Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

A landslide in SW China has claimed life of a person and left 15 others missing, Xinhua News Agency reported. Landslide disaster occurred in Fugong County in Yunnan Province of China. Natural disasters occur frequently in China , affecting more than 200 million people every year, a report on Disaster Emergency Management in China mentioned. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 30, 2014

M 5.2 moderate earthquake shakes Tucson today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 50 km NW of Lordsburg. It was 3.1 miles deep. Earthquake struck Arizona near the New Mexico line. According to the Tucson News Now, earthquakes in Arizona are rare. One of the resident of Tucson, Ron K. Miller reported Tucson News Now that, "the entire house shook for about 5 seconds. I've lived in Tucson since 1985 and never felt one before." No damage or injuries have been reported from earthquake in Tucson today. 04:59 UTC (local time 2014-06-28 21:59 @ epicenter) Felt Intensity (MMI) IV (Light): Lordsburg, Clifton, Cactus Flat, Safford, Thatcher and Swift Trail Junction II-III (Weak): Agua Prieta, Tucson, Catalina Foothills, Casas Adobes and Heroica Nogales Epicenter Location 50 km (31mi) NW of Lordsburg, New Mexico 83 km (52mi) WSW of Silver City, New Mexico 136 km (85mi) WNW of Deming

Landslides and floods in Guwahati today have claimed lives of at least nine people, The Times of India reported. According to The Hindustan Times, it is the worst floods in Assam since 1998 and have claimed lives of total 22 people. Out of it, nine fatalities are from Assam's capital of Guwahati only. Around 154 flood relief camps have been opened across Assam, where nearly 2 lakh people have taken shelter. The state government has set up two flood relief camps in Guwahati, NDTV India mentioned quoting the Disaster Management Authority. Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more rain across the Northeast in the next 48 hours. Photo shows rickshaw pullers making their way through a flooded street near Guwahati, India, June 27, 2014 (Source: Xinhua/Stringer). Original post: Natural Disasters List July 28, 2014

Severe storm near Phelps, New York has claimed lives of at least two people, WHAM-TV reported quoting the Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero. A tree fell on the car when they were driving down County Road 6 in Oaks Corners. The incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Associated Press mentioned. Fatalities have been identified as Jeongseok Kong and Sunmi Jin of Maryland. Flash flood watches have been issued by the National Weather Service for areas of upstate New York, stretching from the Buffalo area to the Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 27, 2014

A landslide at Aglung VDC in Gulmi district of Nepal has claimed lives of nine members of a single family, Gorkhapatra Online reported. Heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon caused landslides at different places of Aglung VDC. Disaster area is 42-kilomters away Tamghas, the district headquarter of Gulmi. Nepal Police at disaster zone (Source: Nepalpolice.gov.np) Original post: Natural Disasters List July 23, 2014

At least 26 people died and around 337,000 people have been evacuated after storms brought torrential rain and flash floods to much of southern China, Xinhua reported. Eleven people died in Hunan, five in Jiangxi and four in Fujian. Guizhou, Guangxi and Chongqing each reported two deaths. Flash floods and landslides have toppled more than 8,700 houses, damaged another 66,000 homes causing direct economic losses of 4.08 billion yuan (653 million U.S. dollars). China’s central meteorological authority has issued a blue alert in multiple areas and more heavy rain is expected in large areas of southern China today. Emergency response teams and relief materials have been sent to the disaster-hit regions, Xinhua mentioned. Photo shows a bridge destroyed by rain-triggered floods at Liming Village in Fuzhou City, east China's Jiangxi province (Source: Xinhua/Wan Limin). Original post: Natural Disasters List June 23, 2014

Landslide in Natal, the Brazilian World Cup host city has destroyed 25 houses. Around 50 hours of near non-stop rain in Natal has dumped a month’s worth of precipitation, The Sky News reported. A flood alert has been declared before the world cup matches. Dozens of people have been evacuated in the Mae Luiza neighbourhood. No one has been injured in Natal landslide. Flood damage in Natal, Brazil (Source: Alex South/news.com.au). Natal is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte and also one of the Host Cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Drone footage below shows the landslide damage in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Natal. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 17, 2014

Massive tornadoes in Nebraska have claimed lives of at least two people leaving 19 people injured and destroying more than half of the town of Pilger, Norfolk Daily News reported. At least two tornadoes in Nebraska have caused extensive damage to the community of Pilger. The tornadoes that touched down were about a mile apart, the National Weather Service meteorologist Barbara Mayes said. Tornadoes have destroyed half of the school building in Pilger. Significant damages have been reported by Norfolk Daily News at the post office, the bank, a Lutheran church and the Farmers Co-operative in Pilger. Nebraska Highway 24 from Norfolk to Stanton has been closed.  According to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, tornadoes have also caused damage in Cuming and Wayne counties. The American Red Cross has opened tornado shelters at Wisner-Pilger High School. Related post: Pilger torando cleanup begins This photo was taken from atop the Wisner Elevator as a tornado approached P

