Earth ChangesS


Attention

Group of otters attack, seriously injure jogger in Malaysia

Fiona McLoughlin
Daily Caller
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:52 UTC
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© Asia Pacific Press
A group of otters attacked a jogger in Malaysia and left her seriously injured, according to a Viral Press report cited by multiple outlets.

The unnamed woman was attacked by a group of eight otters Wednesday morning at Sabah, Malaysia's Tanjung Aru Recreation Park, according to Viral Press, TMZ reported.

Videos and photos circulating on social media appear to show a bloodied middle-aged woman sitting on the curb. She reportedly sustained injuries to her legs, arms and head, The Star reported, showing images of apparent injuries. A video later appears to show a group of otters running around a parking lot.


Comment: This once unusual aggressive behavior against humans by otters seems to have become increasingly common in recent years, see the reports below:

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Snowflake

Early snowfall in the Czech Republic


Prague Morning
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:58 UTC
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On the morning of Thursday, September 12, the first snow of the autumn-winter season arrived in the Czech Republic.

The snow covered Velký Javor, the highest peak in the Šumava National Park, which stands at 1,300 meters above sea level.

Overnight, temperatures at Velký Javor dropped to around +2°C, allowing light snowfall to occur in areas above 1,300 meters. The snowfall, however, was light, with no more than one centimeter settling on the ground.

Meteorologists predict that today's snow will melt quickly, but additional snowfall is expected on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This snowfall comes earlier than in 2023, when the first snow was delayed until October 8 due to an unusually warm autumn. The year before, the first snow arrived on September 18.

A video of today's snowfall:

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Cloud Precipitation

Hurricane Francine: Nearly 400,000 without power in Louisiana as heavy rains cause flooding around New Orleans

Siladitya Ray
Forbes
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:22 UTC
Heavy rains from Hurricane Francine
© APHeavy rains from Hurricane Francine triggered widespread flooding across the New Orleans area early Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana remained without power and flooding was reported in the New Orleans area early Thursday, hours after Hurricane Francine slammed into the state's coastal region as a category 2 storm.

KEY FACTS

- The National Hurricane Center downgraded Francine to a Tropical Storm as it moved inland over Louisiana, bringing heavy rain to the state and its neighbors Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

- A heavy downpour after the storm prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for New Orleans and nearby Metairie and Kenner, which will remain in effect until Thursday morning.

- The Times-Picayune reported there was "widespread street flooding" in many neighborhoods across the city and nearby Jefferson Parish, while the police chief in Kenner said the city was facing its worst level of flooding since Hurricane Katrina.

- Authorities have urged residents of New Orleans to avoid driving on flooded roads until they are deemed safe in the morning.

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Seismograph

Shallow magnitude-6.3 earthquake strikes off Papua New Guinea


Barrons
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:47 UTC
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A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck in the Bismarck Sea off the coast of Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said.

The shallow quake located far from land produced no tsunami warning or immediate reports of damage.

It was centred about 224 kilometres (139 miles) northeast of the city of Madang, located along the country's northern coast.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on top of the seismic "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
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Tsunami

Floods, landslides affect many parts of Laos in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi


MENAFN
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:21 UTC
This handout photo taken and released on September 11, 2024 by Lao National Radio shows an aerial view of flood waters surrounding houses in Luang Namtha province, following heavy rains in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.
© AFPThis handout photo taken and released on September 11, 2024 by Lao National Radio shows an aerial view of flood waters surrounding houses in Luang Namtha province, following heavy rains in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.
Many parts of Laos have been affected by flooding and landslides, causing significant damage and leaving many residents stranded and severely affected.

Tropical storm Yagi has brought prolonged heavy rainfall, particularly impacting northern provinces, with Luang Namtha among the worst-affected areas, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Laos National Radio.

In Luang Namtha, homes were damaged, while personal belongings were lost. Many people shared videos and images through social media platforms, showing residents stranded in their homes and taking refuge on roofs to escape the rising waters. The province is experiencing significant river overflows from major water bodies. The rapid rise in water levels has resulted in widespread flooding, particularly in low-lying areas.

Local officials reported that villages, infrastructure, and essential services such as roads, telecommunications, electricity, and water supply have been severely disrupted.

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Tsunami

Deadly landslides, floods in storm-hit North Thailand, 6 people killed


Bangkok Post
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:02 UTC
Wat Phasukkaram
© Akitjaro BhikkhuWat Phasukkaram or Wat Mai Lung Khon in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai is under floodwater. Thirty-eight people — including 4 monks, 8 novices and Buddhist devotees — have been unable to leave the compound. People living around the temple are also affected.
Persistent rain has caused rivers to overflow, flooding and landslides in the upper North, with six people confirmed killed and four injured.

In the northernmost province of Chiang Rai, disaster mitigation officials said there was heavy flooding in tambons Mae Sai, Wiang Pang Kham and Koh Chang in Mae Sai district. The floodwater was about one metre deep and flowing strongly.

