Earth ChangesS


Tsunami

Rainstorms and heavy floods hit large parts of Bosnia, killing at least 21 people (UPDATE)

A car is submerged in flood waters outside an apartment building in the village of Kiseljak, northern Bosnia, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
© Armin DurgutA car is submerged in flood waters outside an apartment building in the village of Kiseljak, northern Bosnia, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
A severe rainstorm struck Bosnia overnight Friday, killing at least 14 people and flooding several towns and villages in central and southern parts of the country.

Rescue services in the south of the country reported several people missing and called on volunteers and the army to assist as roads were closed and houses left without electricity.

Darko Jukan, a spokesman for the local administration in the southern town of Jablanica, said at least 14 people had died.

Defense Minister Zukan Helez told N1 regional television that troops have been engaged to help and that the casualties were reported.


Comment: Update October 5

Euronews reports:
Rescue teams in the south said several people were still missing and called on volunteers and the army to assist with search and rescue operations.

Rescue teams on Saturday searched for those still missing after flash floods and landslides hit parts of Bosnia, killing at least 21 people and injuring scores more.

Train track left hanging in the air after Bosnia landslides
Train track left hanging in the air after Bosnia landslides
Construction machines worked to remove piles of rocks and debris covering the central town of Jablanica after the rainstorm early on Friday.

Huge quantities of rain fell in the area around Jablanica and nearby Konjic, causing sudden floods that broke into people's homes as they were sleeping.

Surging waters also triggered landslides that collapsed roads and hills, covering villages in mud and cutting off entire areas.




Lightning

Lightning kills 297 in 8 months in Bangladesh

nnnnn
The number of casualties due to lightning is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. In eight months of this year, 297 people have died due to lightning across the country. 242 of them are men. Among these, the highest number of people died in May, according to the "Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum." This information was released at the organization's office on the capital's Topkhana Road on Saturday (October 5).

According to the organization, from last February to September 30, 297 people died due to lightning across the country. 73 people were injured. Among the dead, there are 11 children, and 55 women. 6 of the women are teenagers. Of the total deaths, 242 were men. There are 17 juveniles among males.

According to the organization, one died by lightning in February. 9 people died in March. Among them 8 men and one woman. 6 people were injured in March. 6 of them are men. 31 people died in April. Among them are 20 men, 11 women, one child, and two teenage girls. A man was injured in April.

Comment: More recently on October 5th a fisherman was fatally struck and 2 schoolboys were also killed by another bolt in the same country.


Tsunami

Over 5 million people in 16 African countries impacted by floods: UN

People affected by floods are escorted through flood water on a military boat in Maiduguri, Nigeria, September 12, 2024.
© CFPPeople affected by floods are escorted through flood water on a military boat in Maiduguri, Nigeria, September 12, 2024.
More than 5 million people in 16 countries in Africa have been impacted by floods so far this year.

In Africa, floods have reached catastrophic levels, with Chad, Niger and Nigeria among the hardest hit countries accounting for more than 80 per cent of people affected, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday.

More than 1,000 people have been killed, and at least 740,000 people have been displaced, the office said. In addition, hundreds of thousands of homes, more than 100 schools, and dozens of health facilities have been damaged. Nearly 500,000 acres of farmland have been affected, Xinhua news agency reported.

OCHA said that without sufficient support, the floods threaten to hinder the reopening of schools, with the new school year set to begin this month. The floods could also aggravate existing food insecurity, particularly in Chad and Niger.


Comment: Also pertinent and related:



Cloud Precipitation

Dunedin, New Zealand, records its wettest day in a century as flooding cuts the city off by road

Dozens of roads have been forced to close, some highways are closed and buses have been cancelled due to flooding and slips battering Dunedin.
© Otago Daily Times / Stephen JaquieryDozens of roads have been forced to close, some highways are closed and buses have been cancelled due to flooding and slips battering Dunedin.
The New Zealand city of Dunedin was cut off by road due to flooding Friday after recording its wettest day in more than a century.

Local authorities in the South Island city said more than 80 people who lived in low-lying areas spent the night in emergency shelters after the rain began Thursday. There have been no deaths and no one is unaccounted for.

