Earth Changes

Thousands evacuate fast-moving California wildfire, homes burn

Fred Greaves
Reuters
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 17:48 UTC

© REUTERS/Fred Greaves
A home is consumed by flames in the River Fire, a wildfire burning in Grass Valley, California, U.S., August 4, 2021.

A rapidly spreading wildfire burned homes and forced thousands to evacuate in two heavily wooded counties northeast of Sacramento in Northern California on Wednesday, generating a towering plume of smoke visible from at least 70 miles (110 km) away.

The so-called River Fire scorched 1,400 acres (566 hectares) in Placer and Nevada counties, with 1,000 acres burnt within the first two hours, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

The River Fire was less than 100 miles (160 km) south of the enduring Dixie Fire, which according to Cal Fire has consumed 278,000 acres and was only 35% contained three weeks after it started.

Social media images showed the Dixie Fire on Wednesday had destroyed multiple structures in one section of Greenville, a town of about 800 people in Plumas County.

Athens: Major fire prompts evacuation of residential areas

Euronews
Thu, 05 Aug 2021 12:12 UTC

A major blaze threatened northern suburbs of the Greek capital

A fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Varybobi, a northern suburb of Athens.

The Greek national road, which runs from Athens to Lamia has been closed due to the blaze.

The fire is thought to have started in the nearby heavily forested area of Kryoneri, but has spread significantly throughout the afternoon.

Evacuation of Varibobi was ordered short after 4:30 p.m.

As the blaze is near some power substation there are reports of problems in the power surge and thus on the hottest day in the Greek capital where over 42 degrees Celsius are being recorded.

Thousands stranded in Madhya Pradesh, India after rivers reach record highs - Up to 18 inches of rain within 24 hours

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:05 UTC

Floods in Madhya Pradesh, India, 02 August 2021.

Air Force, Army and Disaster Response Forces have rescued thousands of people stranded by flooding in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh described the flood situation as grim. He said in a statement of 04 August that flooding has affected 1,225 villages in Shivpuri, Sheopur, Datia, Gwalior, Guna, Bhind and Morena districts.

Bridges and roads have been wiped out and teams from Air Force, Army and National and State Disaster Response Forces have been deployed across affected areas to help rescue victims marooned or trapped in flooded areas. The Chief Minister said about 5,950 people have been moved safely, with a further 1,400 still requiring rescue.

Rare snowfall blankets swathes of Bolivia and Peru

Yahoo! News
Thu, 05 Aug 2021 10:05 UTC

In Potosi, Bolivia temperatures dripped below zero, providing the perfect climate for the downpour of snow.

Some locals threw snowballs in the town square in delight, while across town a soccer match was suspended amid the rare snowy conditions.

In Arequipa, Peru vehicles were left stranded after snow covered the landscape, blanketing roads into a sheet of ice.

The cold weather is expected to continue in Bolivia and Peru for the remainder of the week.

Source: Reuters

Comment: Elsewhere in South America recently: Cold wave brings rare snow to 13 Brazilian cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul - Also to Northern Argentina and Uruguay

Fierce cold weather leaves Brazilian authorities scrambling to support homeless population

Monsoon fury in India: Floods hit the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal - Landslides in Himachal and Uttarakhand

India Today
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:13 UTC

Rajasthan: Dramatic rescue operation of 40 passengers stuck in a bus in overflowing stream

Monsoons wreak havoc in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Landslides are reported in several areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand leading to road blockage.

Meanwhile, flash floods due to heavy rainfall hit Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.

Woman dies after getting caught in flash flood in Arizona canyon

Courier Journal
Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:33 UTC

File image: Labyrinth Canyon, Lake Powell, Page, AZ

Authorities are investigating the death of a Kentucky woman who was caught in a flash flood in a canyon near the Arizona-Utah border.

Coconino County Sheriff's officials said they received a call Saturday evening about a possible drowning at Labyrinth Canyon on Lake Powell.

They said 43-year-old Heather Rutledge, of Louisville, was hiking the canyon Saturday afternoon with her husband and three sons when they were all caught in a flash flood.

Strong tornado hits Andreapol town in Tver Oblast, Russia

FA Climate, Weather and Atmosphere
YouTube
Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:07 UTC

Incredible footage of the tornado in Andreapol, Tver region in Russia today (August 2, 2021).

1 dead as severe flash floods hit Utah for second time in a week

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:40 UTC

Scene of the flash floods that struck in Emery County, Utah, 01 to 02 August 2021.

Heavy rain has triggered more flash floods, mudslides and debris flows in areas of Utah, USA. One person died after being swept away by floods in Emery County. Areas of Cedar City and Iron County were also affected, just days after severe flooding on 26 July 2021.

Meanwhile in Colorado, massive mudslides have blocked major roads and left 100 people in vehicles stranded overnight.

Deadly Floods in Utah

Emery County Sheriff's Office reported 3 vehicles carrying miners working in the area were swept away flash floods in a canyon near the Gentry Mountain coal mine. "At approximately 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, 2021, as mine crews were heading up the hill to enter the Gentry Mountain coal mine, crews witnessed a wall of water and debris coming down Bear Canyon, the Sheriff's Office said."

Nine people survived but was one of the miners died when he was swept away and carried downstream. His body was later found after Emery County Sheriff's Office and Emery County Search and Rescue searched throughout the night.

At least 16 members of wedding party killed by lightning bolt in Bangladesh

Daily Bangladesh
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 09:17 UTC

The boat, carrying the marriage party

Sixteen members of a wedding party were killed in a lightning strike on the banks of the river Padma in a boat at Shibganj Upazila in Chapainawabganj.

The incident took place around 12:30 pm on Wednesday. Six more people were injured in the incident.

Shibganj police Station OC Md Farid Hossain confirmed the matter to Daily Bangladesh.

The injured were admitted to Upazila Health Complex, Shibganj Upazila Project Implementation Officer Engineer Ariful Islam said, adding that the death toll is likely to rise further.

At least eight dead as wildfires rip through southern Turkey

Evening Standard
Tue, 03 Aug 2021 05:28 UTC

Parts of southern Turkey has been left devastated by the wildfires. Thousands have had to evacuate their homes after the fires ravaged through towns and villages. At least eight people have died in the blazes while villagers lost their homes and farm animals.

Some residents have scrambled to save their livestock, struggling to get them to safety. Turkish farmer Nurten Almaz said she lost everything including her home, her animals and "one century of people's labour". "I feel so much pain, like I lost a child," she added. The country has launched an international appeal for help in taming the fires.