Earth ChangesS


Volcano

Indonesia's Ruang volcano erupts, forces evacuation of 800 to nearby Islands

Heena Sharma
WION
Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:26 UTC
Indonesia's Ruang Volcano
Indonesia's Ruang Volcano
Nearly 800 individuals have been evacuated because of the eruption of the Ruang volcano, located on the Sangihe Islands in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It's part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is known for its frequent volcanic eruptions and seismic activity.

The eruptions at the Ruang volcano occurred multiple times since Tuesday (Apr 16). As the magma rose to the surface and erupted, it produced various volcanic materials, including lava flows and ash clouds. The delicate situation prompted the authorities to elevate the alert level to the second highest.

Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari from Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reportedly told Reuters that recent earthquakes on the island triggered the eruptions. This resulted in the emission of dangerous "explosive hot clouds" reaching heights of 1.8 km.

"We must clear the island because we anticipate there could be more eruptions. No activity is allowed within four kilometres from the crater," Purnamasari said.

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Snowflake

Colorado sees nearly 3 feet of April snow after Denver hits 80-degree mark

Samantha Jarpe
kdvr.com/
Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:47 UTC
bbbbbbbbb
While the Denver metro may have enjoyed spring-like temperatures and a few rain showers to start off the work week, other parts of the state were in a whole other boat.

The high country was forecasted to see heavy snow on Monday and Tuesday, and that's exactly what happened.

Some areas, including Cameron Pass in Larimer County, were hit with nearly 3 feet of snow on Monday and Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, the aptly named Never Summer mountain range, as well as the Medicine Bow mountains, saw some of the heaviest snow.

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Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Dubai submerged in floods as United Arab Emirates gets over year and a half's worth of rain in 24 hours


Al Jazeera
Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:44 UTC
Desert City Dubai Under Water After Rains
Desert city Dubai under water after rains

Heavy thunderstorms have lashed the United Arab Emirates (UAE), dumping more than a year and a half's rain on the desert city-state of Dubai in just a few hours and flooding major highways and its international airport.

The rains began late on Monday, soaking the sands and roads of Dubai with some 20mm (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport. The storms intensified at about 9am (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain and hail onto the overwhelmed city.

By the end of Tuesday, more than 142mm (5.59 inches) had soaked Dubai. An average year sees 94.7mm (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel and a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates.


Comment: Related: Flash floods hit Oman - at least 18 killed

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Doberman

Toddler killed, mauled by 3 dogs at babysitter's Duncanville home in Texas

De'Anthony Taylor, Alicia Barrera, Keenan Willard and Alanna Quillen
nbcdfw.com
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:28 UTC
dog attack
A 1-year-old boy was viciously mauled to death Monday morning by three large dogs in a Duncanville home where he was being babysat with other children.

According to the Duncanville Police Department, officers were called to a home in the 1500 block of Lime Leaf Lane at about 10:40 a.m. after a small child was attacked by a dog.

When they arrived at the home with paramedics, police said they found the toddler unresponsive with severe injuries and immediately began performing life-saving measures on the young victim until medics arrived.

The child was rushed to the Children's Medical Center in Dallas but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

"This is certainly a tragedy. Our fire personnel and police personnel worked very hard to try to save this child," said Duncanville Interim Police Chief Matthew Stogner.

During a press conference Monday evening, Stogner said the homeowner was babysitting the 1-year-old, and there were three other children inside the home at the time of the attack. Only one child, who was not a resident of the household, was attacked.

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Cloud Lightning

Storm-related incidents kill 41 people across Pakistan, including 28 by lightning strikes

Kaneez Fatima
Fairfield Sun Times
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:23 UTC
vvvv
At least 41 people have died in storm-related incidents across Pakistan since Friday, including 28 killed by lightning, officials said on Monday.

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of landslides and flash floods because more rain is expected in coming days.

Punjab, Pakistan's largest and most populous province, witnessed the highest death toll, with 21 people killed by lightning between Friday and Sunday.

"I have asked the NDMA to coordinate with the provinces... and for the NDMA to provide relief goods to areas where damages occurred," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday.

People living in open, rural areas are more at risk of being struck by lightning during thunderstorms.

At least eight people were killed in Balochistan province, including seven struck by lightning, where 25 districts were battered by rain and some areas were flooded.

