Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
6.8 Earthquake hits Atacama, Chile. The earthquake shook offices, toppled supermarket shelves and broke windows on Wednesday in north-central Chile, where people fled some buildings in panic. However, no serious damage was reported.
6.2, 6.0, 5.6, 5.6, 5.4, 5.1, 5.0, 4.9 Earthquakes hit the Santa Cruz Islands.
6.0 Earthquake hits south eastern Alaska.
5.0 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.
South Africa Commuter Trains Collide Near Pretoria
At least 300 people, including many school children, have been injured when two passenger trains collided near the South African capital, Pretoria. Medical workers say 28 people were seriously hurt.
The theft of copper cables used for signalling, compounded by human error, caused the crash, said the head of South Africa's rail authority.
The early morning accident happened when a train crashed into a stationary train near Attridgeville, a township west of Pretoria.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity has generally decreased over the past days, with less tremor and weaker explosion signals. Today, tremor seems to be stronger again.
Etna (Sicily, Italy): Vigorous eruptive activity has started at the Bocca Nuova crater and produced a short phase of violent strombolian activity.
Santorini (Cyclades, Greece): According to the latest seismic and satellite data, the uplift at the Santorini volcano (2011-2012) has has come to an end.
Tjörnes Fracture Zone (North of Iceland): Earthquakes continue with typically 10-20 quakes recorded in the TFZ. The swarm that had started 20 Oct last year has now been going on for over 3 months and shows no signs of stopping.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka): (30 Jan) The eruption continues unchanged.
Taal (Luzon, Philippines): Elevated seismic activity continues. During yesterday-today, PHILVOLCS detected 13 volcanic earthquakes. Two of these events, which occurred at 7:03 and 7:04 PM yesterday, were felt at intensity II and accompanied by rumbling sound as reported by residents of Barangay Calauit located at the southeast sector of the volcano island.
Tongariro (North Island, New Zealand): Some small earthquakes have appeared again today, but generally, seismic activity has been showing a decreasing trend over the past weeks.
White Island (New Zealand): (30 Jan) Activity remains elevated and fluctuates between stronger and weaker phases. In its latest bulletin, GNS reports that the hot lake has dried out and a small tuff cone has started to form on the former floor of the lake: The active vent continues to produce vigorous bursts of mud, rock, steam and gas from 50-100 m high. Ash is not being carried into the plume. This activity is intermittent as is the seismic activity. Current activity is not sufficient for Volcanic Alert Level 2.
Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity today remained low. Only few and very weak explosions and small block avalanches from the active flows were reported by INSIVUMEH.
Fuego (Guatemala): Explosions have been becoming more frequent (now 12 during the past day vs a previous average of only 5). They produce light gray ash plumes drifting south and SE for about 5 km. The lava flow is still weakly active, but was only 150 m long this morning.
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): (30 Jan) Numerous tiny volcanic earthquakes and weak volcanic tremor reflect internal unrest.
Masaya (Nicaragua): (30 Jan) Seismic activity remains at more or less stable levels, showing normal background activity of continuous internal fluid movements.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina border): (30 Jan) Seismic and degassing activity is on the increase, Sernageomin reported in its latest bulletin (29 Jan). During 28-29 Jan, a total of 345 volcanic earthquakes (plus more than 400 not counted ones because below threshold) and 6 hours of volcanic tremor were recorded. The seismic swarm was accompanied by an increase in the degassing activity, creating a column of 500 m during pulses of more intense activity. No glow or ash emissions were seen.
Tropical Cyclone Felleng
Heavy rains and gale force winds pelt northeastern Madagascar as strengthening TC Felleng barrelled toward the island's east coast. Winds were around 175 kilometres an hour.
Cyclone Felleng has become the strongest cyclone of the South Indian 2012-2013 storm season.
Heavy storms across south and central U.S.
Storm in Nashville, Tennessee has killed one person.
Tornado in Mount Juliet, Nashville damaged the top floor of a three-story building.
Lightning injured a person in Monticello, Arkansas.
Storm damaged more than 20 homes in eastern Greene County in Indiana.
Tornado also damaged houses in Elkins and Goshen in Washington and Berryville in Carroll County.
The National Weather Service is currently investigating reports of at least four more tornadoes in Arkansas and Mississippi.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands region.
5.3 Earthquake hits off the coast of Oregon, USA.
5.3 Earthquake hits the mid-indian ridge.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Xizang-Qinghai border, China.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Atacama, Chile.
Wildfires Tear Through South Africa's Scenic Wine Region
Large wildfires are burning through South Africa's winelands, prompting authorities to declare a code red emergency and dispatch over 200 firefighters to overwhelmed areas. More than 7 200 hectares of fynbos were burned.
Third World Reaction to Disease!
When the banana disease Bunchy Top broke out in Malawi last year, the person in charge, former Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Andrew Daudi allowed the disease to spread throughout the country's banana plantations because he feared the country's leadership at the time would not like the news.
Tropical Cyclone Fellang situated off the coast of Madagascar.
Australian Floods
Parts of Sydney have been drenched in their heaviest daily rainfall totals in more than a decade as a wild storm system washed over the city on Monday night after causing havoc in the north of the state and in Queensland. Sydney was saturated in widespread rainfall totals of between 80 and 150 millimetres overnight, causing localised flooding in some areas.
Death toll in Queenland rises to four, with two still missing.
Thousands of people evacuated and rescued by helicopters.
Mozambique Floods
150 000 people now affected, with more than 38 deaths.
Graphic pictures of the extent of the floods - before and after:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
6.1 Earthquake hits eastern Kazakhstan.
5.0 and two 4,6 Aftershocks hit eastern Kazakhstan.
5.2 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
4.9 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Passenger Plane Crash in Kazakhstan
A passenger plane crashed in thick fog near Kazakhstan's commercial capital Almaty on Tuesday and broke into pieces when it hit the ground, killing all 21 people on board.
Forest Wildfires in China
China has issued an orange alert for latest forest fires in the southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan.
Arsonist Convicted - USA
A wildfire arsonist was sentenced to death in California. The man was convicted of setting a massive wildfire that killed five people and damaged 1,000 plus homes in San Bernardino.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Stromboli has returned to more normal levels of activity during the past days and not produced any new lava flows. Our colleague Marc Szlegat (www.vulkane.net) reports from his recent visit that the NE vent still was the site of powerful explosions that were accompanied by shock waves.
El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain): Slightly elevated earthquake activity continues.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka, Russia): The eruption continues with little changes. Lava continues to be erupted from the southern fissure vent and feeds large lava flows. KVERT reports strong tremor that obscures seismic recordings from nearby Bezymianny volcano.
Sakurajima (Kyushu): Small to moderately sized explosions continue at relatively high frequency (up to 5-6 per day), with ash plumes rising 5-10,000 ft (1.5-3 km).
Taal (Luzon, Philippines): Earthquake activity remains elevated (20 during the past 3 days), but no other parameters suggest an eruption could be imminent. Alert status remains yellow.
Manam (Papua New Guinea): An eruption produced an ash cloud rising to 10,000 ft (3 km) earlier today, VAAC Darwin reported.
White Island (New Zealand): Earthquakes continue to occur in pulses, and tremor remains elevated, but less stable. It just seems to have dropped sharply. A recent webcam image shows pulsating steam ejections from the crater vent.
Katmai (Alaska Peninsula, USA): The earthquake swarm which began early on 26 Jan has ended.
Colima (Western Mexico): Infrequent small ash explosions and rockfalls have continued during the past days.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Emission numbers dropped drastically during yesterday and are down to 1 per hour, but degassing remains intense and glow can be seen at the summit. During one of the stronger steam/gas explosions yesterday at 09:18 h local time, the plume reached 2 km height above the crater.
Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity has remained the same: 1-2 explosions per hour with ash plumes rising up to 800 m and weak avalanches from the active flows descending the flanks of the lava dome.
Fuego (Guatemala): Yesterday seems to have been a more "explosive" day at the volcano. INSIVUMEH reports 9 with ash columns up to 500 m height and drifting 6 km west and SW. As a response to the more explosive nature, it seems that the rate of effusion feeding the flow has dropped. The flow decreased to only 200 m length this morning.
Reventador (Ecuador): Seismic activity remains high with continuous, fluctuating tremor and explosion signals. Bad weather mostly prevents direct observations.
