Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

Mud crater explosion in Sicily has claimed life of a seven-year-old girl. The girl, her brother and father were buried in mud and sediment when one of the craters exploded in western Sicily. The nine-year-old boy is missing while the father is being treated at a hospital, The Times of Malta reported.

Mount Ontake in Japan erupted on Saturday, claiming life of a person and seriously injuring more than 30 people. More than 250 hikers have been stranded on the mountain, Japan Today reported. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered the military to help in rescue efforts.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided the federal disaster aid to the state of Michigan and ordered federal aid to supplement state, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said in its news release on September 25, 2014.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), emergency management agencies in five states of United States have been awarded more than $1.6 million in preparedness grants. Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas have received the FEMA Preparedness Grants, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said in its news release on September 25, 2014.

Landslides and flash floods in Meghalaya, India have claimed lives of at least seven people, The Times of India reported. Heavy rainfall caused flash floods in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya inundating over 100 villages and affecting over one lakh people.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong (local name Mario) has left at least five people dead and displaced more than 710,000 people in Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Tropical storm flooding in Metro Manila today has claimed lives of at least three people. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, flooding has claimed three lives in Quezon City, Philippines and affected estimated of about half a million people.

Landslides triggered by Typhoon Kalmaegi have claimed lives of at least seven people in Lang Son’s Dong Dang Town of Vietnam. According to the Asian Correspondent, about 55,000 people in four northern coastal provinces were evacuated ahead of the storm.

M 7.1 massive earthquake shakes Guam today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 4km NW of Piti Village. It was 83.2 miles deep.

Thousands of Filipinos have fled their homes as Mayon volcano spewed lava in Albay province of Philippines. According to the PhilStar, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the evacuation of up to 12,000 residents within an 8-kilometer radius of the volcano's crater.

M 4.7 moderate earthquake shakes Sweden today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 39 km NNE of AElvdalen. It was 8.9 miles deep.

A flood emergency has been declared in Larkana, Pakistan. According to the Pakistan News, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindh, Commander (retd) Syed Salman Shah, along with Commissioner Larkana Division, Dr Saeed Ahmed Magnejo and other officials, visited various dykes of the Larkana district on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared disaster for Guam following Tropical Storm Halong , FEMA said in its news release on September 11, 2014.

Floods and landslides in Pakistan, and the Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered parts of Kashmir have claimed lives of at least 441 people, authorities said Tuesday.  So far, 241 have died in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. At least 200 people have been killed in India, officials said.

M 3.7 light earthquake shakes Southern California today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located just 1 km NNW of San Jacinto. It was 8.3 miles deep.

Floods in seventeen different provinces of Thailand have claimed lives of at least six people, Bangkok Post has written quoting the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

"September is National Preparedness Month, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages everyone to make disaster preparedness a priority", FEMA said in its news release on August 29, 2014.