Earth ChangesS


Volcano

At least 10 dead as Indonesia's Laki-Laki volcano erupts

The volcano spews lava onto its slopes during an eruption as seen from Srumbung village in Magelang, Central Java, on November 4, 2024
The volcano spews lava onto its slopes during an eruption as seen from Srumbung village in Magelang, Central Java, on November 4, 2024
At least 10 people have died after a series of volcanic eruptions took place in eastern Indonesia, spewing fireballs and ash on surrounding villages and burning down several houses.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) twin volcano located on the popular tourist island of Flores, took place just after midnight on Monday, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages.

Abdul Muhari, spokesman of the country's disaster mitigation agency BNPB, confirmed the death toll at a news conference, adding that 10,295 people had been affected by the eruptions. He said the number of evacuees was still being calculated.

The country's volcanology agency increased the volcano's alert status to the highest level and more than doubled the exclusion zone to a 7km (4.3-mile) radius as eruptions became more frequent.

The agency said at least 10,000 people were affected by the eruption in Wulanggitang district in the six nearby villages of Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru and Boru Kedang.


Doberman

Girl, 10, dies mauled to death by her family's 'XL Bully' dog in North Yorkshire, UK

PIT BULL ATTACK
A mother ran outside screaming 'my baby's dead' after a ten-year-old girl was mauled to death by an 'XL bully' dog.

Witnesses spoke today of the traumatic scenes in a sleepy Yorkshire village that sparked a huge emergency response on Friday afternoon.

The schoolgirl - known locally as 'Savannah' and described as 'beautiful and intelligent' - died after being bitten by her family's dog inside their home.

The family, who have not been named, live in a static caravan in a compound behind a shop premises in East Heslerton, North Yorkshire.

The girl's father works as a mechanic there and she is the couple's only child, said local residents.

North Yorkshire Police said the girl had a 'close, loving relationship' with the dog that went on to kill her. The force said the mutt would be put down.

Tragically, before her death the 10-year-old reportedly boasted to pals: 'I have got a new pet - an XL Bully.'

Attention

Pilot whale stranding at Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour sees 4 whales dead, 25 rescued in Australia

A cruise vessel, as well as fish farm and Parks and Wildlife Service ships helped to direct the whales out of the harbour.
© Wayne McdermottA cruise vessel, as well as fish farm and Parks and Wildlife Service ships helped to direct the whales out of the harbour.
Riley Grining was skippering a cruise around Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour on Sunday when he received a call to help stop a pod of pilot whales from stranding themselves on a beach.

The night before, the remote wilderness area was lashed with high winds blowing at up to 74 kilometres per hour, but even still, Mr Grining said it was unusual to see the mostly offshore species within the shelter of the harbour.

With a boatload of passengers, he pulled up alongside a fishing vessel trying to herd the group of about 30 away from the shallows.

"We acted like a blocker vessel to keep them off the bottom until one of the fish farm vessels took over from us at about 11:00am."

The other boat was "trying to stop them from running aground".

A vessel from Parks and Wildlife Service also assisted.

Lightning

Football match turns deadly as lightning strike kills player in Huancayo, Peru (video)

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A local football tournament in the Peruvian city of Huancayo ended in heartbreak as lightning struck the field, killing one player and leaving another in critical condition. The tragic incident occurred recently when an electrical storm swept over the stadium mid-game.

Defender Hugo de la Cruz was fatally struck on the field, while goalkeeper Juan Choca Yakta remains in intensive care, fighting for his life. Three other players were also injured in the incident but are reportedly in stable condition.

The match had started as scheduled, despite storm warnings, with players and spectators alike focused on the intense competition. However, as lightning began to flash across the sky, the game carried on—a decision that would prove devastating moments later.
Witnesses described the harrowing scene, with players and fans scrambling for safety as lightning struck the field. The tragic event has since raised questions about safety protocols and the decision to proceed with the match despite visible signs of danger.

Watch the shocking video here:


Attention

Shark severs leg of 61-year-old US surfer in attack off Hawaii

Great white shark
A man's leg has been completely severed below the knee after he was attacked by a shark while surfing in Hawaii.

The 61-year-old man was surfing off Waiehu Beach Park on the island of Maui on Friday morning when a shark bit him.

Police officers who arrived at the scene first tried to control the bleeding with tourniquets.

His right leg was "completely severed just below the knee," Maui County said in a statement.

The man was alert while being treated on shore and then taken to Maui Memorial Medical Centre in critical condition.

Lightning

Lightning strike kills 14 children at Uganda refugee camp

Palabek refugee camp is home to more than 80,000 people
© OxfamPalabek refugee camp is home to more than 80,000 people
A lighting strike at a refugee camp in Uganda had killed 14 people, police say.

