Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Fiona is located about 125 mi...200 km n of Bermuda and about 730 mi...1175 km s of Halifax Nova Scotia with maximum sustained winds...125 mph...205 km/h. Present movement...nne or 30 degrees at 25 mph...41 km/h.

Tropical Storm Gaston is located about 135 mi...215 km nnw of Faial island in the central Azores with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...ese or 120 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Tropical Depression Nine is located about 615 mi...985 km ese of Kingston Jamaica and about 1105 mi...1780 km ese of Havana Cuba with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...wnw or 290 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h.

In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm 15e (Newton), located approximately 959 nm south-southeast of San Diego, is tracking west-northwestward at 07 knots.

In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression 17w (Talas), located approximately 212 nm southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, is tracking north-northeastward at 13 knots.

Tropical Storm 18w (Noru), located approximately 556 nm south-southeast of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking westward at 08 knots.

Newsbytes:

Niger - Long-term rainfall and flooding have taken their toll on the population of Niger, where as many as 168 people have lost lives as a result. The UN said the number of flood-affected people has increased from 140,000 to 226,000 within the last week. “Time is of the essence and we must scale-up assistance now to save lives,” the UN said.

Guinea a- At least 3 people have lost their lives after heavy rain and flooding in Conakry, capital of Guinea in West Africa. Meanwhile flooding in areas of the eastern Kankan Region has destroyed homes, crops and livestock. According to the United Nations, severe floods ravaged Conakry on 17 September, killing three people – including two by electrocution – and affecting 2,576 people, including 137 children. The National Agency for the Management of Emergencies and Humanitarian Disasters is carrying out damage assessments.

Pakistan - The devastating flooding affecting Pakistan has killed over 1,300 people, damaged over 1.7 million homes, and is disrupting food production. Over 33 million people have been affected so far. The destruction caused by these so-called “natural disasters” is often accepted as largely unavoidable and unpredictable. Climate change is also blamed for the alleged increased frequency of disasters. However, decades of research explain that disasters are instead caused by sources of vulnerability rather than by the climate or other environmental influences. Sources of vulnerability stem from a lack of power and resources to prepare for hazards. This includes poorly designed infrastructure along with social marginalisation and inequity, which restrict access to education and other key services. A disaster is where the ability of people to cope with a hazard or its impacts by using their own resources is exceeded. Where resources are scarce or inadequate, a hazard often adversely affects people. Consequently, framing a flood as a “natural disaster” deflects from the reality that vulnerability must exist before a crisis can emerge. The failure of governments to suitably prepare people for these hazards is a root cause of disaster. No matter the severity of the flooding event, a disaster can be avoided.

Nigeria - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Nigeria reports that more than 300 people have lost their lives in flooding in the country, 500 have been injured and 500 000 affected. Further heavy rain and dam releases are likely to worsen the situation. The UN reported a cholera outbreak in parts of north-east Nigeria attributed to the widespread contamination of water sources by flooding.