Earth ChangesS


Arrow Down

Moment massive sinkhole first opened in New Jersey revealed in new video: 'Never seen anything like this'

Zoe Hussain
NY Post
Mon, 19 May 2025 18:26 UTC
new jersey sinkhole
© WABC

A stunning new video shows the moments after a massive sinkhole first swallowed the side of a New Jersey interstate.

Police bodycam footage obtained by ABC7 captured the moment cops drove up to the edge of a mammoth sinkhole that opened up on Route 80 in Wharton the day after Christmas.

The sinkhole, which created a giant crater along the shoulder of the road, has caused a shutdown of the roadway since December.WABC

"Look at how far it goes under there ... we just went by and said 'Holy ... !'" a man who witnessed the sinkhole collapse told a trooper in the footage.

"I've never seen anything like this," another man said while steam appeared to rise from the giant opening.
Read More...
Tornado1

Best of the Web: Tornadoes, storms kill more than 30 in the US: over 5,000 homes affected after cyclonic storm hits St Louis (UPDATE)


Lokmat Times
Sat, 17 May 2025 11:06 UTC
mmmmmm
At least five people have been killed after a severe cyclonic storm landed in St Louis, Missouri, United States on Friday afternoon, May 16. Authorities are searching for others trapped inside the debris of the building. The tornado uprooted roofs off buildings, blew out windows, ripped bricks off siding, and also uprooted trees, and a power outage was also reported in the area.

As per St Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, over 5,000 homes were affected, and several people were displaced. About 100,000 residents were left in the dark in the city as a power outage was reported on Friday night. An overnight curfew was imposed in the city, and an emergency was declared after damages were reported in several places. "This is truly, truly devastating," Spencer said.


Comment: Update May 18

USA TODAY reports:
Tornadoes and severe weather tore through the Upper Midwest and the Mideast U.S. on May 16 killing more than 30 and leaving many damaged homes and downed power lines.

A day after several tornadoes reportedly touched down and caused "significant damage" in western and central Wisconsin, at least 23 are reported dead in Kentucky where tornadoes and severe storms ravaged the region on May 16. Seven more deaths were reported in Missouri. Two died in Virginia in separate incidents with trees falling on their vehicles, officials said.

Forecasts of severe weather continue throughout the weekend with about 50 million people from Texas to New York at risk for tornadoes and thunderstorms on May 17 and 18, according to AccuWeather.







Read More...
Shamrock

Best of the Web: Flood-hit outback in Australia turns lush green in stunning once-in-a-generation transformation

Katharina Loesche
7news.com.au
Sun, 18 May 2025 11:03 UTC
The revival locals want you to see
The revival locals want you to see
The unforgiving red earth of the Australian outback has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation — and locals are calling it a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to witness Mother Nature at her finest.

After months of devastating floods triggered by the double punch of Cyclones Alfred and Dianne, the vast, sun-scorched heart of Queensland has now burst into colour and life.

Where there was once dust and drought there is now grass, greenery and flowers stretching as far as the eye can see.

"Mother Nature has put on this great show for us," southwest region Quilpie Shire Mayor Ben Hall said.

"The smell ... the fragrance ... the beauty ... the vastness of the fields of wildflowers."

From above, the Channel Country of southwest Queensland resembles a network of veins — rivers and streams pumping lifeblood into the land, reviving grasses, blooms and everything in between.

Read More...
Arrow Down

Landslide triggered by torrential rains at gold mine in Indonesia's Papua kills 6 with 14 missing


channelnewsasia.com
Mon, 19 May 2025 10:42 UTC
Landslide at gold mine in Papua
© Badan Nasional Penanggulangan BencanaLandslide at gold mine in Papua
Torrential rains forced a halt on Monday (May 19) to Indonesia's search for 14 missing in its easternmost region of Papua after a landslide killed six workers at a gold mine and injured four, officials said.

The rains had triggered Friday's landslide, which hit a small mine run by residents of the Arfak mountains of West Papua province, said Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

Authorities will resume on Tuesday their search for those missing after the disaster, which engulfed temporary shelters used by miners.

The search effort was hampered by "damaged roads and mountainous tracks as well as bad weather", Yefri Sabaruddin, the head of a team of 40 rescuers, including police and military officials, who retrieved five bodies, told Reuters.

Read More...
Lightning

Man dies in lightning strike after phone explodes mid-call in Chhattisgarh, India

Sumi Rajappan
India Today
Mon, 19 May 2025 09:56 UTC
According to the victim's family, he had stepped out of his house on Friday evening and was speaking over the phone when he was struck by lightning. (Representative image)
According to the victim's family, he had stepped out of his house on Friday evening and was speaking over the phone when he was struck by lightning. (Representative image)
A 30-year-old man died after being struck by lightning while he was speaking over the phone in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors, after considering the seriousness of his injuries, referred him to the district hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

According to his family members, the victim, Rohit Kumar Sinha, had stepped out of his house on Friday evening and was speaking over the phone when he was struck by lightning. This caused the mobile phone in his hand to explode, leading to his death.

"He had returned home from work and had stepped out to inspect the ongoing toilet construction work at his house when he was struck by lightning," said a relative of the victim.

