Earth ChangesS


Volcano

Lewotobi volcano sends ash cloud 8km high, some flights cancelled in Indonesia

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An eruption by Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano, located in the southeastern part of Flores Island, spewed ash clouds more than 8km (5 miles) into the air, disrupting flights and raising emergency warnings to the highest level for residents and tourists.

Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation warned locals and visitors on Friday against activities within a radius of 7-8km (4.4-5 miles) in the southwest and northeast sectors of the eruption.

"The ash column was observed grey to black with thick intensity," Indonesia's volcanology agency said in a statement about the eruption that began at 10:56pm local time on Thursday night (14:56 GMT).

There were no immediate reports of damage to nearby villages, but the agency warned residents of the potential for volcanic mudflow due to heavy rainfall. The long eruption prompted the country's geological agency to raise the volcano's alert level to the highest of the four-tiered system.


Doberman

Stray dog attack claims life of 4-year-old girl in Maharashtra, India

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A 4-year-old girl lost her life after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs in the Hingna Police Station area on Thursday afternoon. The tragic incident took place around 2 pm under a bridge in Gumgaon, raising serious concerns about the increasing stray dog menace in the region.

The victim has been identified as Harshita Chaudhary.

According to police, Hshita wandered from her home towards a nearby river, assuming that her grandmother had gone there to wash clothes. As she reached the area, she was suddenly attacked by three to four stray dogs, suffering critical injuries.

Her parents were away at work when the incident occurred. After being alerted, police and locals rushed to the scene and took Harshita to a hospital, but doctors declared her brought dead.

The Hingna police have registered a case of accidental death and have sought clarification from the gram panchayat regarding steps taken to control the growing stray dog population.

Arrow Down

2 dead after mudslide caused by rainfall in Andavilque, Bolivia on March 16

Satellite image of the aftermath of the 16 March 2025 tailings landslide at Andavilque in Bolivia. Image copyright Planet, used with permission.
Satellite image of the aftermath of the 16 March 2025 tailings landslide at Andavilque in Bolivia. Image copyright Planet, used with permission.
The Deputy Minister of Civil Defense, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, reported this Tuesday that a thorough assessment is being conducted to identify the causes of the collapse of the "El Kenko" lagoon, which triggered a mudslide in Andavilque, in the municipality of Llallagua in the department of Potosí.

"A thorough assessment is being conducted to determine the causes that triggered this phenomenon (...). We have no knowledge of who managed this lagoon. What does catch our attention is the color of the mud that has fallen, and that, apparently, could be some kind of mining deposit," the official said in an interview with Cadena A.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. last Sunday, the El Kenko lagoon overflowed and caused a mudslide in the community of Andavilque, burying homes and animals in lead-colored mud, causing great concern among authorities.


Comment: Elsewhere in the country during the same time period: Heavy rains devastate Viacha, Bolivia - floods displace thousands


Tsunami

Hundreds of people evacuated in Russia's Urals due to floods caused by melting ice

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Hundreds of residents of Russia's Chelyabinsk and Bashkortostan regions were evacuated as melting ice caused river levels to rise and flood villages.


Tsunami

Deadly flooding, landslides devastate Southern Oregon as drone captures destruction in region

Aerial shot of flooding in Drain, Ore., on March 16, 2025.
© North Douglas County Fire & EMSAerial shot of flooding in Drain, Ore., on March 16, 2025.
Gov. Tina Kotek has declared a state of emergency due to flooding and landslides in Southern Oregon.

The declaration was made due to the damage caused by ongoing storms that have impacted the state since Feb. 24.

Those storms have led to significant flooding and landslides across the state and resulted in at least one fatality, according to state officials.


Cloud Precipitation

Homes inundated, roads swamped yet again after North Queensland, Australia is smashed by 17.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours (UPDATE)

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Large parts of North Queensland have been smashed with 300m of rainfall and flash flooding today, leaving roads swamped and homes damaged.

Townsville was in the firing line as relentless rainfall closed roads, inundated homes and destroyed cars.