Cotopaxi (Ecuador): What seems to be a strong seismic swarm has been visible on recent seismograms, but IGPEN has not issued any notes about this otherwise interesting activity, it is suspected that the VC1 station at the NE base of the volcano is either malfunctioning, showing something else or simply having a very strong magnification of normal backgroud seismicity.
Tungurahua (Ecuador): Internal unrest continues in the form of moderate seismic activity including numerous long period events (72 during 26-28 Jan) and tremor pulses (3). Probable gas and steam emissions could not be observed due to cloud cover.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina border): Seismic and surface activity remained low. However, SERNAGEOMIN also recorded 2 deep seated tremor pulses yesterday morning at 08:36 and 11:43 local time, wich could reflect magma movements at depth.
Nyiragongo (DRCongo): A strong SO2 plume appears on today's NOAA satellite data image. The lava lake is still active, but the safety situation in the area is still critical and visits are currently not recommended.
Etna (Sicily, Italy): (28 Jan) Activity has dropped again abruptly (and so the tremor signal). A new eruptive phase has started at Bocca Nuova. Since this morning (28 Jan), small ash emissions have been observed and now at night, glow can be seen. The tremor signal has been rising as well.
Karkar (Northeast of New Guinea): An explosion occurred this morning. An ash plume rising to 14,000 ft (4.3 km) and extending 20 nautical miles NE was spotted on satellite data by VAAC Darwin.
White Island (New Zealand): Seismic activity has changed from continuous volcanic tremor to a pattern of intermittent tremor. When occurring, the volcanic tremor remains strong. GNS does not think that an eruption is imminent, but reports that the vigorous hydrothermal activity is throwing out rocks and mud and might be followed by ash emissions:
Mammoth Mountain (California, USA): Another small earthquake swarm occurred under the (dormant) volcano during 28-29 Jan. Numerous tiny quakes were registered at shallow depths (mostly 1-5 km).
Drought in Spain
Extremely dry conditions in Spain has caused a failure in the olive harvest. Spain is by far the biggest producer of olive oil in the world, accounting last year for around 50% of the total production worldwide. However farmers in southern Spain believe their crop of olives this year is down by as much as 80%, and some think it is inevitable that the price of this increasingly sought-after commodity will rise.
Swine Flu Pandemic - Report
Swine flu infected at least 20% of all people worldwide, including half of schoolchildren, during the first year of the pandemic in 2009, according to data from 19 countries. It is thought the virus killed 200,000 people around the world.
Although large numbers of people were infected, not all would have developed full-blown flu. The H1N1 virus first appeared in Mexico in 2009 and rapidly spread around the world. Approximately 24% of people had been infected overall, but half of school-age children showed signs of infection. Fewer than two in every 10,000 people infected died during the pandemic.
Tropical Cyclone Felleng (13s) was located approximately 460 nm north of La Reunion. Felleng is predicted to continue to intensify as it nears Madagascar. Felleng will travel between eastern Madagascar and La Reunion Island by Feb. 1.
Landslide in Turkey
At least seven people have been killed in a landslide in Turkey. The landslide also hit a football pitch in Sirnak, Turkey.
Flooding in UK
Flooding has been reported in Devon, Somerset and south-east Wales. Heavy rain and strong wind warnings have been issued in these regions.
Flooding in Ireland
Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in the Spanish Arch, Galway city of Ireland.
The gale force winds, high tides and heavy rain caused flash flooding in Galway city. Galway city is currently on high alert.
Floods also closed Wolfe Tone Bridge and Lough Atalia Road.
Flooding in Queensland, Australia
Massive summer floods have killed four people and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes across two Australian states on Tuesday, disrupting air and rail travel and coal production.
A deluge fed by the ex-tropical cyclone Oswald dumped more than 200 millimetres (8 inches) of rain in some areas of the Queensland and New South Wales states over the past three days, swelling rivers and swamping towns.
The worst-hit areas were around Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Ipswich in the Queensland state, and around the northern New South Wales towns of Grafton and Lismore.
A fleet of 14 helicopters rescued more than 1,000 people across Queensland overnight and rescue efforts continued on Tuesday.
Natural disaster areas has been declared in ten local government areas hit by flooding in northern NSW.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.2 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
5.2 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit the southern east Pacific rise.
5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
4.9 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
Drought in Thailand
Emergency disaster zones has been declared due to drought in 26 provinces of Thailand.
Drought is Killing Trees Across US Midwest
Hundreds of thousands of trees died in the historic drought of 2012, and many more will succumb in the next few years, according to a report from Purdue University, Indiana.
Indiana's white cedar and Florida cypress trees began dying in late summer, she says, and Alberta and Colorado blue spruce are succumbing now.
About 301 million trees died in rural Texas during the 2010 - 2011 drought.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Reventador (Ecuador): Activity remains at high levels. IG reports strong tremor and explosion signals. The current webcam image shows only a steam plume rising from the summit, but it is unclear if the lava flow seen on 22 Jan is still active.
Tungurahua (Ecuador): A new phase of activity could be in the making. In its latest special bulletin, IG reports an increase of earthquakes, steaming and some minor ash emissions that have taken place during the past days. The remaining parameters monitored by the Geophysical Institute have not shown significant variations. However, the increased seismicity associated with the surface activity indicate a potential change in the volcano's behaviour, and an increase in activity in the coming days or hours is possible. Based on past episodes of activity, such a change into a new eruptive phase could occur both progressively and suddenly.
Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): Explosive activity continues to resume. 2 explosions occurred today at 5:45 and 6:03 am local time and produced ash plumes rising about 800 m. INSIVUMEH reports that such explosions occur at a rate of approximately 2 per hour.
Fuego (Guatemala): There have been no explosions or ash emissions during the past 24 hours. AActivity remains low although the lava flow towards the Taniluya canyon is still active, 600 m long today. Incandescent blocks rolling from its front reach the edge of the vegetation.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Activity continued to increase. No less than 137 emissions, twice as many as during the previous day, were counted during 25-26 Jan. A large SO2 plume is drifting from the volcano.
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): A thermal hot spot is visible at the summit and suggests that some activity continues.
Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): A stronger than usual explosion produced an ash plume spotted on satellite data at 7,000 ft (2.1) km altitude today (VAAC Darwin).
Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): A weakly enriched SO2 plume is visible at Rabaul today. Weak eruptive activity at Tavurvur probably continues.
Etna (Sicily, Italy): The volcano, now beautifully covered in snow, has gradually quieted (for now) after the recent short episodes of activity from Bocca Nuova and New SE crater.
The eruption at Tolbachik in Kamchatka continues with little changes, as well as activity at the other active volcanoes there.
Tanaga (Aleutian Islands): Seismic activity is low. Some small local earthquakes including some aftershocks from the 21 Jan 5.1 quake are still occurring.
Katmai (Alaska Peninsula, USA): Seismic activity has increased. Pulses of small earthquake swarms are visible at the recent seismograms.
Cleveland (Aleutian Islands, Alaska): Satellite images continue to show elevated surface temperatures at the summit of Cleveland, but there has not been any other activity reported. (AVO)
Flooding in Queensland, Australia
-Floods in Queensland have killed four people. Two others are still missing.
-An emergency evacuation warning was issued in Bundaberg, north of Brisbane, Australia.
-Floods destroyed at least 40 houses in Bundaberg. -A statewide catastrophe has been declared.
-Bundaberg faces a monster flood powerful enough to knock over houses as Brisbane endures its second major flood in two years. Government expecting major flood damage in Bundaberg with the Burnett River running at 40 knots - so fast that rescue by boat will be very difficult and the force of the water is such that houses could be completely washed away. The Burnett River is expected to peak above 9.15m during late Tuesday or early Wednesday. "These are record floods. We are in uncharted territories."
-Queensland's telecommunications blackout is now STATE-WIDE with loss of phone, mobiles, internet and Triple Zero access from Coolangatta to the Cape. Telstra's fibre optic cables have been cut by floods causing IT systems to crash and wreaking havoc on airports, banks and shops in a meltdown likely to take days to fix. The number of lives lost in the deluge from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald has continued to rise, with the death toll standing at three people and hundreds of homes are under water.
-Yesterday at least five tornadoes hit Queensland coastal towns. Tornadoes in Bundaberg district destroyed around 150 homes.
