Floods
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Tsunami

Panama floods claim 11 lives as government declares State of Emergency

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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


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

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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.


Tsunami

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

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.


Tsunami

Flood waters drag cars into sea near Catania, Italy

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Flood waters drag cars into sea near Catania
Flood waters tossed cars around in Torre Archirafi on Wednesday, dragging some into the sea, after the torrential rain that has hit Sicily turned streets into rivers in the town near Catania.

Local people made over 30 requests for help to the emergency services.

There were no reports of anyone being unaccounted for because of the extreme weather at the time of writing.

Firefighters rescued a number of motorists trapped in their cars by the floods in the town of Aci Sant'Antonio.

Another person was saved by the emergency services after their home was flooded in Acireale.

The fire brigade use an amphibious vehicle in Altarello to rescue four people, included two disabled, after the ground floor of a house was invaded by water.


Comment: Just 5 days prior in the same region: Bad weather and red alert in Catania, Italy critical situation in Acireale: flooded streets and people stuck in cars


Tsunami

Thousands evacuated as Malaga, Spain hit with nearly a month's rainfall in a day (incl. 3 inches in an hour)

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Severe thunderstorms and torrential rain have again battered coastal Spain, causing thousands of people to be evacuated just two weeks after the country experienced deadly flooding in Valencia and other nearby communities.

Over 4,000 people and a thousand homes have been evacuated in the Malaga area, according to a Thursday update from Antonio Sanz, the director of the Emergency Plan for the Risk of Flooding in Andalucia.

Five areas near the Guadalhorce riverbank were preemptively evacuated due to the risk of overflowing.

In just one hour, nearly a month's worth of rainfall inundated the city of Malaga, in Spain's Andalusia region, according to the country's meteorological agency AEMet. The southern Spanish province picked up roughly 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain so far on Wednesday, 78 millimeters (3 inches) of which fell within an hour. Malaga normally averages 100.5 millimeters in the month of November.


Tsunami

South Trinidad floods in a flash - Heavy showers after weeks of intense heat

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© Lincoln HolderDEAD UNDER WATER: Sharp, heavy showers led to widespread flash flooding leaving many areas in south Trinidad, including the Batchyia cemetery in Penal, under water on November 12.
Weeks of relentless, intense heat gave way to heavy, sustained rainfall on November 12 which quickly led to flash flooding in several low-lying areas in south Trinidad.

So severe was the weather that the Met Office placed TT on a yellow-level flood alert between 10.15 am-3.30 pm on November 12.

The flooding was widespread in the south land as to affect classes at several schools, led to residents being marooned in their homes. Even the dead was affected as flood waters inundated the Batchyia public cemetery in Penal, with this final resting spot for many being transformed into a lake.

For several hours, only the tops of headstones and metal crosses were visible in the cemetery while dozens of graves which had neither headstone nor crosses, were completely hidden under the water.

The downpours began before the break of dawn, and by mid-morning, water levels in some areas in Debe, Siparia and outlying areas had risen to as much as three feet.


Cloud Lightning

Floods in South Sudan affect 1.4M people - The worst in decades

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Over 379,000 people displaced by flooding, says UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in East African country

Devastating flooding in South Sudan affected around 1.4 million people, and displaced 379,000 others, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the East African country said on Saturday.

"About 1.4 million people are affected by flooding in 43 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, with Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states comprising more than 51 per cent of the affected population," OCHA said in a statement.

It added that over 379,000 people were displaced in 22 counties and Abyei.

Cloud Lightning

Massive floods in Colombia affect tens of thousands

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Colombia has been impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding for several days, affecting tens of thousands of people, particularly in the department of Choco. The Pacific and Caribbean regions are on red alert, as the government considers declaring a national disaster.

So far, no fatalities have been reported, but the material damages are already counted in millions of dollars.

In recent days, rains have affected 186 municipalities across 27 departments in Colombia, provoking floods that have impacted over 46,000 families. The departments with the most emergencies are La Guajira, Huila, Choco, Norte de Santander and Cauca.


Tsunami

Best of the Web: Incessant flash floods hit Spain again, this time in Almería province - nearly 3 INCH downpour in just a FEW MINUTES

70 litres per sqm fell in just a few minutes in Almería province on Monday.
© Oscar DEL POZO CAÑAS / AFP70 litres per sqm fell in just a few minutes in Almería province on Monday.
Almería in southeast Spain has been hit with up to 70 litres of rainfall which fell in a matter of minutes, flooding roads and dragging away cars, as the country braces for another DANA storm that will leave plenty of heavy rain.

Spain is being hit with another 'DANA' storm which is already causing torrential rain and flooding in the southern Andalusian province of Almería.

Following the forecast from Spain's state meteorological agency (Aemet) on Monday, pre-emergency phase protocols were activated due to the risk of flooding in the province. In the early afternoon, a yellow alert was declared, which was then changed to orange in the evening.


Arrow Down

Landslide in Yemen kills seven

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Seven people died on Monday in a landslide in the village of Beit Al-Baras in Yemen's northwestern province of Al-Mahwit, according to paramedics.

The disaster also resulted in several injuries and significant damage to homes as large rocks swept through the area. Rescue operations are currently underway to aid those affected.

Yemen has been grappling with severe weather, including heavy rains and floods, during this year's rainy season, exacerbating the country's ongoing humanitarian crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.

The country's health system, already stretched thin after a decade of civil war, is struggling to provide basic medical care due to a shortage of specialized doctors, medical supplies, and infrastructure, as reported by the UN.

Source: IANS