Earth ChangesS


Seismograph

Shallow 6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Macquarie Island region

Epicenter of Tuesday's earthquake in the South Pacific
Epicenter of Tuesday's earthquake in the South Pacific
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck near the Macquarie Island in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake was registered at 2:53 pm UTC at a depth of 10 kilometers, in the region of the subantarctic Macquarie Island, which is located about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and has no permanent inhabitants.

Meanwhile, a little bit earlier, at 1:16 pm UTC, another earthquake was registered closer to New Zealand, marking a magnitude of 6.2. Its epicenter was recorded 286 kilometers southwest of New Zealand's seaport town of Bluff, which has a population of 1,840 and is located on the southern coast of the country's South Island.

The US Tsunami Warning Center issued no tsunami warnings following the earthquakes.

Comment: Related: Shallow 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits off New Zealand


Seismograph

Shallow 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits off New Zealand

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A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has hit off the west coast of New Zealand.

There is no tsunami warning, News.Az reports citing foreign media.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake occurred shortly after 1 a.m. local time. It was 187 miles (300 kilometers) southwest of Invercargill, New Zealand, and six miles (10 kilometers) under the sea.

Monitors in New Zealand described the quake as moderate. There were no immediate reports of damage.

New Zealand, which is home to 5 million people, sits on the ''Ring of Fire,'' an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanoes are common.

Tornado2

Spectacular waterspout filmed from airplane over Phuket, Thailand on April 25

Plane passengers film incredible view of waterspout
Plane passengers film incredible view of waterspout
On the approach to Phuket in Thailand, airplane passengers were treated to an unusual view on April 25. A huge waterspout was circling the island.


Attention

17 killed by elephants in 4 months in Kerala, India

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The people from tribal communities are traditionally known for their coexistence with wild animals. But Kerala is witnessing frequent deaths of persons from tribal communities in wild elephant attacks.

According to wildlife protection activists, out of the 17 deaths due to wild elephant attacks reported in the state so far this year, at least 14 victims were from the tribal communities. Kali, 63 of Attapadi in Palakkad and Arumugahm, 67, of Meppadi in Wayanad are the latest in the list. The two were killed last week.

Changes in behaviour of elephants owing to illegal human interventions in forests and evading traditional knowledge among the people of tribal communities in understanding the forests and the wildlife are pointed out by experts as possible reasons for the tribal persons coming under fatal attack of wild elephants.

Lightning

Lightning strike kills 15 cattle in Bhutan

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A lightning strike yesterday morning killed 15 cattle in Bamengang village (Mithun), located along the border between Norbugang and Dophuchen gewogs in Samtse Dzongkhag.

According to Dophuchen Mangmi, who led gewog officials to the site, a three-hour walk from the nearest road, the lightning strike occurred between 4 am and 4:30 am. Of the 25 cattle belonging to four households, 10 survived the incident.

A couple who had been tending to the herd escaped unharmed, although some of their belongings were reportedly burned in the strike.

Local authorities are compiling a report, which will be submitted to the dzongkhag administration before being forwarded to the relevant ministry for further action.

Cloud Precipitation

Extreme hailstorm wreaks havoc in Romania - flooded streets and yards covered with thick layer of ice

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The torrential rains and hail announced yesterday by the National Meteorological Agency (ANM) wreaked havoc in much of the country, flooding several streets and covering people's yards with a thick layer of ice.

Among the counties and cities most affected by the ANM weather warnings for bad weather are Brașov, Vâlcea, Dâmbovița, Arad, as seen in the images posted by Meteoplus on its Facebook page.

In Brașov, in the Râșnov area, torrential rain flooded entire streets, which were also covered in "lumps" of hail.

In Nicolae Bălcescu commune in Vâlcea county, people's yards were covered with a layer of hail, which looks like snow, even though we are officially past the middle of spring.


Arrow Down

Tragic landslide in Algeria claims 4 lives

devastating landslide in Oran, Algeria
Devastating landslide in Oran, Algeria
In a tragedy that shocked Algeria, four people died, and 13 others were injured in a landslide incident that occurred from Saturday night to Sunday morning, which led to the collapse of fragile tin houses in the Pine neighborhood (known as Planter) in Oran, western Algeria.

Civil Protection authorities reported that the final toll from the incident reached four deaths from one family (a mother and three children). The collapse also injured 13 other people, aged between 12 and 75 years, who were given first aid and transferred to the hospital.

According to the same source, the incident led to the collapse of five tin houses in a place called "Ard Shabat" in the municipality and district of Oran, where the rescue operation began around midnight. To retrieve the victims, 150 Civil Protection personnel from various ranks, four trucks, five ambulances, and a search and rescue team for rugged areas, along with a team supported by trained dogs, were deployed.


Arrow Down

Three dead, terrifying footage as landslide after heavy rainfall hits vehicle in Samsun, Turkey

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A landslide occurred in the Canik district of Samsun, Turkey, resulting in a vehicle being trapped under rubble, reportedly killing three people.

According to foreign media, the incident occurred near a gas station, specifically in the car wash area near a shopping mall on the Samsun-Ordu highway.

The landslide, which was caused by rocks and soil falling from a nearby mountain, trapped the vehicle and search and rescue teams have been dispatched to the area.

According to initial reports, one person was rescued from the rubble, while a father lost his life in the landslide along with his two daughters.


Attention

Man dies after pig attack in Belize

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© Nathan Stirk/Getty Images
A Belizean man was fatally injured during an encounter with a loose pig. This incident has sparked concerns among netizens, urging livestock owners to secure their animals more carefully to prevent tragedies in future. The victim has been identified as Anthony Andrewin, a villager from Gales Point Manatee.

What actually happened with Anthony Andrewin

As per reports, the pig broke free from its pen in the village and was in Andrewin's yard. When Andrewin tried to escape from pig and attempted to drive it away, the animal turned on him and bit him in the leg, causing a massive wound.

Andrewin was being taken for treatment but reportedly died from excessive bleeding along the way to the hospital. Shedding light on the incident, the Chairman of the Village, Jason Altschaft said that the village has been having some issues with domestic pigs because many owners have not been able to keep their animals penned.

Volcano

New eruptions at Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano, ash column 4,000 meters high

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano spewing vulcanic materials during an eruption as seen from Pululera village in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province on April 27, 2025.
© ReutersMount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano spewing vulcanic materials during an eruption as seen from Pululera village in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province on April 27, 2025.
The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores remains highly active following eruptions on Saturday and Sunday (April 26-27) that spewed ash high clouds high into the sky.

According to Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, the ash column from both eruptions reached a height of 4,000m.

Witness accounts said the latest eruption was accompanied by a loud bang.

Authorities warned residents and visitors to stay at least 6km away from the centre of Lewotobi Laki-Laki.