Disease

Researchers find alarming global levels of drug-resistant TB. A large, eight-nation study has found worrisome levels of tuberculosis resistant to first- and second-line drugs, along with higher-than-expected levels of extensively drug-resistant TB among the groups tested.

Volcanos

A swarm of earthquakes has shaken the Little Sitkin volcano in the western Aleutian Islands off Alaska. No eruption has been observed, but may be imminent.

Earthquakes

7.6 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands. Residents flee the coastal areas fearing a tsunami, but the tsunami warning was cancelled.

5.5, 5.4, 5.4, 5.1, 5.0, 4.9, 4.9 Aftershocks hit the Philippine Islands.

4.9 Earthquake hits South Island, New Zealand.

4.9 Earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.

Wildfires

Wildfires burn along the Costa del Sol, Spain. 5 000 people, mainly tourists have been evacuated from Marbella.

Wildfires around Chadron, Nebraska burn 25 000 acres. Residents in the path of the fire instructed to evacuate.

Storms and Floods

Widespread flooding along the Mississippi Gulf coast due to Hurricane Isaac. The storm has weakened to a tropical depression, but is still dumping rain along the coast. Isaac spawned several tornados along the coast.

Tropical storm Leslie forms in the Atlantic.

Earthquakes

6.6 and 5.2 Earthquakes hit the Jan Mayan Islands north of Iceland.

5.6 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.4 and 5.0 Earthquakes hit the western Indian-antarctic ridge.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Banda Sea.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Virgin islands region.

5.0 Earthquake hits central Peru.

Wildfires

Wildfires near Roscoe, Montana, USA threaten several hundred homes.

Two large wildfires spread in Oregon, USA.

Storms and Floods

Hurricane Isaac weakens to tropical storm, but still brings huge quantities of rain as it hovers over southern Louisiana moving very slowly up the Gulf coast. Flooding in numerous districts have been reported.

Tropical storm Tembin approaches South Korea while typhoon Bolaven pummels an already reeling North Korea.

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Celebes Sea.

Environment

Wildlife authorities say the strong earthquake off the coast of El Salvador destroyed more than 45,000 endangered sea turtle eggs .

The director of the turtle conservation program for the El Salvador Zoological Foundation says the 7.4-magnitude undersea quake sent at least three waves at least 30 feet high up the beach and destroyed thousands of nests and just-hatched turtles.

In the last year and a half the foundation has successfully hatched and released 700,000 turtles from four species at risk of extinction.

Drought

Drought could affect Kansas nuclear plant output.

If the current drought in the USA persists as predicted, the reservoir that feeds a lake used to cool the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Kansas will be nearly dry, prompting concern the plant might not be able to continue to provide electricity.

Disease

2 people have died in an outbreak of Legionnaires disease at the Chicago Marriott Hotel. 6 further people have been reported as having contracted the disease.

Authorities in Cuba have reported that the recent Cholera outbreak has run its course. 417 people were sickened and 3 people died.

Wildfires

Wildfires that started burning in the forests and bog lands of eastern Russia at the beginning of June 2012 are still burning unabated.

Wildfires burn across Bulgaria. The State is unable to handle with large extent of the fires and has asked for international help.

Villagers and firefighters throughout southern Bosnia are wrestling with devastating wildfires in a region that has seen record high temperatures and no rain for over two months.

Storms and Floods

Hurricane Isaac hits the USA Gulf coast, bringing welcome rain to the drought ravaged southern states. Residents in New orleans await the effect of the expected storm surge to see if the flood measures rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina hold. No mass evacuations have been ordered.

Tropical Storm Kirk forms in the Atlantic.

Tropical Ileana forms in the eastern Pacific, but is not expected to threaten land.

A fresh wave of floods hit Sonitpur, India. 5 000 people in 10 villages are affected.

Climate Change

As expected, the amount of sea ice in the Arctic has fallen to the lowest level on record.

Satellites tracking the extent of the sea ice found over the weekend that it covered about 1.58 million square miles, or less than 30 percent of the Arctic Ocean's surface, scientists said. That is below the previous record low, set in 2007, but with weeks still to go in the summer melting season, it is clear that the record will be beaten by a wide margin.