People in flood-affected areas near the overflowing Sai River in Mae Sai district were advised to prepare for possible evacuation.

In Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Nong National Park, also in Mae Sai district, floodwater was pouring out of Tham Luang Cave, widely known as the site of the flooded cave rescue mission in 2018.

Among those trapped on the roof of his home by rising floodwaters in Mae Sai was Ekkapol Chantawong, the coach of the Wild Boars football team of Tham Luang fame. He told AFP he was drawing on his experience of six years ago to get through his latest ordeal.

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Tsunami

Nigeria floods affect one million people after dam collapse following heavy rains - 30 killed (UPDATE)


Al Jazeera
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:46 UTC
Houses are partially submerged
© Musa Ajit Borno/AP PhotosHouses are partially submerged following a dam collapse in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Tuesday, September 10, 2024
The collapse of a dam in northeast Nigeria has caused severe flooding, destroying thousands of homes and worsening a dire humanitarian crisis.

The flooding in Borno State has affected a million people, the state governor said on Wednesday, straining resources as authorities scramble to rescue residents and place them in temporary shelters.

Heavy rains had caused a dam to overflow on Tuesday, decimating a state-owned zoo and washing crocodiles and snakes into flooded communities.

Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris, reporting from Maiduguri in Nigeria, said a "stream of people" are currently making their way out of areas covered by the floodwaters.

He said civilians have been searching in the water with limited diving equipment to save as many people as possible.

"We've seen dead bodies arriving," he said, adding that a successful rescue operation saw baby twins saved from the floodwaters and moved to safety.


Comment: Update September 12

Ripples Nigeria reports:
At least 30 people died and 400,000 others were displaced from their homes by this week's devastating flood in Borno State.

The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), Ezekiel Manzo, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday.

The flood which followed the collapse of the Alau Dam in Ngadda Rivers at the weekend forced residents to leave their homes in droves.

The state government on Tuesday warned the people of the state to beware of crocodiles, snakes and other deadly animals washed to communities by the flood.

Manzo said: "The death toll is 30.

The situation in Maiduguri is quite frightening."

Another NEMA official, Zubaida Umar, added:

"The flood has taken over around 40 percent of the entire city. People have been forced out of their homes and are scattered everywhere.

"From our statistics, we have 414,000 displaced people."


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Hardhat

Best of the Web: Hailstorms in Europe have increased 267% in the past five years: Chaucer insurance co.

Steve Evans
artemis.bm
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:53 UTC
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Climate change is seen as a driver of higher frequency of damaging hail storm events according to specialty re/insurer Chaucer, who highlights a 267% increase in European hail storms in the past five years.

Hail and other severe weather perils have been causing increasing amounts of insurance and reinsurance market loss over the last few years.

There have been repeated years of damaging hail impacts across countries such as France, Germany and Italy, some of which have driven losses through to the reinsurance layer of the industry.

It's the increasing frequency that has made these challenging in the space and like in the United States reinsurance capital has retrenched higher, to avoid more of these types of losses, while also providing less sideways or aggregate protection as well.

Having analysed the European Severe Weather Database, Chaucer said that the number of hailstorms has jumped 104% to 11,808 storms last year (year-ending June 30th 2024), up from 5,785 in 2022/23.
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Snowflake

Arctic air brings early snow to Scotland's mountain tops


BBC
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:27 UTC
Mountain ranger Ruari Macdonald in snow at CairnGorm Mountain ski centre near Aviemore on Wednesday
© PETER JOLLY/NORTHPIXMountain ranger Ruari Macdonald in snow at CairnGorm Mountain ski centre near Aviemore on Wednesday
Some of Scotland's highest mountains have had the first autumn dusting of snow.

The Cairngorms, Glen Coe and Lochaber have been among upland areas to see wintry showers.

Strong north-westerly winds have brought colder air from the Arctic across the UK.

BBC Weather said snow over Scottish mountains was not uncommon in September during the transition into the colder winter months.

Nights are expected to feel chilly and rural areas could have ground frost.

BBC Weather said by Friday and into the weekend, there would be another change in wind direction to a south-westerly.

It added that this wind direction tended to bring in more seasonally average temperatures - around 16 to 20C for mid-September.
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Doberman

10-month-old mauled to death by dogs in Telangana, India

Mohammed Baleegh
Siasat.com
Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:52 UTC
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In a tragic accident, a 10-month-old boy was mauled to death by dogs in the Bodan constituency of Nizamabad on Monday, September 9.

The incident occurred when the child's mother left him near a bus stand to use the washroom. Upon her return, the infant was missing, prompting her to file a missing person report with the police. Following a search operation, the police recovered the body parts of the deceased.

After an extensive search operation, the police recovered the remains of the boy, confirming that the stray dogs had eaten parts of his body. The body parts were sent to a hospital for postmortem examination to determine further details of the horrific attack.
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