Earth ChangesS


Tsunami

Panama floods claim 11 lives as government declares State of Emergency


The Tico Times
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:07 UTC
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© Senafront / AFP
Eleven people have died in Panama due to storms that, over the last twelve days, have caused over 100 million dollars in losses from flooding and infrastructure collapse, the Panamanian government reported on Thursday. "Eleven Panamanians have lost their lives in this situation, more than 1,000 families have been directly affected, and the number continues to rise," said the Minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Orillac, during a press conference.

The situation has led the government to declare a state of emergency across the country "as a consequence of the severe damage caused" by the rains, Orillac added. The most affected areas are the western provinces of Chiriquí, bordering Costa Rica, Veraguas, and the indigenous Ngäbe Buglé comarca, where the government has declared a red alert.

Hours earlier, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed that during Tuesday's cabinet meeting, losses were estimated at "100 million dollars," but now "it should be more with the damages that occurred yesterday (Wednesday) in important roads across the country."


Comment: Related and pertinent: Red Alert on Pacific Coast as flooding worsens in Costa Rica - November rainfall already up to 10 times more than normal - 3 feet in 6 days

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Windsock

Massive dust storm causes vehicle pileup on California highway


ABC News
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:33 UTC
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A powerful dust storm known as a haboob caused a vehicle pile-up on a central California highway, sending several people to hospitals with minor injuries, authorities said.

An enormous rolling cloud of dust reduced visibility Monday afternoon on State Route 152 in Madera County, causing motorists to crash into one another, according to the California Highway Patrol.

About 20 cars were involved in the accident, the highway patrol said.

Video posted online by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection showed a massive wall of dust sweeping across the landscape near Chowchilla.

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Arrow Down

Madagascar riverbank landslide hits boat, killing 16


Barrons
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:58 UTC
Two of the dead passengers were children, one aged nine and the other around five months.
Two of the dead passengers were children, one aged nine and the other around five months.
A chunk of ground which broke off from a riverbank in western Madagascar killed 16 people after slamming into a passenger boat, police and local media said Thursday.

The landslide-caused accident happened late on Tuesday on the Tsiribihina River in the Menabe region.

"Of the 26 passengers, 16 did not survive," police said.

The boat had stopped late at night at Belo-sur-Tsiribihina, a village about 320 kilometres (200 miles) southwest of the capital Antananarivo, so that passengers could have a break, L'Express de Madagascar newspaper reported Thursday.
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Arrow Down

30-metre sinkhole cuts off Madrid's Avenida de los Toreros


Murciatoday.com
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:21 UTC
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The Avenida de los Toreros in the Salamanca district of Madrid was closed on Wednesday November 13 after a sinkhole measuring 30 metres long and six metres deep was created by the rupture of a water pipe.

At around 6pm, the Madrid City Council Fire Department withdrew after cutting the pipe to prevent water leakage and ensuring that no damage had occurred to the gas pipe.

The sinkhole, which has affected both Avenida de los Toreros and Calle Pilar de Zaragoza, is about 30 metres long and six metres deep.

During the prevention work, the firefighters have recovered two motorcycles that were parked on the road and had fallen into the hole.

From now on, once the area has been secured, Canal de Isabel II will manage the repair of the pipeline and the roadway.

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Lightning

Woman struck by lightning and suddenly dies in Peru

Paige Ingram, Liam Buckler
The Star (UK)
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:06 UTC
Gabriela Daiana Basallo was fatally struck by lightning in front of her husband Samuel
Gabriela Daiana Basallo was fatally struck by lightning in front of her husband Samuel
A woman has tragically died in front of her devastated husband after being struck by lightning during a holiday mountain hike in Peru.

Gabriela Daiana Basallo, 32, from Argentina, was hiking in the Red Valley, known for its unique orange and red-coloured mountains, in Peru's Cusco region when she was hit by lightning and killed.

Her husband, Samuel Andres Sierra, a Chilean national, was left seriously injured. Rescuers found Gabriela's body covered in burns following the accident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, November 12, according to police reports.

The authorities were alerted by tour guide Efrain Zamora Galindo about the death of the young woman, who hailed from Buenos Aires and was the mother of a 10 year old boy, as per local media reports. They had been descending a mountain after a hike when the lightning bolt struck Gabriela.
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Seismograph

Earthquake 6.6 magnitude on the east coast of Papua New Guinea


Sarajevo Times
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:35 UTC
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A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the east coast of Papua New Guinea this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake struck at a depth of 51 kilometers (32 miles) underwater and about 123 kilometers (76 miles) from the nearest town of Kokopo.

