Earth ChangesS


Fish

Three giant deep-water oarfish wash up in one week across Australasia

'Doomsday' Oarfish
© Sybil Robertson'Doomsday' Oarfish
Bad luck comes in threes, according to the saying. And this week three ethereal oarfish, nicknamed "the doomsday fish", have washed up on the shores of Australia and New Zealand.

Two headless specimens were found near Dunedin and Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island, following the discovery of an oarfish on Tasmania's west coast on Monday.

But scientists say there is no evidence of any link between oarfish sightings and imminent natural disaster.

Earlier in the week, an oarfish was found near the small coastal settlement of Aramoana, north of Dunedin. Another, washed up on Thursday at a stony beach near Birdlings Flat, a 45-minute drive from Christchurch.

Andrew Stewart, the curator of fishes at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, described the fish as "beautiful" and "otherworldly", with their "purply-blue, silver and crimson" colours.

The museum had investigated collecting one of these "magnificent and ethereal-looking fish", but seagulls arrived first and demolished their heads.

(More here)

Tsunami

Torrential rain lashes northern Vietnam - 4.4 inches of rainfall in 5 hours

Torrential rain cause rising floodwaters in Lai Chau province, hampering rescue work in isolated Giang village
Torrential rain cause rising floodwaters in Lai Chau province, hampering rescue work in isolated Giang village
Scattered showers and thunderstorms hit the northern mountainous and midland localities on June 8 evening, with some places experiencing heavy to heavy rain. Within just five hours, some locations recorded rainfall exceeding 70mm, including Yen Bai 114.2mm, Ha Giang 72.4mm, and Tuyen Quang 78.8mm.

Rain is anticipated to intensify and expand in coverage on June 9 evening and June 10 morning, especially in the northern mountainous and midland localities. Rainfall is forecast to amount to 70mm and even to 180mm in some places.

The Red River Delta and Thanh Hoa province will also experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with rainfall ranging between 20 - 40mm normally, and exceeding 80mm in some areas.

Meteorologists warned about the potential for high-intensity rainfall, especially amounts exceeding 100mm within a 3-hour period that could cause rapid flooding in urban areas and low-lying regions, as well as significantly increase the risk of landslides in hilly and mountainous areas.


Seismograph

Shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits central Colombia, no casualties reported

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A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia early Sunday, authorities said. No casualties were immediately reported.

The quake hit 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) northeast of Paratebueno, a city about 116 miles southeast of the capital, Bogota. The U.S. Geological Service reported the quake hit at 8:08 a.m. (1308 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The Colombian Geological Service reported additional tremors with magnitudes ranging from 4 to 4.6 occurred in the same area minutes later.

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said on X that it was assessing the situation in several municipalities.

Images posted on social media showed people in Bogota who felt the tremor — some left their workplaces to seek safety. Footage from rural areas indicated there was no damage.

Colombia lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.


Seismograph

Shallow magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes western Indian-Antarctic Ridge

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A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Indian Ocean on Saturday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

The quake occurred at 23:20 GMT, with its epicentre located at a depth of 10 kilometres.

There have been no immediate reports of material damage or casualties resulting from the earthquake.

Tsunami

Heavy summer downpours flood Minsk, Hrodna, and other cities in Belarus on June 5

Here is the aftermath of the downpour in Minsk.
Here is the aftermath of the downpour in Minsk.
The warning about the orange danger level came true. On June 5, a heavy downpour hit the capital. Ten-point traffic jams formed, and cars floated along the roads. In the Kalvariyskaya and Rosa Luxemburg areas, the water rose almost up to the windows.

Many Minsk residents took pictures of the beautiful apocalyptic sky on June 5 and then had difficulty getting home due to flooding and fallen trees. Some were even less fortunate; they got stuck in parking lots and offices.

City residents are sharing footage from the scene on social networks: some are sailing on boats, while others are collecting hail the size of quail eggs.

"Water is gushing straight out of the floor," wrote an Onliner reader who shared a video from the Sukharava shopping center. The video shows that even the home appliance store was flooded.


Volcano

Guatemala's Volcán de Fuego erupts, triggers evacuations

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Guatemala began evacuating some residents from the slopes of the Volcano of Fire on Thursday after a new eruption spewed hot gas and ash high into the sky.

Michelle Alvarado, acting director for the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator, said that more than 500 people were moved to shelters from five communities in the Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez areas.


Lightning

10 cattle killed following lightning strike in Cavan, Ireland

Cattle killed in lightning strike
Cattle killed in lightning strike
10 cattle have been killed on a farm in Cavan following lightning which struck parts of the county on Friday evening, June 6.

Agriland understands the incident occurred yesterday evening in the region of Butlersbridge, Co. Cavan.

The 10 continental suckler-bred heifers owned by a farmer from the area had taken shelter from the heavy rain under a tree in the middle of the field when a bolt of lightning struck the earth, killing the 10 heifers instantly.

Farmers in the surrounding area told Agriland the lightning - which lasted for less than an hour - "was clearly very close by" as the thunder was occurring "almost instantly" after the lightning.

While lightning storms are not uncommon at this time of year, livestock losses are rare as a result of lightning but not unheard of across the country.

Nebula

Northern lights on display for 23 states after geomagnetic storm

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The northern lights were visible for 23 states after experts say a geomagnetic storm helped push the patterns farther south than usual.


Seismograph

Earthquake of 6.4 magnitude strikes northern Chile

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A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck northern Chile on Friday, causing minor damage to infrastructure and cutting power to more than 20,000 people. Authorities have not reported any casualties following the quake.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake at 1:15 pm (local time) (5:15 pm GMT) at a depth of 76 kilometres (47 miles). The earthquake's epicenter was located near the coast of the Atacama Desert.

Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service said the quake's characteristics did not meet the conditions necessary to generate a tsunami along the South American Coast, the Associated Press reported.

Miguel Ortiz, deputy director of Chile's national disaster response service, Senapred, said the powerful earthquake caused "minor" infrastructural damage and power disruptions, leaving nearly 23,000 people without electricity.

"Some minor landslides have been recorded, which are being monitored and coordinated with the municipalities," he said.

Lightning

Lightning strike kills 11 buffaloes in Himachal Pradesh, India

Pic for representational purpose only.
Pic for representational purpose only.
A lightning strike in Pakhara ridge under the Chanju area of Churah sub-division claimed the lives of 11 buffaloes belonging to a Gujjar hearder.

The buffaloes, owned by Sharif Ali, were grazing in the ridge when the lightning struck around 6:30 pm. However, no loss of human life was reported.

The incident was reported to local authorities by Sharif Ali, following which the animal husbandry department visited the site on Thursday. The department assessed the losses, recorded the death of the animals and has forwarded the report to higher authorities for further action.

Gujjar pastoralists from Punjab migrate to highland pastures in Chamba district during summer to ensure fodder for their cattle. Many of them, including Sharif Ali, had set up temporary camps in the Chanju region. The families are expected to return to their native places after the summer season ends.

Sharif Ali expressed deep distress, stating that his entire family depends on these buffaloes for livelihood. "With all the buffaloes gone, we are left with nothing. We request the government and administration to provide us with compensation at the earliest," he said.