Earthquakes

5.7 Earthquake hits offshore El Salvador.

5.4 Earthquake hits off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Talaud Islands, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquke hits the Gulf of California.

5.0 and 2 x 4.8 Aftershocks hit off the coast of Central America.

4.8 Earthquake hits off the coast of central Chile.

Disease

Measels cases continue to be reported in New South Wales, Australia where 78 cases have occurred this year. Communities have been urged to immunise.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to make landfall in New Orleans Tuesday night, nearly 7 years to the day after the ill-fated hurricane Katrina.

Typhoon Tembin causes widespread damage in Taiwan.

Typhoon Bolaven moves slowly across South Korea, bringing heavy rains, cancelling flights and closing all schools in Seoul.

Tornado reported near Vero Beach, Florida, USA.

Volcanos

New Activity/Unrest:

Grozny Group, Iturup Island | Sotará, Colombia | Tongariro, North Island (New Zealand) | Tungurahua, Ecuador | White Island, New Zealand.

Ongoing Activity:

Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Etna, Sicily (Italy) | Fuego, Guatemala | Galeras, Colombia | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | Popocatépetl, México | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Santa María, Guatemala | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia).

Earthquakes

7.4 Earthquake hits off the coast of El Salvador, Central America. A small tsunami of about 20cm was generated but caused no damage.

6.4 Earthquake hits the north Molucca Sea.

5.5 and 5.3 Earthquakes, part of a swarm of hundreds of smaller earthquakes hits southern California. Numerous buildings sustained damage.

5.4 Earthquake hits off the coast of El Salvador.

5.3 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the coast of Nicaragua.

5.1 Earthquake hits offshore Antofagasto, Chile.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Andaman Islands off India.

5.0 Earthquake hits the north Molucca Sea.

5.0 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

2 x 4.9 and 4.8 Earthquakes hit southern California.

2 x 4.8; 2 x 4.7 and 3 x 4.6 Aftershocks hit off the coast of El Salvador.

Disease

Reports of a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Chibombo, Zambia have been refuted by the Government.

Wildfires

New wildfire in southern Spain. 1 000 residents evacuated.

Wildfires rage unchecked in Alaska.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac grounds hundreds of flights in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA before moving away from Florida towards the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Typhoon Bolaven heads for South Korea slowly after injuring 4 people in Japan but causing no major damage beyond disrupting transportation and shipping and cutting pose to 75 000 homes.

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hots near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

4.9 Earthquake hits south-west of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Wildfires

Large wildfire near Roundup, Montana, USA.

Wildfires burn across Serbia, thousands of people have been evacuated from numerous villages threatened by the fires.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac hits Cuba after killing at least four people in Haiti. Isaac is expected to strengthen and hit the Florida Keys as a hurricane. Storm watches are in effect on the Florida, USA coast.

Powerful Typhoon Bolaven is approaching Okinawa Japan with winds of 250 km/h.

Floods in Myanmar [Burma] have submerged more than 250 000 hectares of rice paddys in the Irrawaddy Delta forcing 85 000 people to flee.

Earthquakes

5.8 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Island region north of New Zealand.

5.7 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Bellany Island region far south of New Zealand.

5.0 Earthquake hits Nepal.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to reach Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by Saturday morning.

Tropical Storm Joyce forms in the Atlantic.

Hundreds of homes have been damaged in flooding in the Pakistan/India border region. 21 people are reported dead.

New floods in North Korea kill at least 6 people and destroy hundreds of buildings, mostly homes.

John Nelson has compiled a composite map showing every hurricane around the world since 1851. The map can he found here. There are a number of other very cool composite maps on the site as well.

 

Disease

Researchers have identified a mysterious new disease that has left scores of people in Asia and some in the United States with AIDS-like symptoms even though they are not infected with HIV.

The patients' immune systems become damaged, leaving them unable to fend off germs as healthy people do.

What triggers this isn't known, but the disease does not seem to be contagious.

