Earth ChangesS


Kayak

Widespread flooding in Fiji - 16 inches of rain in 24 hours

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Evacuation centres are open in Fiji and roads are closed as flooding followed heavy rain, which was expected to continue on Sunday.

In an update issued just after 10am Sunday local time, the Fiji Times reported Ba town was underwater, with Vinod Patel park and main street Ba flooded, and the Elevuka creek had burst its banks.

Vehicles have been stopped by Fiji Police Force officers from entering the town area and all shops are closed.

Road access from Ba to Tavua is also closed due to flooding at Wailailai Flats.

In a a statement on Saturday night, Minister for Disaster Management Sakiasi Dikota said they had confirmed reports of flooding in the Western and Northern parts of Fiji, and floodwaters had entered Nadi town.

Some of the major rivers in the Western and Northern divisions were above alert or warning levels.


Snowflake

Saudi Arabia: Afif desert covered in hail or snow in rare event

The snowfall in Afif comes amid predictions from the latest weather maps and computer simulations, suggesting that Saudi Arabia will face a new weather system starting Sunday.
The snowfall in Afif comes amid predictions from the latest weather maps and computer simulations, suggesting that Saudi Arabia will face a new weather system starting Sunday.
The Afif desert, located west of Riyadh, was unexpectedly blanketed in snow following a bout of rain and hail on Friday afternoon.

The unusual weather event captivated residents and netizens alike, as videos of the snow-covered sands spread rapidly across social media platforms, prompting users to share their delight and amazement at the wintry scene in an area typically known for its arid climate.

The snowfall in Afif comes amid predictions from the latest weather maps and computer simulations, suggesting that Saudi Arabia will face a new weather system starting Sunday. This system is anticipated to bring widespread rainfall to the Kingdom, along with thunderstorms, hail, and dust-stirring winds.


Cloud Precipitation

Huge hailstones pound Coahuila, Mexico

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On the afternoon of last Friday, March 15, residents of the state of Coahuila witnessed an intense storm that left serious material damage. The reason was because with the rain, hail was also recorded, which was the size of tennis or even baseball balls.

It was through social networks where photos and videos of the events were shared. The material allows us to see how the intense hail strongly hits the vehicles that were parked, causing the windshields to be broken. Likewise, other properties were affected by this intense storm, leading the authorities to ask the population to be alert as the storm is expected to continue.

The events were recorded in the Carboniferous Region, which is made up of the municipalities of Sabinas, San Juan de Sabinas and Múzquiz, so the undersecretary of Civil Protection of the entity, Francisco Martínez, confirmed that only material damage was recorded and for now, no person injured.


Fire

Wildfire rages in southwest China as strong winds and poor visibility disrupt firefighting efforts

The forest fire in Yajiang county, Sichua
© XinhuaThe forest fire in Yajiang county, Sichuan province has spread quickly over several mountain ridges because of strong winds.
More than 1,000 firefighters and seven helicopters have been deployed to battle a forest fire raging in China's southwestern province of Sichuan.

The fire started around 5pm on Friday near Baizi village in Yajiang county in Sichuan's Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Garze, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Strong winds on Saturday afternoon fanned the blaze, which quickly spread over multiple mountain ridges, it added.

The ministry declared a level-4 emergency response, the lowest alert for fire control in forests and grasslands, and dispatched 1,260 firefighters from national and local fire rescue squads.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, a total of 3,396 villagers from a dozen villages were evacuated.

It said the firefighters resumed their operations on Sunday morning after they were forced to leave the scene on Saturday night due to strong winds and poor visibility.


Volcano

Iceland in state of emergency after volcano erupts, fourth time in 3 months

This image from video provided by Iceland Civil Defence shows lava erupting from a volcano
© Iceland Civil DefenceThis image from video provided by Iceland Civil Defence shows lava erupting from a volcano between Hagafell and Stori-Skogfell, Iceland, on March 16, 2024.
Icelandic police declared a state of emergency on Saturday as lava spewed from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December.

A "volcanic eruption has started between Stori-Skogfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula," said a statement from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). Live video images showed glowing lava and billowing smoke.

Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management announced it had sent a helicopter to narrow down the exact location of the new fissure. The authority also said the police had declared a state of emergency due to the eruption.

According to the IMO, it occurred close to the same location as a previous eruption on February 8. Lava appeared to flow south towards the dykes built to protect the fishing village Grindavik, it said.


Arrow Down

Landslide in Rwanda causes devastation in bordering Congo

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The city of Buhozi in the Kabare territory of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), near the Rwanda border, has once again fallen victim to landslides over the past two days. This new disaster has affected the Ruzizi River and the Nyamagana hill in the DRC.

Local civil society is calling for enhanced security measures to prevent infiltrations by foreign forces.

Houses have been flooded, and cracks are visible in some buildings.