But the city of 135,000 people was effectively cut off when the main highways leading into and out of Dunedin were closed due to flooding. They were expected to remain closed until Saturday, the City Council said on its website.

Other roads were closed due to landslides.
Conditions were unpredictable said local government spokesperson Chris Henderson, who urged residents not to drive unless it was "extremely essential."

A local state of emergency remains in place for the city, which is due to be battered by rain until late Friday.


Tsunami

3 million stranded as flood hits eight districts of Bangladesh - at least 8 killed

mmmmmm
The overall flood situation in Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla and Noakhali worsened yesterday due to downpours and swelling of many rivers.

A pregnant woman in Brahmanbaria's Akhaura upazila died after being swept away as floodwater rushed into her home.

Vast tracts of land in Habiganj and Moulvibazar and parts of Brahmanbaria and Chattogram have gone under water.

The flooding in the eight districts has left over three million people stranded. Feni and Noakhali are the worst-affected districts.

In Feni, Parshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas have been badly affected. Besides, large areas under four unions of Feni Sadar and Daganbhuiyan upazilas have been inundated due to rise in the water level of the Chhota Feni river.

Many areas of the district have been without electricity since Tuesday night. The Feni-Parshuram regional road became impassable as floodwater submerged it. One person was reportedly missing in Parshuram.


Tsunami

Best of the Web: Heavy rain triggers floods, landslides in Nepal: 241 dead, 29 missing - foot of rainfall in 24 hours (UPDATES)

Security force members use an inflatable raft to bring residents to safety from a flooded area near the bank of the overflowing Bagmati River following heavy rains, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
© ReutersSecurity force members use an inflatable raft to bring residents to safety from a flooded area near the bank of the overflowing Bagmati River following heavy rains, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpours in Nepal killed at least 59 people across the Himalayan country, with rescue teams searching for 44 missing, police said Saturday.

"So far, there are 59 dead, 36 wounded and 44 missing," Nepal police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki told AFP.

Earlier in the day, reports suggested that the majority of the fatalities occurred in the Kathmandu Valley, home to four million people and the nation's capital. In some areas of Kathmandu, up to 322.2 mm of rain fell in the past 24 hours, stranding residents on rooftops and elevated areas.


Comment: Update September 29

The Economic Times reports:
Floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in 129 deaths over the past 24 hours, according to data from the Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police on Sunday. Additionally, 62 people are missing, and at least 100 others have sustained injuries. Nepal has also had to close down its schools for three days. Authorities reported significant damage to university and school buildings, making repairs necessary.

"We have urged the concerned authorities to close schools in the affected areas for three days," said Lakshmi Bhattarai, spokesperson for the education ministry told Reuters.

The heavy rains disrupted traffic and daily life in the Kathmandu valley, which has a population of 4 million.

Some areas of the capital experienced up to 322.2 mm (12.7 inches) of rainfall, raising the Bagmati river 2.2 meters (7 feet) above the danger mark. However, Govinda Jha, a weather forecaster, noted that the intensity of rain had decreased by Sunday morning, with only isolated showers expected.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with police teams clearing mud and recovering bodies from two buses caught in a landslide on a key route into Kathmandu.
Update September 30

AP reports:
The number of people killed by flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall over the weekend in Nepal reached 193 while recovery and rescue work stepped up Monday.

Many of the deaths were in the capital, Kathmandu, which got heavy rainfall, and much of southern part of the city was flooded. Police said in a statement that 31 people were still reported missing and 96 people were injured across the Himalayan nation.
Update October 1

AP reports:
Rescuers on Tuesday searched for people still missing and tried to recover bodies of those killed in weekend flooding and landslides in Nepal that killed more than 200 people.

Weather continued to improve, and workers were clearing the highways that were blocked by landslides. Sections of several highways next to raging rivers were washed away, however, and those repairs will likely take longer.

The disaster came just ahead of the country's biggest festival Dasain, which begins on Thursday when people return home to celebrate with their families. The damage to roads is likely to hamper festival travel plans for many.

The government has said it was focusing on helping people who were stranded and who have lost their homes in the flooding and landslides.

