Floods
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Cloud Precipitation

UK flooding: Emergency services stretched to breaking point after "unprecedented" rainfall

William Worley, Tom McTague, David Connett
The Independent, UK
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:53 UTC
Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire floods
© GettyIn Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, the River Calder burst its banks

As many as 2,000 homes in danger of being flooded tonight after nearly a month's rain falls in 24 hours

Emergency services are being stretched to breaking point overnight after "unprecedented" rainfall caused severe flooding in parts of England, Scotland and Wales, forcing thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.

A total of 22 severe flood warnings - meaning there is a threat to life - have been put in place, with a further 238 less severe flood warnings and 146 flood alerts issued.

As many as 2,000 homes are in danger of being flooded tonight, and thousands of people are spending the night in temporary accommodation after nearly a month's rain fell in 24 hours.


The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee this morning. Mr Cameron said he would take charge of the response to "ensure everything is being done to help".

The Environment Secretary, Liz Truss, said: "Our priority throughout this period continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses."
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Cloud Precipitation

Met Office issues 2 red alerts on the same day for the first time ever as 5 inches of rain is forecast: 300 flood warnings are issued across Britain

Anthony Joseph
Daily Mail, UK
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 12:25 UTC
flooding in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire
There are more than 200 flood warnings across Britain as home and business owners prepare for serious flooding. Pictured is flooding in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire
The Met Office has issued two red alerts for potentially deadly rain in the same day for the first time ever, as severe weather is battering parts of Britain.

Red alerts are the highest possible warnings, meaning there is 'a danger to life'. It is extremely rare for the weather agency to issue them, with the two previous one coming a year apart.

The alert, which advises people to 'take action', expect disruption to travel and be prepared to evacuate their homes, is in place for Lancashire and Yorkshire & Humber.

Around five inches of rain is expected to fall today, almost as much as the average December rainfall in the UK, sparking more than 300 flood alerts.

Emergency services rescue residents from flooded homes on King Street in Whalley,
Emergency services rescue residents from flooded homes on King Street in Whalley, Lancashire, as the rain batters down
Rescue teams have been sent out to help people evacuate their flooded homes, as Boxing Day football matches and racing events were cancelled.


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Cloud Precipitation

Successive storms in Philippines uproot 1.7 million people, destroy 40,000 homes

Alisa Tang and Karen Lema
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wed, 23 Dec 2015 11:12 UTC
FLOODS Philippines
© REUTERS/Erik De CastroA boy wades through a flooded street in Jaen, Nueva Ecija in northern Philippines October 20, 2015, after the province was hit by Typhoon Koppu.
Successive storms across the Philippines, including Typhoon Melor, have temporarily uprooted 1.7 million, aid workers said, as President Benigno Aquino distributed food on Wednesday in areas hardest hit by the disaster.

At least 41 people were killed when Typhoon Melor struck central Philippines on Dec. 15, inundating villages, damaging crops and disrupting power supplies to six provinces.

Known locally as Nona, Melor damaged or destroyed about 200,000 homes mostly in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar and Sorsogon, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said.

Damage to agriculture and infrastructure is estimated at $99 million, according to the IFRC, which has appealed for $3.8 million to deliver emergency assistance to survivors.
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Cloud Precipitation

Severe flooding in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay displaces 150,000 people


BBC News
Sat, 26 Dec 2015 01:04 UTC
South America flooding
© ReutersSome experts have linked the weather to a stronger than usual El Nino phenomenon
More than 150,000 people in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil have been driven from their homes by some of the worst flooding in years.

Heavy summer rains have caused rivers to swell across a vast area.

In Paraguay, the most affected country, President Horacio Cartes declared a state of emergency, freeing up $3.5m (£2.3m) in relief funds.

The Paraguay river in the capital, Asuncion, is just 30cm (12in) away from overtopping its banks.

That could lead to widespread flooding in the Asuncion area.

And it could affect thousands of other people who live by the Paraguay - the country's main river - the authorities said.

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods force evacuation of over 70,000 in Paraguay


Daily Mail, UK
Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:26 UTC
Paraguay River
© AP /Jorge SaenzVictor Ferreira, who is displaced by flooding, rows his boat through the streets of his Jukyty neighborhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015. The Paraguay River is at its highest level since 1984 and threatening the poor districts that surround the capital, forcing about 100,000 people to shelters.
Flooding caused by heavy rains has forced the evacuation of more than 70,000 people in Paraguay.