-Australia weather bureau has predicted heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane of up to 125km/h until Monday
Landslides in Indonesia
-Landslide in Indonesia has killed 16 and injured 6 others.
-Two different landslides in western Indonesia were caused due to heavy rainfall. The first disaster occurred in Agam district of West Sumatra and the second in Kerinci district of Jambi.
- The landslide destroyed 20 houses in Nagari Sungai Batang village in Agam district of Indonesia.
-Rescuers are still searching body of 9 Indonesians in the natural disaster area.
-Landslide in Jayapura, Indonesia killed two people yesterday. Four others were injured.
-Landslides and flash floods are common natural disasters in Indonesia due to deforestation, logging and bad building practices.
Flash floods in Zimbabwe
-Heavy rainfall caused flash floods in Beitbridge District of Zimbabwe.
-Floods destroyed more then 12 houses in Mawale village. Floods have also affected Tshasvingo, Tshitulipasi and Chikwalakwala areas of Zimbabwe.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.7 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 Earthquake hits south west of Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands region.
4.9 Earthquake hits the Savu Sea, south of Indonesia.
Australian Wildfires
Rain has slowed the progress of two major bushfires burning in eastern Victoria.
Tropical Cyclone Garry's strength peaks in South Pacific
Garry continued to intensify over warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean and was upgraded to category three as it made its way towards the southern Cook Islands bringing damaging gale force winds to the northern Cook Islands.
Severe Weather and Flooding Across Queensland, Australia
Warnings of heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane until Monday. The weather bureau has warned of heavy rain and destructive winds of up to 125km/h, possible flash and riverine flooding, for Brisbane from Saturday tonight as central Queensland is slammed by severe weather.
An extraordinarily high tide will hit the Queensland coast on Sunday morning.
Windows were being blown out of Surfers Paradise highrises on the Gold Coast by 80km/h winds.
Severe flooding in the Bundaberg area, with houses being totally submerged.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.3 Earthquake hits Madagascar.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.
5.0 Earthquake hits northern Italy - no reports of injuries.
5.0 Earthquake hits New Britain., Papua New Guinea.
Heatwave - South Africa
Several parts of South Africa are currently experiencing an intense heatwave. Temperatures were between 35 to 40 degrees in the Free State, the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
Forest fire in Mongar District of Bhutan
-About 200 acres of Chirpine forest burnt in Bhutan forest fire. -Some 30 fire fighters are struggling to control the fire.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): Following the moderately large explosion yesterday, small ash emissions continue from the crater, as seen on this webcam image today.
Ambrym (Vanuatu): A large SO2 plume is seen on NOAA satellite data today, indicating that fresh lava continues to arrive inside the lava lakes of the caldera vents.
White Island (New Zealand): New Zealand scientist undertook a gas measurements flight and found values of CO2 and SO2 emissions at similar levels as in December. Observations during the flight revealed that the mud geysering in the main crater lake is still vigorous Tremor and seismic activity also remain high and eruptions could occur with no or little warning.
Agrigan (Mariana Islands, USA): In a satellite image from January 22, NOAA's Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center spotted a possible volcanic plume from Agrigan volcano, located on the next volcanic island north of Pagan (Mariana Isl). Neither USGS nor NOAA have received confirmation of a volcanic source for this anomaly and it is likely the cloud was weather-related.
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): Volcanic earthquakes and low-level volcanic tremor continue at fluctuating levels within the volcano.
San Miguel (El Salvador): Volcanic tremor and earthquake numbers increased slightly yesterday, but dropped again today.
Reventador (Ecuador): IG reported lava flows descending from the summit area and continuous emissions creating a 2 km tall plume yesterday (24 Jan). Several hot spots are visible on MODIS images. Today, the seismic signal alternates between periods of strong tremor with quieter phases, suggesting that activity has been occurring in pulses.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina border): Intense internal (seismic) unrest continues. Sernageomin reported 25 volcano-tectonic and 106 long period events as well as episodes of tremor during 19 hours between 22-23 Jan. An explosion signal was recorded at 23:55 local time (22 Jan) that corresponded to a brief increase of the height of the gas plume to 1500 m above the crater. No ash emissions or incandescence, or other signs of surface activity other than a moderate slow increase in degassing have so far been observed.
Mine mudslides in Pueblo Nuevo, Ecuador
-At least 12 killed and 20 others injured in Ecuador mudslides. Heavy rain in a gold-mining community in southern Ecuador caused mudslide.
-Mudslide happened after six hours of torrential downpours.
-Mudslides have destroyed houses and blocked roads in Pueblo Nuevo. Natural disaster area can only be reached by helicopter.
-Around 200 soldiers and policemen are working in rescue operations.
A heavy hailstorm has hit parts of southern Asir province, Saudi Arabia.
Tornadoes in central Queensland, Australia
-At least five tornadoes hit Queensland coastal towns, injuring 17 people.
-Burnett Heads and nearby Bargara have been declared as natural disaster areas.
-Tornadoes in Bundaberg district destroyed around 150 homes.
-About 2 000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Gladstone.
-Flood warnings have also been issued for the Calliope, Boyne, Baffle and Kolan Rivers.
-Australian weather bureau has predicted heavy rain and destructive winds for Brisbane of up to 125km/h until Monday
Flooding across Mozambique
-At least 36 people have been reported to be killed in recent Mozambique floods.
-A total of 26 persons have died in Gaza alone.
-Floods caused by torrential rains in South Africa and Zimbabwe that swelled the Limpopo river has displaced nearly 67,995 Mozambicans.
-Floods have damaged several bridges, roads and schools in capital Maputo.
-Some days ago, Mozambique officials had evacuated 55,000 people from flood disaster zone.
-Mozambican and South African military helicopters and boats have rescued 12,000 families.
Tropical Cyclone Garry
-As of 09:00 UTC, TC Garry was located 470 nm west-southwest of bora bora.
-A storm warning has been cancelled and a gale warning has been issued Cook Islands.
Landslide in Jayapura, Indonesia
-Heavy rains killed two in Lampung, Indonesia. One person died in a landslide disaster in Jayapura, Papua, 4 other injured.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.1 Earthquake hits northern and central Iran.
4.9 Earthquake hits Sakhalin, Russia.
Mass Escape of Crocodiles into Limpopo River - South Africa
About 15,000 crocodiles have reportedly escaped from a farm in South Africa's far north amid heavy rains and flooding along the Limpopo river. The owner was forced to open the crocodile farm's gates on Sunday to prevent a storm surge. Many of the crocodiles have been recaptured, but more than half are still on the loose.
Intense Radiation in Fish Caught Near Japan Nuclear Facility
A fish contaminated in waters off Japan’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was found to have levels of radiation over 2,500 times the legal safe limit for seafood. Scientists from plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) say the murasoi fish had 10 times higher radiation than that measured last August in a scorpion fish caught near the crippled reactor complex.
TEPCO says massive nets are being installed about 15 miles offshore to try to prevent contaminated fish from migrating.
The plant was pummeled by a titanic tsunami in 2011 that was generated by a massive undersea earthquake. It resulted in reactor meltdowns that caused radioactive contamination that will linger for decades to come.
Fishing around Fukushima has since been halted and the government has also banned farming, dairy and livestock production indefinitely.
Top: Murasoi fish captured by TEPCO appeared to have no mutations despite carrying 2,500 times the safe level of radiation. Bottom: Cleanup crews removing contaminated material from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Antibiotic 'Apocalypse' Warning
The rise in drug resistant infections is comparable to the threat of global warming, according to the chief medical officer for England. Bacteria are becoming resistant to current drugs and there are few antibiotics to replace them. Experts say it is a global problem and needs much more attention. Antibiotics have been one of the greatest success stories in medicine. However, bacteria are a rapidly adapting foe which find new ways to evade drugs. MRSA rapidly became one of the most feared words in hospitals wards and there are growing reports of resistance in strains of E. coli, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea. While the full effects of global warming lie some time in the future, the apocalyptic scenario is that when someone needs a new hip in 20 years he might well die from a routine infection because we've run out of antibiotics.