This is another kind of acquired immune deficiency that is not inherited and researchers are calling this new disease an "adult-onset" immunodeficiency syndrome because it develops later in life and they don't know why or how.

Earthquakes

4.7 Earthquake hits Fiji.

4.6 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

No Earthquakes of 5.0 and larger during this period.

 

Wildfires

Several bush fires burn in the northern coastal region of New South Wales, Australia.

Wildfire near Clinton, British Columbia, Canada destroys two homes.

Disease

The death toll in the ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 10.

A massive cholera epidemic in the coastal slums of West Africa is killing hundreds of people with thousands more infected.

Syphilis outbreak among porn actors in the California porn industry prompts calls for a halt to filming in the multi-billion dollar industry.

Epidemic of PRR [peste des petits ruminants] in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a contagious viral disease that has killed tens of thousands of goats and sheep.

Botulism outbreak on a bird farm in Wyoming, USA. 2 700 pheasants have died in the past week.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac enters the Caribbean and heads for the Dominican Republic. Haiti issues hurricane warning.

Typhoon Igme hits Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain.

Thousands of people have been displaced by flash floods in Niger.

Fresh floods have hit the Black Sea region in southern Russia where 171 people died in floods last month. 4 people have been reported dead.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit south-west of Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.3 Earthquake hits the New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea.

5.2 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

4.7 Earthquake hits the Caribbean Sea.

 

Volcanos

Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador erupts again. 110 families living in close proximity have been evacuated.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires threaten town in north-east Bosnia. State of emergency declared.

At least 50 buildings, many of them homes have been destroyed by the northern California wildfires.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the Atlantic and is heading towards the eastern Caribbean and the Leeward Islands.

Tropical Storm Bolaven forms in the Pacific and may enter the Philippine region as Typhoon Igme exists.

Torrential rains cause massive flooding in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Fresh floods reported from Dhemaji, India, affecting 25 000 people in 30 villages.

 

Earthquakes

5.5 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

 

Volcanos

Cleveland volcano in Alaska has small eruption with a low level ash cloud.

 

Drought

Crops wilt and die in a harsh drought in the Balkans.

Drought cuts the Russian grain crop forecasts after bad harvests from eastern regions.

 

Disease

Legionnaires disease outbreak in Quebec City, Canada. 3 people have died with 40 more infected. It is believed the disease is spread by one or more of the many cooling towers around the city.

 

Wildfires

Firefighters continue to battle wildfires across Spain in sweltering conditions.

 

Storms and Floods

Typhoon Igme brings heavy rains, landslides and flash floods to the northern Philippines. The storm is presently stationary and is expected to batter northern Luzon for at least 24 hours.

 

Earthquakes

6.2 Earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua New Guinea. No reports of damage.

5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

4.9 Earthquake hits off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Celebes Sea.

 

Disease

9 people have now died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

224 cases of a new strain of swine flu have now been reported across 9 US States.

 

Wildfires

Bushfire emergency declared in the Clarence Valley, New South Wales, Australia.

Lightning sparks several wildfires across British Columbia, Canada.

New wildfire burning in the forests in northern California. Thousands of rural residents told to evacuate.

Wildfire on the Greek Island of Chios has burned thousands of acres of pristine, old forest.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical storm Igme forms in the Pacific near the Philippines.

Typhoon Kai-tak claims at least 27 lives in northern Vietnam. Parts of Hanoi remain flooded.

 

Earthquakes

5.9 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.5 Earthquake hits off the coast of Washington, USA.

5.2 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical storm Helene hits the east coast of Mexico and weakens to a tropical depression.

Typhoon Kai-tak strikes Vietnam with high winds and heavy rains. 4 people have been reported dead.

 

Earthquakes

6.6 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia,

5.9 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Vanuatu region.

5.0 Earthquake hits the north east Pacific rise.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

 

Climate

Conditions in the Pacific appear to be shifting towards the emergence of the El Niño phenomenon after a period of neutral conditions. El Niño has implications for drought and flood conditions throughout the world.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires in south-western France amid heat wave warnings.