"The mobile phone attracted lightning and this was likely the reason behind the blast, leading to the death of the victim," said a doctor who attended to Rohit.

According to the doctor, mobile phones contain radiation and magnetic components, which attract lightning strikes.
Read More...
Lightning

Lightning strike kills 22 sheep in Nepal

DB Budha
The Kathmandu Post
Sun, 18 May 2025 09:50 UTC
NNNNNNNN
At least 22 sheep were killed in a lightning strike in the highland pastures of Jhuleli Patan in ward 2 of Guthichaur Rural Municipality in Jumla on Saturday evening, according to local officials.

The lightning struck a flock of sheep as they had taken shelter under a tree during rainfall. The incident resulted in the death of 16 sheep belonging to Hirabahadur Aidi and six belonging to Dhankrishna Rokaya, both residents of ward 2 of Guthichaur.

Local farmers often drive their sheep to remote pastures for grazing during the season due to a lack of suitable grazing land near their homes. "We were bringing the sheep back home after grazing in the Patan flats when the rain began. The animals had gathered under a tree for shelter when the lightning struck," said ward member Dhan Bahadur Bohara. "It took away their source of happiness."
Read More...
Tsunami

Floods kill 3, leave 1 missing in Guangxi, China

Li Wenfang
China Daily
Sun, 18 May 2025 15:21 UTC
mmmmmmm
Three people died and one remains missing after floods hit Lengdu village in Baise, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Friday and Saturday.

Four eucalyptus planting workers, who lived temporarily in work sheds on a mountain went missing, with three later found dead and one still missing, according to the emergency management bureau of Longlin county, Baise.

Rainstorms swept parts of Longlin on Friday and Saturday and led to floods in mountains. The bureau advises residents to monitor weather alerts and avoid high-risk areas during the rainy season.

Read More...
Tsunami

At least 4 dead in flash flood in northern Vietnam - 8.4 inches of rain in 13 hours


VnExpress.net
Sun, 18 May 2025 14:14 UTC
Flash flood aftermath in northern Bac Kan Province's Ba Be district.
© Bac KanFlash flood aftermath in northern Bac Kan Province's Ba Be district.
Heavy rain caused flash floods in northern Bac Kan Province's Ba Be district, resulting in four deaths, one missing, and damage to large areas of crops.

Floodwaters carrying soil and rocks from a mountain stream rushed down into the district's Tan Luot Village, Dong Phuc Commune at around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, after more than two hours of heavy rain. Villagers hurriedly fled upon hearing the roaring noise.

"The stream where the flash flood occurred is usually low in water but last night [Saturday night], heavy rain caused the water to rise and flood the residential area," said Lan Vy, who resides in the commune. "My family and I managed to escape, but our sundry shop was swept away."

On Sunday morning, the road running through the village was covered with soil and rocks.

Read More...
Tsunami

Severe floods hit Argentina farm region, thousands evacuate - 10 inches of rain in 24 hours

Brendan O'Boyle
Reuters
Sun, 18 May 2025 13:32 UTC
Boats move through flooded streets after heavy rain in Campana, Argentina,
© Rodrigo Abd/APBoats move through flooded streets after heavy rain in Campana, Argentina
Thousands of residents evacuated on Saturday as rains lashed the north of Argentina's Buenos Aires province, a vital agricultural hub, and caused severe flooding.

The National Meteorological Service, which issued a red alert for the region on Friday evening, reported rainfall between 150 and 250mm (6-10 inches) between the cities of Zarate and Arrecifes. It warned that storms were "constantly regenerating," with more rain expected.

Television images showed residents in Zarate, 100 km (62 miles) from the capital, navigating submerged streets in boats loaded with belongings.

A long-distance bus with 44 passengers was trapped by floodwaters on Route 9 near Zarate.

"Water started coming in and covered everything," the driver told the local C5N television channel.

Read More...
Arrow Down

Lucky escape for family of 4 as taxi falls into sinkhole in Chennai, India


thenewsminute.com
Sun, 18 May 2025 12:40 UTC
nnnnn
A taxi driver and a family of four had a narrow escape after the car they were travelling in fell into an eight-foot-deep sinkhole formed by a road cave-in on Rajiv Gandhi Salai near Tidel Park in Chennai on Saturday, May 17.

The incident occurred around 6.30 pm during rush hour when the taxi driver, identified as Shollinganallur resident Maridas (47), was taking Vignesh (42), his wife Dhanya (32), and their children Aswanth (12) and Advaith (7) to the Chennai Central Railway Station.

Passing motorists and on-duty traffic police who were at the site rushed to their aid. Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel arrived and rescued the trapped passengers with the help of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) contractors. All five were shifted to a nearby hospital for first-aid. No major injuries were reported. In the aftermath, traffic police blocked off the road and diverted the traffic.

A sewer line leakage from a 2.2 m diameter underground pipe of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) was cited as the reason for the road cave-in. Teams from the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC), which maintains the OMR stretch, inspected the site and began restoration of the road in coordination with CMWSSB.

Meanwhile, CMRL clarified that the incident had occurred 300 m away from a CMRL site hoarding and was not linked to metro construction happening in the area.

Read More...