The World Health Organization has warned the world is heading for a "post-antibiotic era" unless action is taken. It paints a future in which "many common infections will no longer have a cure and, once again, kill unabated. Research is not happening quickly enough. "We need resources for surveillance, resources to cope with the problem and to get public information across." The drugs companies have run out of options as all the easy drugs have been made. "We have to be aware that we aren't going to have new wonder drugs coming along because there just aren't any."
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Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Melbourne, Australia
Victoria's health department has ordered the testing of cooling towers in the busy Melbourne suburb of Footscray, after a fatal outbreak of legionnaires' disease. A man aged in his 50's died in hospital this morning and four others have been admitted.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 115.7 degrees Fahrenheit (46.5 degrees Celsius) at Penrith, NWS, Australia, (western suburb of Sydney,) which broke its all-time record high with 114.4 F (45.8 C) the same day.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 66.1 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 54.5 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian outpost of Oimyakon.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Reventador (Ecuador): The volcano has now entered a full-scale eruption. Lava flows descending on the flanks and glow at the summit were observed. A tall steam and ash plume rises 1.5 km above the volcano and drifts west. Additionally explosions have been reported which were heard in the sector of Reventador. Seismic activity is strong and characterized by strong tremor and explosion signals. Interestingly, but probably nothing than coincidence, Reventador and Tungurahua which is now calm, two of Ecuador's currently most active volcanoes, seem to alternate each other with phase of strong activity.
Ruapehu (North Island, New Zealand): Current level of earthquakes remains low.
White Island (New Zealand): GeoNet has raised the alert to orange. Over the last 20-30 hours the style of seismic activity has changed. Although the level of volcanic tremor has started to decrease, hybrid volcanic earthquakes have appeared. Hybrid earthquakes are typically associated with the movement of molten material (magma) within an active volcano.
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): A new, relatively large explosion occurred this morning at 5am local time. The online newspaper KabarCepat mentioned that the explosion was heard up to 6 km away. Following the initial eruption, the volcano continued to produce a strong steam plume, interrupted by smaller explosions for almost all day. More than 3 mm of ash were deposited 4 km to the NE in Kinilow.
Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): Thermal hot spots and SO2 plumes are often visible on satellite data. This indicates that some (weak) activity is present at the volcano.
Taal (Luzon, Philippines): Philvolc's seismic network recorded seven (7) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Increased numbers of earthquakes have now been occurring for several days and this is certainly something to monitor. Although other parameters show no significant changes, it could be an early harbinger of something in the making.
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity, judged from tremor and explosion signals remain lower than during past week. The latest evaluation by INGV from 22 Jan described medium-low tremor levels.
Flooding in North Queensland, Australia
-Heavy rainfall caused flooding in north Queensland, mainly in Ingham, Halifax and Tully and parts of Townsville.
-Ex-cyclone Oswald also caused heavy rainfall on the Central Queensland coast and Capricornia region. In Rockhampton many streets in the city are now under water, and "very destructive winds" are also being felt.
-Water levels in southeast Queensland dams will be reduced to protect urban areas from any flooding associated with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
-The Bruce Highway, a major highway in Queensland has been cut in several places.
-A rail link between Cairns and Townsville has been closed by Queensland Rail due to flash flood.
-Gale warning is issued for Bowen to Burnett Heads.
-Rainfall between 100 mm to 300 mm is predicted in the southeast over the next four days.
Landslide in Skardu, Pakistan
-Landslide blocked Baltoro river flow in Skardu, the main town of the region Baltistan of Pakistan.
-A 300 x 800 mountain landslide has changed the course of water. River water has also flooded adjacent areas in Skardu.
Landslide has destroyed about 80m of road in Matang, Malaysia.
Nearly 50 flood warnings have been issued across Britain. A combination of heavy downpour and a rapid thaw of snow and ice cold may cause problem.
Venice, Italy Floods Again
Tourists arriving for Venice Carnival are wading through water in St Mark's square on Thursday after unusually high levels cause flooding. Water is spilling over canal walls in the city in the run up to festivities, for which hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Russia - Xinjiang border region.
5.3 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Massive Melting Of Andes Glaciers
The tropical glaciers in South America are melting at their fastest rate in 300 years. Glaciers in the tropical Andes have shrunk by 30-50% since the 1970s, according to a recent study.
The glaciers provide fresh water for tens of millions in South America.
The study included data on about half of all Andean glaciers and blamed the melting on an average temperature rise of 0.7C from 1950-1994.
Glaciers are retreating everywhere in the tropical Andes, but the melting is more pronounced for small glaciers at low altitudes.
Glaciers at altitudes below 5,400m have lost about 1.35m in ice thickness per year since the late 1970s, twice the rate of the larger, high-altitude glaciers.
Because the maximum thickness of these small, low-altitude glaciers rarely exceeds 40 metres, with such an annual loss they will probably completely disappear within the coming decades.
Water shortages: The researchers also say there was little change in the amount of rainfall in the region over the last few decades. Without changes in rainfall, the region would face water shortages in the future, the scientists say.
The Santa River valley in Peru would be most affected; its hundreds of thousands of inhabitants rely heavily on glacier water for agriculture, domestic consumption, and hydropower.
Large cities, such as La Paz in Bolivia, could also face problems. Glaciers provide about 15% of the La Paz water supply throughout the year, increasing to about 27% during the dry season.
Australian Wildfires
Large, fast-moving bushfires continue to sweep across New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, this week. Over 122 fires are still burning in New South Wales, and 17 of them are uncontained.
Residents in the Victorian town of Heyfield are facing a renewed threat from the massive Gippsland blaze.
A large bushfire in Victoria's high country is expected to hit Harrietville and Hotham Heights within the next 24 hours.
The Gippsland fire crisis has worsened, with strong northerly winds whipping up flames earlier than predicted. The CFA said there was “strong pressure” on its Gippsland containment lines with some busting this afternoon. In the high country fire authorities have warned residents who do not plan to stay and defend their homes that they should evacuate the area by 6pm. The out-of-control bushfire, which is travelling in a south-easterly direction, has burnt out 1700ha of Victoria’s alpine region since a lightning strike sparked the blaze on Monday. Meanwhile, emergency authorities have warned a wind change could mean the southern edge of the Aberfeldy-Donnellys fire will breach control lines tomorrow.
Bangladesh: After the floods Comes the Hunger
With the effects of global warming becoming more evident, once welcome floods in Bangladesh now bring hardship and hunger.
Life on the floodplains in Bangladesh can be a perilous existence. On islands along the Brahmaputra river, in Gaibandha province, unseasonable flooding has destroyed crops, spreading hunger and poor nutrition. Changing rainfall patterns are making the floods more violent, more frequent and less predictable.
After the floods, all that is left is mud. Attempts to re-sow crops are unlikely to be successful as the growing season has passed.
Wheat Prices Rise as US Drought Persists
Wheat futures rose for the second time in three sessions on renewed concern that the worst U.S. drought since the 1930s is eroding prospects for crops in the southern Great Plains. Little or no rain has fallen in parts of south-central Kansas and north-central Oklahoma in the past three months, according to the National Weather Service. As much as 25 percent of the wheat crop may go unharvested this year, when farmers begin collecting grain in June.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): The strength of explosion signals and tremor seem to have increased this morning. A small lava out-spill of lava from the northern breached rim of the NE crater as well as dust trails from numerous blocks rolling down the Sciara can be seen on the webcams.
Etna (Sicily, Italy): After a brief period of activity at the Bocca Nuova crater, strombolian activity shifted to the New SE crater on the night of 22 January. This much stronger activity has continued into 24 January.
Bárdarbunga (Iceland): An earthquake swarm at depths between 2-10 km about 8 km NE of Bardabunga volcano under the Vatnajökull icecap has started. The swarm appears to contain relatively large quakes, including a magnitude 3.8 quake, which, if magmatic origin, could mean a shallow intrusion, that potentially could lead to an eruption.
Gorely (Southern Kamchatka): Strong and moderate gas-steam activity were observed. Seismic activity is moderate.
Kizimen (Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)): A new lava flow extrudes from the summit on the north-eastern flank of the volcano. Incandescence of the volcano summit, hot avalanches and strong gas-steam activity accompany this process. Seismic activity is at moderate levels.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka, Russia): The explosive-effusive eruption continues with little changes. According to an eyewitness communication on actif-volcans, activity goes on from one of the new cones on the southern fissure, which produces near-continuous strombolian activity, at times merging into more or less sustained lava fountains. The vent continues to aliment fluid lava flows. KVERT reports that tremor increased again a bit compared to yesterday. A low steam and ash plume rises from the eruption.