An elderly man had to be helped by neighbours after he took a fall in floodwaters in Townsville, after the sudden rain caught many residents by surprise.

A shopping centre carpark was also flooded with a wall of water today and the rain cut access to crucial roads and closed down schools.

Ingham was also hit with flooding and two elderly women needed to be rescued from their cars.

Queensland Police said the SES responded to nine call-outs earlier today related to inundation.


Comment: Update March 20

The Advertiser reports:
The Hinchinbrook has again been struck by floodwaters, with the Lower Herbert experiencing "major flooding".

In the latest developments, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the swollen Herbert River has reached major flood levels at Halifax.

The river has already breached its banks at Cordelia, although properties are yet to be directly threatened.

"Heavy rainfall since Wednesday afternoon has caused river and creek level rises across the Herbert River catchment, with the heaviest falls concentrated in the lower part of the catchment," BOM warned just before 4pm on Thursday.

"Major flooding continues at Halifax."

The flood level does not constitute a threat to property.

BOM said river levels at both the Ingham Pump Station and Gairloch have peaked at the moderate flood level on Thursday afternoon.

"Further moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for the remainder of Thursday into Friday, which may cause further river level rises across the Herbert River catchment," BOM said.

"This situation is being closely monitored, and warnings will be updated as necessary."

The Bruce Highway has been severed at the now notorious Seymour River Bridge to the north of Ingham, after only reopening yesterday afternoon.

Ingham, meanwhile, has been cut off to the north and south after torrential overnight downpours.

An incredible 453mm was recorded in the area at Cardwell Gap at the Cardwell Range in the last 24 hours as of Thursday morning.
A report of the earlier flooding in February: North Queensland in Australia cops yet more major flooding


Tsunami

Peru: Floods hit town near Lake Titicaca, residents evacuate

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Intense rainfall has swollen a river, causing flooding in a small town within a lake watershed in southern Peru.

The deluge has forced residents to evacuate their homes and has left children unable to attend schools in this institution. Watch in for more details!


Snowflake

Snow returns to Lebanon

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Snow has covered the regions of Aayoun El Siman and Faqra.


Comment: Also in the region: First spring snowfall over Jordan's highlands in about 27 years


Snowflake

This is spring? US Midwest digs out from blizzard; Northeast braces for snow

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A powerful storm toppled power lines and made roads impassable across parts of the Midwest while another system forming Thursday − the first day of spring − was forecast to dump snow on parts of the Northeast by week's end, forecasters said.

The storms rocking the nation come just days after a huge system slammed across the country, killing more than 40 people.

The Kansas Department of Transportation shut down almost 250 miles of I-70 from Salina to the Colorado border for several hours at the height of the storm that brought high winds and blizzard conditions Thursday. In Iowa, the Department of Transportation closed a 70-mile stretch of I-29 from Sergeant Bluff to Missouri Valley. In Nebraska, I-80 was closed from Omaha to the Wyoming State line.

As the snow eased and major highways reopened, strong winds and travel warnings remained.


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SOTT Focus: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - February 2025: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

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Japan experienced an extraordinary snowfall that put the country in the global spotlight as a record-breaking cold front hit Hokkaido, Japan, dumping 120 cm (4 feet) of snow in just 12 hours, disrupting travel and driven by a powerful cold front that swept through the region. The Polkus base also recorded an astonishing 6 meters of snow, one of the deepest in the world in recent years. Resorts such as Happo-One in the Hakuba Valley also boasted massive bases, with depths approaching 5.5 meters (18 feet), while Tengendai Kogen later reached 7.2 meters (23 feet) by the end of February.

This record-breaking accumulation was part of a broader wave of extreme winter weather, driven by phenomena like the Siberian Express, which funneled cold air and heavy snow across Japan.

Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain in California received 91 cm (3 feet) of snow in a single day, while Montreal broke its snowfall record with 75 cm (29.5 inches) over four days, prompting residents to stay indoors.

These events tied to a disrupted jet stream and La Niña activity, flipped the script on where snow usually falls, making February 2025 one for the books! If this pattern continues, we're likely to see unusually cold temperatures and snow even in early spring.