Authorities did not issue a tsunami warning.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense tectonic activity.
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SOTT Logo Media

SOTT Focus: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - October 2024: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs


Sott.net
Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:11 UTC
ecs0724
Spain faced unprecedented flooding as severe storms hit the Magro and Turia river basins, triggering the overflow of river banks, inundating towns and villages, and causing significant damage to infrastructure, including many roads and bridges.

The Valencia region was hit hard, with rainfall of up to 1.3 feet (40 cm) in some areas. The unexpected downpour caused widespread devastation and took more than 200 lives.

Paiporta was one of the worst-hit towns. Many residents were trapped in their homes or vehicles, and emergency services were overwhelmed. It took days for rescue operations to reach all affected areas.

Despite the disaster, stories of solidarity and heroism emerged. The lack of timely intervention by the government triggered a wave of cooperation across Valencia and neighboring counties, providing basic needs such as food and water, and helping with the cleaning efforts. Similar to what happened in North Carolina.
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Fish

Second rare deep-sea oarfish washes up on Encinitas beach in California in 2024


kpbs.org
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:30 UTC
A dead deep=sea oarfish is shown washed up on Grandview Beach in Encinitas on Nov. 7, 2024.
A dead deep-sea oarfish is shown washed up on Grandview Beach in Encinitas on Nov. 7, 2024.
For the second time this year, a rare deep-sea oarfish has washed ashore in San Diego County, giving scientists a chance to study the species without plumbing the depths of the ocean, it was announced Wednesday.

Last week, Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD candidate Alison Laferriere found the deceased 9.5-foot specimen at Grandview Beach in Encinitas — just the 21st of its species documented to have washed up on California beaches since 1901, officials said.

The previous 12.25-foot long fish was found in August by kayakers and snorkelers in La Jolla Cove.

Comment: For details and video, see: Rare 'doomsday' oarfish sighted near La Jolla shores, California on August 10

Ben Frable, manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection — one of the largest collections of deep-sea fish in the world — contacted the NOAA Fisheries West Coast team to recover the specimen and transport it to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, according to a Scripps statement.

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Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Red Alert on Pacific Coast as flooding worsens in Costa Rica - November rainfall already up to 10 times more than normal - 3 feet in 6 days


The Tico Times
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:53 UTC
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The National Emergency Commission (CNE) in Costa Rica has issued a red alert for the Pacific coast as severe flooding and heavy rains continue. The rest of the country remains under an orange alert, with the Southern Caribbean under a yellow alert.

This heightened alert follows forecasts that the intense rainy conditions are expected to persist throughout the week. "Rainfall is projected to continue for the next several days, especially along the Costa Rican Pacific coast. Additionally, there is significant soil saturation across much of the country," the CNE reported.

In just six days, Guanacaste has recorded rainfall totals that typically match the entire month of November. "In some areas, rainfall levels have been 8, 9, or even 10 times the usual amount for November. If the average monthly rainfall is 130 millimeters, some areas have received up to 900 millimeters in just six days," explained meteorologist Daniel Poleo.

Many areas are experiencing unprecedented rainfall levels, with the North Pacific region especially impacted. "It's been an extraordinarily rainy month, which explains the numerous incidents in Guanacaste and the South Pacific," Poleo added.

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Tsunami

Woman killed as flood waters wash away vehicles in Grenada - one month's rainfall in 6 hours (2.7 inches)


Loop News
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:40 UTC
Screengrab of a vehicle being washed away along River Road, Grenada on November 12, 2024.
Screengrab of a vehicle being washed away along River Road, Grenada on November 12, 2024.
Authorities in Grenada have confirmed the discovery of a woman's body inside a vehicle that was swept away by floodwaters caused by excessive rainfall on Tuesday.

Head of the Community Relations Department, Inspector Maureen John, said that officers are now investigating the matter to determine whether the woman had been a victim of the floods. He said police are unable to confirm that her death was directly related to the flooding.

The Met Office at the Maurice Bishop International Airport said that 69 millimetres of rain had been recorded during the six-hour period on Tuesday and that it is equivalent to one month's rainfall.

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