Residents of Pilger starts tornado cleanup after storm took lives and caused extensive damages to the community's structures. Massive tornadoes in Pilger have claimed lives of at least two people leaving 19 people injured and destroying more than half of the town. According to the National Weather Service, the two tornadoes touched down within roughly a mile of each other. Tornadoes have destroyed half of the school building in Pilger. Significant damages have been reported by Norfolk Daily News at the post office, the bank, a Lutheran church and the Farmers Co-operative in Pilger. Pilger was evacuated for the night. According to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, tornadoes have also caused damage in Cuming and Wayne counties. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 17, 2014

Recent flooding in Cape Town has affected more than 8,000 people, News24 reported quoting the Disaster Risk Management Centre. People of Khayelitsha, Strand, Vrygrond, Lotus River, Gugulethu, Delft and Philippi area of South Africa are more affected by the floods. Khayelitsha area is reported to be the worst affected area, with around 7 000 people affected by the flooding. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 15, 2014

Heavy rains and strong winds have claimed lives of at least two people and destroyed six houses, Colombia Report has mentioned quoting The Administrative Department of Prevention, Attention, and Recovery of Disasters (DAPARD). Disaster has affected 24 people, and forced the relocation of 17 houses in Yarumal Municipality of Antioquia Department in Colombia. The Yellow alert would last until approximately June 25, DAPARD added. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 11, 2014

Heavy storm in North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany has claimed lives of at least six people disrupting public transport and leaving some roads impassable. Three people died when a tree fell on a garden shed in Duesseldorf, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia. Lightning strike claimed life of a cyclist aged around 50 in nearby Cologne and another cyclist died in Krefeld. Sixth person was found dead in the town of Essen. Storm in Germany today has injured at least 67 people and left 30 in serious condition, Derwesten.de reported. The police and fire department have estimated storm damage of 1.2 million euros in Duisburg. Approximately 20,000 lightning strikes have been recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia alone. Storm in Germany today also closed the country's third-largest airport in Duesseldorf for about an hour. At least ten incoming flights at Duesseldorf airport were cancelled. Below are some photos of storm in Germany today (Photo Credit: Jens Skapski/Disast

Heavy rains and floods have claimed lives of more than 100 people and injured around 100 others in Gazargah-e-Noor district of the northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan, Xinhua reported quoting the district governor Noor Mohammad Gazar. According to the Ministry of Education (MoE),  fatalities include at least 16 school students. Flash floods have completely destroyed Yahoor High School building, Afghanistan Times reported. The flash floods have completely destroyed around 850 houses across several villages and damaged more than 1,000. All the roads leading to Gazargah-e-Noor district have been destroyed or badly damaged. According to the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), at least 91 dead bodies have been recovered so far. Affected people are in need of disaster relief materials and humanitarian assistance. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 8, 2014

Floods in Sri Lanka have claimed lives of at least 23 and displaced more than 100,000 people, Xinhua reported quoting the Disaster Management Center. Most of the fatalities and flood damage have been reported from the Kalutara District where disaster relief efforts are going on, Disaster Management Center added. Flooding in six districts of Sri Lanka have completely destroyed nearly 235 houses and partially damaged another 1,566 homes, Daily Mirror Sri Lanka reported. According to The Hindu, nearly 30,000 of the affected people are temporary living in schools, temples and community halls. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 6, 2014

Sangean Api volcano eruption in central Indonesia has forced evacuation of more than 7,000 people, Xinhua reported quoting Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster agency. Volcanic ash cloud has also forced the cancellation of all flights from Perth, Australia, to Bali on Monday. Six international flights from Perth to Denpasar, Indonesia, have been cancelled due to the ongoing effects of the volcanic ash cloud. Volcanic ashes ashes erupted up to 3,000 meters high from the Sangean volcano located in West Nusatenggara province on Friday. Two local airports in West Nusatenggara, the Bima airport and the Tambolaka airport were immediately closed. Sangeang Api (Gunung Api or Gunung Sangeang) is an active complex volcano on the island of Sangeang in Indonesia. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 1, 2014

A landslide caused by heavy rains has claimed lives of at least five people and injured three others in Guatemala, Reuters reported. According to the Guatemala's national disaster relief commission, landslide destroyed homes in San Pedro Necta, Huehuetenango. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 1, 2014

A state of emergency has been declared due to the devastating floods in the southern part of Siberia. Over 7,600 people have been evacuated from the dangerous areas, The Voice of Russia reported quoting Russian Emergency Situations Ministry head Vladimir Puchkov. Nearly 600 of people, including 128 children, are currently staying at temporary settlement centers. Heavy rainfalls have caused flooding in republics of Khakassia, Altai, and Tyva, and in the Altai territory. Original post: Natural Disasters List June 1, 2014