Earth ChangesS


Boat

Flood death toll rises to 5 in Puerto Princesa, Philippines - 13.4 inches of rain in 24 hours, 12 TIMES normal February amount for the city

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The death toll in flash floods caused by unrelenting rain in Palawan province in the southwestern Philippines climbed to five, local authorities said Tuesday.

Jerry Alili, chief of the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said rescuers found two bodies who went missing after floodwaters swept away their van, carrying 12 people, on Sunday night.

The bodies of three other people were found on Monday, while seven passengers had been safely rescued and are now recuperating at a local hospital, local authorities earlier said.

Palawan province recorded its heaviest 24-hour rainfall as the shear line continued to affect the area, local media reported.

"We received 341 millimeters of rain within 24 hours. That is 12 times the usual monthly allocation. All poured down in just one day," Alili said.

Due to widespread flooding, Alili said over 2,000 families were forced to evacuate and have been staying in temporary government-run shelters.


Volcano

Fire and ice: lava meets snow in spectacular night eruption of Mount Etna

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At approximately 3,300 meters high, the lava flow is still seeping from a crack that formed on the southern slope of the "Bocca Nuova" crater on Saturday evening.
Mount Etna on Monday (February 10) staged a mesmerising spectacle with lava spewing from the Bocca Nuova crater, illuminating the snowy surroundings of the volcano's summit.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology of Catania located the emission of lava at an estimated altitude of about 3,000 metres above sea level between the base of the Bocca Nuova crater and the South-East crater.

According to volcanologists, the current eruption is a typical sub-terminal eruption as it comes from a fracture and not from one of the main craters.

The 3,330-metre-high volcano is the tallest in Europe, and is believed to have the longest documented history of eruptions among all volcanoes, with records dating back to 425 B.C.


Fish

Deep-water seadevil fish filmed off Tenerife, Spain for the very first time on 26 January

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© David Jara Boguna
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) Condrik-Tenerife has published the first images of a live adult black seadevil fish, also known as monkfish or anglerfish, which was spotted on 26 January in broad daylight and near the surface, just two kilometres off the coast of Tenerife. The sighting is a very rare occurrence on the Spanish coast.

After Valencian marine biologist Laia Valor spotted the fish on the surface, biologists Marc Martín and Antonio Sabuco, together with marine wildlife photographer David Jara, captured some unique images of the animal.


Lightning

Four women footballers killed by lightning after sheltering under tree by pitch in Colombia

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Five people including four women footballers have been killed after taking shelter under a tree during a storm and being struck by lightning.

Another two female victims were rushed to hospital after suffering serious burns in the horror incident yesterday near the central Colombian town of Cajibio.

Tributes were being paid to the women today as details of the horror incident began to emerge. They have been named locally as Jeidy Morales, Daniela Mosquera, Luz Lame and Etelvina Mosquera.

The unnamed male victim is said to have died in hospital. One conflicting report said part of the group involved had taken shelter inside a shed by the football pitch when the tragedy occurred.

But local government spokesman Lesly Valencia said: "The information I have is that the women were participating in a football tournament when the emergency occurred. A lightning bolt struck a tree and that was what caused the death of the four women."

Cloud Precipitation

Severe flooding hits the city of Pariquera-Açu, Brazil - 4 inches of rain in just 1 hour, 63% of normal February total in 24 hours

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A devastating storm hit the city of Pariquera-Açu early on Saturday morning, February 8, causing massive flooding and significant property damage. According to the Brazilian National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters (Cemaden), the area experienced 99.7 mm of rain between 7 AM and 8 AM, contributing to widespread havoc across the Vale do Ribeira region.

Reports indicate total rainfall reached 174 mm since Friday morning, which is 63% of the average precipitation expected for February. Streets turned to rivers, and numerous homes and vehicles were submerged under the unrelenting downpour. Images circulated on social media captured scenes of cars washed away by the water and residents struggling to evacuate.


Doberman

Five-year-old girl mauled to death by stray dogs in Jammu Kashmir, India

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A five-year-old girl lost her life after being mauled by stray dogs in the Upper Shadra area of Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said.