Wildfires burn in the peat swamp forests of Thailand. Authorities believe the fires were deliberately lit by politicians seeking to expand their palm and rubber plantations.

 

Disease

Ebola outbreak in Isiro, Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 1 person is dead with 3 other infected. This is a different strain of the virus to that found in the Uganda outbreak.

Thousands of people flee Syria to escape a massive diarrhoeal outbreak.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical storm Helene forms off the Gulf coast of Mexico.

Tropical storm Gordon moves towards the Azores.

Tropical storm Kai-tak has left 9 people dead, 17 injured and 2 still missing in the Philippines and is now bringing havoc to southern China.

Floods in Madhya Pradesh, India claim at least 31 lives.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 and 5.2 Earthquakes hit the central mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

4.8 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

 

Disease

Cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone and Guinea. 60 people have died.

 

Volcanos

Ivan the Terrible volcano in the Kuril Islands erupts, spewing noxious fumes.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires sparked by lightning in Canada's Hudson Bay region are threatening the habitat of polar bears. The fires are destroying old tree roots and frozen soil where females traditionally make their dens.

 

Storms

Tropical Storm Gordon forms in the Atlantic. It is moving across open water and is not threatening landfall at this stage.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 Earthquake hits northern Iran.

5.1 Earthquake hits offshore El Salvador.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

4.9 Earthquake hits south-east of Easter island.

4.9 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge in the mid-Atlantic.

 

Volcanos

New activity/unrest has been reported at the following volcanos:

Monowai Seamount, Kermadec Islands (SW Pacific) | Soufrière Hills, Montserrat |Tongariro, North Island (New Zealand) | White Island, New Zealand

Ongoing activity:

Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Fuego, Guatemala | Galeras, Colombia | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | Popocatépetl, México | Reventador, Ecuador | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Soputan, Sulawesi | Tungurahua, Ecuador

 

Wildfires

Dry conditions across the USA West continue to torment residents with wildfires burning in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, California and Montana.

 

Rainforests

The rate at which wildlife is dying off in the remaining fragments of rainforests in Brazil is greater than previously thought. What was previously one cohesive area of rainforest where wildlife could roam free has now been cut up and divided by roads, cities, farms, and other forms of deforestation.

In the 196 fragments of forest visited, scientists found only 4 of the 18 mammal species they were looking for.

Among the highly endangered creatures were howler monkeys and marmosets. And species like white-lipped peccaries, which are similar to pigs, have been completely wiped out.

The situation was worse than previously thought. All the charismatic species, the large primates, the large ungulates, brocket deer, tapirs, giant anteaters, jaguars, the large cats have all but disappeared.

Storms

Tropical Storm Kai-Tak brings more heavy rains to northern Luzon in the Philippines. Manila has been warned to expect more floods. The tropical storm will continue to move northwestward today towards southeastern China.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 and 4.6 Earthquakes hit Reykjanes Ridge in the north Atlantic.

5.1 Earthquake hits northern Iran.

4.9 Earthquake hits south of the Mariana Islands.

 

Disease

The hand, foot, mouth disease outbreak in Washoe County, Nevada, USA continues to spread with over 400 cases reported.

The disease is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges (coughing, sneezing), saliva, or fluid from blisters.

There is no treatment or vaccine for the disease, so the best defense is prevention.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires north-east of San Diego, California.

Wildfire in central Washington burns at least 60 homes. Thousands flee.

Bushfires in forest regions of Sri Lanka.

 

Nuclear Radiation

Genetic mutations have been found in three generations of butterflies from areas near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Scientists found 34 per cent of 3rd generation butterflies had abnormalities, including smaller wings and damaged eyes.

The findings will raise fears over the long-term effects of the leaks on other species and people who were exposed in the days and weeks after the accident, as radiation spread over a large area and forced thousands to evacuate.

 

Earthquakes

7.7 Earthquake hits the Sea of Okhotsk. No tsunami warning issued.

5.4 Earthquke hits Pakistan.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.

5.2 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands region.

5.1 and 4.8 Earthquakes hit Taiwan.