Sakurajima (Kyushu): The volcano remains quite active, with an elevated number of explosions. Yesterday (22 Jan), there were at least 5 with ash plumes reaching 6-9000 ft (1.8-2.7 km). This is a lot considering the long-term average of 1-2 per day.
White Island (New Zealand): Tremor and hydrothermal activity at the surface remain high. In addition to strong tremor, volcanic earthquakes (red lines on seismogram) can be identified within the strong seismic signal as well. They could indicate magma moving upwards and be a warning sign for an impending eruption.
Colima (Western Mexico): Rockfalls and small volcanic quakes possibly accompany small emissions from the volcano. A 4.7 regional quake off the western coast of Mexico (large signal) also appears on last evening's seismogram.
Concepción (Nicaragua): A phase of increased internal activity occurred over night.
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): After a decrease yesterday, seismic activity reflecting internal unrest has increased today again.
Masaya (Nicaragua): Volcanic tremor has generally been near background, but a slight increase is visible today.
San Salvador (El Salvador): Small volcanic quakes and weak tremor are visible at the seismogram, but within normal levels for this active volcano.
San Miguel (El Salvador): Numerous volcanic quakes and bursts of weak tremor continue to be seen frequently on the seismic recording.
Nevado del Huila (Colombia): Activity has remained stable. The volcano is emitting a white plume of steam and gas. Internal activity remains at weak levels, with a total of 88 events registered by Popayan Observatory during the past week.
Galeras (Colombia): A slight increase in seismic activity was reported by Pasto Observatory. Most seismicity was related to fluid movements within the volcano, some by degassing and light ash venting, which was observed on 16 and 21 January. Steam plumes rose to a maximum of 1000 m above the crater, and measured SO2 levels were at moderate levels.
Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): Numerous small earthquakes continue and a strong SO2 plume is visible on the latest NOAA satellite image, suggesting a phase of elevated (degassing) activity.
Cumbal (Colombia): A slight increase in seismicity related to internal fluid movements during the past week. Degassing as the only surface activity was observed on clear days.
Sotará (Colombia): Seismic activity remains barely above background. During the past week, INGEOMINAS reported a total of 13 mostly weak-energy events.
Reventador (Ecuador): From 09:00 (local time) 21 Jan, a strong increase in seismic activity occurred, dominated by low frequency tremor, possibly associated with fluid pressurization and movements of magma inside the conduit of the volcano. At night, the volcano was clear and incandescent material could be seen in the crater.
Cotopaxi (Ecuador): Another pulse of volcanic earthquakes is in progress under Cotopaxi volcano. Such swarms have been occurring several times recently, but for now, can be considered as part of the normal behavior of an active, but currently dormant volcano.
Tungurahua (Ecuador): The volcano remains calm with only few tiny earthquakes visible. Lahars generated by rain remobilizing loose deposits remain a major hazard inside drainages around the volcano.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina border): Seismic activity increased significantly during 22 Jan. No eruptive activity at the surface has occurred so far, and the official alert level of the volcano remains at "Yellow", but with "Special Attention" (corresponding to "orange" in our classification). Until 09:56 local time (12:56 GMT) on 22 Jan, seismic activity had remained at low levels, both in occurrence of earthquakes, the energy released and the signal intensity of tremor associated with fluid movements inside the volcano. Then, at that time, there was a significant long-period (LP) earthquake and 3 hours later, shallow lower amplitude events started to occur. At 13:20 local time, another LP earthquake of relatively strong intensity occurred and was followed by a seismic swarm with mostly long period events that continued for 20 minutes.
Michael (United Kingdom, South Sandwich Is): No further hot spots have been noted recently on MODIS data. Status is set back to "green".
Tropical Cyclone Peta
-A cyclone warning is issued in coastal areas from Port Hedland to Dampier, including Karratha.
-Peta brings heavy rain to the Pilbara - Astonishing rainfall in the Pilbara region of Western Australia has doubled the water in one of the state's dams in just 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Garry
-The Cook Islands are currently on cyclone alert.
Flooding in Egyam, Ghana
-Recent floods killed a woman and her two grand-children in Egyam in the Ahanta West District of Ghana.
-An eighth months baby was also washed away in Accra.
-Heavy rainstorms destroyed 25 houses and also affected Sekondi-Takoradi.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.4 Earthquake hits off the coast of Aisen, Chile.
5.2 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Ceram Sea, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Coquimbo, Chile.
Nasa Data Confirms Widespread Heatwave in Australia
New data from US space agency NASA has confirmed that temperatures across large parts of Australia were up to 15 degrees above average during the first eight days of 2013. The data, collected and beamed to earth from NASA's Aqua satellite, recorded temperatures across the nation from January 1 to January 8 and compared them with the first weeks of each year between 2005 to 2012.
It found that large swathes of Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory were 15 degrees above average in early 2013. Large parts of the rest of the country were also well above average. Only areas in WA's west and northwest, including parts of the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Perth, and relatively small areas of the central NT recorded below average temperatures.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity has remained relatively calm, with weaker explosions (compared to last week) and no new lava overflows.
Etna (Sicily, Italy): Snow-covered Etna has remained quiet during the past few days. Tremor is currently low.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka, Russia): The eruption continues with no signs of stopping soon. Tremor has decreased a bit, but fluid lava continues to effuse from the southern fissure and the flows advance on the southwestern flank of the volcano. Plumes of steam and some ash continue to reach up to about 13,000 ft (4 km) altitude.
Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): Tavurvur volcano has erupted yesterday after having been almost completely quiet since August 2011. The following youtube video shows the eruption generating an ash plume rising a few hundreds of meters above the cone:
Paluweh (off Flores Island, Indonesia): For several days, no ash plumes have been observed from the volcano and the thermal hot spot on MODIS hot spot data have decreased. This suggests that the dome growth has slowed down considerably or perhaps even stopped.
Tongariro (North Island, New Zealand): Tongariro's current status remains characterized by strong degassing from the Te Maari craters, the site of eruptions in August and November 2012. At present, seismic activity is low. This activity is likely to go on several years, but Tongariro could produce new eruptions with little or no precursors, New Zealand's GNS writes in its recent update.
White Island (New Zealand): Volcanic unrest at New Zealand's White Island is increasing, GNS volcanologist Brad Scott confirmed during a recent visit of the island on 21 Jan. Mr Scott’s observations confirmed that hydrothermal activity in the small 'hot lake' has increased. The most common activity is "doming-up" of the lake surface by steam/gas, bringing large amounts of sediment to the surface, often with vivid white steam/gas 'flashing' from around the base. Every so often stronger events happened. This activity has been increasing since late 2012 and is now semi-continuous. The elevated activity corresponds to the increased tremor signal recently visible.
Spurr (Cook Inlet, SW Alaska): Seismicity continues to be slightly elevated.
Tanaga (Aleutian Islands): A magnitude M5.1 earthquake occurred 31 km at 7 km depth southwest of Tanaga yesterday morning. It is visible as the large event with aftershocks on the attached TAZE seismic record.
Mammoth Mountain (California, USA): Tiny earthquakes (less than mag 1) and some deep low-frequency events continue to occur at normal background levels under Mammoth Mountain.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): No significant changes in activity have occurred. 14 emissions were counted during 20-21 Jan, generating small plumes up to about 800 m height and sometimes small ash content. Glow remains visible at night.
Santa María / Santiaguito (Guatemala): After several days of relatively weak activity, an increase in lava effusion has been observed. INSIVUMEH reports that the lava flows descending from the dome on the S, SE and NE side are advancing 5-7 meters per day. The SE flow enters the gulley of rio Nimá I. In addition, some weak to moderate explosions were reported during yesterday-today.
Pacaya (Guatemala): No significant changes have occurred. Volcanic seismicity remains elevated, reflecting both internal fluid movements and degassing at the surface.
Fuego (Guatemala): Activity remains low and mainly effusive. The lava flow has increased to 800 m length. Only a few explosions occurred since yesterday with ash plumes rising about 300 m.