Authorities say the Paraguay River rose to nearly 24 feet (7.2 meters) Wednesday after weeks of torrential rains. That's near its highest level of 1983, when it reached 25.3 feet (7.72 meters).

Paraguay's National Emergency Secretariat says about 72,000 people have been forced out of their homes in the Paraguayan capital.

But many more are expected to be affected nationwide by the swelling of the Parana and other rivers.

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Arrow Down

Deadly landslide filmed in Peru


The Straits Times
Wed, 23 Dec 2015 15:14 UTC
flood
A hillside gave way next to a road nearly 300km east of Lima, with heavy rain sending a landslide of mud into the valley below.

Officials say at least two people were killed.

Rescue workers say they found one body and were trying to recover the other one.

A truck caught in the flow of mud was pushed off the road. Parts of a highway were also buried neaby

Such incidents are not uncommon in rural Peru, where landslides and avalanches kill dozens of people and destroy hundreds of homes every year.


Source: Reuters
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Cloud Precipitation

Storm Eva brings fresh flooding fears for Cumbria, UK


BBC News
Wed, 23 Dec 2015 13:23 UTC
Cumbria floods
© Aidan GreavesThe River Eden burst its banks in Appleby, Cumbria, UK

Rain and winds of up to 70mph could continue to batter northern England in the run up to Christmas, it is feared.

Storm Eva could bring further misery to Cumbria, where some areas are dealing with the aftermath of flooding for the third time in a month.

Appleby, Glenridding, Keswick and Kendal were all hit after rivers burst their banks on Tuesday.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are monitoring the situation closely."

The spokesman added: "There is currently the possibility for further unsettled weather during the festive period which could lead to some disruption in the north of England.

"We will issue further flood alerts and warnings if required."

Roy Ashley, whose garage business and home in Appleby have been damaged once again, said the flooding had destroyed lives.
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Arrow Down

Gigantic 6 kilometre earth crack opens up along Route III in Paraguay


Strange Sounds
Mon, 21 Dec 2015 14:48 UTC
Earth crack
How can you drive on this road in Paraguay?
About 6 km of road have been swallowed by a giant crack along Route III between the districts of Yby Yaú and Azotey in Paraguay.

This giant fissure in the gound is the result of torrential rains and the overflowing of creek Guireño on December 10, 2015. Apocalyptic.

Here an amazing aerial video showing the extent of this apocalyptical disaster.


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Cloud Precipitation

Public told to prepare for risk of further flooding as more rain heads for West Wales

Lee MacGregor
Carmarthen Journal
Mon, 21 Dec 2015 13:53 UTC
Flooding in Wales
The River Teifi has burst its banks in Llechryd, closing the A484 through the village.
Natural Resources Wales is urging people to prepare for the risk of further flooding across much of Wales.

A band of heavy rain is expected to hit West and North Wales tonight - the same areas where we issued nine Flood Warnings and 22 Flood Alerts during the weekend.

The Met Office has issued a yellow, be aware, warning for rain in Carmarthenshire tomorrow.

Over the weekend, several rivers in West Wales burst their banks, including the Towy in Carmarthen.

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Cloud Precipitation

Death toll increases to 45 in storm-hit Philippines


newsinfo.inquirer.net
Sun, 20 Dec 2015 10:52 UTC
Floods Philippines
© AFP/NOEL CELISResidents ride on a truck over floodwaters to evacuate to higher ground in Candaba, Pampanga, north of Manila on Dec 18, 2015.
The death toll from two storms which battered the Philippines rose to 45 Sunday as several towns remained under water and rain kept falling in northern regions, disaster monitoring officials said.

The rain was caused by a cold front, dragged into the country by Typhoon Nona (international name Melor) and Tropical Depression Onyok which hit the Philippines in succession last week.

Floods almost three meters deep covered some riverside areas north of the capital Manila as heavy rain kept falling, civil defense offices said.

"Our home has been flooded up to the waist. It has been flooded for over two days," said Mary Jane Bautista, 35, in the industrial town of Calumpit 50 kilometers north of the capital.

Her family and several others were forced to take refuge on nearby high ground — in front of a church where their only shelter is the awning over the entrance.

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