Wildfires

Wildfires - Uganda

Drought coupled with strong winds is fuelling wildfires across Karamoja in sweltering heat.

Families in the region specifically Napak, Nakapiripirit, Moroto and Kaabong districts continue to battle numerous wildfires to protect their properties from destruction. So far, over 70 homes in Irriri, Lotome, Lokopo in Napak and 10 in Rupa Sub County in Moroto district have been destroyed in the last two months.

Fast moving bushfires continue to blaze across Karamoja dry terrain threatening the destruction of settlements.

Disease

Uganda: Cholera Outbreak

A cholera outbreak has been declared in Mbale after the district registered 12 suspected cases. The cholera victims are from slum areas of Mbale town including: Namatala, Kiteso, Malukhu and Namanyoyi, which exhibit poor hygiene and sanitation.

Mbale now join the districts of Tororo, Hoima, Kibaale, and Kampala that have confirmed cases of the deadly cholera disease. The outbreak come at a time when the country is experiencing heavy rains that have led to flooding.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical cyclone 05a (Megh), located approximately 457 nm south of Masirah Island, Yemen, is tracking west-southwestward at 09 knots.

Invest 93L is an area of disturbed weather in the North Atlantic that has the potential for tropical development.

NewsBytes:

Uganda - One man died as floods ravage Karusandara, Kasese, Uganda on Thursday afternoon. The floods followed a heavy downpour that caused the River Mubuku to burst its banks destroying numerous houses. Local divers searched unsuccessfully for the body of the man who was washed away by the floodwaters.

Wildlife

Lions Mysteriously Fall Ill in Northern Uganda

Wildlife officials in Uganda are stumped by a mysterious illness among the lions of Kidepo Valley National Park that has left the big cats emaciated and “docile”.

Kampala’s The Observer newspaper reports that within the past month, the sickness has affected almost all of the park’s lions, located in the north of the country near the borders of South Sudan and Kenya.

Charles Tumwesigye, the deputy director in charge of conservation at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, says experts will examine samples taken from some of the sick lions.

“We have a feeling that it could be partly starvation because we don’t seem to have very many prey animals for the lions in Kidepo,” Tumwesigye told the daily.

He adds that the larger animals currently roaming the park, like buffaloes, are not easy for a lion to take down.

A regal male lion photographed earlier this year in Uganda's remote Kidepo Valley National Park, where the bigcats have mysteriously fallen ill.

Bats facing extinction on Western Ghats, India

Wildlife experts and conservationists have warned that bats are facing extinction in India's Western Ghats due to increasing human activities and destruction of forests. Several species of bats residing in India are finding it increasingly difficult to adjust with varying landscape resulting due to deforestation. They cites reasons including increased use of agricultural land and growing human population for the impact on bats. A team of experts from University of Leeds in Britain, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore and National Centre for Biological Sciences conducted a survey of different bats species in the southern Western Ghats in order to study the impact of plantation and rainforest fragmentation on them.

The study showed that some bat species can adjust with coffee plantations. Experts said that the reaming part of the forest and wildlife friendly agriculture can help save the bats from extinction. Western Ghats is among the most biodiverse regions in the world and it is also densely populated. The modern development and land-use transformation have left just 6 per cent of the natural habitat. The experts used Geographic Information System (GIS) computer modelling to study association between different bat species.

Storms and Floods

Flooding in Nicosia, Cyprus

A thunderstorm caused basement flooding, trapped motorists in their cars in capital city of Cyprus Nicosia. Hailstorm and street flooding was also reported in Strovolos, Dasoupolis and Lakatamia.

Lightning in Dabel, Germany

A lightning strike in Germany has injured at least 39 people with eight in serious condition. About 500 people were at the fairground in Dabel, east of Schwerin celebrating a Father’s Day party when the lightning struck. Most of the people suffered burns and shocks.

Other News:

Hailstorms have damaged over 200 houses with tin- roofed and asbestos walls in Mizoram, India. A landslide caused by heavy rainfall has also blocked roads in Kolasib town.