Nepal police said the death toll by Tuesday had reached 217 while 143 people had been injured. There were still 28 people who were reported missing and searches were continuing for them.
Update October 4

ANI reports:
The death toll from the rain-induced disaster, which began last Saturday, has risen to 241, with 29 still missing, according to the Armed Police Force (APF).

According to the hydrology department's readings on September 28, three weather stations in Kavrepalanchowk recorded record-high rainfall. Khopasi weather station recorded 331.6mm, Panchkhal recorded 232.5mm, and Dhulikhel recorded 224.6mm of rain.

On the same day, 22 other weather stations across Nepal also recorded record rainfall, despite earlier projections that the country would receive above-average rainfall this year.



Snowflake

Early snow in north China as southeast braces for typhoon

Tourists visit Yungang Grottoes in the snow on Tuesday in Datong, Shanxi province.
© CHINA DAILYTourists visit Yungang Grottoes in the snow on Tuesday in Datong, Shanxi province.
The city of Datong in North China's Shanxi province received its first snowfall of the season on Tuesday, the start of the weeklong National Day holiday. While the snow caught residents by surprise and travelers off guard, milder conditions can be expected for the remainder of the break, forecasters said.

"The snow was unexpected! I was stunned when I captured the beautiful view with my camera," said Yu Zhandong, a photographer and native of Datong, who added that the city usually sees its first snowfall around November.

The city, which saw the mercury plummet to 0.3 C on Tuesday morning, has been a sought-after tourism destination for the National Day holiday, which runs until Oct 7.

Datong can be found in several scenes of the recently released and hugely popular video game Black Myth: Wukong, which is based on the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. The city's cultural atmosphere with its Buddhist and Taoist sites has made it an in vogue destination.


Cloud Lightning

Typhoon Krathon continues to batter parts of Taiwan

A damaged wooden archway due to strong winds from Typhoon Krathon in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on October 3, 2024.
A damaged wooden archway due to strong winds from Typhoon Krathon in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on October 3, 2024.
Typhoon Krathon brings with it heavy rainfall and gusts of wind, killing two and injuring over hundreds in its wake.

It is being dubbed as a 'weird' typhoon due to its hovering off the coast before reaching the land and its rare storm route.

Authorities have declared high alert and asked residents to take shelter.

Schools and businesses are closed for the second consecutive day and all domestic and international flights stand cancelled.


Cloud Lightning

Best of the Web: Hurricane Helene slams Florida, Georgia and other states with flooding, power outages - at least 200 dead, 600 missing (UPDATES)

nnnnnnnn
A tornado killed two people in the US state of Georgia, the governor said, as Hurricane Helene churned into the state after causing one death in the neighbouring state of Florida, where it barrelled ashore in the southeastern United States.

Helene weakened to a Category 1 hurricane early on Friday with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), but it left a deadly trail of destruction in both states.

More than 55 million people in the US have been placed under some form of weather alert.

As of Friday morning, broadcaster ABC reported two deaths in Georgia's Wheeler County, while Florida confirmed one death, after a sign fell on a car on a highway in Tampa City.

The hurricane made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warned that the enormous system could create a "nightmare" storm surge and bring dangerous winds and rain across much of the southeastern US.


Comment: Update September 28

Newsnationnow.com reports:
After making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, Helene is continuing to track inland as a weakened tropical storm, bringing flooding and leaving millions without power in the Southeast.

There have been at least 44 reported fatalities from the storm across five states after catastrophic flooding and storm surge that left destruction in their wake, according to The Associated Press.

Deaths have been confirmed in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

Multiple deaths have been attributed to drowning, while some were the result of trees falling. State officials say dozens more are still trapped inside their homes, The Associated Press reports.

In Florida, crews have been working to rescue people stuck in floodwaters with some areas experiencing up to 9 feet of flooding. Crews are also dealing with downed powerlines and other hazards from the storm.

As Helene barreled through Georgia, wind gusts over 90 mph were reported with sustained winds at 60 mph. Headed toward the Carolinas, there are flood warnings across the Southeast, including North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and southern Illinois and southern Indiana.






In Western North Carolina, significant flooding and road closures were reported with the Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County at imminent risk of failure. Those in the area were being advised to evacuate immediately.

