Earth ChangesS


Fire

Indonesia: Marapi volcano erupts for second time in just over a month

Mount Marapi spews volcanic material from its crater during an eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on January 14, 2024.
© Givo Alputra/APMount Marapi spews volcanic material from its crater during an eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on January 14, 2024.
Indonesia's Marapi volcano has erupted for the second time in weeks, the country's geological agency said Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the 2,891-meter-high (9,500 feet) volcano began erupting at 6 a.m. local time (6 p.m.ET).

The volcano in West Sumatra province erupted at least twice, the agency said according to Reuters.

Reuters also reported nearby houses, vehicles and evacuation tents set up by the local disaster agency were covered in volcanic ash.


Sun

Birds 'falling from trees' as Aussie town on verge of record heat streak

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According to one local, birds are not coping well with the ongoing heat.
The history books are on the verge of being re-written with one Aussie town so hot that birds are reportedly falling from trees. Resident of Western Australia have been warned to brace for more extreme heat this weekend as one of the country's hottest towns continues to swelter through a brutal four-week stretch of daily maximum temperatures above 43C.

The temperature peaked at 45C in Marble Bar, in northwest Western Australia on Friday. If the streak continues through to Monday, it will be the town's longest run of consecutive days where the mercury has risen to such uncomfortable heights.

Caravan park manager Cath Nation said the extreme heat was tough on the small outback town and most people retreated indoors by about 9am each day to escape it. But sadly, most wildlife don't have the same luxury and as a result have been paying the price.

"We've got birds dropping out of trees," she told AAP. "I was just taking a walk down near the camp kitchen and there were dead birds laying there, carked it, keeled over, too hot."

Comment: Meanwhile over the same 4 week-period the eastern side of the country has endured record-breaking floods:


Snowflake Cold

Arctic freeze continues to blast huge swaths of the US with sub-zero temperatures

Ice forms along a dam built in the Des Moines River as temperatures remain below zero Fahrenheit on January 14, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa.
© Joe RaedleIce forms along a dam built in the Des Moines River as temperatures remain below zero Fahrenheit on January 14, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa.
A dangerous Arctic blast will continue sweeping across the U.S. on Monday and linger through at least midweek, prolonging a bitter cold that set record-low temperatures in parts of the country and threatens to further disrupt daily life, including an NFL playoff game and the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating contest in Iowa.

The National Weather Service said wind chills are expected to push temperatures 30 degrees below zero from the Northern Rockies to northern Kansas and into Iowa, testing the hardiness of caucusgoers willing to brave the deep chill on Monday.

"You can't sit home," former President Donald Trump told supporters Sunday. "If you're sick as a dog, you say, 'Darling, I gotta make it.' Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it."


Snowflake Cold

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: The Great Freeze Are You Prepared?

A worker helps remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024.
A worker helps remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024.
Looking at almost every forecast model, the Arctic air front moving across North America will trip off power grids from both Canada to the USA all drawing record electricity demand. We have not seen an event like this before and expect power outages. Repair parts for damaged infrastructure is far delayed because of shipping disruptions across the planet. Help is far away, you are on your own through this event.


Fire

Iceland volcano erupts, threatening fishing town of Grindavik

grindavik volcano iceland
© The informant/XIceland's volcano has erupted for the second time, now being dangerously close to the city of Grindavík.
The eruption followed a series of hundreds of earthquakes which prompted the evacuation of Grindavik

A volcano in southwest Iceland sent lava cascading towards the fishing town of Grindavik early on Sunday, after hundreds of earthquakes shook the region and forced the evacuation of residents overnight. The incident occurred less than a month after another powerful eruption in the region.

Saturday's seismic activity, often a calling card for an imminent eruption, prompted officials to evacuate the town, about 32 miles southwest of the capital Reykjavik, hours ahead of the volcanic event - which occurred at about 8am GMT.

