Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

November 5, 2016: According to the Sabah Meteorological Department, Kudat district is likely to be hit by a tsunami if an underwater earthquake takes place in the Philippines (Manila Trench) or the massive collapse of a seabed cliff off Brunei. Based on the scientific studies carried out by researchers across the globe, the state has the potential of being struck by seismic sea waves, New Straits Times has written quoting Azemi Daud, the director of the Sabah Meteorological Department as saying.

November 3, 2016: Flooding triggered by torrential rainfall caused flooding in central Vietnam claiming lives of two people and left several others missing. The flood water rose to two metres in parts of the neighbouring provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, Reuters reported quoting the local people.

Earthquake damaged buildings in Arquata del Tronto, Italy (Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) October 30, 2016: At least 20 people injured after a strongest earthquake in 36 years rattled Italy at 7:41 a.m. with its epicenter near Norcia.  According to Italy’s national geophysical and volcanology institute, magnitude 6.5 tremor was recorded, the strongest to hit Italy since 1980. It was felt as far north as near the border with Austria and in Rome.

October 28, 2016: Torrential rainfall and flooding in Egypt have claimed lives of at least 30 people, Middle East News Agency (MENA), a news agency by Egyptian government confirmed.  Nine people died in South Sinai, eight in Sohag and five in Beni Suef. Similarly, nine others died in the Red Sea.

The First World Tsunami Awareness Day will be observed on November 5, 2016 during the upcoming Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR). The Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) is going to be held by the government of India in collaboration with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) between November 2-5, 2016. In December 2015, the UN General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day. The Assembly called on all countries, international bodies and civil society to observe the day, in order to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to risk reduction.

October 26, 2016: A landslide claimed lives of at least seven people and buried more than 10 others along a mountainous stretch of Colombia's main highway between Bogota and Medellin on Wednesday. "Others four people have been injured and taken to a local hospital," Reuters reported disaster management chief for the northwestern department of Antioquia, Gilberto Mazo as saying. According to the authorities, the landslide disaster occurred due to heavy rain in the mountainous area.