Floods
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Tornado2

Week of wild weather around the world

Waterspout Hits Cefalù, Sicily, Italy
Waterspout hits Cefalù, Sicily, Italy
From summertime flooding, to a dangerous derecho sweeping across the Midwest, this week has been a busy week of weather. But what weather events have been happening around the world?

We start our trip on the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily. A waterspout whipped up sand and debris and sent beach-goers running as it pushed on shore. Thankfully, no one was injured.

Our week was full of waterspouts and tornadoes, and Canada was no different. We head to the province of Manitoba where a deadly tornado ripped through the countryside. Canadian officials rated this tornado an EF-2.

Our final tornado this week comes from the Inner Mongolia region of China. This storm ripped through a tourist site injuring at least 33 people and destroying 150 yurts.


Newspaper

Major incident declared following train derailment in Stonehaven, Scotland - Landslip caused by flooding suspected

train crash
© Jeff J Mitchell/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoNicola Sturgeon declared the accident a major incident.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has declared the Stonehaven train derailment a major incident, as dozens of emergency vehicles were deployed to the scene after the wrecked train caught fire Wednesday.

"This is an extremely serious incident," the Scottish leader said in a Twitter statement. "I've had an initial report from Network Rail and the emergency services and am being kept updated. All my thoughts are with those involved."

"Although details are still emerging I am afraid to say there are early reports of serious injuries," Sturgeon added. Local news outlets are reporting that at least one person died in the incident, however, at the time of publication, this had yet to be confirmed by authorities.

Comment: In the last 24 hours the UK has seen an apocalyptic lightning display accompanied by epic flash flooding throughout the country. and this morning there was an M3 earthquake south of the country in the English Channel.


Cloud Lightning

UK battered by thousands of 'apocalyptic' lightning bolts and flash floods

UK lightning storms
© CCO
Parts of the UK have been hit by high water due to excessive rainfall, with a flood warning issued across Scotland, Wales, and northern England. Meanwhile, sweltering heat continues to bake the rest of Britain. Heat warnings were issued for young children and the elderly as a temperature of 34C (93.2F) was recorded for a fifth straight day.

The skies above Britain were illuminated by around 50,000 lightning bolts overnight leading to power outages and electric cuts for several hours.

Excessive rains continued for four hours and golf ball-sized hail battered Capel Curig in North Wales. The drainage system overflowed, inundating the streets across parts of Britain.

The skies looked fiery red due to an electric storm in South Wales and turned electric blue in Bowland, Lancs, and Worcestershire.


Attention

Floods destroy largest breeding ground for birds in Uganda as Lake Victoria hits record levels

Abandoned Grey-headed gulls eggs
Abandoned Grey-headed gulls eggs
The island is home to 100 bird species. It is believed that about 200,000 birds live and breed here.

It is dawn at Musambwa Island in Kyotera district and chirping birds happily jump on rocks and trees.

A colony of grey-headed gulls takes to the sky, while others remain to guard their nests, eggs and young ones.

It is hard to tell whether they are mourning the death of several members of their flock, who drowned in the floods triggered by the recent rising water levels. Up to now, several breeding territories are waterlogged and deserted.

Going around the rocks, you jump over dead gulls, little egrets and other birds.

Over 80 eggs of different bird species and 110 dead birds are scattered within one acre.



Cloud Precipitation

Deadly landslides and floods in Veracruz, Mexico

Landslides blocked several roads after heavy rainfall in Veracruz State, Mexico, 08 to 10 August 2020.
© Government of VeracruzLandslides blocked several roads after heavy rainfall in Veracruz State, Mexico, 08 to 10 August 2020.
Heavy rainfall from 08 to 10 August caused flooding and landslides in the state of Veracruz in eastern Mexico.

According to Mexico's meteorological agency Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), 110.3 mm of rain fell in 24 hours on 08 August in Sontecomapan in Catemaco Municipality. The next day, 158 mm of rain fell in Jesús Carranza Municipality.The state's Civil Protection reported 3 fatalities after a landslide in Filomeno Mata Municipality.

Across the state more than 1,700 buildings were damaged and around 200 people were evacuated. Bridges were damaged and several roads blocked by landslides and flooding, leaving some communities isolated.


Cloud Precipitation

Over 1,100 homes destroyed, 13,200 affected by floods in Mali

floods
The flood situation has deteriorated in Mali over the last 10 days according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Flooding began in the country in July, affecting around 7,000 people. According to OCHA, as of 06 August, more than 13,200 people, including 5,400 internally displaced persons, were affected by floods in the country. The worst affected regions are Gao, Mopti, Ségou and Sikasso. A total of 1,160 homes have been destroyed.

