday and that it is equivalent to one month's rainfall.


Tsunami

Flood waters drag cars into sea near Catania, Italy

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Flood waters drag cars into sea near Catania
Flood waters tossed cars around in Torre Archirafi on Wednesday, dragging some into the sea, after the torrential rain that has hit Sicily turned streets into rivers in the town near Catania.

Local people made over 30 requests for help to the emergency services.

There were no reports of anyone being unaccounted for because of the extreme weather at the time of writing.

Firefighters rescued a number of motorists trapped in their cars by the floods in the town of Aci Sant'Antonio.

Another person was saved by the emergency services after their home was flooded in Acireale.

The fire brigade use an amphibious vehicle in Altarello to rescue four people, included two disabled, after the ground floor of a house was invaded by water.


Comment: Just 5 days prior in the same region: Bad weather and red alert in Catania, Italy critical situation in Acireale: flooded streets and people stuck in cars


Tsunami

Thousands evacuated as Malaga, Spain hit with nearly a month's rainfall in a day (incl. 3 inches in an hour)

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Severe thunderstorms and torrential rain have again battered coastal Spain, causing thousands of people to be evacuated just two weeks after the country experienced deadly flooding in Valencia and other nearby communities.

Over 4,000 people and a thousand homes have been evacuated in the Malaga area, according to a Thursday update from Antonio Sanz, the director of the Emergency Plan for the Risk of Flooding in Andalucia.

Five areas near the Guadalhorce riverbank were preemptively evacuated due to the risk of overflowing.

In just one hour, nearly a month's worth of rainfall inundated the city of Malaga, in Spain's Andalusia region, according to the country's meteorological agency AEMet. The southern Spanish province picked up roughly 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain so far on Wednesday, 78 millimeters (3 inches) of which fell within an hour. Malaga normally averages 100.5 millimeters in the month of November.


Doberman

14-month-old baby and old man die after attacks by stray dogs on same day in 2 separate incidents in Andhra Pradesh, India

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In a tragic incident in Andhra Pradesh's NTR district, a 14-month-old boy lost his life after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs, police reported. The boy was playing outside his home in Model Colony, Penuganchiprolu, when the dogs attacked him on Monday.

Despite being rushed to a nearby government hospital in Nandigama, the child succumbed to his injuries.

In the wake of the boy's death, his family and local villagers staged a protest at the old cinema hall in Penuganchiprolu, demanding a permanent solution to the stray dog issue. The protestors also called for justice for the child's death. Gopal Rao, the grieving father, shared that a group of stray dogs attacked his son while he was playing, causing his fatal injuries. He also noted that stray dogs have been roaming the village in large numbers.

Concerned parents in the area have expressed fear for their children's safety, now hesitant to allow them to play outside.

Comment: The Times of India reports on November 11:
A 70-year-old man, Angara Surya Rao, from Talavacharla village in Andhra Pradesh, passed away shortly after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs. While he was taken to a local health center, his death within an hour raised questions about the cause. Authorities are investigating whether the dog bites or other age-related factors contributed to his demise.

A man died one hour after being bitten by a pack of stray dogs in Konaseema district on Monday. The deceased, identified as 70-year-old Angara Surya Rao from Talavacharla village in Alamuru Mandal, was attacked by stray dogs on Monday morning and was admitted to the Community Health Centre in Alamuru.



Tsunami

South Trinidad floods in a flash - Heavy showers after weeks of intense heat

DEAD UNDER WATER:
© Lincoln HolderDEAD UNDER WATER: Sharp, heavy showers led to widespread flash flooding leaving many areas in south Trinidad, including the Batchyia cemetery in Penal, under water on November 12.
Weeks of relentless, intense heat gave way to heavy, sustained rainfall on November 12 which quickly led to flash flooding in several low-lying areas in south Trinidad.

So severe was the weather that the Met Office placed TT on a yellow-level flood alert between 10.15 am-3.30 pm on November 12.

The flooding was widespread in the south land as to affect classes at several schools, led to residents being marooned in their homes. Even the dead was affected as flood waters inundated the Batchyia public cemetery in Penal, with this final resting spot for many being transformed into a lake.

For several hours, only the tops of headstones and metal crosses were visible in the cemetery while dozens of graves which had neither headstone nor crosses, were completely hidden under the water.

The downpours began before the break of dawn, and by mid-morning, water levels in some areas in Debe, Siparia and outlying areas had risen to as much as three feet.


Cloud Lightning

Floods in South Sudan affect 1.4M people - The worst in decades

sudan floods

Over 379,000 people displaced by flooding, says UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in East African country

Devastating flooding in South Sudan affected around 1.4 million people, and displaced 379,000 others, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the East African country said on Saturday.

"About 1.4 million people are affected by flooding in 43 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, with Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states comprising more than 51 per cent of the affected population," OCHA said in a statement.

It added that over 379,000 people were displaced in 22 counties and Abyei.

Cloud Lightning

Massive floods in Colombia affect tens of thousands

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Colombia has been impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding for several days, affecting tens of thousands of people, particularly in the department of Choco. The Pacific and Caribbean regions are on red alert, as the government considers declaring a national disaster.

So far, no fatalities have been reported, but the material damages are already counted in millions of dollars.

In recent days, rains have affected 186 municipalities across 27 departments in Colombia, provoking floods that have impacted over 46,000 families. The departments with the most emergencies are La Guajira, Huila, Choco, Norte de Santander and Cauca.


Binoculars

Rare snow goose spotted for first time in Hebei, China

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A rare snow goose is spotted for the first time at the Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 12, 2024.

The number of bird species recorded in Hengshui Lake has increased from 334 to 335.

Snow Goose Range Map
Snow Goose - Range Map