The deceased, identified as Samreen Kouser, daughter of Mohammad Shafayet, was attacked while returning home from school. According to officials, she had been walking in a group but was left behind when the dogs set upon her. By the time locals arrived, she had already suffered grievous injuries, including severe cut marks that led to acute blood loss.

She was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. Block Medical Officer Thanamandi, Dr Ruksana, confirmed her death.

Meanwhile, authorities have initiated proceedings into the incident.

Seismograph

Tsunami alerts cancelled after major Caribbean earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on February 8

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Tsunami warnings issued after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the Caribbean Sea have been cancelled, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said.

Officials say the earthquake's epicentre was about 20 miles (32.1km) north of Honduras and 130 miles (209.2km) south-west of the Cayman Islands when it struck on Saturday evening local time.

The US Tsunami Warning System had initially issued warnings to more than a dozen of countries - including waves of up to three metres (10ft). But, it later said the threat had passed.

Advisories were also issued by the Tsunami Warning System for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands following the earthquake - which were both also later cancelled.

Tsunami

North Queensland in Australia cops yet more major flooding

The Ollera Creek Bridge between Ingham and Townsville has collapsed
© Aaron KellyThe Ollera Creek Bridge between Ingham and Townsville has collapsed
Fresh bursts of monsoonal rain have seen flood threats renew in Queensland's north.

Towns remain cut off tonight, after highways went underwater - while the collapsed Ollera Creek Bridge has closed again, after reconnecting communities.


Comment: An earlier report from about a week prior: More flooding and extreme rainfall hits Queensland, Australia - 39 inches of rain in 48 hours


Snowflake

Hokuriku region of Japan experiences record snowfall - 19.6 inches in 12 hours

A car is covered by snow in Niigata City on Saturday.
© KyodoA car is covered by snow in Niigata City on Saturday.
The strongest cold wave of the season has caused record snowfall in the Hokuriku region since Friday night.

In 12 hours from Friday night to Saturday morning, 50 centimeters of snow fell in Niigata City, and 38 centimeters in Aikawa, Sado City, both of which are the highest ever recorded, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Snow has also fallen in areas that usually get less snow, such as Kyushu, Shikoku and the Pacific side of the Tokai region.

Nagoya observed one centimeter of snow for the first time in about a month.

The maximum amount of snow forecast to fall though Sunday morning is expected to be 80 centimeters in the Kanto-Koshin region, and 70 centimeters in Tohoku, Hokuriku and Kinki regions, the agency said.

On the Sea of ​​Japan side, authorities urged caution against poor visibility due to a whiteout.


Comment: See also this report from February 4 of earlier, exceptional heavy snow in another region of the country: Record-breaking snowfall hits Hokkaido as cold front sweeps Japan - 120 cms (nearly 4 FEET) of snow in just 12 hours with more heavy falls forecast


Arrow Down

At least 30 missing after China landslide triggered by heavy rain - at least 1 dead (UPDATE)

Emergency workers search the site of a landslide in Jinping, Sichuan province, on Saturday.
© WeiboEmergency workers search the site of a landslide in Jinping, Sichuan province, on Saturday.
At least 30 people have been reported missing after a landslide in south-western China, according to Chinese state media.

The landslide struck Jinping village in Sichuan province at 11:50 local time (03:50 GMT) burying 10 houses and trapping several residents. Two people were rescued.

A command centre has been set up at the scene according to a statement by the county's emergency management bureau.

China's President Xi Jinping has ordered an "all-out" rescue of those trapped.

Hundreds of emergency workers are searching for survivors, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Emergency Management.


Comment: Update February 9

Al Jazeera reports:
Rescuers in southern China are searching for dozens of people missing after a landslide tore through a village, killing at least one person, according to Chinese state media.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, took place in Jingping village in Yibin city in China's Sichuan province on Saturday morning.

It left 28 people unaccounted for and buried 10 houses, according to state broadcaster CCTV.