In 2024, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 393 natural hazard-related disasters. These events caused 16,753 fatalities and affected 167.2 million people. Economic losses totaled US$241.95 billion. The year 2024 was marked by extreme temperature events in Asia that caused thousands of deaths, severe droughts in Africa affecting over 25 …
Hurricanes in some areas, including the North Atlantic, are likely to become more intense as a result of global warming even though the number of such storms decline, according to a study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers. Kerry Emanuel, the study's co-author, wrote a paper in 2005 reporting …
Ten Students Missing In New Zealand River Flood NEW ZEALAND: April 16, 2008 WELLINGTON - Ten teenagers are missing after being swept away in a raging river in New Zealand as violent storms caused widespread flooding in the country's North Island, local media and police said. The students were taking …
Tornado study to dive into storm's heart This funnel cloud formed April 10 in Keo, Ark, although no tornadoes on the ground were reported. A band of hail, heavy rain and twisters pounded Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma Thursday, damaging hundreds of homes, flooding roads and leaving thousands without power. U.S. …
Olympics - Beijing Seeds Clouds To Protect Opening Ceremony CHINA: April 11, 2008 BEIJING - More than 100 people and three aircraft will be on standby at the Beijing Olympics to manipulate the weather if storms threaten the opening ceremony. Staff at 21 locations around the capital will fire rockets …
Forecaster Expects Eight Atlantic Hurricanes This Year US: April 10, 2008 MIAMI - The noted Colorado State University hurricane research team predicted on Wednesday that 15 tropical storms would form during the coming Atlantic storm season, of which eight would strengthen into hurricanes. The team founded by forecasting pioneer Bill …
We examine the predominant natural hazards in West Bengal, along with an analysis of the prevalent disaster mitigation and management perspectives. Pre-hazard activities towards its mitigation are emphasized and explicated. In cognizance with the existence of multiple hazards in the region, a composite vulnerability map is prepared through integration of …
Freak Hailstorm Kills Five In Central China CHINA: April 9, 2008 BEIJING - A freak hailstorm that lasted only half an hour killed five people, injured 66 others and damaged thousands of homes in central China on Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said. The storm, with wind gusts of …
Tornado hits central Arkansas By Mike Wintroath, AP A tree lays across a car at a home in Little Rock, early Friday, April 4, 2008. A tornado hit parts of Little Rock and its suburbs Thursday, injuring an unknown number of people while damaging businesses and downing trees and power …
Canadian Researchers Warn Of New Arctic Worries CANADA: April 4, 2008 VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's massive Mackenzie Delta is feeling the impact of climate change faster than expected and could foretell of problems elsewhere in the Arctic, a Canadian researcher said on Thursday. Melting ocean ice is apparently allowing …
A federal study released documents the significant impact that climate change is expected to have on the U.S. transportation system. Its conclusion, says Henry Schwartz, the former head of one of the country's largest highway engineering firms, is "a pretty damning tale of what could happen."
London: Forget Jaws. Sharks can save lives too by giving early warning of storms. Researchers in Britain have carried out a study and found that the fearsome predators can sense minute changes in air pressure
A hailstorm swept through eight villages of Monohardi upazila of the district on Monday night, leaving a man dead and 50 others injured. The dead was identified as Sahabuddin, 50, a quack of Goribhanga village of the upazila. Sources said Sahabuddin was injured seriously when a tree fell on him …
The us Federal Emergency Manag-ement Agency (fema) has admitted high levels of formaldehyde in travel trailers and mobile homes the government provided as emergency housing in the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the region in 2005. The us Environmental Protection Agency classifies formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen. …
From delicate orchids and magnolias to rare Chinese yews and Kwangtung pines, the flora of Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve is considered so precious that ecologists call the reserve "a treasure trove of species." But winter storms have reduced the biological hot spot to a splintered ruin.
The distribution of microorganisms, and especially pathogens, over airborne particles of different sizes has been ignored to a large extent, but it could have significant implications regarding the dispersion of these microorganisms across the planet, thus affecting human health. March 2008
A series of brief violent storms yesterday afternoon and overnight led to pockets of heavy rainfall around the state, with one area receiving a one-in-20 year downpour. The Bureau of Meteorlogy has issued a storm warning, expected to include severe thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall and flash flooding, for the …
Suncorp-Metway Ltd, Australia's second-biggest car and home insurer, said on Monday the total estimated costs from storms in northern Queensland state were seen exceeding A$100 million ($93 million). Suncorp said, however, that its reinsurance arrangements would limit its liability to A$100 million. Australian insurance companies have been battered by heavy …
Mangrove ecosystems are threatened by climate change. We review the state of knowledge of mangrove vulnerability and responses to predicted climate change and consider adaptation options. Based on available evidence, of all the climate change outcomes, relative sea-level rise may be the greatest threat to mangroves. Most mangrove sediment surface …
