Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

December 27, 2023: In a tragic turn of events, heavy rains have unleashed devastating floods in central Congo, claiming the lives of at least 22 people. Among the victims were 10 members of a single family, highlighting the scale of the disaster that struck the district of Kananga in Kasai Central province. Governor John Kabeya confirmed the grim toll, noting that the incessant rainfall caused widespread destruction, leveling houses and structures. The collapse of a wall led to the tragic deaths of the family in Bikuku, underscoring the vulnerability of communities to such natural disasters . Rescue efforts are underway, with authorities working tirelessly to locate survivors and provide relief to those affected. The flooding has also inflicted significant material damage, with reports of extensive destruction emerging from the region. Nathalie Kambala, the country director of The Hand in Hand for Integral Development NGO, emphasized the urgent need for assistance in the wake of the ca

February 05, 2024: In a devastating turn of events, the southern Philippines has been battered by severe flooding and landslides, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 20 lives. The disaster struck the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte, where torrential rains triggered by a northeast monsoon and a low-pressure area wreaked havoc from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2. According to officials from the provincial disaster agencies, 13 individuals lost their lives in Davao de Oro, with two more missing, while seven fatalities were reported in neighboring Davao del Norte. The calamity has left over 812,000 people affected, forcing approximately 85,000 individuals to seek refuge in evacuation centers. Sadly, this catastrophe is not an isolated incident. Just weeks prior, in mid-January, 18 lives were claimed by floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the same region. Landslides and floods are unfortunately common in the Philippines, a nation of over 7,600 islands that is battered by ap

As of November 4 at 9:00 am, reports a grim toll of at least 157 confirmed fatalities, with numerous injuries following the magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Ramidanda of Jajarkot, Nepal. Rescue teams are navigating treacherous mountain villages, but the death toll is anticipated to rise, hindered by communication disruptions. Dry landslides around the epicenter at Ramidanda have impeded search efforts, with rescue teams yet to reach the epicenter. Dozens of houses have collapsed, prompting residents to seek refuge in open areas. As the situation unfolds, we continue to monitor live updates, staying connected with the affected areas in Nepal and India. Click here to refresh this page to get updates on the Jajarkot earthquake Update November 5, 2023 @ 7:00 am Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called for a cabinet meeting to discuss the damage caused by the earthquake in Jajarkot and the relief efforts. The meeting, which started at 8 am, is being held at the Prime Minister'

October 9, 2023: At least 27 people lost their lives, and over 50 others sustained injuries as floods wreaked havoc in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde and its surrounding neighborhoods on Sunday. The calamity unfolded as heavy rains unleashed flooding in the district of Yaounde 2, near the capital, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. The district of Yaounde 2 witnessed buildings swept away in a torrent of water and mud, reduced to chunks of rubble. The disaster took a more ominous turn as the rising floodwaters overwhelmed a dike built in the colonial era, releasing a manmade lake that cascaded down a hill, carrying several structures in its path, according to Assola Joseph, a local leader in the Mbankolo neighborhood. The aftermath of the flood was devastating, with numerous buildings in the district destroyed, and at least 30 houses in the Mbankolo neighborhood washed away, causing others to collapse with residents trapped inside. Urbanism Minister Celestine Ketcha Courte

October 5, 2023: In a tragic turn of events, ice-cold floodwaters wreaked havoc on mountain towns in India's Himalayan northeast, claiming the lives of at least 31 people, displacing thousands, and leaving a trail of destruction. The catastrophe unfolded as a glacial lake overflowed, breaching Sikkim State's largest hydroelectric dam and unleashing a torrent that swept through the valley below. The incident, occurring after midnight on Wednesday, marks the latest in a series of deadly floods to hit northeast India during a year of unusually heavy monsoon rains. With nearly 50 lives lost in August in nearby Himachal Pradesh state and over 100 casualties in northern India due to record rains in July, the region is grappling with the devastating impact of extreme weather events. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority reported the successful rescue of over 2,000 people, but the search continues for nearly 100 missing individuals, including 22 soldiers. Rescue operations are

