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Brazil - Three people killed in landslide in Ceará State

Three people died in a landslide in Aratuba, Ceará, Brazil, 16 March 2023.
© State Government of CearáThree people died in a landslide in Aratuba, Ceará, Brazil, 16 March 2023.
At least 5 municipalities in Ceará State in northeastern Brazil have declared a state of emergency after days of heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides. Dozens of people have been displaced and at least 3 fatalities reported.

Three people from the same family died after heavy rain triggered a landslide which destroyed their home in Aratuba on 16 March 2023. A further 15 homes were damaged or deemed unsafe by authorities, forcing around 50 people to evacuate.

"The municipal government deeply regrets what happened and will provide full support to the families of the victims and survivors," the Municipal Prefecture of Aratuba said in a statement. A three-day period of mourning was declared. State Governor Elmano de Freitas visited the area on 17 March.


Apple Red

Strawberry fields forever? California crops lost after floods - how much of the US will feel the shortage?

Flooded strawberry fields in Pajaro, California,
© David Paul MorrisFlooded strawberry fields in Pajaro, California on March 15.
Too much thing, rain, is sinking farmers' bottom lines across California's Central Coast. The area some call "America's salad bowl" more resembles a soup bowl as round after round of atmospheric river-fueled storms overwhelmed farmland. We all may start to notice a difference in the grocery store as some staples become harder to find.

FOX Weather brought you to Pajaro, California when the levee failed recently. The farming community in the Pajaro River Valley disappeared under feet of water. Similar scenes played out across the Salinas River Valley, another iconic farm area in Monterey County which is the fourth top agricultural producer in the state, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

"For the farms that were flooded, this catastrophe hit at the worst possible time," said California's Strawberry Commission President Rick Tomlinson in a statement. "Farmers had borrowed money to prepare the fields and were weeks away from beginning to harvest."

Acre after acre of strawberries and lettuces are literally underwater at a time when farmers should be getting ready to harvest. While the state grows about half of all the fruit and vegetables for the country, Monterey County is responsible for over $4 billion in revenue primarily through strawberries, lettuce and broccoli.


Cloud Precipitation

Rain, hailstorm damages wheat crop in key states in India

Heavy rainfall has been recorded in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu in the past 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall has been recorded in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu in the past 24 hours.
Storms, rain or hail could batter almost the entire country for another two days, an update by the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Squally weather and rain have damaged wheat crop in almost all key producer states, but finding out the extent of losses might take weeks, according to preliminary assessments by a panel formed in view of anticipated early-summer heatwaves.

Storms, rain or hail could batter almost the entire country for another two days, an update by the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. Several rain-bearing systems are currently active, it said.

Crop-shriveling hot spells have, however, not struck any wheat-growing state in March so far, as predicted, barring pockets of Gujarat and Konkan in western India.

India is on alert over heatwaves which could pressure the economy, especially agriculture, power generation and water supply. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been reviewing the situation, spelling out emergency measures.


Cloud Lightning

Lightning, hailstorm claim the lives of 16 people and 80 cattle in 2 days in Madhya Pradesh, India

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At least 16 people lost their lives and 14 others were injured in lightning and rain related incidents across the state in past days. Hail and lightning also claimed the lives of around 100 cattle in the state, according to the meteorological department.

At least 4 persons were killed as severe storms accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds swept through Khandwa. Sagar reported three deaths and Satna and Raisen two deaths each. Narmadapura, Dhar, Ratlam, Ashok Nagar, Damoh reported one death each in the last two days .

Cattle deaths were reported from Betul, Itarsi and Satna. Itarsi (Chanagarh) reported the death of 35 cattle, Betul 32 cattle and Satna 13 cattle.

Gusty winds accompanied with rain and hailstorm caused damage to properties and standing crop in Betul, Mandsaur, Khandwa, Khargone, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Neemuch, Dhar, Sehore, Harda, Rajgarh, Raisen, Damoh and Agar.

Meteorological department senior officer Ved Pratap Singh said strong wind and hailstorm damaged crops in the state, while lightning claimed lives of labourers working in the agricultural field. In the last 24 hours, 3cm rain was reported in Silwani, Burhanpur, Khajuraho, Khaknar, Depalpur, Badarwas. Similarly, 2cm rainfall in Nepanagar, Navibag, Kolaras, Multai, Malanjkhand and Nateran.

