Mount Marapi, located in Agam and Tanah Datar regencies, West Sumatra, erupted again on Saturday, April 19, 2025, spewing volcanic ash up to 1,000 meters above the peak. The eruption occurred at 06:11 AM WIB (West Indonesia Time), with a dense gray ash column leaning towards the south.
According to the report from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the 3,891-meter-high mountain's seismic activity above sea level was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 30.3 millimeters and lasted 42 seconds.
"This phenomenon is consistent with the fluctuating activity trend of Marapi," said Ahmad Rifandi, the Mount Marapi Volcano Post Officer, in his official statement on April 19, 2025. The activity status of Mount Marapi is still at Level II or Alert.
A woman was bitten twice in the leg by what is believed to be a wolf while jogging in the Hoge Veluwe National Park on Sunday afternoon, Province Gelderland officials said.
She was running on a designated trail when the animal attacked. Bystanders intervened and chased the animal away. The woman was later taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries.
DNA samples have been collected to confirm whether a wolf was responsible. The test results are still pending.
"We are in discussions with the municipality of Ede and the Hoge Veluwe National Park, and we are preparing steps in case the same wolf displays this kind of behavior again," the province of Gelderland said.
Brie Stimson New York Post Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:23 UTC
A sea lion’s head pokes out of the water behind a surfer at a beach in San Diego in April 2025.
An aggressive sea lion sent surfers running this week after it repeatedly went after them, even coming onto the beach, video of the incident showed.
The sea lion was suffering from severe domoic acid, which is caused by an unprecedented toxic algae bloom in the area that affects the animals' brains, causing them to be more aggressive, experts said, FOX 11 reported.
It has affected thousands of sea lions and other sea life in the area, killing more dolphins than in years past and at least two whales.
"These domoic acid events are getting bigger and worse and more frequent," John Warner, CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center, told the station. "That's horrifying. How long can all of these species take this type of abuse and still be with us? That's the question, and I don't know the answer to that."
A lightning strike on Friday evening resulted in the tragic deaths of two people in the villages of Udamagal and Marchathal in Raichur taluk. The deceased are Mallamma, 50, from Udamagal, and Hanumant, 55, from Marchathal.
According to police reports, Mallamma was tending to her sheep on the village outskirts when a thunderstorm happenned. She was fatally struck by lightning while returning home. Hanumant was also killed when lightning struck him while he was operating an earth excavator in the field, having taken shelter under a tree from the rain.
The Yaragera police visited both locations to investigate the incidents and registered a case.
In a similar occurrence, 35 sheep were killed after being struck by lightning in Ganadal, located in the Yalburga taluk of Koppal district. The sheep, owned by Gavisiddappa Navalahalli, were grazing in a field when they were killed.
A tragic incident occurred when lightning struck during a sudden thunderstorm, resulting in the death of around 50 sheep belonging to a local shepherd, Bandi Mallaiah. The incident occurred at Renigunta village of Rajapet Mandal, Yadadri Bhongir district on Friday.
Lightning, accompanied by gales, struck without warning, causing severe damage. The estimated financial loss due to this incident is around Rs 3 lakh. Mallaiah expressed his grief over the sudden loss of his livestock, which were his primary source of livelihood.
He is now pleading with the government to come to his aid by providing compensation and support to help him recover from this devastating loss. The local community has also expressed sympathy and urged officials to take immediate action.
The water level of one of Colombia's major rivers remained high in the rural town of Majagual on Wednesday (April 16), following heavy rains that had caused it to swell, affecting over 1,000 families, according to Colombian media reports.
A new Swiss snowfall record has been set at the Bortelsee station in the Simplon region of Switzerland, where 89 inches (226 centimeters) of snow fell within just two days, and 97 inches (247 centimeters) accumulated over three days.This unprecedented event, recorded from April 15 to 17, 2025, now stands as the largest amount of snow ever measured in short timeframes in Switzerland, surpassing the previous records of 85 inches (215 centimeters) in two days at the Bernina Pass in April 1999 and 90 inches (229 centimeters) in three days at Weissfluhjoch in February 1990.
The snowfall was primarily driven by the "Hans" depression, a low-pressure system that developed over the Gulf of Genoa. Named by Italian meteorological services, Hans channeled a strong southeasterly flow from the Mediterranean, carrying warm, moisture-laden air into the southern Alps. As this air mass encountered the mountainous terrain, it was forced upward, resulting in intense orographic precipitation on the southern slopes, particularly in the Simplon region. The interaction between this moist air and colder air masses at higher elevations led to significant snowfall, culminating in the record-breaking accumulations observed at Bortelsee.
A tragic incident has come from Durgabhat, Ponda, where on Friday, a 15-month-old baby girl named Anabiya Shaikh was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs. According to witnesses, the child, who was waiting for her mother to go for Friday prayers, stepped outside her house when the dogs attacked her.
Despite attempts by locals to intervene, the girl was severely injured and died shortly after being rushed to the hospital. This marks a continuation of a disturbing trend of stray dog attacks in South Goa, especially affecting tourists in coastal areas.
Local residents, while reflecting on the increase in such incidents, pointed out that the area where the attack occurred is often used as a dumping ground for garbage, attracting many stray dogs searching for food. They have urged the administration to take stringent measures to control the stray dog population and ensure public safety.
Cyclone Tam brings wild weather and power outages to New Zealand's North Island
Cyclone Tam is causing major problems across the North Island of New Zealand, resulting in thousands of people without power, roads flooded, and all ferries in Auckland cancelled. Flights have also been delayed or stopped, leaving many travellers stuck before the Easter weekend.
A truck was found overturned near Kaiwaka, a Northland settlement. The rescue team had to pull out several drivers from their cars. Strong winds have ripped off roofs and knocked over trees and fences, too.
A scary moment happened in Mairangi Bay, Auckland, where a big tree fell on a house where an elderly couple lives. The tree damaged their balcony and blocked them inside. Their daughter said the tree just missed their bedroom.
In another part of Auckland, a loud bang surprised a man when the wind knocked over his fence. Many homes have been damaged, and trees have fallen on houses and cars. People are being told to stay home if they can and avoid driving unless it's necessary.
Northland MP Grant McCallum said the storm damage in Paihia is very serious and keeps happening every time there's bad weather. He said something needs to be done to protect the area, especially because so many people there rely on tourism.
What happened to Kennedy is nearly what happened to me. America is in danger of upheavals. But you'll see. All of them together will observe the law of silence. They will close ranks. They'll do everything to stifle the scandal. They will throw Noah's cloak over these shameful deeds. In order to not lose face in front of the whole world. In order to not risk unleashing riots in the United States. In order to preserve the union and to avoid a new civil war. In order to not ask themselves questions. They don't want to know. They don't want to find out. They won't allow themselves to find out."
~ French president after returning to Paris from JFK's funeral on November 24th, 1963 (Peyrefitte's memoir in "It Was de Gaulle")
- Charles de Gaulle
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Lets play this for the pope who has passed - day after Easter. [Link] One wonders what the pope was hearing in his ears - so godly they be - upon...
Comment: See also the following report from a day earlier which includes more details about surrounding Alpine countries: Massive mid-April snowfall in the Alps - up to 4 FEET in 24 hours