Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits Seram, Indonesia.
Reports of eight people injured and 120 houses damaged.
5.2 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.
Two 5.1 Earthquakes hit Cuba.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Meteorites and Fireballs
Hours after a meteor exploded over Russia and injured more than 1000 people, locals in California and Cuba witnessed unusual flashes of light.
Residents in California reported seeing an unusual flash of light over the San Francisco Bay area that left many startled. Based on reports, the light streaking in the Northern California sky was a sporadic meteor, or fireball.
Cuba also apparently experienced a phenomenon similar to but smaller than the meteorite that hit Russia. Residents described a bright light in the sky and a loud explosion that shook windows and walls. There were no reports of any injuries or damage such as those caused by the Russia meteorite.
The object that exploded over Russia was a “tiny asteroid” that measured roughly 45 feet across, weighed about 10 tons and traveled about 40,000 mph. The object vaporized roughly 15 miles above the surface of the Earth, causing a shock wave that triggered the global network of listening devices that was established to detect nuclear test explosions. The force of the explosion measured between 300 and 500 kilotons, equivalent to a modern nuclear bomb.
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.
Hurricane Sandy has made landfall on the southeastern coast of Cuba and strengthened to a strong Category 2 storm, with winds up to 175 kilometers per hour.
Tropical storm Tony forms in the Atlantic. No threat to land and the storm is not expected to endure long.
Tropical storm Son-Tinh forms in the western Pacific and makes landfall over Siargao, an island in the Philippines. A tropical storm warning has been issued with hundreds of passengers stranded as sea and air travel have been suspended in southern Philippines.
Tropical storm Murjan in the Indian Ocean strikes Somalia.
A powerful cyclone with gale-force winds and heavy precipitation is advancing upon Kamchatka in the Russian Far East.
Extreme weather wreaks havoc in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Floodwaters swept five people away in northern KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend. Three further people who were washed down the Chibide River at Silutshane, near Vryheid are still missing. The widespread rain and storms have caused chaos and misery everywhere, especially on the roads and informal settlements.
Tornado hits Neshoba County, Mississippi, USA.
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.