A tornado touched down in Bakersfield, California, USA for the first time since 1999.

Storms caused heavy rain, hail and street flooding in Temple area of Texas, USA.

Recent flash floods in Somalia have killed seven children and displaced 50,000 others, the UN says. Flash foods have also made thousands homeless in the Middle Shebelle area of southern Somalia.

Flash floods kill nine people, displace 25 000 others in western Uganda.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Cyclone Zane

TC Zane is expected to hit far northern Queensland tonight or early tomorrow bringing a dangerous storm tide, heavy rain and winds up to 160km/h. But the weather bureau has cancelled a cyclone warning for parts of Queensland's Cape York after Tropical Cyclone Zane weakened rapidly overnight into a tropical low.

Floods in Saudi Arabia

Floods in Saudi Arabia have claimed the lives of at least 13 people. Four are still reported to be missing.

Flight services were disrupted at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh.

It is believed to be the heaviest rainfall experienced by the desert kingdom in more than 25 years.

Other News:

Flooding in Kasese, Uganda-Flooding in Kasese, Uganda has claimed four lives.

Flooding in Ironwood, Michigan, USA.

Winter Storm Achilles is expected to bring 6 - 9 inches of snow by Thursday morning from Colorado to Wisconsin, USA.

Storms and Floods

Landslide in Uttarakhand, India

Landslide in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand has killed 10 pilgrims.

A taxi was hit by a landslide along Dehradun-Yamnotri highway which fell into the Yamuna river.

Flash flood in Mbale, Uganda

Flash flood in the Mbale district of Uganda has injured 12 people.

The storm has damaged the building of Munira school, Good Samaritan primary school and Namabasa Secondary School. In Doko Nsambya, one mosque, two churches and one health Centre have been destroyed.

The floods have displaced more than 1 300 people.

Storms and Floods

Avalanche in Alps, Italy

-Two Italian skiers killed in avalanche in Alps.

-The avalanche disaster occurred near the town of Moeno in the Val di Fiemme, a valley in the South Tyrol area.

Flooding in Netanya, Israel

-Flooding in Netanya, Israel closed down the Tel Aviv-Haifa railway line. Israel's Train Services halted trains from traveling between Haifa and Tel Aviv.

-Seven people were rescued from floods at Herzliya railway station by local fireman.

-Storms damaged power lines and cut power in Ramat Gan area.

-Snow is forecast to fall on Mount Hermon, and more rain is expected to fall as far south as the Sharon.

Flooding in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

-At least five people killed due to flooding disaster in the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi.

-Victims were swept away by floodwaters in the South Sulawesi regencies of Gowa, Jeneponto and Pangkep.

-Flooding and landslides also disrupted travel along highways, including the Maros-Bone route.

-Following National Search and Rescue Agency, floods caused damages to thousands of houses and public facilities.

Flooding in Rukungiri, Uganda

-Floods displaced 500 people in Rwenshama fishing village in Bwambara sub-county, Rukungiri district of Uganda.

-Displaced people are currently living at Rwenshama Primary School and Rwenshama Health Centre.

Flooding in South Cotabato, Philippines

-Overflow of river caused flooding in Esperanza, Poblacion, Lapuz, Liberty, San Jose, Simsiman and Matapol villages of Cotabato, Philippines.

-Floods caused damage to agriculture and to a bridge and other properties in Norala town in South Cotabato.

-More flash floods and landslides is forecast in parts of Mindanao due to rain from a low-pressure area.

Unusual Cold in Kathmandu

-Mercury has fallen below zero in capital Kathmandu of Nepal for first time in five years. Following Nepal Meteorological officials, the minimum temperature today morning was recorded -0.2 degree Celsius in Kathmandu.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Cyclone Evan has left a swathe of destruction across Fiji, destroying homes, flooding rivers and stranding thousands of tourists. The storm hammered the Pacific nation for more than 12 hours. Despite the damage, officials reported no fatalities as the storm headed out to sea on Tuesday morning

 

Flash floods and landslides have killed at least nine people and left thousands homeless in Sri Lanka.

