Storms
S


Lightning

Lightning strike kills 2 Japanese soldiers during field training

Hana Kusumoto
Stars and Stripes
Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:01 UTC
U.S. Marines train at Hijyudai Maneuver Area in Oita prefecture, Japan, Aug. 1, 2024.
© Kendrick Jackson/U.S. Marine CorpsU.S. Marines train at Hijyudai Maneuver Area in Oita prefecture, Japan, Aug. 1, 2024.
Two Japanese soldiers died this week of lightning strikes during training in western Japan, a spokesman said Thursday.

Sgt. Kento Tanitsu, 25, and Sgt. Ayu Kubota, 21, of the Western Army Tank Unit, were found in cardiac arrest at 12:06 a.m. Monday at the Japanese army's Hijyudai Maneuver Area in Oita prefecture, the Ground Self-Defense Force spokesman said by phone.

Both were confirmed dead at 1:14 a.m. Monday; an autopsy determined they died from electrocution by lightning, he said.

"The death of our troops during training is extremely regrettable and we take this very seriously," said tank unit commander Col. Motohiko Nakamura, according to the spokesman.

"I would like to once again express our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased," Nakamura said.
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Tsunami

Pakistan's financial capital Karachi hit by torrential rain and flooding - 7 inches of rainfall in 24 hours


Reuters
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:32 UTC
People wading through a flooded road after monsoon rain in Karachi, on Aug 19.
© REUTERSPeople wading through a flooded road after monsoon rain in Karachi, on Aug 19.
Pakistan declared a public holiday in Karachi on Aug 20 as the financial capital braced itself for more rain, after the arrival of the annual monsoon season left at least seven people dead and caused widespread flooding, officials said.

The monsoon has brought havoc across Pakistan in recent days, with the death toll from flash floods that struck the mountainous north-west on Aug 15 rising to 377.

In Karachi, at least seven people have died since the rain began in the southern port city on Aug 19, said Mr Abdul Wahid Halepoto, a provincial government spokesman. Rainfall reached levels not seen in years in some parts of the city, Pakistan's largest, with a population of more than 20 million.

Deaths were caused by drowning, road accidents, building collapse and electrocution, he said.

The authorities ordered educational institutions and offices to shut.

"We are expecting more intense rain," said Mr Anjum Nazir, a spokesman for the provincial meteorological department.

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Arrow Down

Three dead, one missing in South-West China rain-triggered landslide


The Star (Malaysia)
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:46 UTC
Screenshot of a firefighting video showing a person being rescued.
Screenshot of a firefighting video showing a person being rescued.
Three people were found dead and one remains missing after a rain-triggered landslide struck a village in Pu'er city of South-West China's Yunnan province in the early on Wednesday (Aug 20) morning, according to local authorities.

The landslide hit the village in Mohei township, Ning'er county of Pu'er at around 5.40am Wednesday.

It left a total of four people unaccounted for, of whom three were found dead and one remains missing as of 10am.

One trapped individual has been rescued and taken to the hospital.

A total of 58 villagers from 23 households in the village have been relocated to safer sites.

All-out search and rescue efforts are underway.

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Tsunami

3 dead, 3 missing after heavy rainfall hits northern China - record rain of 8.4 inches in just 12 hours - 2nd flash flooding incident for district in 2 days


Anadolu Agency
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:06 UTC
mmmmmm
At least three people were killed and three others went missing after heavy rains hit northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, state-run media reported Tuesday.

Torrential rains starting from Monday pounded several banners and districts in Ordos, according to Xinhua News Agency.

A banner is a traditional administrative division similar to a county.

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Lightning

Lightning kills more than 200 sheep in Vielha, Spain


catalunyapress.es
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:38 UTC
Dead animals in the area where the lightning struck.
© Aran Regional CouncilDead animals in the area where the lightning struck.
More than 200 sheep were killed by lightning while grazing near the southern entrance of the Vielha tunnel, near the Port de Vielha road in the Aran Valley, during the intense thunderstorm that struck this Monday.

This is a very popular stretch of trail for hikers at this time of year , which increased the alarm among residents and visitors when they discovered dead animals on the trail.