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Cloud Precipitation

Tanzania floods kill 58 in 2 weeks


Myjoyonline.com
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:51 UTC
Visuals from the regions affected by flood
© X/@rcs1962) Asian News InternationalVisuals from the regions affected by flood in Tanzania.
Nearly 60 people have died since the start of April in heavy rains and flooding that has hit several parts of Tanzania, the government said.

The coastal region of the East African country is one of the worst affected, with floods damaging thousands of farms there, Mobhare Matinyi, the government spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday.

"Serious flood effects are experienced in the coast region where 11 people have so far died," Mr Matinyi added.

He said, so far, 58 deaths have been recorded across the country from the flooding.

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Cloud Precipitation

Storm leaves 5 people dead and infrastructure flood damaged in Margate, South Africa

Sakhiseni Nxumalo
Times Live
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:32 UTC
flood
Heavy downpour in Margate saw water gushing through the streets.
Five people died in a storm that lashed Margate on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Sunday night.

This was confirmed by Ugu district municipality, which said search and rescue teams have been deployed.

Huge damage has been caused to water and roads infrastructure and an on-site assessment of the damages is under way.

Municipality spokesperson France Zama said a co-ordinated cleanup operation is in progress while the cost of the damage is being consolidated.

Municipality teams were on the ground to establish the extent of the damage.

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Arrow Down

Large rock avalanche on Piz Scerscen in Switzerland

Dave Petley
eos.org
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:14 UTC
Early in the morning of 14 April 2024, a large rock avalanche occurred on the flanks of Piz Scerscen in the Swiss Alps, close to the border with Italy. Fortunately, the landslide occurred at about 7 am, when the slopes are sparsely occupied, such that there is no indication of any loss of life.

Initial estimates are that the landslide had a runout distance of about 5 km. The best image that I have seen is this one, taken by the Swiss Alpine Club:-

The 14 April 2024 rock avalanche on Piz Scerscen in Switzerland.
© SAC Bernina.The 14 April 2024 rock avalanche on Piz Scerscen in Switzerland.
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Cloud Precipitation

At least 66 killed in Afghanistan as heavy rains set off flash floods (UPDATE)


Al Jazeera
Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:50 UTC
People wait to cross a flooded area in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province
People wait to cross a flooded area in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province
At least 33 people have been killed over three days of heavy rains and flash flooding in Afghanistan, according to the government's disaster management department.

"From Friday onwards, because of the rains there were flash floods which caused high human and financial losses," department spokesman Janan Sayeq said on Sunday.

"The primary information shows that, unfortunately, in the floods, 33 people were martyred and 27 people got injured."

Most casualties were from roof collapses, as some 600 houses were damaged or destroyed. In addition, 200 livestock have perished, nearly 600km (370 miles) of road have been destroyed, and about 800 hectares (1,975 acres) of agricultural land have "flooded away", the spokesman added.


Comment: Update April 16

Arab News reports:
Extreme rainfall in Afghanistan and devastating flash floods have killed at least 66 people and damaged homes, infrastructure, and farmlands across most of the country's provinces, authorities said on Tuesday.

The storms, which started over the weekend, are adding to the challenges facing Afghanistan, which is still recovering from decades of conflict and natural disasters, including unprecedented droughts in the past four years, as well as a series of deadly earthquakes.

"According to primary reports from the provinces, at least 66 people lost their lives, and 36 others are injured," Janan Sayeq, spokesperson of the National Disaster Management Authority, told Arab News on Tuesday.

The number of reported casualties has doubled since Sunday, raising fears the actual toll could be higher. Many of the victims were killed when their homes collapsed on them.


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Arrow Down

Congo landslide caused by heavy rains kills at least 15 and up to 60 others are missing

Jean-yves Kamale
The Toronto Star
Sun, 14 Apr 2024 11:03 UTC
This picture shows the devastation after the landslide
© Facebook/SPEED/FileThis picture shows the devastation after the landslide
A landslide in southwest Congo caused by heavy rains killed at least 15 people and left as many as 60 others missing, local officials said Sunday.

Seven people were found alive after the landslide Saturday near the port near the town of Idiofa.

"There's a hill above the port, and the rain caused the earth on the hill to collapse," a local deputy elected official, Dhedhe Mupasa, told reporters Sunday.

Interim provincial Gov. Félicien Kiway told reporters a team was dispatched to help search for survivors and seven people were found alive and were hospitalized. A further 60 people were still missing, he said.

A local official said it was difficult to determine the exact number of people missing because the area was used as a marketplace every Saturday. The official described the area as a port where fishermen came to sell fish and buy soap.

The Associated Press

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