Puyehue-Cordón Caulle (Central Chile and Argentina): A new (so far small) eruption began yesterday from Caulle volcano, local sources reported. Ash emissions reaching 11,000 ft (3.4 km) altitude were reported. Local news report ash fall ash fall over Puyehué, Entre Lagos and Osorno today.
Flooding in Mozambique
-Mozambique officials have started evacuating 55,000 people from flood disaster zones.
-The south and the centre of Mozambique have been placed under red alert.
-High water levels in the Limpopo and Inkomati rivers are predicted to flood the town of Chokwe.
-Emergency disaster preparedness teams are already in place and motorboats have been dispatched to the area to move people to safe ground.
-Floods in Mozambique and northern parts of South Africa have killed at least 20 people over the past week.
Tropical Cyclone Oswald
-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Oswald was located 155 nm east-northeast of Mornington Island, Australia.
-North Queensland is on flood alert as tropical cyclone Oswald dumps torrential rain on the region.
-The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a blue alert and a natural disaster warning has been issued for communities between De Grey and Mardie including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson, Karratha and Dampier.
-A cyclone watch has also been issued for the people from Mardie to Onslow.
Tropical Cyclone Garry
-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Garry was located 85 nm northeast of Pago Pago, American Samoa.
-Storm and strong wind warnings remain in place for Samoa.
Tropical Cyclone Peta forms off Western Australia's Pilbara coast approximately 235 nm east-northeast of Learmonth, Australia.
Avalanche in Himachal Pradesh, India
-Avalanche in Sangla valley in Himachal Pradesh killed 35 yaks.
-Heavy snowfall hit Sangla Valley in Kinnaur district last week.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.9 Earthquake hits Banda Aceh, northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The Earthquake killed an eight-year-old girl and injured 15 others. Most of them were injured due to collapsing walls.
5.8 Earthquake hits Brazil.
5.4 Earthquake hits Aru Islands region, Indonesia.
5.3 Earthquake hits Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.3 Earthquake hits northern and central Iran.
5.0 Earthquake hits eastern Sea of Japan.
4.9 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Flooding in Mindanao, Philippines
-Three killed and 2 others missing due to flooding in Mindanao region of the Philippines.
-Fatalities are from Misamis Oriental and San Miguel village in Tagum City.
-Floods have affected around 27,000 people in Davao del Norte, ComVal, and some villages in Davao City.
-Roads and bridges in Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental were also impassable.
-Davao city has declared 15 areas under a state of calamity (emergency) granting PHP 53.5 million in calamity funds.
Tropical Cyclone Garry
-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Garry was located 200 nm north-northwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa.
-Samoa has issued warnings for the whole country.
-Cyclone Garry is forecast to pass within 96 km of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa.
Tropical Cyclone Oswald
-As of 12:00 UTC, TC Oswald was located 90 nm east-northeast of Mornington Island, Australia.
-Oswald, a category 1 cyclone formed in the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria.
-A cyclone warning is in place for coastal communities from Karumba to the tip of Cape York, including Mornington Island. Oswald is forecast to make landfall between Weipa and Kowanyama.
Monsoon Floods in Jakarta
-Death toll from the recent Jakarta monsoon floods has risen to 26 people.
-The floods have displaced more than 100,000 people.
Six Die in Limpopo Floods
-Six people have died after the Limpopo river in northern South Africa burst its banks.
-The river, being the boundary between Zimbabwe and South Africa is crossed on foot by Zimbabwean economic refugees to gain illegal entry to South Africa - seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.5 and three 5.2 magnitude Earthquakes hit Reykjanes ridge - 1343 Km south-west of Reykjavik, Iceland.
5.1 Earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Taiwan region.
Global Warming hits Amazon Rainforest
With climate scientists warning that droughts are likely to become more frequent and severe as global temperatures continue to climb, a recent study led by NASA scientists shows what that could mean for the Amazon rainforest.
After analyzing more than 10 years worth of satellite data collected from over the Amazon region, the researchers said rainforest damage first observed during the start of a megadrought in 2005 persisted the next several years, even as rainfall gradually rose back to average levels. But another dry period that started in 2010 may exacerbate the impacts, suggesting that the Amazon rainforests may be showing the first signs of potential large-scale degradation due to climate change.
Victorian Town Of Wallan Under Emergency Warning.
A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for the central Victorian town of Wallan as a fast-moving grassfire approaches the area.
Smoke From Australian Bushfires Turns Skies Over New Zealand Orange
It's unusual to smell smoke blown across the Tasman but common to see it. Skies around New Zealand have been looking noticeably more hazy orange and bronze-coloured in the past few days as smoke from Australia's scorching bushfires reaches down south.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity (both tremor and strength of explosions) seems to have decreased a bit for the moment. No new lava overflows were seen. During Saturday, we noticed that the vibrations caused by the strong explosions of the NE cone felt had become longer-lasting.
Etna volcano (Italy): Short eruptive phase have occurred at intervals of 1-2 days at both Bocca Nuova and the New SE crater.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka, Russia): Tremor amplitude has decreased a bit during the past 24 hours, but lava flows continue to be active.
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): The lava dome continues to grow. A moderate explosion occurred last night, producing an ash plume that rose to between 8,000 ft (1.8 km) (VAAC Tokyo) and 13,000 ft (4 km) (KVERT) altitude. KVERT reports moderate seismicity and strong gas-steam activity.
Colima (Western Mexico): The volcano continues to wake up and become more active. At least 3 ash explosions have occurred over the weekend (two on Saturday, one on Sunday). The eruptions produced relatively small ash plumes rising a few hundred meters. A 5 km radius from the summit exclusion zone is in effect at the National Park.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The rate of emissions has decreased to less than 1 per 2 hours, but activity remains essentially unchanged with small steam and ash explosions, glow from the slowly growing dome, strong SO2 emissions and occasional small earthquakes.
Santiaguito (Guatemala): Activity remains relatively low. No recent explosions were reported. The lava flows on the southern and SE side of the dome continue to produce glowing avalanches.
Fuego (Guatemala): Activity remains low and mostly effusive. There were 7 weak strombolian explosions during 19-20 Jan. The lava flow has increased to 600 m length on 20 Jan morning.
Concepción (Nicaragua): Seismic activity (numbers and magnitudes of volcanic earthquakes) has decreased.
San Cristobal (Nicaragua): Volcanic earthquakes continue to diminish in number and amplitude.
Masaya (Nicaragua): Volcanic tremor is present and fluctuates at low energy levels. Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): Numerous volcanic earthquakes, sometimes of higher energy levels continue to occur beneath the volcano. Weak periodic (at 45 min to 1 hour intervals) volcanic tremor appeared at during 20 Jan.
Machin (Colombia): Many tiny earthquakes continue to occur beneath the volcano.
Reventador (Ecuador): Strong seismic activity with many volcanic quakes and tremor accompanies strong degassing and sometimes small explosions from the growing lava dome. The activity seems currently to be increasing.
Tungurahua (Ecuador): Activity has remained low. Small earthquakes and weak tremor continue to be recorded with an increase visible on the most recent seismogram.
Villarrica (Central Chile): Weak, deep-seated explosive activity has appeared during the past 2 weeks, POVI reported. This is the first activity in about 6 months and it is expected that during the coming months this could again bring lava visible to the surface.
White Island (New Zealand): Volcanic tremor remains strong, but there is no surface activity.
Ruapehu (New Zealand): Seismicity remains low.
Mammoth Mountain (California, USA): A small earthquake swarm occurred at Mammoth Mountain during 14-20 Jan and seems to have ended.
Spurr (Cook Inlet, SW Alaska): Small local earthquakes continue to appear on seismic recordings.
Tanaga (Aleutian Islands): Relatively high numbers of small earthquakes continue to be recorded at the volcano.
Makushin (Aleutian Islands): Occasional small local earthquakes have been recorded recently.
Brazil City Fights Dengue Fever
Health authorities in the Brazilian city of Campo Grande, in the southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, are fighting a dengue fever epidemic. About 600 residents a day have reported suffering from the symptoms of the fever since the beginning of the year. Heavy rains have increased the risk of reproduction of the mosquito which transmits the disease. Hundreds of workers have been hired to clear the streets of standing water, where the mosquitoes breed.
In Paraguay, across the border from Mato Grosso do Sul, eight people have died from the fever and more than 8,500 suspected cases have been reported. There, the army and the police have been deployed to help clear potential mosquito breeding grounds. Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically, about half of the world's population is now at risk.
