Earth ChangesS


Volcano

Kanlaon Volcano: Emergency alert issued after major volcano in Philippines erupts sending huge ash cloud into sky

Kanlaon Volcano erupts Thursday
© Leah Pahayahay MartinezMt. Kanlaon in northern Negros Island spews a dark gray plume 2,000 meters above its summit crater on Thursday (Feb. 19, 2026). The moderately explosive eruption was recorded at 4:39 p.m. and lasted 2 minutes, according to a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said there was an "ongoing explosive eruption" at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island Region of the Philippines this morning. Images show thick, black smoke rising into the sky above the volcano following the eruption.

The city of Canlaon is located around five miles away from the summit. The Office of Civil Defense in the Philippines has issued an emergency alert and warning message following the eruption.


Windsock

5 dead in pile-up crash in Colorado involving over 30 vehicles during severe dust storm with wind gusts of 85 mph

5 dead in Colorado highway crashes
5 dead in Colorado highway crashes
At least five people are dead following a pile-up crash involving dozens of vehicles in Colorado that occurred as high winds blew dirt, making for low to zero visibility, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time Tuesday on I-25 near Pueblo, which is about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs, authorities said.

Over 30 vehicles, including seven semis, were involved in the crash, according to Colorado State Patrol. Pickups pulling horse trailers, SUVs and passenger vehicles were also involved, according to Maj. Brian Lyons with Colorado State Patrol.

The pile-up occurred during "adverse weather conditions," Lyons said, with heavy winds blowing dirt and causing "brownout" conditions.

"Visibility was next to nothing," Lyons said during a press briefing Tuesday.



Arrow Down

2 skiers killed in avalanche on popular Mont Blanc skiing route near French-Swiss border

This handout image released by the Italian Alpine Rescue shows the avalanche that killed two men in the Couloir Vesses, a well-known freeride route in Courmayeur, in the upper Val Veny, northern Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
© APThis handout image released by the Italian Alpine Rescue shows the avalanche that killed two men in the Couloir Vesses, a well-known freeride route in Courmayeur, in the upper Val Veny, northern Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
Two skiers were killed and another injured Sunday when an off-trail avalanche tore through a popular freeride route on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif near the French-Swiss border, officials said.

Three skiers were swept up in the Sunday morning slide along the Couloir Vesses, a well-known off-piste route in Courmayeur's upper Val Veny, according to Italy's Alpine Rescue, The Associated Press reported.

Search and rescue operations involved 15 rescuers, three canine units and two helicopters. One victim was transported to a hospital in serious condition but later died, the agency said.

Authorities said another person was partially buried in an avalanche in Trentino but was pulled to safety by companions.


Arrow Down

8 skiers dead after avalanche near Lake Tahoe

nnnnnnn
Eight people were killed in an avalanche during a backcountry skiing expedition on the California side of Lake Tahoe on Tuesday, authorities said in an update Wednesday.

One person is still missing but presumed dead, officials said, as searchers fight near-whiteout conditions. Six others in the party survived, ranging in age from 30 to 55 years old.

"We did have conversation with the families of the folks that are still outstanding and let them know that our mission went from a rescue to a recovery," Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon told reporters. "It's a difficult conversation to have with loved ones."

The bodies of those killed remain at the scene, where significant avalanche risk persists.

"The risk is still as high with the mission moving to a recovery. We want to really make sure that our first response responders are safe," Moon said.


Attention

Unprovoked shark attacks up sharply in 2025, with 12 human deaths worldwide

shark
The number of people killed or bitten by sharks in unprovoked attacks globally increased significantly in 2025, a report published on Wednesday has found, while a single Florida county maintained its crown as the so-called shark bite capital of the world.

The International Shark Attack File, compiled by the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, recorded 65 unprovoked attacks worldwide, up from 47 during 2024, and an increase on the five-year average of 61.

The report confirmed 12 human fatalities from shark bites during the year, almost double the previous year's total of seven, which it suggested might be because of increasing numbers of great white sharks at "aggregation sites", beaches popular with surfers, especially in Australia.

Tsunami

Bruce Highway cut by flooding as coast cops more than a foot of rain in 24 hours in Queensland, Australia

The Bruce Highway closed due to flooding at Gorganga Creek.
© ABC News: Aimee MitchellThe Bruce Highway closed due to flooding at Gorganga Creek.
The Bruce Highway has been cut north of Mackay as heavy rain lashes parts of the state's east coast.

