© Xpda on Flickr
Joplin, Mo., after a severe May 22 tornado
Joplin, Mo., after a severe May 22 tornado
Earth Changes
© USGS
The tremor shook doors and windows for around 30 seconds, startling people to scurry out of bed.
Emergency Operations Center director Juan M. Mendez said there are no reports of damages or injuries thus far, although cracks in structures have been reported in the country's south region.
Jose Mateo, on the phone from the town of Fundacion, in the southern city of Bani, said his house under construction "has some cracks," with no major damages.
Europe's highest active volcano has rumbled back to life.
Italy's Mount Etna on the Mediterranean island of Sicily has released a column of ash up to 5,000 metres (over 16,000 feet) above sea level.
Lava was also seen flowing from a new crater according to the Catania Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology.
Officials have held a crisis meeting at the nearby Catania airport but for the moment flights have not been halted.
Italy's Mount Etna on the Mediterranean island of Sicily has released a column of ash up to 5,000 metres (over 16,000 feet) above sea level.
Lava was also seen flowing from a new crater according to the Catania Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology.
Officials have held a crisis meeting at the nearby Catania airport but for the moment flights have not been halted.
Golfers have been hitting the links and South Dakota cities are saving on their snow removal budget, but the warm weather is starting to make farmers nervous.
"I'm 83 years old and I never have," said Marion Van Zandbergen, when asked about the warm winter.
Randy Van Kalsbeek of Iowa said called the weather is "strange, a nice strange though."
While South Dakota in January usually is covered with a layer of snow, warm temperatures have left corn and soybean fields thawed and bare.
"If we don't start getting some snow or rain, we're in deep trouble," said Willis Lienart, a farmer worried about his crop yields this year.
"I'm 83 years old and I never have," said Marion Van Zandbergen, when asked about the warm winter.
Randy Van Kalsbeek of Iowa said called the weather is "strange, a nice strange though."
While South Dakota in January usually is covered with a layer of snow, warm temperatures have left corn and soybean fields thawed and bare.
"If we don't start getting some snow or rain, we're in deep trouble," said Willis Lienart, a farmer worried about his crop yields this year.
© ABS OBN
A deadly landslide occurred in the southern Philippines around 3 a.m. on Thursday.
A deadly landslide occurred in the southern Philippines around 3 a.m. on Thursday.
The landslide struck around 3:00 a.m. (2100 GMT Wednesday), when most residents were asleep. Aside from those confirmed dead, more than 100 people are believed to be buried in the rubble in Napnapan village in Pantukan township, Compostela Valley provincial Gov. Arturo Uy said.
Army Lt. Col. Camilo Ligayo said about 120 soldiers were heading to the area to help dig for survivors and bodies.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said he had warned residents and local officials last year of a fissure on a ridge of the mountain that geologists said was "highly susceptible" to landslides that could occur anytime.
"We were absolute that it will give in," he told The Associated Press. "It was a 100 percent warning. We told them it's just a matter of time. ... This is it. This is what happened this morning."
© Associated Press
A helicopter works to dampen an area of the Torres del Paine national park in Torres del Paine, Chile
A helicopter works to dampen an area of the Torres del Paine national park in Torres del Paine, Chile
The fires also claimed their first victim: an elderly man who refused warnings to leave his home.
Chile's normally rainy southern regions are suffering from a nationwide heat wave, on top of a drought that makes fires increasingly likely. The country was battling 48 separate fires on Sunday alone, and red alerts were declared for the regions of Magallanes, Bio Bio and Maule.
"We have a situation of extreme vulnerability," said President Sebastian Pinera, who called for toughening sentences for arson.
There's a bizarre scene in Montgomery County where dozens of birds are dead.
More than 30 birds are lying dead on Indian Mound Drive at the intersection of Grassy Lick Road in Mt. Sterling.
All the birds appear to be the same species, and seem to have died and landed at this spot all at once.
No word yet about what caused their death.
More than 30 birds are lying dead on Indian Mound Drive at the intersection of Grassy Lick Road in Mt. Sterling.
All the birds appear to be the same species, and seem to have died and landed at this spot all at once.
No word yet about what caused their death.
© Clive Last
Vets still don't know what killed dugongs, and other animals, in Gladstone Harbour earlier this year.
Vets still don't know what killed dugongs, and other animals, in Gladstone Harbour earlier this year.
In response to a Right to Information request, the Department of Environment and Resource Management has provided reports for 13 of the dugongs, turtles and dolphins found dead in Gladstone this year.
The documents reveal veterinary scientists from Gladstone Veterinary Clinic and the University of Queensland's Diagnostic Services reported the cause of death was unclear or unknown for 10 of the marine animals.
In the remaining cases, net entrapments and entanglements in fishing line were cited as possible causes of death but no definitive conclusions were drawn.
© Unknown
For the first time, researchers have used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to explore the East Scotia Ridge deep beneath the Southern Ocean, where hydrothermal vents, (including 'black smokers' reaching temperatures of up to 382 degrees Celsius) create a unique environment that lacks sunlight, but is rich in certain chemicals. The team reports its findings in this week's issue of the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.
Marine life is suffering in the Gulf of Thailand, where the Chao Phraya River, which runs through the capital Bangkok, meets the sea.
Following the worst flooding in the country in decades, millions of cubic metres of extra water has been draining into the gulf causing shellfish and other fish to die or swim away.
At least 10,000 shellfish farmers have been affected and conservationists say it will be months before they can resume their trade.
Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports from Samut Sakhon province, Thailand.
Following the worst flooding in the country in decades, millions of cubic metres of extra water has been draining into the gulf causing shellfish and other fish to die or swim away.
At least 10,000 shellfish farmers have been affected and conservationists say it will be months before they can resume their trade.
Al Jazeera's Florence Looi reports from Samut Sakhon province, Thailand.