The flash flood emergency remains in place until 2 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Rising floodwaters and a mudslide washed out the interstate near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. The closure occurred around 12:30 p.m. Friday and is expected to reopen by 5 p.m. Saturday, NewsNation local affiliate WJZY reports.

Millions have also been left without power thanks to the storm.

More than 595,000 people in Florida are left without power, along with 860,000 outages reported in Georgia, more than 1.16 million in South Carolina and more than 812,000 in North Carolina.

As the weakened system makes its way north, power outages are following. Virginia is reporting more than 220,000 without power, while Ohio has more than 315,000.
Update September 29

AP reports:
At least 64 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across the Southeast

Massive rains from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday, as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power.



"I've never seen so many people homeless as what I have right now," said Janalea England, of Steinhatchee, Florida, a small river town along the state's rural Big Bend, as she turned her commercial fish market into a storm donation site for friends and neighbors, many of whom couldn't get insurance on their homes.

Helene blew ashore in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140 mph (225 kph).

From there, it quickly moved through Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp said Saturday that it "looks like a bomb went off" after viewing splintered homes and debris-covered highways from the air. Weakened, Helene then soaked the Carolinas and Tennessee with torrential rains, sending creeks and rivers over their banks and straining dams.
Update September 30

CBS News reports:
The number of storm-related deaths climbed past 100 across the Southeast on Sunday as authorities rushed to airdrop supplies, restore power and clear roads after massive rains from the powerful Helene left people stranded and without shelter.

Helene left at least 116 people dead, CBS News has confirmed, and caused widespread destruction.

Thirty fatalities were reported in Buncombe County, North Carolina — in one of the states hit hardest by the storm.

Helene knocked out power to several million customers. More than two million still had no electricity early Monday, according to utility tracker Find Energy.

But But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday night that 99% of the state's homes and businesses had had power restored.
Update October 1

ITV reports:
At least 133 people have died as Hurricane Helene continues to devastate the United States causing widespread flooding along its south east coastline.

Flood-stricken North Carolina has suffered significant damage, with reports of 30 people having been killed in the mountain city of Asheville.

President Biden has said he will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday.

There are fears the death toll may continue to rise as rescuers and emergency workers continue to explore areas isolated by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure, and widespread flooding.

During a briefing Monday, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall suggested that as many as 600 people haven't been accounted for, noting that some of them might be dead.
Update October 2

CNN reports:
Climbing death toll: At least 182 people have died across six states and officials fear the death toll could rise following Hurricane Helene.

Many more remain missing, perhaps unable to leave their location or contact family where communications infrastructure is in shreds.

Power and infrastructure outages: Hundreds of roads remain closed, especially in the Carolinas, hampering the delivery of badly needed supplies. Some areas are so inaccessible supplies are being delivered by mules and by air. More than 1.2 million customers are without power, according to PowerOutage.us, most in the Carolinas, where "major portions of the power grid... were simply wiped away."
Update October 3

AP reports:
Hurricane Helene's death toll reached 200 on Thursday and could rise higher still, as searchers made their way toward the hardest to reach places in the mountains of western North Carolina, where the storm washed out roads and knocked out electricity, water and cellular service.

Officials in Georgia and North Carolina added to their states' grim tallies, padding an overall count that has already made Helene the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.





Tsunami

15 killed in flash flood in Iran

mmmmm
Fifteen people have been killed in a flash flood in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman, the official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The flood occurred on Monday afternoon as heavy rainfalls caused Halil River in Jiroft County to overflow its banks, the report quoted Jiroft Governor Ahmad Bolandnazar as saying.

The governor added that 16 teams of the provincial Red Crescent Society as well as voluntary forces and local people had been searching for the 15 people missing in the flood since Monday evening, and all the bodies were found by Tuesday.

According to Bolandnazar, all the victims, except one, were Afghan nationals who were swimming in the river when the flood took place, Xinhua news agency reported.

Afshin Salehinejad, Jiroft's public and revolution prosecutor, said a lawsuit had been filed to take legal action against those potentially culpable, including government organizations such as the province's meteorological organization, the IRNA reported.

IANS