Cloud Lightning

Two minor girls killed in lightning strike in Chhattisgarh, India

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Two minor girls were killed after being struck by lightning in Bastar's Kondagaon district on Saturday afternoon, said Kondagaon SDOP Nimitesh Singh.

The incident took place at Chilputi village, 8 km from Kondagaon district headquarters, around 2.30 pm on Saturday when the two girls, identified as Monika Nag (10) and Radha Markam (10), were out to collect tamarind in a nearby jungle.

Eyewitness said that the two girls were taking shelter under a tree to protect themselves from rain when lightning struck them. The other villagers present nearby rushed to the spot and informed their relatives. Ambulance was called and the girls were taken to the district hospital, where the doctors declared them dead.

The two class 6th girls died on the spot, said the SDOP. Postmortem examination was done immediately after the incident on Saturday afternoon and bodies were handed over to their families the same evening. Police had registered a case, said the SDOP.

Cloud Precipitation

Cameroon - Severe floods hit Buea, south west region

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Powerful flash floods raced through streets in the city of Buea, the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon, on 18 March 2023.

Dozens of buildings and homes were destroyed or damaged, leaving families homeless. One person reportedly died after being dragged by flood water. A further five people were reported injured. The situation is still developing and authorities have yet to confirm any details or figures. Some local media sources said the death toll was much higher, while others reported at least 6 people were thought to be missing.

The city of around 300,000 inhabitants is situated on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon. Local observers said heavy rain on 18 March flowed down the steep slopes and into residential and business areas of the city. The city's poor drainage infrastructure was unable to cope. Buea experienced flooding in similar circumstances in March 2020.


Cloud Lightning

'We suffered a great loss': Farmer loses large part of income after lightning kills 21 cows in South Africa

Twenty-one cows were struck by lightning on a North West farm.
© Thusoitsile LobalengTwenty-one cows were struck by lightning on a North West farm.
A North West farmer lost 21 cows after they were killed by lightning.

Eleven of the cows were pregnant.

The cows, worth around R260 000, were struck by lightning during heavy rain on Wednesday.

The owner of the cattle, Vincent Lobaleng, said 16 cows and five calves died at his Entry Farm near Morokweng.

Lobaleng lives in Morokweng and visits the farm regularly to assist the helper, who lives on the farm and looks after the cattle full time.

Lobaleng's nephew, Thusoitsile Lobaleng, said the helper discovered the carcasses on Thursday evening.

Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Cyclone Freddy dumped 6 months worth of rain in 6 days on Malawi - 326 killed, 200 still missing and 500,000 affected

Flooding in Nsanje, Malawi, 16 March 2023.
© Malawi Red Cross SocietyFlooding in Nsanje, Malawi, 16 March 2023.
As the full extent of the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy becomes clear, disaster authorities in Malawi report a steep increase in the number of fatalities, people missing and people displaced from their homes.

Around 500,000 people are estimated to be affected by floods, mudslides and wind damage following the passage of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in southern Malawi. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Malawi estimated Cyclone Freddy dumped the equivalent of 6 months of rainfall in 6 days.

Affected areas now include Balaka, Blantyre City and District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, and Zomba City and District.


Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills two college students in Assam, India

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Two college students were killed after being struck by lightning at Assam's Abahyapuri town in the Bongaigaon district.

The deceased were identified as Dwipjyoti Roy and Jintu Kumar Rai.

According to reports, the duo was heading to the market when lightning struck them at Rajbari.

Later locals rescued them and rushed them to a government hospital where they were declared brought dead.

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© India TodayAssam: Lightning strike kills two college students in Abhayapuri

Cloud Lightning

Lightning kills mother, son in Uganda

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Two members of the same family in Rukungiri district died on the spot on Wednesday after they were struck by lightning.

Kigezi region Police spokesman Elly Maate identified the victims as Enoth Tukwasibwe, 30, and his mother, Jolly Baryakabuza, 75, both residents of Keita Village in Nyabitete Parish, Bugangari sub-county.

Maate told journalists that the unfortunate incident occurred at their home during a heavy downpour while the old woman was in the kitchen preparing supper and the son was in the main house with his father, who was not affected.

Police were alerted by area LC1 chairperson Alex Warugaba, and the scene was visited.

Bugangari sub-county chairperson Gastone Byamukama was among the leaders who came to comfort the family. He said this was the second incident of lightning in the area in two weeks after a 26-year-old woman was also struck by lightning.