In early October 2023, a series of four powerful earthquakes, each measuring Mww 6.3, and their subsequent aftershocks rocked Herat Province in western Afghanistan. This seismic activity, occurring within the complex collision zone of the Arabian Plate, the Indian Plate, and the Eurasian Plate, has left a profound impact on the region. Overview of the Earthquakes The first two earthquakes struck on October 7, at 11:11 AFT and 11:42 AFT near the city of Herat, followed by multiple aftershocks. On October 11 and 15, two additional Mww 6.3 earthquakes shook the same area. The United States Geological Survey identified shallow thrust faulting as the cause for all four earthquakes, with a fault plane solution indicating an east–west rupture source. Subsequently, on October 28, a Mww 5.0 event hit the region, followed by a mb 4.8 aftershock. Human Toll Tragically, more than 2,400 people lost their lives in these earthquakes, marking the deadliest tremors in Afghanistan in recent years.  Impa

May 22, 2023: The devastating floods that have struck Africa in 2023 have caused immense loss of life and widespread destruction, resulting in a staggering loss of life and widespread destruction. Heavy rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, has caused extensive damage and casualties across the affected regions. The floods have affected countries including Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. With a death toll exceeding 2,200 and thousands of people missing, the aftermath of these floods has left communities devastated and in urgent need of assistance. Meteorological Background Frequent heavy rains during the months of March to May have long plagued East Africa, leading to significant damage and loss of life. In 2023, several rounds of heavy rain saturated the ground, setting the stage for the devastating floods. Rwanda, which has experience

May 21, 2023: In a tragic turn of events, the death toll from the catastrophic floods in Italy's northern region of Emilia-Romagna has risen to 13. The devastating floods have forced thousands of people from their homes and caused severe destruction to farms in an area renowned for its agriculture. The eastern side of Emilia-Romagna, known as Romagna, was particularly hard-hit by torrential rains, resulting in approximately 300 landslides, 23 overflowing rivers, 400 damaged or destroyed roads, and 42 municipalities inundated by floodwaters. The floods have had a severe impact on agriculture in the region. More than 5,000 farms have been submerged, resulting in the loss of numerous animals and tens of thousands of hectares of vineyards, fruit trees, vegetables, and grain crops submerged under water, according to agricultural lobbyist Coldiretti. These floods are part of a series of extreme weather events that have struck Italy in the past year, highlighting the transformation of onc

May 20, 2023: Cyclone Mocha, an extremely severe cyclonic storm, wreaked havoc in Myanmar and parts of Bangladesh during May 2023. This powerful tropical cyclone, the second depression and the first cyclonic storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, originated from a low-pressure area and rapidly intensified over the Bay of Bengal. Mocha reached its peak intensity as a Category 5-equivalent storm on May 14, with winds of 280 km/h (175 mph), tying the record for the strongest storm on record in the north Indian Ocean. As the cyclone approached the international border, thousands of volunteers assisted in evacuating citizens in both Myanmar and Bangladesh. Evacuations were ordered for low-lying areas, and over 500,000 individuals were relocated from coastal areas in Bangladesh. In Myanmar, local authorities advised residents to evacuate low-lying and coastal areas, and preparations were made to handle the incoming cyclone. The Myanmar Red Cross Society, with the support of the

May 8, 2023: The death toll from floods and landslides in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 394, with more bodies being recovered, according to BBC. Heavy rainfall in the Kalehe region of South Kivu province on May 6 caused rivers to overflow, causing landslides that engulfed the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. In all, several villages were submerged, many houses washed away, and fields devastated when rivers in the region burst their banks due to the heavy rains. As rescue workers continue to search for survivors, officials fear that the death toll may rise even further. In addition to the loss of life, the floods have destroyed homes , businesses, and infrastructure, leaving many areas without electricity, clean water, or basic services. International aid organizations and neighboring countries have already begun to offer assistance, with the United Nations announcing that it will provide emergency funding and supplies to help with the relie

From December 2022 to March 2023, California experienced a lot of rain which led to floods in different areas of the state as well as nearby states like Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The floods caused significant damage to property and resulted in the loss of at least 22 lives, making it the deadliest meteorological event in the US in 2023. The floods caused power outages, evacuations, and the closure of more than 40 state parks and one national park. In addition, several Amtrak trains had to modify their schedules or cancel services due to the floods. Landslides, sinkholes, and flooded roads also caused disruption and property damage. On January 4, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and on January 9, 2023, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in 17 California counties. Later, a major disaster declaration was approved for several counties. President Biden and Governor Newsom surveyed the damage on January 19. The media reported the floods as an example