They say the victims were attending a church service on Saturday evening when the lightning struck. Another 34 people were injured.

An official told local radio that all those who died were children.

The incident occurred at Palabek Refugee Settlement in the north-west of the country. The area has recently seen heavy rains with thunder and lightning.

Palabek Refugee Settlement is home to more than 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to the UN's refugee agency. Many are from neighbouring South Sudan.

Four years ago, lightning killed 10 children in the city of Arua, also in north-western Uganda.

The children were struck while taking a break from a game of football.

Cloud Lightning

Norway hit by floods and landslides following overnight storms

Overflowing river hits bridge in southern Norway
Overflowing river hits bridge in southern Norway
Overnight storms have triggered floods and landslides in south-western Norway, local media reported on Friday, the latest country in Europe to be hit by severe weather.

The rainfall subsided on Friday morning, meteorologist Julie Solsvik Vågane told broadcaster NRK, but flood and landslide warnings remain in place.

So far no one has been reported missing or injured due to the storms, according to police.

Access to the town of Odda - home to some 5,000 people some 60 kilometres south-east of Bergen - was cut off on Friday morning after a bridge collapsed. All other access roads to the town were closed due to the storms.

The mayor of Odda described the situation as "dramatic" when speaking to news agency NTB on Thursday evening.


Cloud Lightning

Swathes of Cyprus battered by storms

Fallen trees in Paphos
Fallen trees in Paphos
Large swathes of Cyprus were battered by storms on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, with strong winds felling trees and heavy rain sending water cascading down roads across the island.

Electricity was cut off in 13 villages and suburbs in the Limassol district on Saturday, with some areas not being reconnected until the early hours of Sunday morning, while similar difficulties were suffered by numerous villages and suburbs in Paphos.

Fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said a total of 54 callouts were received on Saturday, most of which concerned matters such as trees falling into roads or requests for rainwater to be pumped away.

Meanwhile, in the Paphos district village of Konia, the fire brigade were called to rescue two people who were trapped inside vehicles on a flooded road, while it is estimated that 40 properties in the Paphos district suffered flooding.

Elsewhere, metal objects were blown onto the motorway linking Paphos and Limassol, and landslides were reported near the villages of Pedoulas and Kampos.


Tsunami

Storm Trami floodwaters near rooftops in central Vietnam - 17 inches of rainfall in 24 hours - 12 killed (UPDATED)

Floodwaters in the Kien Giang River have reached rooftop levels in Loc Thuy and An Thuy communes, Le Thuy District, causing widespread damage.
Floodwaters in the Kien Giang River have reached rooftop levels in Loc Thuy and An Thuy communes, Le Thuy District, causing widespread damage.
As of Monday afternoon, over 28,340 households in Quang Binh have been affected by the flooding, with 15,800 households in Le Thuy District, 11,540 in Quang Ninh District, and 1,000 in Dong Hoi City.

The floods have isolated 58 villages.

Floodwaters have submerged 84 locations along the province's roadways, including five points on National Highway 1, where flood depths have reached up to 60 cm. An 800-meter stretch of the Ho Chi Minh Highway, runs from the north to the south of Vietnam, passing through Truong Thuy Commune in Le Thuy District is also underwater, with the deepest point reaching 80 cm.

This marks the second major flood to hit Quang Binh, home to world's largest cave Son Doong, in the last four years, following a similar incident in October 2020.

Le Thuy, in southern Quang Binh, is the hardest hit, with over 15,800 homes submerged.


Comment: Update October 31

VnExpress reports:
12 dead, thousands evacuated amid widespread flooding in Vietnam's central province

Flooding triggered by heavy rains from Storm Trami and a cold spell has claimed 12 lives, injured seven, sunk five ships, and flooded 34,000 homes in Quang Binh Province.

According to authorities in the central province, as of Thursday, Le Thuy District reported seven deaths, Quang Ninh District four, and Dong Hoi City one. Among the injured, five are from Le Thuy and two from Quang Ninh.

By Thursday afternoon, floodwaters had receded in some residential areas, but at the Kien Giang River station in Le Thuy, water levels remained at 2.35 meters. More than 1,500 homes in Le Thuy and Quang Ninh districts remain submerged, with one village still isolated.

Over the past four days, intense rains and flooding have forced the evacuation of over 9,290 families and submerged nearly 34,500 homes across the province, with Le Thuy District suffering the heaviest damage, affecting nearly 20,000 homes.



Cloud Precipitation

Extreme hailstorms in Saudi Arabia

Snow blankets northern Saudi region
© SPASnow blankets northern Saudi region of Al Jouf
Intense hailstorms hit Saudi Arabia, creating inconvenience and many floods, "everything was whitewashed as if it had snowed very heavily"!!