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WHO in 'panic mode' as World Health Assembly kicks off

Kit Knightly
Off-Guardian Org
Mon, 18 May 2026 20:09 UTC
WHO Meeting
© Off-Guardian Org
Today is first day of the World Health Organization's 79th annual World Health Assembly, where delegates come together to set policies and priorities for global health.

Essentially, it's a week-long exercise in saying, as loud and long possible, "We're really important."

And thank goodness it came along when it did, because...wow.

The hantavirus outbreak is tearing through the world at the unstoppably terrifying rate of five whole deaths every two months.

That's about 30 deaths in a year or about 0.25% of the number of people who'll died from falling down stairs.

In Africa, the Ebola virus went from zero to "emergency" in no time at all, and the African CDC had no choice but to go into panic mode.
A new strain of Ebola virus has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

More than 300 suspected cases have been identified - with at least 80 deaths reported. The outbreak is mostly confined to the Democratic Republic of the... pic.twitter.com/LIP0LG6MtD

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 18, 2026
These twin outbreaks, combined with a "growing anti-vaccine movement", and funding cuts to research show the world is "not ready for the next pandemic", according to Al Jazeera.

And - of course - climate change might mean more hantavirus outbreaks could happen!

And "Experts" are now saying the world is becoming more vulnerable to these infectious disease outbreaks.

Be afraid - be very afraid!
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Tsunami

8.4 inches of rain in 48 hours triggers flood warnings and traffic chaos in South East Queensland, Australia


Gold Coast Magazine
Mon, 18 May 2026 18:25 UTC
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South East Queensland is facing an intense weather event, with parts of the region recording more than 200 millimetres of rainfall over a 48-hour period. A 4000-kilometre northwest cloud band, stretching from Darwin to past Melbourne, has merged with an offshore surface trough to trigger the relentless downpours along the east coast.

Gold Coast Hinterland and Coast Saturated

The Gold Coast has experienced some of the highest precipitation totals since Sunday morning, with weather stations logging upwards of 175 millimetres across two days. Natural Bridge recorded a staggering 214 millimetres. The persistent wet weather carried through Monday, bringing substantial rainfall to the hinterland. Since 9am Monday, Mount Tamborine recorded 84 millimetres, Numinbah saw 86 millimetres, and Clearview took the brunt of the downpour with 104 millimetres over just six hours leading up to 3pm.

In the Brisbane region, Geebung and Holland Park West emerged as some of the hardest-hit suburbs, both collecting more than 50 millimetres of rain within a six-hour window on Monday.

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Heavy rainfall, flooding hits Baku, Azerbaijan as monthly norm exceeded by 279%


operativmm.az
Sun, 17 May 2026 12:22 UTC
Severe flooding today after torrential rainfall in Baku, the capital of #Azerbaijan.
Severe flooding today after torrential rainfall in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
Intense rainfall and thunderstorms have affected various regions of Azerbaijan as of 10:55 AM on May 17, with precipitation levels in the capital significantly exceeding seasonal norms. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the National Hydrometeorological Service has issued warnings regarding the ongoing unstable weather conditions across the country.

In Baku and the Absheron Peninsula, rainfall has reached between 40-55 mm, representing 203-279% of the monthly average for May. The National Hydrometeorological Service reported that the unstable weather has also brought snow to the high-altitude areas of Shahdag, where the snow depth has reached 5 centimeters. Meanwhile, hail was recorded in the Qubadli district villages of Qezyan and Mahrizli, as well as in the city of Aghsu, with diameters ranging from 3 mm to 11 mm.

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Landslide during heavy rain kills 2 tourists in West Java, Indonesia


en.tempo.co
Sun, 17 May 2026 18:20 UTC
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Two tourists visiting Curug Cileat in Subang Regency, West Java, were found dead after being buried in a landslide while on vacation on Friday, May 15, 2026. The victims were discovered on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026, a day after the search operation began.

Udin Jazudin, Head of the Subang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), stated that the victims were swept away and buried under approximately two meters of debris. Their bodies have since been handed over to their families. "For the time being, we are closing the tourist spot; no visitors are allowed to enter," Udin said on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Udin noted that while Curug Cileat is renowned for its beauty, the area is historically prone to landslides. At the time of the incident, heavy rain had lashed the tourist site. "They and three surviving friends were on their way back from the waterfall," he explained.

Ade Dian Permana, Head of the Bandung Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, said his team received reports of the disaster in Mayang Village, Cisalak District, on Friday evening. SAR officials believe high-intensity rainfall triggered the slide.

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Tsunami

Rivers overflowed and flooding swept away cars in Jiangxi, China - 8.2 inches of rain in just 12 hours

IDH Weather News
YouTube
Sat, 16 May 2026 12:46 UTC
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Jiangxi's Shangyou County was hit by record-breaking torrential rain
Severe extreme weather hit southern China on Saturday. Shangyou County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province experienced heavy rain, causing rivers to overflow and flash floods in some roads and residential areas.

The heavy rain caused floods as high as 1.5 meters in low-lying areas in some counties and districts in Ganzhou, submerging vehicles and roads, and causing landslides in some areas, disrupting traffic.

Extremely intense rainstorms pounded the area since Friday evening, causing small and medium-sized rivers to overflow within hours.