More U.S. States Reporting High Flu Levels
Thirty states are now reporting high levels of flu-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Flooding in Davao City, Philippines
One killed and more than 8,000 people displaced due to flooding in Davao del Norte.
Floods also damaged houses in Magatos village, in Asuncion.
At least 12 villages close to Davao river are submerged in flood.
Cold front triggered flash floods in Davao areas. It is forecast to bring light to moderate rains over Mindanao.
Tropical Cyclone Garry forms in the Pacific approximately 270 nm northwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Australia - Monsoon Starts Off With Cyclone Threat
The start of the monsoon had most Top Enders relieved as temperatures dropped yesterday. But with the monsoon came some severe weather and an upgraded cyclone warning, with the expectation of floods.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global
5.7 Earthquake hits Sakha, Eastern Siberia, Russia.
5.0 Earthquake hits North Island, New Zealand.
Floods, Fires hit Queensland, Australia On Same Day
In a summer of extremes, residents in Queensland's Darling Downs are bracing for floods, as emergency crews battle to contain wildfires across the State.
Heavy rainfall over the township of Chinchilla caused fast stream rises and minor flooding at nearby Charleys Creek early on Sunday morning. But by the afternoon another Darling Downs settlement 100km to the south, Moonie, was preparing for floods.
Meanwhile, about 120km to the northeast, a large, low intensity grass fire was burning near the town of Nanango on Sunday.
Flooding in Kruger National Park, South Africa
-Flooding has mainly affected the eastern entrance to Kruger National Park.
-The river near the Malelane gate has swollen and flooded Kruger National Park.
-The Crocodile bridge has also flooded. -Heavy rains have also flooded Carltonville, west of Johannesburg.
Avalanche in Glencoe, Scotland
-Three climbers are reported to be missing in Scotland.
-Avalanche hit Bidean nam Bian, Glencoe, Scotland at about 14:00.
-Two other climbers were rescued who are currently being treated in Belford hospital in Fort William.
-Glencoe and Lochaber mountain rescue teams along with police search and rescue dogs are searching the missing climbers.
Europe Hit By Blizzards
-Extreme winter weather swept across western Europe on Saturday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at London's main international airport and claiming several lives in Spain, Portugal, Scotland and France, including those of three Mali-bound soldiers.
-The frigid temperatures also caused delays and cancellations on major railway lines including the Eurostar train service, and transport authorities warned of further traffic disruptions with more blizzards forecast for Sunday.
Zimbabwe: Floods, Lightning Claim 124 Lives
-Eighty-six people have drowned while 38 others were struck by lightning across the country since the beginning of the rainy season. The heavy rains have also destroyed 180 houses in Tsholotsho, leaving most of the families homeless. In Beitbridge district, the rains have caused widespread damage to roads leaving some areas impassable.
-Major rivers in Gokwe such as Ume, Sesame and Sengwa were in flood. Several people were reportedly marooned on islands in some of them.
-People in the areas have been urged to desist from water-related activities along the rivers.
Global Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes
5.6 Earthquake hits western Sichuan, China.
5.3 Earthquake hits Samar in the Philippines.
5.0 Earthquake hits Unimak Island region, Alaska.
5.0 Earthquake hits the New Britain region, Papua New Guinea.
Australian Bushfires
This morning the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said there were 142 bushfires burning across the state, 29 of them uncontained. Many of the blazes had been sparked overnight by a band of lightning, with more strikes expected.
Large bushfires also continue to burn out of control in Victoria.
Floods Ease In Indonesian Capital, Thousands Left Homeless
Severe floods in Jakarta eased today, after unusually heavy monsoon rains swamped parts of the Indonesian capital in waist-deep water and left more than 20,000 people homeless.
Drownings, landslides and flood-related electrocutions have killed at least 11 people.
However, authorities warned of more rain and disruptions in the city of about 10 million people after Thursday's floods turned Jakarta's main thoroughfare into a stream of red mud.
Other main roads were still full of water and choked with traffic as commuters struggled to return to work and emergency workers tried to clear the mess.
Large areas of the city were still without electricity after state utility PLN cut power in some places to avoid the risk of electrocution.
Mudslide in North Carolina, USA
More than 50 mudslides were reported across North Carolina. Mudslides were reported in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain.
Avalanche in New Hampshire, USA
At least three were injured in an avalanche at Tuckerman Ravine in North Conway, N.H.
Severe hailstorm hits New Delhi, India.
Global Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes
5.3 Earthquake hits the Guam region.
5.1 Earthquake hits south of the Mariana Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the central Mid-atlantic ridge.
News spread over social media (mainly twitter) about "Happy 11,000th Christchurch earthquake". Today's minor aftershock with magnitude 3.3 is so far the 11,000th earthquake felt by Cantabrians following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that sparked the Canterbury earthquake sequence more than two years ago.
Pacific Tuna Being Severely Overfished
Decades of overfishing in the Pacific have caused populations of tuna and similar species there to plummet.
The joint Japan-U.S. fisheries research organization cautions that Pacific bluefin “is near historically low levels” and being fished beyond its ability to reproduce.
Most international attention to overfishing has been focused recently on varieties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
But overfishing to meet the demand for sushi has put all of the world’s fish in the mackerel, tuna and bonito family on the endangered list.
Sushi shops in Japan will pay well over $1 million for a single bluefin tuna to increase prestige.
Sydney Bakes In Hottest Day On Record As Bushfires Rage
The Australian city of Sydney is experiencing its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching nearly 46C. A temperature of 45.8C was recorded at Observatory Hill in the city at 14:55 local time (01:55 GMT). Some areas in the wider Sydney region were even hotter, with the town of Penrith, to the west, registering a temperature of 46.5C (116 F).
Firefighters are still battling dozens of wildfires sparked by the intense heat in New South Wales and Victoria. The small town of Licola in eastern Victoria is reported to have been cut off by a 44,500-hectare fire, as its sole access road is blocked. Officials said dozens of people had been evacuated but 10 locals were still there.
The heatwave across Australia in recent weeks has been so intense that the Bureau of Meteorology has had to add a new shade to its colour-coded temperature chart, so the scale now reaches above 50C (122 F). However, meteorologists have forecast a dramatic change in weather overnight in Sydney, with thunder storms expected to bring a rapid drop in temperatures.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 121.3 degrees Fahrenheit (49.6 degrees Celsius) at Moomba, New South Wales, Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 66.3 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 54.6 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian outpost of Oimyakon.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Etna (Italy): Another brief, but probably strong eruptive phase - a small paroxysm - occurred on the evening of 16 Jan at Bocca Nuova.
Stromboli (Italy): Activity has been lower today and yesterday. No new lava overflow was seen. Both tremor and explosion intensity have decreased compared to during the past week.
Kilauea (Hawai'i): Lava flows continue entering the ocean since November 2012 in multiple points, due to increased pressure on the volcano which is also causing other lava breakouts on the coast and the lava lakes within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō & Halema‘uma‘u craters to rise and potentially spill over.
Medvezhia (Kurile Islands, Russia): A thermal anomaly was detected over Kudriavy, a stratovolcano of the Medvezhia volcanic complex, on 11 January. Strong steam-and-gas plumes were also observed.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka, Russia): Continued elevated levels of volcanic tremor and active lava flows from the southern fissure.
Flooding in Demerara region of Guyana
Strong winds and high tides caused flooding in Cornelia Ida and Anna Catherina, on the West Coast of Demerara, Guyana.
Giant wave in South Atlantic Ocean
A giant sea wave between Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica injured four crew members of a ship. The ship was carrying 133 passengers and 113 crew members. All others are safe and the ship has returned to Ushuaia in Argentina where the cruise was cancelled by the operator.
United Kingdom - Snow
Schools and transport hit by disruption. A blanket of snow was expected to cover the UK today, with up to 30cm falling on higher ground. Hundreds of schools have been closed and transport disrupted as a band of heavy snow affects most of the UK. Cardiff, Bristol and Southampton airports are closed and part of the M4 is shut in Wales. Train companies have put revised timetables in place.