Resident Testimony (Munguakonkwa Ndagano, Buhozi Resident):
"In Buhozi, our houses have been destroyed, and we are sleeping on the road. There is no one to help us. In Rwanda, there was also a landslide that blocked the Ruzizi River, and our fields were devastated by this landslide. People are crossing from Rwanda without control. We need the government's assistance."

Cloud Lightning

Divine message? Lightning strike at Burj Khalifa in Dubai, resembles Palestine map

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Amidst the awe-inspiring spectacle of a lightning strike illuminating the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, a striking resemblance to the map of Palestine has ignited fervent debate.

The footage, originally captured by Dubai-based photographer Zohaib Anjum, has garnered nearly 12 million views, sparking a fervent response on social media platforms.

Many viewers have drawn parallels between the path of the lightning strike and the map of Palestine, leading to interpretations by some as a potential divine sign urging intervention in the conflict.

While the emotional resonance is palpable, experts caution against attributing religious significance to the natural phenomenon, emphasizing the unpredictability of lightning's path.


Snowflake

Mid-March storm dumps up to 5 feet of snow on Colorado (UPDATE)

Snow piles up in Woodland Park.  Debbie Kelley
© Debbie KelleySnow piles up in Woodland Park.
Portions of Interstate 70 were reopened late Thursday after being closed since the morning due to safety concerns during the snow.

"If you have to ask 'How do I get there?', the answer is, you can't," the Colorado State Patrol had warned during the closing on X.

Where the roads weren't closed, accidents abounded. Thursday morning, Denver Police and C-DOT Crews worked together to free a wrecked vehicle from the snow after it crashed into the concrete barrier on I-25 at Centennial.

Nederland, Colorado, reported 53 inches of snow -- over four feet -- from the storm. Most of the Denver Metro area had received 6 to 12 inches of snow by noon, while the airport recorded 5.7 inches, falling short of the biggest snowstorm this season, as 7.5 inches of snow fell on Oct. 28-29, 2023.


Comment: Update March 15

Denver7.com reports:
Thursday's snowstorm around Colorado was best measured in feet, not inches, with totals reaching beyond four feet in some locations.

Clouds are clearing out and you may even see some sunshine poking through today. Conditions will warm up and dry out through Tuesday, when a weak storm system might bring some light snow to the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures on Friday are well above freezing and snow is already starting to melt around the Denver metro area — something that will continue as highs will stay in the 40s, 50s and 60s for the foreseeable future.

The NWS is continuing to update its snow totals map. As of now, the list tops out at 61.5 inches in Aspen Springs, a community just north of Black Hawk.

We have collected a list of snow total data from the NWS of more than 300 locations.

These are the totals for the past 48 hours as of 3 p.m. Friday, according to the latest data from the NWS:

Aspen Springs (community near Black Hawk): 61.5 inches
1 W Aspen Springs: 57
4 ENE Nederland: 53
4 SE Pinecliffe: 50.7

1 WSW Eldora: 46
1 NNW Genesee: 45.7
3 W Jamestown: 45.5
1 SW Manitou Springs: 44
4 NE Nederland: 43.5
1 NE Divide: 42
1 SSW Crescent Village: 42
4 SSE Pinecliffe: 41.2
1 NNE Echo Lake: 41
1 SSE St. Mary's Glacier: 40.5
1 N Genesee: 40
2 W Pennock Pass: 40
2 SSE Manitou Springs: 40
1 S Manitou Springs: 40
4 W Conifer: 39.5
4 E Aspen Springs: 36
Aspen Park: 36
2 S Estes Park: 36
1 SSW Rollinsville: 36
6 ESE Hillside: 36

(More here)



Black Cat

Pupil attacked by cheetah on his way to school in Meru, Kenya

Closeup picture of an African cheetah running very fast and throwing up dust.
© Mateo JuricCloseup picture of an African cheetah running very fast and throwing up dust.
A Junior Secondary School pupil at Mweromuthanga Primary School in Muthara Ward, Meru County, is nursing serious injuries after being attacked by a cheetah while going to school.

According to community members, the boy raised alarm on Friday morning as he fought off the animal while trying to rescue himself.

His efforts, however, proved futile but the animal disappeared into thick bushes when the locals arrived at the scene.

Area Senior Chief John K Mamira witnessed and confirmed the incident, advising residents and their school-going kids to be wary of dangerous animals marauding at night.

Doberman

Dog attack claims life of 8-year-old girl in Punjab, Pakistan

dog attack
In a shocking incident, an 8-year-old girl succumbed to death after being viciously attacked by a stray dog in the village Jalalpur Pirwala, ARY News reported.

According to the police officials, the Minor girl, named Maryam, went to a local shop, where she was encountered with the ferocious animals.

Local authorities in Jalalpur Pirwala rushed to the scene upon receiving distressing reports of the attack and promptly transported the victim to the nearest hospital in critical condition.

Meanwhile, despite the efforts of medical personnel, Maryam tragically succumbed to her injuries.