 

Volcanos

A swarm of more than 150 earthquakes caused an underwater eruption of a previously dormant volcano 'Havre' situated in the Pacific halfway between New Zealand and Tonga. The 4 000 square mile island of floating pumice was observed by a New Zealand navy ship last week.

 

Disease

Anthrax outbreak in Jiangsu Province, China.

Mysterious cattle disease has killed 68 cattle in Cholistan, Pakistan.

 

Wildfires

At least 1 000 people have been evacuated from the Canary Island of La Gromera to escape the wildfires burning on the island.

2 people have died in the wildfires raging in Alicante, Spain.

In northern California, 480 homes have been evacuated due to spreading wildfires.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Kai-tak [Helen] is expected to bring more rain to an already drenched Philippines before heading towards China.

At least 28 people have been killed in floods in Nigeria's Plateau State.

Tornado hits Riverside County, Southern California, USA.

 

Earthquakes

4.9 Earthquake hits northern Peru.

 

Tornadoes

A waterspout came ashore in Duluth, Minnesota, USA to become that State's first tornado on record.

 

Arctic Warming

A rare summer storm blasted the Arctic this week, beginning off the coast of Alaska, and moving over much of the Arctic Sea for several days before dissipating.

Nasa reports that Arctic storms such as this one can have a large impact on the sea ice, causing it to melt rapidly through many mechanisms, such as tearing off large swaths of ice and pushing them to warmer sites, churning the ice and making it slushier, or lifting warmer waters from the depths of the Arctic Ocean.

“It seems that this storm has detached a large chunk of ice from the main sea ice pack. This could lead to a more serious decay of the summertime ice cover than would have been the case otherwise, even perhaps leading to a new Arctic sea ice minimum,” said Claire Parkinson, a climate scientist with NASA Goddard. “Decades ago, a storm of the same magnitude would have been less likely to have as large an impact on the sea ice, because at that time the ice cover was thicker and more expansive.”

 

Earthquakes

300 people have been killed and more than 2 000 injured in the series of earthquakes that hit northern Iran Yesterday.

6.3 Earthquake hits Xinjiang-Xizang border region, China.

5.3 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge in the northern Atlantic.

5.1 and 5.0 Aftershocks hits Northern Iran.

 

Wildfires

15 large wildfires burn across Nevada.

Wildfires in Spain threaten world heritage ancient forest.

 

Disease

West Nile virus outbreak in the Dallas area, Texas, USA. 8 people have died with more than 120 cases reported. The virus is transmitted by mosquitos and the authorities are spraying against the spread of the insects.

Hundreds contract gastroenteritis in Kashmir, India after drinking contaminated water.

 

Floods and Storms

Tropical Storm Hector forms in the Eastern Pacific. The storm is moving away from land.

The death toll in the recent floods that hit Manila in the Philippines has risen to 85.

Floods in the eastern Sudan. 1 000 families lose their homes.

Tornado confirmed on east Long Island, New York, USA.

 

Earthquakes

Earthquakes of 4.8; 4.8; 6.3 and 6.4 rock north-western Iran on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

6.2 Earthquake hits the Fox Islands, in the Aleutian Island chain off Alaska.

5.3 Earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.

 

Volcanos

A mass of golf ball sized volcanic rocks has been found floating off the coast of New Zealand, indicating a submarine eruption co-inciding with the eruptions at Mount Tongariro and Mount White.

Wildfires

Bushfires west of Brisbane, Australia.

Wildfires in Palo Pinto County and in the McFaddin National Wildlife Reserve, Texas, USA.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 Earthquake hits Nias region, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits the west Chile rise in the Pacific.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.0 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

4.9 and 5.0 Earthquakes hit near the coast of Nicaragua.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Kenai peninsula, Alaska.

4.7 and 4.8 Earthquake hit the Solomon Islands.

4.7 Earthquake hits the Mozambique Channel.

 

Volcanos

White Island volcano in New Zealand erupts, sprinkling nearby communities with ash.

Galeras volcano in Columbia has new eruption.