Professionals from the Conselh Generau d'Aran and the ranchers themselves have worked to remove the carcasses from the road, although some areas remain affected by the accumulation of animals.

The incident has forced a temporary change in the route layout , with an alternative route being marked to avoid passing through the most affected areas .

For its part, the Aran Government has expressed its support for the affected livestock farmers , recognizing the magnitude of the tragedy and the economic loss it represents for livestock professionals in the area.

This event underscores the danger of thunderstorms in mountainous areas and the need to exercise extreme caution during these adverse weather conditions.

(Translated by Google)

Comment: Also in this area of northern Spain on the same day: Severe summer hailstorm hits La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

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Cloud Precipitation

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations in North Carolina's Outer Banks

Ben Finley and John Seewer
Associated Press
Mon, 18 Aug 2025 21:19 UTC
hurricane erin north carolina outer banks flooding
© USGS, NOAAHurricane Erin's sweep past North Carolina's Outer Banks coastal region is expected to produce major flooding August 19-21, 2025
Erin has reintensified to a Category 4 storm

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina's Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.

Evacuations were ordered on some barrier islands along the Carolina coast as authorities warned the storm could churn up dangerous rip currents and swamp roads with waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters). Tropical storm and surge watches were issued Monday for much of the Outer Banks.

Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents on Monday.

Comment: Satellite view of Erin gathering strength.


Lighting flashed in the eye wall of Hurricane Erin as it intensified on Saturday (Aug. 15).

(Image credit: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CSU/CIRA & NOAA))



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Cloud Precipitation

Severe summer hailstorm hits La Seu d'Urgell, Spain


Instagram
Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:13 UTC
mmmmmmm
Heavy rains accompanied by a hailstorm caused flooding in La Seu d'Urgell, Catalonia, Spain (18.08.2025)

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Tsunami

Mumbai in India faces Red Alert as heavy rains continue to flood city - up to 7 inches of rain in 6 hours


NEWS9 Live
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:55 UTC
mmmmm
Mumbai reels under heavy rains for consecutive days as severe waterlogging disrupts daily life.

Subways and local trains are flooded, schools shut, and residents are urged to stay indoors.

Authorities warn that heavy rainfall will continue, with red alerts in Mumbai and neighboring districts.

Rescue operations continue as the city grapples with flood-like conditions.


Comment: Business Today reports:
[...]

Over 100 mm of rainfall was recorded in parts of Mumbai and surrounding regions in just 12 hours on Monday, with Vikhroli logging a staggering 139.5 mm. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the city was hit with 177 mm in just six to eight hours.

[...]
Report from 3 days prior: Heavy rains lash Mumbai, India - 3 dead - 8 inches of rainfall overnight

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Tsunami

Best of the Web: Death toll from rains, flash floods in Pakistan rises to 351

Berk Kutay Gokmen
Anadolu Agency
Sun, 17 Aug 2025 13:45 UTC
Local residents look at flash flooding due to heavy rains in a neighborhood of Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, northwestern Pakistan.
Local residents look at flash flooding due to heavy rains in a neighborhood of Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, northwestern Pakistan.
The death toll in Pakistan from flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains has risen to 351, Geo News reported Sunday, citing authorities.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 328 people lost their lives and many others were injured, while the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan reported 12 deaths and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, also known as Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saw 11 fatalities.

Authorities are worried that the death toll could increase as rescue efforts continue in the hardest-hit regions, where intense floods and landslides have ravaged homes, businesses and infrastructure.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government declared an emergency in all flood-affected areas as the death toll climbed and a search and rescue operation for the missing continues.

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Cloud Precipitation

Heavy hailstorm covers highway in thick ice blanket in South Africa

Daleen Naudé
Citizen.co.za
Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:45 UTC
A thick layer of hail covered the N4 in Mpumalanga in the Belfast area last night.
A thick layer of hail covered the N4 in Mpumalanga in the Belfast area last night.
Heavy hail fell in the Belfast area of Mpumalanga yesterday evening, causing an accident in which one person was injured when a truck and four vehicles collided.

According to Middelburg Observer, the hailstorm caused the N4 roadway to become extremely slippery.

The hail resulted in a thick ice blanket which caused vehicles to slide across the roadway.

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