Earth ChangesS


Cloud Precipitation

Sierra Leone - 7 fatalities after floods hit Freetown

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 11 May 2023 12:09 UTC
Floods in Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 2023.
© Government of FreetownFloods in Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 2023.
At least 7 people have lost their lives after storms and heavy rain caused flooding and mudslides in parts of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Stormy weather hit the city from 09 to 10 May 2023. Flash flooding swept through city streets, washing away cars and damaging buildings. Six people died and 2 were injured when a wall collapsed due to flooding in Cline Town. Another fatality was reported after a mudslide in the Moyeiba area of the city. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) also reported flood damage to the Leone Oil Facility in Kissy.

Sierra Leone Red Cross Society were providing support to affected communities Cline Town, including first aid services and psychosocial support for affected families.

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Sun

Record-breaking heat wave blasts Southeast Asia

Subel Rai Bhandari
rfa.org
Wed, 10 May 2023 11:52 UTC
Visitors cool off at an amusement park in Hoi An, Vietnam.
© SeongJoon ChoVisitors cool off at an amusement park in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Record-breaking heat has blasted Southeast Asia over the past several weeks, causing deaths and hospitalizations, schools to close and farmers and business-owners to suffer economic losses.

In Vietnam, the temperature hit a record 44.2 degrees Celsius (111.5 F) on Sunday. In Myanmar's central Magway region, it soared to 46 C (114.8 F).

Thailand's capital of Bangkok had its hottest day on record on Sunday, when the heat reached 41 C (105.8 F), while in Laos, the temperature broke last month's national record to hit 43.5 C in Luang Prabang.

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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills 3 in Magura, Bangladesh


Jagonews24.com
Wed, 10 May 2023 08:17 UTC
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Three people were killed in a lightning strike at Sreepur upazila in Magura on Wednesday afternoon, reports BSS.

The deceased were identified as Nizam Sheikh, 60, Mohammad Ali Biswas, 50, and Shahadat Ali, 60. Nizam Sheikh and Shahadat Ali were the residents at Char Chaugacha village in Sreepur Upazila while Mohammad Ali Biswas was a resident in Rajbari district.

Local people said Nizam Sheikh, Mohammad Ali and Shahadat Ali were struck by a thunderbolt at around 3:30pm during rain in a crop's field in Char Chaugacha village area. They were brought at Sreepur Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared them dead.

Sreepur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shyamananda Kundu said they would give Taka 25,000 each of the victim's family.
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Seismograph

Magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits near Tonga, no tsunami warning is issued

Olivia Day
Daily Mail
Wed, 10 May 2023 08:04 UTC
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An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck off Tonga on Thursday, United States Geological Survey said.

The quake was at a depth of 212 km (132 miles) and the epicenter was at a distance of 73km northwest of Hihifo, Tonga, the USGS reported.

Hihifo is the main village on the island of Niuatoputapu, north of Tonga's main group of islands.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning.

Angie Pula Letuligasenoa was in her home in Iliili, near Pago Pago International Airport, when the 'rolling' earthquake struck.
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Cloud Precipitation

Heavy floods, landslides in Yemen kill at least 24

Saeed Al-Batati
Arab News
Tue, 09 May 2023 12:50 UTC
Torrential rain and flooding has killed at least 24 people in Yemen since the beginning of May.
© AFP/FileTorrential rain and flooding has killed at least 24 people in Yemen since the beginning of May.
Torrential rain and flooding has killed at least 24 people in Yemen since the beginning of May, with the country's National Meteorological Center on Tuesday issuing a new warning to Yemenis against traversing watercourses.

The meteorological center in Sanaa forecast rainfall across the country's central and northern highlands in Saada, Hajjah, Dhamar and other regions, advising residents to avoid traveling through and staying in flood courses. The same center issued a similar warning about excessive rainfall, inundation and landslides in mountainous regions of the country.

The warnings come as local media and villagers claim that heavy rains triggered severe floods that killed at least 24 people and washed away farms, residences and vehicles. Other local media reports place the death toll from flooding since the beginning of the month at more than 40.

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Cloud Precipitation

Flash flooding in Houston as cars submerged


Fox Weather
Tue, 09 May 2023 12:41 UTC
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Houston is experiencing flash flooding as heavy rain drenches parts of the state on Tuesday leading to cars submerged in water and water rescues.

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Cloud Precipitation

Somerset in the UK hit by flash floods and mudslides as major incident declared


The Telegraph (UK)
Wed, 10 May 2023 12:03 UTC
Car submerged in floodwater at the A359 in Queen Camel
© Kerry RomansCar submerged in floodwater at the A359 in Queen Camel.
A major incident has been declared in Somerset after heavy thunderstorms caused severe flash floods and mudslides across the county.

Entire villages have been cut off with people ordered to leave their homes on Tuesday as water levels reached 4ft-high in the worst affected areas.

Parents of children at two primary schools in the county were told they should not go to the school because of flooded roads, it was reported on social media.

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Arrow Down

Moment of massive avalanche in British Columbia captured on drone camera


CTV News
Mon, 08 May 2023 11:52 UTC
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© MACTAC/YOUTUBE/SCREENGRABThe footage captures an avalanche in British Columbia, Canada.
A Victoria photographer says it was 'pure, dumb luck' that he was able to shoot some rare drone video of a British Columbia avalanche.

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Snowflake

California statewide snowpack is over 300% of average

Brent Thomas
SnowBrains
Tue, 09 May 2023 11:21 UTC
Current regional snowpack from automated sensors.
© cdec.water.ca.govCurrent regional snowpack from automated sensors.
It is no secret that the winter of 2022/23 will go down in history as one of the best ever. 18 resorts throughout the western United States set snowfall records, many of them in California.

The banner year continues to leave a lasting impression as the current snow water content as of May 8 for the entire state of California is at 304% of normal. Most impressive is the Southern Sierra which is currently at 401% of normal. The Northern Sierra/Trinity area is at 258%, while the Central Sierra is at 295%.

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Fire

21 die as fires rage in swaths of Russia's Urals (UPDATE)


The Jerusalem Post
Mon, 08 May 2023 09:35 UTC
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Raging wildfires blot out Sun, turn sky red in Kurgan Region, Russia.
Raging fires have consumed swaths of Russia's Urals mountains, killing at least four people, razing hundreds of homes, forcing evacuations and spurring investigations, officials said on Sunday.

Wildfires are common in late spring and summer across Russia's vast forests and grassy steppes, but some recent blazes have fanned suspicions of negligence.

The fires spread to some settlements in the southern region of Kurgan, prompting a visit by Alexander Kurenkov, the emergency minister, early on Monday.

"A difficult situation has developed," Kurenkov said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.


Comment: Update May 9

The Associated Press reports:
The death toll from wildfires in Russia's Ural Mountains rose to 21 Tuesday, Russian state news agency Tass reported, citing local emergency service agencies.

Wildfires have raged in the Kurgan region of the Urals and in Siberia all week. A resident of western Siberia's Tyumen province died while attempting to extinguish a fire.

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According to local authorities, most of the deaths occurred Sunday in the Kurgan province village of Yuldus, which is located on the border between the Ural Mountains and Siberia.

"The death toll may increase," regional emergency service officials said.

A state of emergency was introduced in the province, where more than 5,000 buildings have burned down. Fires also have engulfed thousands of hectares (acres) in Sverdlovsk province, and in Siberia's Omsk and Tyumen provinces.

During a Monday visit to Kurgan province, Russia's emergency situations minister of Emergency Situations said settlements were no longer at risk from the blazes, though local media reported Tuesday that fires still burned there, as well as in Sverdlovsk and Tyumen.


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