Ongoing activity at the following volcanos:

Bagana, Bougainville | Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Fuego, Guatemala | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | Popocatépetl, México | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Tungurahua, Ecuador | Tongariro, North Island (New Zealand)

 

Disease

Anthrax outbreak on a ranch in Colorado, USA kills cattle. It is the first anthrax outbreak in Colorado in 31 years.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires in Bosnia-Herzegovina set off explosions in a Bosnian minefield left over from the 1990's war.

Wildfire rages through 1 000 year old monastery in Mount Athos, northern Greece. Hundreds of residents and tourists flee.

 

Storms and Floods

The first week of August 2012 saw Hurricane Ernesto push into the Yucatan Peninsula and Tropical Storm Haikui push just south of Shanghai, China. Neither system was too strong, but both provided heavy rains and strong winds in these regions.

Tropical Storm Ernesto brings heavy rains to El Salvador and is expected to make a second landfall in Mexico.

 

Earthquakes

5.6 Earthquake hits Revilla Gigedo Islands region. [Off the Pacific coast of Mexico].

5.4 and 5.3 Earthquakes hit the South Sandwich Islands.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Lombok region, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic Ridge.

4.9 Earthquake hits the south Atlantic ocean.

4.9 Earthquake hits off the coast of Oregon.

4.9 Earthquake hits off the west coast of South Island, New Zealand.

A second 4.5 Earthquake hits southern California, USA [Orange County].

 

Floods and Extreme Weather

Metro Manila, in the Philippines, a city of 12 million people struggles to recover from the flooding brought by typhoon Haiku. More than 2 million people remain affected by the floods. At least 23 people have dies since Sunday.

South Africa has seen an extremely rare countrywide snowfall after a previously mild winter. Extreme icy weather conditions saw Pretoria have its first snow since 1968 while some areas in Johannesburg had the first snow since 1981.

 

Drought

The drought in the United States has expanded to include 63 % of the country. Corn prices have risen to near record highs. Wheat and soybean prices also soar on expectations of global food shortages.

 

Disease

An outbreak of a variant of swine flu has infected 141 people in Indiana and Ohio. No person-person transmission has been found.

More than 8 million chickens have been destroyed on farms in northern Mexico due to a bird flu outbreak.

 

Wildfire

Wildfire on the Greek island of Kos forces evacuation of three tourist hotels. No injuries reported.

 

Earthquakes

5.8 Earthquake hits Fiji.

5.6 Earthquake hits the Alaskan peninsula.

5.5 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.4 Earthquake hits north-east of Taiwan.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Talaud Islands, Indonesia.

4.4 Earthquake hits the greater Los Angeles area, California, USA.

 

Disease

Cholera outbreak in displaced peoples' camps in the Democratic Republic Congo has claimed at least 10 lives and is spreading fast.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Ernesto makes landfall on Mexico'a Yucatan peninsula as a hurricane. A hurricane watch has been issued by Mexican authorities.

Tropical Storm Gilma forms in the eastern Pacific.

Tornado hits a rural area in northern Indiana, USA.

Severe storms hit Austria and northern Italy over the weekend causing flooding, landslides and power cuts. Two people have been reported as dead. Several barns were hit by lightning and went up ion flames. 250 animals were killed on one farm.

 

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits Atacama, Chile.

4.9 Earthquake hits Mindoro in the Philippines.

4.8 Earthquake hits central Peru.

 

Volcanos

Tongariro volcano in New Zealand erupts, covering North Island with a huge ash cloud which is disrupting flights.

 

Wildfires

3 dozen wildfires ravaged parts of Oklahoma, USA since Friday. One person died in the fires with scores left homeless.

Wildfires continue to burn across Utah, USA.

 

Storms and Floods

At least 14 people died in China over the weekend in floods generated by Tropical Cyclone Damrey. 5 people are missing. Floodwaters have trapped 450 workers tunnel in north-eastern China.

Heavy rains bring more floods to Manila in the Philippines killing at least 9 people.

Tornado confirmed in Girard, Ohio, USA on Sunday.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.3 Earthquake hits south-east Turkey.

5.1 and 5.0 Earthquakes hit south west of Africa.

