Earth ChangesS


Tsunami

Dallas weather: Record rainfall of 8 inches reported, high-water rescues and roof collapses during severe storms

Madi Marks and Payton May
Fox4news.com
Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:53 UTC
A stretch of U.S. Highway 80 in Forney was flooded overnight
A stretch of U.S. Highway 80 in Forney was flooded overnight
Residents across North Texas are assessing damage Thursday morning after a powerful line of severe storms swept through the Metroplex Wednesday night, leaving behind collapsed roofs, flooded highways, and record-breaking precipitation.

The National Weather Service confirmed that DFW Airport recorded 1.55 inches of rain on Wednesday, March 4. This officially breaks the previous daily record for the date of 1.27 inches, which had stood for nearly 90 years since 1937.

While the airport saw record-highs, neighboring areas like Mesquite and Seagoville reported even higher totals, ranging from 4 to 8 inches.

In Garland, the intense rainfall is blamed for a structural collapse at a commercial building in the 2900 block of Kingsley Road. Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, emergency crews responded to reports that a buildup of water caused the roof to give way.

Seven workers inside the building managed to evacuate safely, and authorities confirmed there were no injuries.

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Arrow Down

At least 200 killed in eastern DR Congo landslide after heavy rainfall (UPDATE)


Arab Times
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:44 UTC
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At least seven people were killed in a landslide on Tuesday at the Rubaya mining site in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with others reported missing, according to sources close to the local administration.

"There was indeed a landslide following heavy rainfall on the mountain known as Kasasa. The earth swallowed many people. We are awaiting the official death toll," David Kasereka, an artisanal miner and resident of Rubaya, told Xinhua.

The Rubaya mines in North Kivu Province are a crucial global source of coltan and have been controlled by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group since 2024.

The M23 has yet to comment on the tragedy.

In January 2026, at least 200 miners were killed after several shafts collapsed at coltan mining sites in Rubaya. Local media reported that the death toll may have exceeded 400, excluding those still missing.

Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is the main source of tantalum, a rare metal used in the production of advanced electronic devices. The United Nations estimated that the Rubaya mines alone account for about 15 percent of the global tantalum supply.

Xinhua

Comment: Update March 4

Al Jazeera reports:
A landslide triggered by heavy rains has killed more than 200 people at the Rubaya coltan mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, authorities said.

DRC's Ministry of Mines said on Wednesday that about 70 children were among the victims, and others who were injured were evacuated to medical facilities in the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

Fanny Kaj, a senior official in the M23 rebel group, which controls the mines, disputed the government figure and said that the collapse was caused by "bombings" and only five people had been killed.

"I can confirm that what people are publishing is not true. There was no landslide; there were bombings, and the death toll isn't what people are saying. It's simply about five people who died," Kaj said.

Ibrahim Taluseke, a miner at the site, said that he had helped to recover more than 200 bodies from the area.

"We are afraid, but these are lives that are in danger," Taluseke told The Associated Press news agency. "The owners of the pits do not accept that the exact number of deaths be revealed."


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Tsunami

Fiji residents forced to evacuate as flash floods return

Waisea Nasokia
Fiji Sun
Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:45 UTC
Floodwaters at Toge Village in Ba.
Floodwaters at Toge Village in Ba.
Residents in the upper Ba highlands are again counting losses after flash flooding hit several villages.

Toge Village was among those affected during the latest spell of heavy rain.

Farmer Robert Lui said the community had learned to live with recurring flooding because of its proximity to the Ba River.

"We are located next to the Ba River, which flows from the highlands. Floods come and go, but our resilience lies within us as individuals," he said.

He added that farmers were alerted early enough to move their animals to higher ground.

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Seismograph

Shallow magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes Alaska

Cheryl Santa Maria
The Weather Network
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:16 UTC
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A Magnitude 6.4 earthquake has struck Alaska at 8:54 a.m. local time (AKST).

It occurred on the Denali fault line, which has been active for the past 48 hours. During this time, twelve other earthquakes have occurred, with the Magnitude 6.4 quake being the strongest so far.

According to the USGS, the quake does not appear to have affected any nearby population centres.

It occurred 224 km east-southeast of Attu Station, Alaska, at a depth of around 10 kilometres.

There is no tsunami threat, and USGS says it is unlikely this event caused any significant land or structural damages.