5.2 Earthquake hits south-east of Easter Island.
5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Dry Weather Persists In Drought-Stricken US Wheat Region
The U.S. Plains remain in the grip of a severe drought, according to a report issued by a consortium of federal and state climatology experts, raising fears that another hot, dry year could lie ahead for crop-growing and cattle-grazing regions.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Italy): The lava overflow that started on Monday and reached about 400 m elevation on the Sciara del Fuoco has stopped (for now). Strong explosions felt in houses in the village continue to occur frequently and tremor remains elevated.
Etna volcano: The strombolian activity inside Bocca Nuova crater has ended abruptly yesterday.
Colima (Mexico) has entered a new eruptive phase with more explosions during the past days.
Popocatépetl (Mexico): Activity has not changed significantly: there are 1-2 weak emissions per hour, sometimes producing small quantities of ash. Glow from the summit remains visible at night. Some small volcanic earthquakes (below M2) have been occurring in the past days as well.
Santiaguito (Guatemala): The activity has remained essentially unchanged but lower than last week. During 14-15 Jan, few weak explosions occurred from the dome, and glowing avalanches were observed from the fronts of the active lava flows on its flanks. Pacaya (Guatemala): Increased steaming has been observed today, but otherwise, there has not been any new activity. Numerous small earthquakes continue to be visible as evidence of fluid movements under the volcano. Fuego (Guatemala): Activity has been decreasing with few explosions and the lava flow reducing its length to 300 m.
Nicaragua's San Cristobal, Masaya and Concepcion volcanoes have not shown appreciable changes in their (seismic) activity of varying amounts of volcanic earthquakes and tremor.
Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia): No other activity than degassing has been reported recently. Seismic activity remains elevated but at relatively low levels. A swarm of earthquakes occurred under the volcano on 15 Jan afternoon. Very small, but numerous, earthquakes are occurring at Machin, Galeras, and Cumbal volcanoes in Colombia.
Reventador (Ecuador): Strong seismic activity including some explosion signals and a hot spot visible on satellite images suggest that the lava dome in the summit crater continues to be active. Tungurahua is currently calm.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina border): No surface activity and no glow has been observed, but there is elevated seismic activity of low energy with more than 1700 events detected between 15-16 Jan. Alert level remains at Orange because of the risk of sudden phreatic explosions.
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): Another explosion occurred this morning at 09:33 local time. It was weaker than the previous ones and produced a plume rising to about 12,000 ft (3.6 km) altitude and drifting NE.
Kilauea (Hawai'i): Activity has been stable with good magma supply maintaining relatively high levels of the lava lakes and feeding lava flows that continue to reach the ocean.
Sakurajima volcano in Japan has maintained a rythm of 2-3 daily explosions with ash plumes rising to 6-10,000 ft (1.8-3 km) altitude.
White Island (New Zealand): The tremor has increased significantly during the past 24 hours. If this is caused by the volcano (and not wind), it could suggest a new eruption under way, but there have been no reports of any activity so far.
Kizimen (Kamchatka): The new lava flow from the summit dome continues to be active on the north-eastern flank of the volcano. Incandescence of the volcano summit, hot avalanches and strong degassing accompany this process.
Tolbachik (Kamchatka): The eruption still continues with active lava flows being fed by the southern vent. Reports of tremor at higher levels than during the past week.
Flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia
-Four killed in floods in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.
-At least 20,000 people were evacuated due to massive flooding in Jakarta.
Evacuated people are living in 14 different emergency shelters.
-Heavy downpour caused the rivers to overflow and triggered floods up to three metres (10 feet) in Jakarta.
Flooding in Maputo, Mozambique
-Floods in Mozambique killed four people.
-Heavy downpour collapsed nearly 400 houses.
-Following Mozambique weather service, 55mm rainfall occured within two hours in the capital Maputo.
-Floods affected nearly 14,000 across Mozambique especially those living in the Zambezi river basin
-It is regarded as the heaviest rains in over a decade in Maputo.
6.1 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge.
5.4 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Alamagan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Guerrero, Mexico.
Snowstorm in Shiojiri city, Japan
-Heavy snow in Shiojiri city (Kanto-Koshin region) of Japan killed one and injured 900 others.
-Storm caused eight centimeters of snow in nine hours in Tokyo. It is the heaviest snowfall in Tokyo since January 2006.
-Around 13 centimeters of snow was accumulated in Yokohama while 30 centimeters was seen in the mountainous areas around Tokyo.
-All domestic flights of Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines were cancelled.
Flooding in East Jakarta, Indonesia
-Train services between Bogor and Jatinegara, East Jakarta was closed due to floods.
-Floodwaters also inundated the Kampung Badan station on the border between North Jakarta and Central Jakarta.
Flash floods in Nelson, New Zealand
-Flash floods in Nelson, Southland, New Zealand washed away two vans of tourists. However tourists escaped the flood.
-Nelson received about 100mm of rain. Maitai valley road at Sharlands Creek was closed because of flood waters.
-Heavy rain in Christchurch also caused surface flooding around the Avon River in New Brighton.
Tornado in Blackall, Australia
-A tornado touched down in Blackall, State of Queensland, Australia.
-Storm also damaged 15 houses in Jundah.
Heavy snow fall in Netherlands
-Heavy snow in Netherlands caused traffic jam of more than 1,000 kilometers.
-It is regarded as the longest ever traffic jams in Netherlands because of snow.
-Several flights were canceled at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport of Netherland.
Wildfires in Australia
On Tuesday afternoon around 800 fire firefighters were battling 100 bushfires across NSW, 25 of them uncontained, with more than 500,000 hectares of the state now burnt in 11 days.
The worst of the fires, at the Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran in the state's northwest, has so far burnt through 40,000 hectares, destroyed at least 40 properties, and remains out of control, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) advises.
Around 155 firefighters from greater Sydney, the Hunter region and other parts of the north coast arrived on the scene on Tuesday so they could rotate crews to manage fatigue, with some firefighters working 36-hour shifts.
Cuba Battling Havana Cholera Outbreak
Cuban authorities are scrambling to contain a cholera outbreak that has sickened dozens of people in Havana, the capital city of 2.2 million residents and a popular tourism destination. The Government has confirmed 51 cases with hundreds hospitalized.
Tropical cyclone Emang forms in the Indian Ocean and is located approximately 525 nm southeast of Diego Garcia.
Landslide in Dassu, Pakistan
One killed in landslide in Dassu, the capital of Kohistan district of Pakistan. Landslide caused damage to two trucks and two shops. Landslide also blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
In another news, of inner roads in Galiyat between Abbottabad and Murree are closed due to heavy snowfall.
Strong winds in Zomba, Malawi
Strong winds in Zomba injured 16 Malawians. Five people are having treatment at Zomba central hospital currently. Winds also blew off the roofs off Malawi prison.
5.5 Earthquake hits Gulf of California.
5.4 Earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.
5.3 Earthquake hits near the south coast of New Guinea, Papua, New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits south-eastern Alaska.
5.0 Earthquake hits southern Alaska.
5.0 Earthquake hits Nias region, Indonesia.
Chinese media urges action on air pollution
Chinese media said on Monday the government had to take urgent action to tackle air pollution, which has blanketed parts of the country at dangerous levels in recent days, and one newspaper called for a re-think of a "fixation" on economic growth.
China's media are under tight Communist Party control and usually steer clear of controversy, but news organisations are more free to report on pollution, partly because it can't be hidden from the public.
Air quality in Beijing was far above hazardous levels over the weekend, reaching 755 on an index that measures particulate matter in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers. A level of 300 is considered dangerous while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20.
Crew Adrift in Indonesia
Fifteen crew members of the ship KM Tirta Samudra XXI, which sank in the Java Sea early Friday, have been drifting on a lifeboat near Karimun Jawa Island, have remained unreachable due to extreme weather and 4 metre high waves. Latest rescue attempts failed to find the lifeboat at the co-ordinates given.
Wildfires in Australia
More than 170 fires continue to burn across New South Wales, at least 30 of them are uncontained.
A Victorian firefighter has died battling the bushfires in Tasmania.
Two Children Die in Seasonal Diarrhoea Outbreak - Cape Town
At least two children have died and thousands have been treated for gastric-related complications across the city as the notorious diarrhoea season gains momentum. In the numerous informal settlements around the city, where there is poor sanitation, residents are particularly at risk in hot weather. The cases, which start around November, usually peak during February and March.