On February 6, 2023, an earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitude hit southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. This was followed by another earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude around 59 miles southwest nine hours later. The earthquake near Gaziantep in south-central Turkey was the strongest recorded there since 1939 and the most devastating earthquake to hit Turkey in more than 20 years. The Turkish government responded by declaring a level-4 emergency and calling for international assistance, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent led the coordination efforts. Governments around the world sent rescue teams and offered aid. As of March 1, more than 11,000 aftershocks have occurred, and more are expected in the future. The confirmed death toll is 59,259, with 50,783 in Turkey and 8,476 in Syria. This makes it the deadliest earthquake in Turkey since the 526 Antioch earthquake and the deadliest natural disaster in its modern history. Damages we

September 18, 2022: The world's deadliest flood since the 2017 South Asian floods have claimed lives of 1,486 people in Pakistan since June 14, 2022. Heavy rainfall and floods have affected 33 million people in Pakistan since mid-June and destroyed around 568,817 houses and damaged 1,174,528 others. Floods affected areas include Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, southern parts of Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Pakistan government, the floods caused loss of US$30 billion. Pakistan declared a state of emergency because of the flooding disaster on August 25, 2022.

September 17, 2022: Various landslides in the Achham district of western Nepal have claimed lives of 22 people and left three others missing. Landslide disaster caused losses in Turmakhand and Dhakari rural municipalities and Kamalbazar municipality. Landslides have caused power outage and closed roads in several areas of Achham.

July 28, 2022: Flash flooding and landslides have claimed lives of at least seven people near Tehran, emergency services in Iran said. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, 14 people have been injured with displacement of more than 500 people. Floods and landslides have buried parts of Imamzadeh Davood with four meters (13 feet) of mud. Last week, flooding in South of Iran killed 22 people.

July 28, 2022: Landslides triggered by incessant rainfall have briefly disrupted the annual Amarnath Yatra after the closure of the 270-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway. According to the officials at the traffic department, the incessant rainfall triggered landslides in Panthyal and Mehad stretches of Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Flash floods and landslides have been reported in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Reasi districts. All government and private schools in Jammu have been closed. According to traffic police advisory, people are advised not to travel on Jammu-Srinagar highway without confirmation.

July 29, 2022: One of the worst and most devastating flooding events in history has claimed lives of eight people across southeastern Kentucky. According to the Gov. Andy Beshear, "This is an ongoing natural disaster, with more rain expected tonight that could worsen the situation." Personnel from the National Guard, the Fish & Wildlife Department, state police and local emergency management agencies have been involved in the rescue process. According to the National Weather Service, parts of Kentucky received more than 9 inches of rain in last 24 hours.

December 12, 2021: At least eighty three people have been killed in tornado outbreak in the Southern and Midwestern United States from evening of December 10 to the early morning of December 11, 2021. At least seventy people died in Kentucky, six in Illinois, four in Tennessee, two in Arkansas and one in Missouri. More than fifteen tornadoes were recorded in different areas including WSW of Taylorsville, NE of Wellsville, SW of Monette, AR to NE of Samburg, TN, NW of Branson West,NW of Augusta to SE of Harvester,S of Diaz,NE of Augusta, SW of Edwardsville, SSW of Beedeville, SW of Cayce to SSE of Hardinsburg, S of Sorento to NW of Cowden, SSE of Windsor to NE of Mattoon, N of Cedar Lake, W of McDaniels, SW of Bumpus Mills to Pembroke, W of Russellville, S of Ada and SW of Dickson An emergency disaster declaration has been approved by United States President Joe Biden for the state of Kentucky. The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a total of 146 tornado warnings in several st

 December 7, 2021: An eruption of Mount Semeru, a volcano in the East Java province of the Indonesian island of Java has claimed lives of 34 people and injured 169 others. The volcanic eruption at Mount Semeru started on December 4, 2021 after heavy precipitation caused the collapse of lava dome at the summit. People have been asked not to travel within 5 km of Semeru’s crater, as the nearby air is highly polluted and could affect vulnerable groups. According to the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), a warning for potential eruption of Mount Semeru was sent via the  WhatsApp group chat four days prior to the eruption. However, the local people claimed that they did not receive any early warning for the volcano eruption.  The deadliest eruption at Semeru occurred on 29 August 1909 which killed 208 people.

 November 23, 2021: Massive flooding in Andhra Pradesh, India has claimed lives of 34 people and left 10 others missing. The low pressure areas in the Bay of Bengal and cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea triggered heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The flood water has also washed away part of Chennai-Kolkata National Highway 16. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala till November 26.