Earth ChangesS


Attention

Dead whale washes up on beach in Charlestown, Rhode Island

NICK RUSSO
WJAR.com
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:31 UTC
A dead minke whale on Quonnie Beach in Charlestown, Rhode Island. (WJAR)
© WJARA dead minke whale on Quonnie Beach in Charlestown, Rhode Island.
Scientists on Thursday conducted a necropsy on a dead minke whale washed ashore at Quonnie Beach in Charlestown, Rhode Island, following the discovery of two dead humpback whales on Cape Cod earlier this month.

A team from Mystic Aquarium conducted a necropsy on the 20-foot-long minke whale, which was first seen floating dead off Block Island on Sunday prior to washing up on the beach. The examination aims to uncover clues about the whale's cause of death. Scientists collected tissue samples and examined the whale for internal and external injuries.

"Necropsies are so important," said Sarah Callan, Animal Rescue Program Manager at Mystic Aquarium. "We can learn so much about what's going on directly in the environment and different threats these animals face."

There's speculation that offshore wind projects may be linked to the recent whale deaths. However, scientists have observed an unusually high number of deaths in minke, humpback, and endangered North Atlantic right whales since 2017, predating the commencement of offshore wind work.

"From our data that we've collected, we haven't seen any evidence that wind farms are affecting these animals, in terms of the cause of death for the strandings that we're seeing," Callan said.

Callan points out that entanglements in fishing gear and boat strikes are known human-related causes of whale deaths.
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Tornado2

Rare 'snownado' caught on camera in Utah

Mary Walrath-Holdridge
The Weather Channel
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:34 UTC
Ben Gross was out walking his dog in Summit Park when a Snownado appeared in the path ahead.
© Benjamin GrossBen Gross was out walking his dog in Summit Park when a Snownado appeared in the path ahead.
While walking his dogs during a Utah snowstorm, a man captured the breathtaking sight of a rare "snownado," a swirling column of snowflakes born from clashing winds.

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Arrow Down

Massive sinkhole opens in Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania


skooknews.com
Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:03 UTC
In-ground pool swallowed by sinkhole in Schuylkill County
In-ground pool swallowed by sinkhole in Schuylkill County
Emergency officials and state agencies have continued their response to the mine subsidence incident that occurred early Monday morning at 267 Park Place Road, Mahanoy Township.

According to Schuylkill County Emergency Management Director John Blickley, the subsidence, estimated to be approximately 50 by 70 feet, swallowed an in-ground swimming pool in the backyard of the property. The homeowner was at the residence during the incident, but fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the home and utilities remain unaffected.

The Mahanoy City Fire Department was on the scene shortly after the subsidence was reported at around 2:00 AM. Duty Officers notified the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and followed up with the homeowner to assess the situation. State officials from the Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation arrived at the scene by 9:30 AM to conduct inspections and begin an evaluation of the site.

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Windsock

Best of the Web: Cyclone Chido rips through Mayotte with winds in excess of 136 mph as it barrels toward eastern Africa - at least 31 dead, hundreds feared so (UPDATED)


VOA
Sat, 14 Dec 2024 19:09 UTC
This image taken and released on Dec. 14, 2024, by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows Tropical Cyclone Chido over Mayotte, center, west of Madagascar and east of Mozambique.
This image taken and released on Dec. 14, 2024, by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows Tropical Cyclone Chido over Mayotte, center, west of Madagascar and east of Mozambique.
The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean suffered extensive damage from Tropical Cyclone Chido, officials said Saturday, as the storm roared toward the east coast of the African continent.

Chido brought winds in excess of 220 kilometers per hour, according to the French weather service, ripping metal roofs off houses in Mayotte, which has a population of just over 300,000 spread over two main islands. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

"Our island is being hit by the most violent and destructive cyclone since 1934. Many of us have lost everything," Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville said in a Facebook post Saturday. He said the highest alert had been lifted so that rescuers can help after the worst of the cyclone had passed.

Mayotte is still under red alert for the ordinary population, and people were asked to "remain confined in a solid shelter," Bieuville said. Only emergency and security services were allowed to go out.


Comment: Update December 15

Euronews reports:
The death toll from Cyclone Chido is "several hundred" and may be close to 1,000, the island's top government official told the local broadcaster on Sunday.

Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told TV station Mayotte la 1ere that "I think there are some several hundred dead, maybe we'll get close to a thousand."

He said it was "extremely difficult" to get an exact number right now after the Indian Ocean islands were pummelled by the intense tropical cyclone on Saturday, causing widespread destruction.

Officials had confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte earlier Sunday but said that was expected to increase.

Mayotte in the south-eastern Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa is France's poorest island and the poorest territory in the European Union.
Update December 19

Anadolu Ajansı reports:
The death toll in Mayotte rose to 31 from Cyclone Chido on Wednesday.

Officials on the French Indian Ocean colony have concerns that the number could rise in the coming days.

A curfew remains in place on the island from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time.

Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on X that more than 700 soldiers have been deployed to assist in relief efforts.

Lecornu also noted that patients have been evacuated to France's other overseas territory in La Reunion.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Mayotte on Thursday to assess the situation.


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Tsunami

Storm triggers flooding in Sochi, Russia - month's worth of rain in a day


The Moscow Times
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:33 UTC
mmmm
Heavy rain caused a river to overflow in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, causing widespread floods in residential areas, media reported Wednesday.

