Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

China meteorological station has issued a yellow alert for rainstorms across the country, China Network Television reported. Storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall along with flooding and landslides in Sichuan, Yunan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Liaoning and Jilin province of China. According to China Network Television, the bridge over the Tongkou River in Jiangyou, Sichuan has collapsed at around 11 a.m. Tuesday morning leaving unknown number of vehicles and pedestrians missing. Recent floods have affected about 16,900 people in Ya'an City in Sichuan Province of China. According to the latest report by the National Commission for Disaster Reduction, rainstorm-triggered natural calamities in China since July 3 have claimed lives of 33 people. Original post: Natural Disasters List July 9, 2013

Storm has caused heavy rains, power outages and flash flooding in Toronto, Canada. More than 90 mm of rainfall, more than a month's average, has been recorded in Toronto. A flood warning has been issued for Toronto rivers. Porter Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Toronto due to the severe weather. Toronto flooding has also shut down the Don Valley Parkway.  According to Toronto Hydro, about 300,000 residents are without power across the Greater Toronto Area. Related post: List of natural calamities in Canada This photo taken from the Bloor St bridge shows flooded DVP (by Sylvie Vannier from Ontario, Canada). Photo below taken by Elena Lappo, meteorologist at the weather network, shows people and flooded cars at 427 and Burnhamthorpe. Cars flooded at King Street and Atlantic Avenue after a flash flood in Toronto (Peter J. Thompson/Nation). This photo shows flooding in Don Valley Parkway in Toronto on Monday, July 8 2013 (

M 4.2 light shallow earthquake shakes Indian state of Tripura, the India Meteorological Department said. According to the India Meteorological Department, the quake's epicenter was located in western Tripura on the border with Bangladesh. It was 2.5 miles deep. Earthquake in Tripura occurred at 9:14 Monday morning. Tremor was felt in several parts of northeast India and Bangladesh but no damage or injury has been recorded, disaster management official said. The Union department of disaster management has claimed North Tripura and Dhalai districts as “most vulnerable” to earthquakes. Tripura lies in the zone-V of the seismological map of India which is a high seismic risk zone. 03:44 UTC (local time Monday July 8, 2013 at 09:14 A.M. @ epicenter) Original post: Natural Disasters List July 8, 2013

At least fifty people got injured with seven in critical condition after a tornado hit Gaoyou city of China, Xinhua reported. A tornado struck Nanfeng village of  Gaoyou City located in Jiangsu Province of China around 4:40 p.m. Sunday. Tornado further affected more than 400 households and damaged hundreds of houses. Photo below shows a man clearing his house destroyed by a tornado in Gaoyou city of China (NEWS.CN). Gaoyou City has already activated its emergency contingency plans and rescue officers along with medical, transportation, safety supervision departments in the disaster area. Original post: Natural Disasters List July 8, 2013

Tropical Storm Chantal, the third named storm of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season has formed southwest of the Lesser Antilles Sunday night. Below are latest updates: Update 23:25 UTC First death from tropical storm Chantal has been reported . A 26 years Dominican firefighter was killed in Maimon. Street floodings have been reported in Santo Domingo. Las Americas International Airport has cancelled some international flights to Brazil, Haiti and the United States. A nationwide red alert has been declared in Haiti due to the possibility of flooding and landslides. Tropical storm Chantal caused several tornadoes in Antigua .  Update 14:30 UTC; 2013/07/10 Chantal is currently moving towards Dominican Republic and Haiti. Landslides and heavy flooding could hit Dominican Republic and Haiti, disaster management official said . Chantal is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon in Dominican Republic. According to the hurricane center, Hispaniola could see 10 inches of rains.

M 5.9 strong earthquake shakes El Salvador today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 15 km SSW of El Rosario and 38 km SSE of San Salvador. It was 60.0 miles deep. Earthquake today in El Salvador shook the populated area of Soyapango, San Salvador, Guatemala City, Santa Tecla and Tegucigalpa. USGS has expected maximum shaking intensity of V (moderate) in El Rosario. 02:52 UTC (local time 2013-07-07 20:52 @ epicenter) Shaking Intensity (MMI): V (Moderate): El Rosario IV (Light): Puerto El Triunfo, Nuevo Cuscatlan, Soyapango, Delgado, Apopa, Santa Tecla, San Salvador and Guatemala City. III (Weak): Tegucigalpa and Chinandega. Epicenter Location 15 km SSW of El Rosario, El Salvador 27 km SW of Zacatecoluca, El Salvador 29 km ESE of La Libertad, El Salvador 31 km S of Santo Tomas, El Salvador 38 km SSE of San Salvador, El Salvador Original post: Natural Disasters List July 8, 2013