There is, however, potential for aftershocks.
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Tsunami

Indonesia: Cold lava flood from Mount Merapi strikes Senowo River, killing 3 people and dragging 3 trucks

Egadia Birru, Vachri Rinaldy Lutfipambudi
Kompas.com
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:41 UTC
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A cold lava flood occurred in the Senowo River, which originates at Mount Merapi, on Tuesday (April 3, 2026) at around 3:30 p.m. WIB. Bambang Hermanto, Head of the Magelang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), stated that the cold lava flood occurred after heavy rain at the summit of Mount Merapi. "The Senowo River joined other rivers," Bambang said in a statement on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).

Currently, Bambang said, a joint team is also searching for four missing victims. The search will continue for the next seven days.

Additionally, a truck was reportedly swept away by the floodwaters. Bambang stated that the cold lava flood also injured six people. Two of them are currently undergoing treatment at the Muntilan Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

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Tsunami

Heavy rains cause flooding in nearly 300 cities in the State of Bahia, Brazil


RECORD BAHIA
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:23 UTC
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Severe flooding due to heavy rains in Urandi, Bahia, Brazil. Homes and businesses are under water.
Bahia is facing a critical situation with intense rainfall in nearly 300 cities.

The precipitation, which reached 100 millimeters daily in some areas, caused flooding and displacement, particularly in the regions of Pojuca and Salvador.

The National Institute of Meteorology issued a red alert, but indicated a possible decrease in rainfall in the coming days.

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Attention

World's largest acidic geyser wakes up in Yellowstone from six-year slumber


BBC
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:58 UTC
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© USGS
The world's largest acidic geyser is putting on a show again, erupting for the first time in six years after a quiet hiatus, officials at Yellowstone National Park say.

The Echinus Geyser - located in the park's famous Norris Geyser Basin - had been in slumber since 2020, and it's unknown whether the eruptions will continue into the summer.

Researchers say geysers can sometimes become active for a month or two before falling dormant again.

"Geysers are always turning on and off. That's Yellowstone being Yellowstone!", the US Geological Survey wrote on X.

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Snowflake

Snow has fallen on the island of Madeira


The Portugal News
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:15 UTC
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Several access roads to the mountains of Madeira are temporarily closed due to snowfall in the higher areas of the island, the Regional Government reported.

According to the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructure, the access roads to Poiso, Pico do Areeiro, Meia Serra, Estanquinhos - Bica da Cana, Malhadinha - Paúl da Serra, Pico das Pedras - Achada do Teixeira are closed.

"The interruption of road traffic is due to adverse weather conditions, which compromise the safety of traffic," indicated the Madeiran government, adding that these roads will remain closed "until the necessary conditions to guarantee the safety of people and property are restored."

This department of the Madeiran executive appeals for compliance with the authorities' signage and instructions.

The Madeira archipelago is being affected by the Regina depression, which is expected to affect the weather until the morning of 4 March.

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Snowflake

Record snowfall in Japan causes serious agricultural damage in Tohoku Region

Hikari Yadaka and Yoshihiko Takao
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:09 UTC
A farmer holds a branch that broke off an apple tree due to snow in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, on Feb. 16. “This is useless,” he said.
© THE YOMIURI SHIMBUNA farmer holds a branch that broke off an apple tree due to snow in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, on Feb. 16. “This is useless,” he said.
This winter's record snowfall that has hit the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture has caused serious agricultural damage such as breaking branches on fruit trees and causing vinyl greenhouses to collapse.

Because many farm roads remain buried in snow, confirming the extent of the damage done so far will take a long time, and it could be worse than in typical years.

"I can only sigh because more branches have been broken than last year," a farmer said in mid-February while carefully digging up branches buried in the snow in an apple orchard in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. In January, the city saw a record snowfall of 148 centimeters.

Last winter, broken branches on apple trees alone caused more than ¥20 billion in damage in the prefecture. The yield from his 5-hectare farm dropped by nearly 10 tonnes, down over 10% from typical years. Branches have been broken over a wide area this year, and he said, "I'm afraid this year's yield will be lower than last year's."
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Attention

Man killed in bear attack in Karnataka, India


The Hans India
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:56 UTC
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A 45-year-old man was killed in a suspected bear attack while grazing goats near Halasagara in Gudekote hobli of Kudligi taluk on Monday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as G. Obayya, a resident of Halasagara village.

According to police, Obayya had taken his goats to graze in the outskirts of the village when the wild bear allegedly attacked him. The animal reportedly mauled him severely, inflicting deep injuries to his head, hands, legs and other parts of the body. He died on the spot due to the grievous injuries, officials said. Obayya is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Police suspect that the attack occurred around 1 pm. However, the incident came to light only later in the evening when local residents noticed the body and alerted the Gudekote range forest officer as well as the police.
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