5.1 Earthquake hits south east of the Loyalty Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Kai, Indonesia.

 

Disease

An outbreak of epizootic haemorrhagic disease among the deer population in southern Michigan, USA is killing the animals in large numbers. The disease is spread by small flies that bite the deer.

A mutated strain of bird flu has jumped species, killing 162 seals along the New England, USA coast between last September and December.

 

Wildfires

Strong winds fan wildfires in western Spain and on the Canary islands.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Ernesto drenches Jamaica and heads for Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.

Tropical Storm Florence weakens in the Atlantic.

Tropical Cyclone Damrey floods Liaoning and Hebei provinces in north-east China.

Heavy rains bring floods to Scotland and south-western England.

Tornado hits northern Yorkshire in England.

 

Earthquakes

5.6 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits eastern Xizang, China.

5.0 Earthquake hits Mendoza, Argentina.

5.0 Earthquake hits east of North Island, New Zealand.

4.9 Earthquake hits Tonga.

 

Wildfires

Wildfires burn in central and south-eastern Washington State, USA.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Florence forms in the Atlantic as Ernesto heads for the Cayman islands.

Tropical Storm Haikui is situated north-east of Okinawa, Japan.

Flash floods and landslides pummel the Himalayan region. 31 people have been reported as dead.

Volcanos

There has been ongoing activity at the following volcanos during the past week:

| Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia) | Cleveland, Chuginadak Island | Fuego, Guatemala | Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | Kilauea, Hawaii (USA) | Manam, Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific) | Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | Pagan, Mariana Islands | Popocatépetl, México | Sakura-jima, Kyushu | Sangay, Ecuador | Santa María, Guatemala | Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Tungurahua, Ecuador

 

Earthquakes

5.3 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich islands region.

4.9 Earthquake hits the Mariana Islands.

4.9 Earthquake hits near the south coast of Honshu, Japan.

2 Earthquakes of 4.6 hit the coast of Peru and northern Chile.

 

Wildfires

Wildfire in Oklahoma, USA burns several homes south of Oklahoma City.

Wildfires in northern California and south-western Montana have also destroyed homes and structures.

 

Storms

Tropical storm Ernesto heads for Jamaica and Mexico across the Caribbean. The storm is expected to strengthen and may reach hurricane strength over the next few days.

 

Volcanos

New activity has been reported at the following volcanos:

Cumbal, Colombia.

Tongariro, North Island (New Zealand).

Yasur, Vanuatu.

 

Earthquakes

5.5 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Ross Sea.

5.1 Earthquake hits Myanmar.

5.0 Earthquake hits the south mid-Atlantic ridge.

 

Wildfires

Wildfire burns 3 700 acres in south-central Wyoming, USA.

 

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Ernesto forms in the Atlantic near the Windward Islands.

The death toll from Typhoon Saola in the Philippines and Taiwan climbs to 44.

Typhoon Damrey hits southern China. 2 deaths reported and 770 000 people evacuated.

Floods and landslides displace 3 000 people in Taraba, Nigeria.

 

Earthquakes

6.3 Earthquake hits the New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea.

6.1 Earthquake hits central Peru.

5.6 Earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua New Guinea.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Kepulauan Tanibar region, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits east of North Island, New Zealand.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.

 

Disease

Concern as Ebola patient found in Uganda'a capital, Kampala, a city of 1.5 million people and air connections to Africa and the world. Death toll in the Ebola outbreak rises from 14 to 18. The Ebola virus is spread by direct contact between people.

 

Storms and Floods

Typhoon Soala hits Taiwan with 58 inches of rain, causing chaos across the island as roads and farmlands flood.

31 more flood deaths reported in North Korea. The heavy rains have inundated the country's mines, causing severe damage and loss of output. The mines represent one of North Korea's few legitimate sources of foreign exchange.

Typhoon Damrey approaches southern China.

Tropical Storm Ernesto expected to form in the Atlantic on Friday.

 

Earthquakes

5.1 Earthquake hits east of North Island, New Zealand.

5.0 Earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.

 

Storms and Floods

Tens of thousands battle neck-deep floods in the Philippines as typhoon Saola continues to bring heavy rains.