Hailstorm in Uganda

-Hailstorm killed seven and destroyed landing sites on Lake Albert in Uganda.

-One hour long storm destroyed over 30 houses at Nsonga landing site.

-The storm also badly hit Kyabasambu, Nsunzu and Senjojo landing sites.

-The storm destroyed several churches and clinics. Following local fishermen, the heavy downpour also destroyed 26 boats.

Cold has killed 37 people in Ukraine so far this month as temperatures reached minus 23 Celsius in parts of the former Soviet Republic. Night temperatures are expected to drop to -28 C in northern, central and eastern Ukraine this week. The cold snap followed heavy snowfall which left some areas covered with as much as 53 cm (21 inches) of snow.

Disease

In an update for the outbreak of ebola in Uganda, the Ministry of Health in Uganda reported 7 cases (6 confirmed, 1 probable) with Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Luweero and Kampala districts. Of these cases, 4 died.

Disease

There are now 10 cases reported in the latest ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, including 5 deaths in Luweero and Kampala.

The outbreak of Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda has claimed 9 lives in 4 districts in Uganda (Kabale, Ibanda, Mbarara, and Kampala). A total of 20 cases have been reported.

Disease

In addition to the three dead in the latest ebola outbreak in Uganda, up to 15 people are being monitored for signs of the disease. Officials advised against panic after it was revealed that two possible Ebola patients had since checked into Kampala's main referral hospital.

First outbreak of a highly pathogenic bird flu virus in Australia in 15 years. Authorities hope that a cull of 50,000 chickens will contain the outbreak. It is not yet known what caused the outbreak at an egg farm in New South Wales. Japan has banned imports of eggs from Australia.

Disease

Uganda reports three dead in the new Ebola outbreak near Kampala.

Disease

The deadly Ebola hemorrhagic fever has broken out in the central Ugandan district of Luwero about one month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the East African country free of the disease.

Storms and Floods

Cyclone damages more than 100 houses in Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. No casualties reported.

Floods caused havoc across Uganda. Worst affected is the Nagaseke District.

Tuscany, Italy is badly hit by a third day of flooding after unusually heavy downpours. 800 people were evacuated from their homes in the village of Albinia, thousands left without electricity and several towns isolated by swamped roads. The main A-1 highway was closed in parts of the region. The Tiber river burst its banks north of Rome as heavy rain moved south, flooding factories and homes near the ancient town of Orte.

Disease

Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda - update. As of 28 October 2012, a total of 18 cases and 9 deaths, including a health worker, have been reported from 5 districts namely Kabale district, in south-western Uganda, Kampala (the capital city), Ibanda, Mbarara and Kabarole.

U.S. meningitis death toll rises to 29 with fatality in Virginia.

Canada, Switzerland lift ban on Novartis flu vaccines.

Disease

The outbreak of Marburg virus in Uganda claims its seventh victim.

Disease

An outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Uganda has spread to the capital Kampala after an infected woman travelled to the city.

Outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease Chikungunya in the Philippines.

Disease

Three people have died in Kitimba, Kabale district, southwest Uganda from an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a severe and highly fatal infection, just two weeks after the east African nation said it was free of the deadly Ebola virus.

Another four people who have died since October 4 are also suspected to have been killed by the disease.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus disease, also know as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, which is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva and blood, or by handling infected wild animals such as monkeys.

The disease, from the same family of viruses as Ebola, starts with severe headache and leads to haemorrhaging and, in previous outbreaks in Africa, to death in 80 percent or more of cases, usually within eight to nine days.

Disease

Five people have died and 35 have developed a rare fungal meningitis in a widening U.S. outbreak caused by contaminated vials of injectable steroid medication for back pain, according to the CDC.

Uganda's Health Ministry has declared that the recent ebola virus outbreak was officially over, 42 days after the last patient who fell ill with the disease was discharged from medical care. This is double the maximum incubation period (21 days) for Ebola as recommended by WHO. A total of 17 deaths were reported in this outbreak.