The latest eruption, on the Reykjanes Peninsula where a string of volcanoes are located, follows a fissure last month that erupted and emitted a river of lava. The molten rock flowed away from Grindavik on that occasion. Residents were permitted to return to the town on December 22, about six weeks after they had been initially evacuated from their homes following weeks of earthquakes.

Airplane

Over 2,000 flights canceled across US as major winter storms move in

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Over 2,000 flights have been canceled nationwide Friday as the Midwest is pummeled by snow and the South and Northeast brace for rough weather of their own.

The Midwest and the Great Lakes are facing blizzard warnings on Friday.

Whiteout conditions, heavy snow, wind gusts up to 50mph and low visibility will continue through rush hour Friday night from Iowa to the Great Lakes, including Chicago.

Days ahead of Monday's Iowa caucuses, the National Weather Service in Des Moines is urging drivers to stay off the roads.

The weather is also crippling travel by road and air in Illinois.


Arrow Down

36 dead in Colombian highway landslide due to heavy rain (UPDATE)

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Eighteen people were killed and 35 injured in a landslide in the Choco region of Colombia on a highway near the town of Carmen de Atrato.

The landslide occurred due to heavy rains.

Governor of Antioquia, Andres Julian Rendon, said search and rescue teams had been dispatched to the region and many victims were trapped under the soil.

Vice President Francia Marquez wrote on X that the government is closely monitoring the situation.

An announcement from the Emergency Center said it received reports of landslides simultaneously, and it was noted that many more victims could be under the soil than initially thought.


Comment: Update January 15

AFP reports:
The death toll from recent landslides in northwestern Colombia rose to 36, according to an official tally Sunday, as rescuers continued to look for at least seven people.

Earlier, officials had put the toll from Friday's landslides, which hit a road linking the cities of Medellin and Quibdo, at 23 dead.

"To all the families of the victims, my heartfelt condolences," said President Gustavo Petro.

Pope Francis also offered prayers for the victims from the Vatican.

Rescuers, using sniffer dogs and bulldozers, have been racing against the clock to find survivors.

Videos shared on social media showed part of a mountain breaking loose and crashing down onto a line of cars, as screams broke out.

The landslides in Colombia's Choco department, which lies on the Pacific Ocean, followed more than 24 hours of intense rain.

The Ombudsman's Office warned of "high risk of new landslides."

"We call for all necessary actions to be taken in order to safeguard the lives of people who are at risk in the area," the office said in a bulletin.



Doberman

Toddler dies in attack by stray dogs in Bhopal, India

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Stray dogs have long been a subject of debate in India. The problem of stray dogs and bite cases became widespread in India.

In horrific, dreadful and fatal incident, a seven-month-old toddler was mauled to death by stray dogs in Bhopal.

The heart-wrenching incident unfolded in the Ayodhya Nagar area on Wednesday. The dreadful incident was captured in a video that subsequently went viral on social media, prompting the police and administration to take notice.

According to the official statement, the authorities exhumed the baby's body, which had been buried by the family on the day of the incident, and sent it for post-mortem on Saturday.

Cloud Lightning

Lightning kills man on Fiji

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A man died at Keolaiya settlement in Sabeto, Nadi on Thursday afternoon after being struck by lightning.

The victim Satendra Kumar was last seen working in his garden before he was found lying motionless on the ground.

Police spokesman Wame Boutolu said the incident took place about 2.30pm.

"A 60-year-old, farmer while at his cassava farm was found lying motionless with burnt smell from his body and torn shirt believed to be struck by a lightning," he said.

Investigation continues.

Attention

East coast mud volcano erupts in Trinidad

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The mud volcano at Cascadoux Trace off the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road on Trinidad's east coast, erupted on Thursday evening.

Three homes near the agricultural village of Kernahan, have been evacuated, according to reports.

There are no reports of damage or injury.

Police, fire officers, and officials of the Disaster Management Unit of the Rio Claro/Mayaro Regional Corporation went to the area.

People reported seeing mud spewing as high as 15 feet.