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12 hospitalized after torrential rains trigger severe floods in northern Turkiye


AP
Wed, 13 May 2026 10:12 UTC
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At least 12 people were injured after devastating flooding and torrential flows struck the Havza district following heavy rainfall in Samsun, Türkiye. (May 12, 2026 )
Torrential rains have triggered severe flooding in a district near Turkiye's Black Sea coast, inundating homes and businesses and sweeping away cars. At least 12 people were hospitalized with minor injuries, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The heavy rainfall late on Tuesday caused rivers in the Havza district of Samsun province to overflow, sending waters rushing down streets, carrying vehicles and debris.

Anadolu said the basement and ground floors of several properties were submerged. Video footage showed a driver standing on top of a truck waiting to be rescued from the flood.

Anadolu said none of the injured were in serious condition. Some reached the hospital on their own while others were assisted by medical teams.

Firefighters, police, and disaster teams were deployed to rescue stranded residents and to clear debris.

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Tsunami

Thousands displaced as Eastern Cape floods worsen as rain continues in South Africa - at least 10 killed across the country (UPDATE)

Sandy McCowen
algoafm.co.za
Thu, 07 May 2026 18:03 UTC
With the Keurbooms River flowing strongly, approximately 70 people have become stranded in the area. Photo: GRDM
© GRDMWith the Keurbooms River flowing strongly, approximately 70 people have become stranded in the area.
Heavy rains, flooding, rough seas and snow have caused widespread disruption across the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, with thousands of residents evacuated, roads closed and emergency shelters overwhelmed as disaster teams race to respond to the severe weather crisis.

More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across Nelson Mandela Bay, where overcrowded facilities are housing families, elderly residents, women and children displaced by persistent flooding.

Humanitarian organisations and disaster management teams have issued urgent appeals for donations including long-life milk, cereal, drinking water, nappies, baby wipes, toiletries, blankets and mattresses as relief operations intensify.

"More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro," Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said.

"Gift of the Givers drop-off centres have been set up at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Boardwalk Mall and the Engen garage next to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport."


Comment: Update May 12

AP reports:
South Africa declares natural disaster as flooding kills at least 10

At least 10 people are dead with many homes destroyed in flooding caused by torrential rains across six provinces in South Africa that have hit informal settlements especially hard.

South African authorities have declared a natural disaster for the flooding, thunderstorms, high winds and even snowfall that have affected parts of the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces since May 4.

The declaration enables the government to use emergency funds and other resources to respond.

Cape Town was badly affected, and the Western Cape provincial government has ordered the temporary closure of schools and parts of the city's Table Mountain tourist attraction.

Local officials there on Tuesday said at least 26 informal settlements around the city had been affected by flooding, with over 10,000 structures damaged.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday expressed "deep sadness" over the loss of at least 10 lives due to the severe weather as winter in the Southern Hemisphere begins.

He said authorities are "making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath."

Experts have said severe floods across Southern Africa are intensifying, driven by extreme weather patterns. Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe experienced unusually heavy rains in recent months, with the region's worst flooding in years.

In January, South Africa declared a national disaster over torrential rains and floods that killed at least 30 people in the north, damaged thousands of homes and washed away roads and bridges.


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Tsunami

Severe flooding hits Mexico City

Rio Negro
rionegrotur.com.ar
Tue, 12 May 2026 18:45 UTC
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Mexico City authorities issued a warning Monday night that heavy rains could cause severe flooding.

Several areas of the city are currently underwater.

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Tsunami

Two residents died due to flooding in Bone, Indonesia


voi.id/en
Fri, 08 May 2026 19:29 UTC
The joint SAR team evacuated victims affected by the flood with a rubber boat at the flood point, in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, Friday (8/5/2026)
© ANTARA/HO-Documentation Basarnas Makassar.The joint SAR team evacuated victims affected by the flood with a rubber boat at the flood point, in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, Friday (8/5/2026)
Two people were declared dead due to a flood disaster caused by heavy rainfall since Thursday night (7/5) at several points in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi.

"It's true, two people were reported dead, an elderly woman named Naima after 80 years and a boy named Muhammad Arsyah aged 5 years," said the Head of the Makassar Class A Basarnas Section and Operations, Andi Sultan, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 8.

After receiving information about the flood disaster at 05.40 WITA from the local community, the rescue team was immediately deployed to the affected location.

"After receiving the report, the Bone SAR Post Rescue Team immediately departed for the location of the incident by bringing evacuation equipment. The Joint SAR Team immediately carried out the process of rescuing and evacuating residents affected by flooding in several points," he said.

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Tsunami

Algeria floods leave 7 dead after torrential rainfall


menafn.com
Sun, 03 May 2026 18:32 UTC
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At least seven people have lost their lives and six others have been pulled to safety after torrential rainfall triggered deadly flooding across multiple regions of Algeria, civil defense authorities reported over Friday and Saturday.

The deadliest single incident unfolded late Friday in M'sila province, approximately 250 kilometres southeast of the capital Algiers, when a utility vehicle carrying 11 people was overwhelmed by a sudden surge of floodwater while attempting to ford the normally dry riverbed of Oued Ain Sebaa in the municipality of Tamsa. The rising current seized the vehicle and dragged it downstream, killing five of its occupants.

Civil defense units mounted a large-scale rescue operation at the site, successfully pulling six survivors from the floodwaters. All six received immediate medical attention before being transferred to hospital for further care.

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