The storm was forecast to pummel the city of 450,000, as well as the wider region in southern Russia, for several days, bringing with it thunderstorms, hail, strong wind gusts and snow. Meteorologists said one month's worth of precipitation fell in Sochi over the past day.

Sochi's Kherota River overflowed and flooded several homes in the city, the Krasnodar regional branch of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said. A regional response center said pumping equipment had been dispatched to the area.

Videos shared on social media showed motorists driving on flooded streets and sections of a mountainous road washed away by water.

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Doberman

18-year-old woman dies after being mauled by dogs in Coarsegold, California - 3rd such incident for the state in 8 days

Brianna Willis
abc30.com
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:39 UTC
PIT BULL ATTACK
A woman has died after she was attacked by dogs in Madera County on Monday.

The mauling happened around 3:30 pm on Road 417 between Highway 41 and Quartz Mountain Road in Coarsegold.

Loved ones have identified the victim as 18-year-old Lexis Salas.

"I feel sorry that's the way she had to leave Earth, you know. That's not a way anybody should have to pass away or endure anything like that in their lifetime," said the victim's friend, Vanessa Gomez.

Gomez says Salas died at the scene.


Comment: Details of the other 2 fatalities:

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Attention

Dead humpback whale washed ashore on beach in Brewster, Massachusetts

Zane Razzaq
Cape Cod Times
Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:30 UTC
Paul Waclawski and his son, Jack Waclawski, 3-and-a-half-years old, of Brewster, get a closer look at the dead humpback whale Sunday morning. A dead humpback whale
© MERRILY CASSIDY/CAPE COD TIMESPaul Waclawski and his son, Jack Waclawski, 3-and-a-half-years old, of Brewster, get a closer look at the dead humpback whale Sunday morning. A dead humpback whale remains on the beach between Crosby Landing Beach and Linnell Landing Beach in Brewster. Photo taken Dec. 15, 2024
The carcass of a humpback whale washed ashore on the beach between Crosby Landing Beach and Linnell Landing Beach in Brewster over the weekend.

Stacey Hedman, the communications director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said the animal was a juvenile 34-foot female humpback weighing about 18 tons or 36,000 pounds.

After being towed to a better location, the IFAW team will perform a necropsy, or animal autopsy, on the animal, said Hedman in an email.


(Video here)
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Doberman

78-year-old man killed in pit bull attack in Beaumont, Texas

Scott Lawrence
fox4beaumont.com
Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:38 UTC
Man dies after pit bull attack.
© Beaumont Animal CareMan dies after pit bull attack.
KFDM/Fox 4 News has learned a 78-year-old man is the victim who died following a horrific pit bull attack in Beaumont.

Beaumont Police and Animal Care are investigating the attack, reported at about 11 a.m. Monday.

Police received a call asking for a welfare check on a man bleeding following a dog attack in the 1400 block of Orange Avenue.

Officers and EMS helped the victim and Animal Care was contacted to assist. The victim's son told us he rushed over and found his father bleeding heavily on the ground.

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Seismograph

Buildings in Vanuatu damaged and casualties reported as magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits - at least 14 dead (UPDATE)


Sky News
Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:43 UTC
MMMMM
Injured people have been arriving at hospital, reports have said, on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu after a powerful earthquake struck just off its coast, damaging buildings and causing landslides.

The tremor was centred near the capital, Port Vila, the largest city on the group of 80 islands, at a depth of 35 miles (56km) below the earth's surface on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

It was followed by a magnitude 5.5 aftershock at the same spot and the shudders continued throughout the afternoon and evening local time.

Dan McGarry, a journalist based in the city, told The Associated Press he heard of one death in the quake from a police officer outside Vila Central Hospital where he saw three people on gurneys "in obvious distress".


Comment: Update December 18

Anadolu Agency reports:

The southern Pacific nation of Vanuatu sought international aid after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake killed at least 14 people, including two Chinese citizens, and damaged buildings and other infrastructure.

The UN estimates that 116,000 people could be affected, highlighting urgent humanitarian needs in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit the nation of around 334,000 people.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai declared a state of emergency, calling for international aid.


The Vanuatu government is "reporting 14 confirmed fatalities and 200 treated for injuries at the main hospital in Port Vila... Rescue operations continue to free those trapped after the quake, and attention turns to urgent needs like first aid, shelter and water," said Katie Greenwood, head of delegation for the Pacific region at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).


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Arrow Down

20-foot-wide sinkhole appears on road in Lucknow, India


Free Press Journal
Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:19 UTC
mmmmm
A 20-foot-wide sinkhole has appeared on the Vikas Nagar Main Road after a section of the road caved in. Visuals of the crater have surfaced on social media.

According to reports, new instances of neglected road maintenance and deteriorating conditions in Lucknow emerge regularly.

As per the reports, on Monday morning, a road in front of Punjab National Bank on Vikas Nagar Main Road sank, resulting in a massive sinkhole and disrupting traffic. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in the incident. After the incident, the Municipal Commissioner and other officials arrived at the spot to inspect the crater.

The police have closed the road by installing barricades. This is not the first instance of a road collapsing in the area. According to The Times of India, the frequency of such incidents has increased over the past five years. While Lucknow used to witness only 1-2 cases annually, the number has now risen to 5-6 cases per year.

On December 5 A section of the road near the IT intersection in Lucknow caved. The police barricaded the site to prevent accidents.

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