Earth Changes

Colombia - Floods destroy homes in Cauca, 1,500 families affected

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:15 UTC

Floods destroyed homes in Suarez, Cauca,

Heavy rain in the Cauca Department of Colombia has taken its toll over the last few days, with hundreds of families affected by flooding and landslides in the municipalities of Suarez, Caloto, La Vega, Jambaló and Santander de Quilichao.

Several rivers including the Quilichao River broke their banks in Santander de Quilichao on 24 March 2023. The local government reported one fatality and more than 500 families affected.

Cauca disaster authorities reported flooding in Caloto after the overflow of the El Palo River, also on 24 March.

A landslide occurred in the La Vega municipality on 24 March, affecting 65 people. A landslide was also reported in Jambalo municipality on 24 March. Ten homes were damaged and 30 people were affected.

Brazil - Over 10,000 displaced by floods in Acre State

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 29 Mar 2023 18:46 UTC

Floods along the Acre River in Brasiléia,

Rising levels of the Acre River along the borders of Acre state in northwestern Brazil and Pando Department in northern Bolivia.

Heavy rain and the overflowing Acre River flooded wide areas of the city of Rio Branco, the capital of the state of Acre in Brazil, on 23 March 2023. The city recorded 124.4 mm of rain in 24 hours to 23 March 2023, according to figures from Brazil's Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET). The Acre River at Rio Branco jumped from around 8 metres to 15.80 metres in 24 hours. The flood level here is 14 metres.

Streets and homes were damaged across 10 neighbourhoods including Placas, Calafate, Belo Jardim II, da Paz and Hélio Melo. Authorities helped to evacuate some residents who took refuge in school buildings in the Conquista neighbourhood.

5,000 lightning strikes in just 30 MINUTES over a district within Odisha, India - 5 killed

Odisha Bytes
Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:38 UTC

Different parts of Odisha have been witnessing rains and thunderstorms under the influence of western disturbance.

While heavy rain lashed several districts of the state for over a week, more than 5,000 lightning strikes have been reported in Basudevpur area of Bhadrak district within half-an-hour on Wednesday. Five people are stated to have been killed in this event, sources said.

Meteorologist Umashankar Das of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre said in a tweet that more than 5000 lightning strikes occurred in Basudevpur area of Bhadrak in just 30 minutes.

Quoting local source, he said unfortunately five people died because of this severe lightning event.

Indonesia's Anak Krakatoa volcano erupts, belches huge ash tower

PHYS.ORG
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:10 UTC

The offspring of Indonesia's infamous Krakatoa volcano erupted several times on Tuesday, sending a huge volcanic ash tower some 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) into the sky.

Mount Anak Krakatoa, which means Child of Krakatoa, erupted four times, officials said, with the biggest followed by another that sent a column of smoke and ash 1,500 meters above its crater.

"This is part of an eruption phase associated with the formation of a new body for the volcano," Oktory Prambada, an official at the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, told AFP.

In 2018, its crater partly collapsed when a major eruption sent huge chunks of the volcano sliding into the ocean, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured thousands.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on Tuesday.

First major wildfire of year in Spain burns through 4,000 hectares

The Independent (UK)
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:20 UTC

Spain's first major wildfire of 2023 has scorched more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of forest in the Valencia region.

Footage shows emergency services battling the raging flames on Sunday (26 March), with 500 firefighters supported by 20 planes and helicopters in an attempt to bring the blaze under control near the village of Villanueva de Viver.

Ximo Puig, president of the Valencia region, said the fire was made more "voracious" by summer-like temperatures of 30C.

Around 1,500 people have been forced to leave their homes as the fire rages.

Seven dead, 25 families left homeless after flash flood in Kenya

kbc.co.ke
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:53 UTC

© PD/raphael munge
Some household goods that were washed away and destroyed by flash floods that killed seven people at Kambi Muhindi area in Gilgil on Monday.

Seven people, including four children were on Monday killed by a flash flood that rocked Kambi Hindi village in Ol-jorai in Gilgil Sub County.

Confirming the incident, Gilgil Sub- County Police Commander Mr. Francis Tumbo said the families were in their houses at around 8:00pm when a downpour set in causing flash floods in the area.

He said among those killed include three women and four children aged between eight months and 10 years. The floods left in its wake a trail of destruction including killing tens of livestock.

The floods displaced about 25 families who have now been left homeless. They are among families that have settled on the former Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) farm in Ol-jorai. But experts now say the affected families had settled on a waterway and need to be moved.

Oman experiences heavy rain flooding most areas of the country

Gulf Today
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:33 UTC

A combo image shows floods in Dhahirah governorate.

Oman witnessed heavy to moderate rain in most regions on country beginning on Monday evening and carrying on till Tuesday afternoon.

The police have warned residents and tourists to stay away from valleys.

Oman Meteorologists said that the governorates of North Al Batinah, Musandam, and Al Dhahirah experienced heavy rain, which led to floods in low areas.

Australia receives 500,000 lightning strikes, heavy rainfall to continue over eastern ranges

Abhirupa Kundu
news9live.com
Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:06 UTC

Intense lightning over Western Australia

Parts of Western Australia received over 500,000 lightning strikes due to severe storms over the weekend with the weatherman predicting the conditions to continue with rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.

The meteorological department on Wednesday issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the eastern ranges, which caused 60mm of rainfall overnight.

The multiple lightning strikes occurred within 200 kilometers of Perth and thunderstorms led to the heaviest rainfall in several months across parts of southwestern Australia.

South Australia's wildlife flourishing after floods along parts of the river Murray floodplain for the first time in over 60 years

Tim Dornin
The Canberra Times
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 14:10 UTC

Birds, fish and other wildlife are flourishing after the flooding of South Australia's River Murray.

Widespread environmental benefits are becoming increasingly evident after recent flooding down the Murray in South Australia with fish, birds and other wildlife flourishing.

High flows which peaked across December and January provided much-needed water to some parts of the river and its floodplain for the first time in more than 60 years.

That's resulted in a surge in the number of wood ducks and black swans at Chowilla near the NSW border, with surveys also finding large numbers of other water and woodland birds making the most of the flood-enriched breeding and feeding habitats.

Pacific black ducks and nankeen night herons have also been observed in numbers with groups of young emerging after the flood.