Earth ChangesS

Cloud Lightning

US: Tornado watch issued for northern Illinois

The weekend storms have left thousands of Chicago area residents dealing with power outages, property damage and traffic snarls -- and more dangerous weather is on the way.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for northern Illinois -- including Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry and Will counties -- that will remain in effect until 1 a.m. Monday.

Additionally, approaching storms have prompted a lakeshore flood warning that will remain in effect until 9 p.m. because a two-foot drop in Lake Michigan water near Chicago indicates a seiche is in progress across the southern parts of the lake, causing water levels to fluctuate rapidly.

Cloud Lightning

Landslide kills two in Hong Kong

Two people were killed in Hong Kong on Saturday when their hut was crushed in a landslide triggered by the some of the worst rain here since records began, a report said.

The landslide sent a 20-tonne wall crashing onto the hut that the pair, a man and a woman, were sleeping in, local broadcaster RTHK reported on its web site.


Cloud Lightning

Hong Kong town cut off after severe floods

An isolated town in Hong Kong remained cut off Sunday, a report said, a day after torrential rain lashed the territory, killing two people.

All roads to the fishing town of Tai O, well-known for its houses propped up on stilts above the water, were blocked following landslides caused by the downpour, local broadcaster RTHK said.

The town's telephone links were cut off and there was no access to fresh water, the report said. Authorities have dispatched a tanker filled with fresh water to supply the town, which is on the outlying island of Lantau.

Cloud Lightning

One dead, one missing in flooding in Indiana

One person died and another was missing as flooding inundated central Indiana, forcing evacuations and numerous boat rescues, a state official said.

"We have one confirmed casualty," John Erikson, spokesman for the midwestern state's Department of Homeland Security told AFP, saying he did not have more details about the victim.

He also said one person was missing as flood waters swamped areas south and west of Indianapolis on Saturday.

Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike at Connecticut park injures 5

MADISON - Five people are in the hospital after lightning struck a pavilion at a Connecticut state park.

Umbrella

Iowa City at risk for flooding

Officials warn that the Coralville Reservoir could top its spillway and flood Iowa City by Tuesday.

Levels for the Iowa River are predicted to be similar to those seen in the flood of 1993. Officials say that people whose property was affected in 1993 should assume that situation will repeat itself.

Cloud Lightning

India: Six killed, 2 injured by lightning

At least six women were killed and two injured due to lightning strikes at several villages in Dumri block on Saturday evening.

Among the casualties were three women and three girls. The incident took place around 4pm.

The two girls have been identified as Rinki (8) and Punam (6). They were collecting berries at Kasma-Kurma when the lightning struck.

Hourglass

Caribbean Monk Seal Gone Extinct From Human Causes, NOAA Confirms

After a five year review, NOAA's Fisheries Service has determined that the Caribbean monk seal, which has not been seen for more than 50 years, has gone extinct - the first type of seal to go extinct from human causes.

Caribbean Monk Seal
©U.S. National Museum
Scientific Sketch of a Caribbean Monk Seal.

Bizarro Earth

Aftershock rocks China lake, creates landslides

QINGLIAN - A magnitude 5.0 aftershock shook a brimming, earthquake-formed lake and sent landslides tumbling down surrounding mountains Sunday, underscoring the persistent threat of flooding to more than 1 million weary refugees downstream.

Hongshihe quake-formed lake
©AP Photo/Color China Photo
Workers widen a sluice channel at the Hongshihe quake-formed lake at Qingchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan province, Saturday, June 7, 2008. Soldiers blew up wooden houses and other debris Sunday in a lake formed by China's deadly earthquake to speed the flow of water into a diversion channel and ease the threat of flooding for more than 1 million people in the sprawling disaster zone.

No new evacuations were ordered and the lake's dam of unstable mud and rocks did not collapse, said Hu Peng, a media officer at the disaster relief headquarters of the lake. He had no additional details.

More than 250,000 people downstream have been evacuated in recent weeks.


Cloud Lightning

US: Authorities say 3 drowned in Midwest flooding

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - A possible tornado toppled trees in Nebraska and record flooding chased people from their Indiana homes early Sunday as the Midwest braced for still more violent weather.