The major arterial is closed in both directions just south of Proserpine due to rapidly rising floodwater in Goorganga Creek.

Police and councils said they were unsure when the road would reopen.

In the 24 hours to 11am, the O'Connell River at Banana Pocket recorded the highest rainfall in the Mackay-Whitsunday region with more than 322mm.

Stafford received 268mm, and Mt Jukes received 234mm.

Lightning

Lightning strikes ignite more than 100 palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, California

More than 100 trees in a palm tree grove in San Pasqual Valley were ignited by lightning strikes early Tuesday morning.
© Cal Fire San DiegoMore than 100 trees in a palm tree grove in San Pasqual Valley were ignited by lightning strikes early Tuesday morning.
A series of lightning strikes early Tuesday sparked a fire at a grove of palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, burning more than 100 trees, fire officials said.

The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. at the property off Highland Valley Road. The trees caught fire after there were "multiple lightning strikes" in the area, said sheriff's Lt. Jason Phillips.

Fire crews from Escondido, San Diego and Cal Fire responded and put out the blaze, which charred around 2 acres. It did not spread to any structures, officials said.

"Crews worked quickly and were able to keep the fire from spreading to another grove nearby," said San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley. She said no one was injured in the blaze.

Several roads in the area were closed as fire crews worked to put out the fire. Streets reopened to traffic shortly after 5 a.m., Phillips said.

Some Cal Fire firefighters returned to the site around 8:30 a.m. after a couple of trees were reported to be still smouldering, a Cal Fire spokesperson said.

Tsunami

Monster storms flood parts of California with rounds of heavy rain as extreme snow slams the Sierra Nevada

Cars pass on flooding water at Sawtelle neighborhood during heavy rain in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 16, 2026.
© Tayfun Coskun/AnadoluCars pass on flooding water at Sawtelle neighborhood during heavy rain in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 16, 2026.
Monday's storms shattered daily rain records and swamped Los Angeles and the Bay Area with flooding.

A flood threat remains for millions across much of the California coast as another round of moisture pushes inland off the Pacific Ocean, after Monday's storms shattered daily rain records. Meanwhile, heavy snow will spread from the Northern California mountain ranges into the southern part of the Sierra, adding to California's snowpack and eventually reaching the Rockies farther east, which are in a dire snow deficit.

Flooding was reported Monday across parts of California, after 1 - 2 inches of rain fell across the Los Angeles Basin and 3 - 5 inches of rain dropped across the Coastal Range north of the Bay Area.

Urban flooding swamped parts of LA, with water rising to the mid-door panels of some sedans in the Westwood neighborhood.

Parts of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in LA's Westside were closed due to debris slides.

Los Angeles was also placed under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the fifth time in the past two years. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the county had gone eight years without such a warning (2016 - 2024).


Volcano

Hawaii's Mount Kilauea spews lava 1,300 feet into the air - 42nd eruption episode since December 2024

Kilauea volcano's 42nd episode
© USGS WebcamEpisode 42 on Feb. 15, 2026, at 2:54 p.m.
Another brilliant show of Earth's power was caught on camera over the weekend when a geyser of molten rock burst from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

Kilauea, located in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, experienced a nearly 10-hour eruptive episode on Sunday, Feb. 15, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with lava fountains spewing up to 1,300 feet into the air.

Video captured by a USGS live stream shows a bright red lava flow shooting from the earth, emerging from Kilauea's 42nd episode of an eruption that began in December 2024. Resulting smoke plumes reached 35,000 feet above sea level, according to USGS.


Doberman

Woman mauled to death by 3 dogs in Northland, New Zealand

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed by three dogs after entering a property in the Northland town of Kaihu on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed by three dogs after entering a property in the Northland town of Kaihu on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
Police have identified Mihiata Te Rore as the woman killed by dogs north of Dargaville yesterday.

The 62-year-old was killed while on a Kaihu property just before midday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said the three dogs involved lived on the property and are now with Animal Management.

"This was a very upsetting and tragic event in which a woman has suffered unsurvivable injuries," Pilmer said.

"I know the community will have a lot of questions; our investigation is still in the early stages and our focus is on establishing all the facts in this case.

"What we can say is that the three dogs involved live on the property, and the woman was visiting a person known to her when the attack occurred."

Pilmer said police wanted to hear from anyone in the Kaihu community who has had issues with dogs roaming in the area.