OCHA said that, in support to the government's efforts, humanitarian partners have already provided affected people with food, non-food items and shelter. However, the relief stock currently mobilized remains insufficient considering the increasing humanitarian needs of flood-affected people. This year, 112,400 people are at risk of flooding according to the national contingency plan.


Cloud Precipitation

Summer flash floods hit Andalusia, Spain

flood
Severe weather, including heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds, caused damage in parts of southern and central Spain on 11 August 2020.

In Andalusia, emergency services responded to over 130 calls for assistance in the provinces of Córdoba and Seville.

In Córdoba, homes and roads were flooded in the towns of Castro del Río, Puente Genil, Bélmez and Palma del Río , as well as parts of the provincial capital Córdoba, according to the regional government.

Emergency services responded to around 30 calls in the province of Seville. Several roads were cut by flood waters and a driver was rescued from a stranded vehicle. Storm damage interrupted power supply in Herrera.


Cloud Precipitation

Flood situation in Bihar, India continues to be grim - 24 killed in 24 hours, over 7.5 million affected

flood
In Bihar, the flood situation continues to be grim in flood affected areas of the state. The flood water has entered new areas of Siwan and Madhepura. Surging water of Gandak and Kosi spread out in fresh areas after the river continues flowing at above danger mark in their courses.

Over 75 lakh people of 16 districts spread over 1,240 Panchayats are reeling under the impact of flood. The flood situation is particularly serious in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Saran district. Flood water has entered into houses in urban areas of Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.

In all, 24 people lost their lives and 66 animals were killed in flood related accidents during the last 24 hours. Most of the people in affected areas were rendered homeless. Life in affected areas has been crippled as flood-hit people are forced to take shelter either on the embankments, national highways or other higher places.


Umbrella

6 dead, 5 missing in China's Sichuan after storm dumps 17.6 inches of rain in 12 hours

landslide
Six people were killed while five others remain missing after heavy rain hit Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

The province's flood control and drought relief headquarters reported the casualties after a fresh spell of downpour started Monday evening, triggering a flood in the local Qingyi River.

The heavy rainfall has waterlogged low-lying areas of the city, causing damages to houses, water conservancy and power facilities. The detailed losses are being reviewed.

Arrow Down

At least 43 dead, dozens missing after torrential rain triggers landslide in Kerala, India (UPDATE)

Houses were buried under debris
© Georgey MathewsHouses were buried under debris
At least 22 people have been killed after monsoon-season floods triggered a landslide in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Houses in Idukki district were swept away after torrential rain and flooding late on Friday night.

Rescuers have been recovering bodies from under debris but 44 people remain missing, Idduki MP Dean Kuriakose told the BBC.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Idukki on Friday, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20cm (8in).


Comment: Update: CNN reports on August 10:
Monsoon rains trigger tea plantation landslide in India's Kerala state, killing at least 43 people

Rescue workers search for missing people at a landslide site caused by heavy rains in Pettimudy, in Kerala state, on August 8, 2020.
Rescue workers search for missing people at a landslide site caused by heavy rains in Pettimudy, in Kerala state, on August 8, 2020.
At least 43 people, including three children, have died with dozens more feared buried after torrential rains triggered a landslide in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala.

The landslide swept into a settlement housing workers on a tea plantation in Idukki district late Thursday, when most residents were sleeping. Dozens of houses were destroyed and 11 injured people were taken to local hospitals.

The death toll steadily rose as search and rescue workers spent the weekend digging through thick mud and debris, with efforts hampered further by heavy rain.

At least 25 people remain missing, according to district lawmaker Dean Kuriakose. More than 500 personnel from local forces and the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to sift through the debris, he added.

"Despite inclement weather and harsh conditions, the search for those who went missing is progressing," Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted Sunday.

On Monday, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a warning of "heavy to very heavy rainfall" in certain parts of the state for the next 24 hours. On Sunday, a red alert was in place for seven of the state's 14 districts.

Kerala has been battered by rain and flooding for weeks. On Friday, tragedy struck again when an Air India Express plane skidded off the runway and broke into two while landing at Kozhikode Calicut International Airport amid heavy rain.

The flight from Dubai had 190 people on board when it crashed, according to Air India Express. A total of 18 people died, including both pilots and four children
.