Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

May 19, 2018: The Odisha Government is going to conduct a state-wide mock drill today to check efficacy of the preparedness of disaster management ahead of the monsoon season. According to the Odisha TV , the mock drill on management of flood and cyclone will be held at all 879 multipurpose cyclone shelters in state. During the drill the volunteers will take part in disaster management drills along with the members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Service Department and local NGOs.

May 17, 2018: The central government of India has allotted Rs 218 crores to Uttarakhand towards its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The disaster relief will be used to provide immediate relief to those affected by natural calamities like earthquake, floods, fire etc. According to The Times of India , the state government has already released Rs 5 crore each to all 13 districts in the state to provide relief in cases of monsoon-related disasters. Heavy rainfall caused devastating floods and landslides across Northern India in 2013 claiming lives of thousands of people.

May 18, 2018: Magnitude 3.5 earthquake rattled Northern Texas today at 07:45 pm, The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The epicenter was located 8 km NW of Venus and 9.4 km SSW of Mansfield, Texas. It occurred at a shallow depth of 5km. The tremor was well felt in Alvarado, Venus, Mansfield, Burleson, Midlothian, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Kennedale, Forth Worth and adjoining areas.

May 18, 2018: An explosive eruption has occurred at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano sending ash about 30,000ft (9,100m) high into the sky. According to the report issued by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued at 02:54 UTC, after the explosive eruption early this morning seismic levels have been gradually increasing, but as of this report no additional explosions have occurred. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a red aler t, which means major volcanic eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected with hazardous activity both on the ground and in the air. According to Talmadge Magno, civil defense administrator for Hawaii County, around 18,000 masks that protect from particulates like ash were given out Thursday. Officials still warned people in the area on Hawaii's Big Island to stay indoors and to use the masks. Officials expect volcanic activity to continue, citing a similar series of events in 1924 that lasted 2½ weeks. Mount Kilauea volcano is

May 15, 2018: At least 34 people have been died in recent flash floods caused by heavy rainfall in several provinces of Afghanistan . According to the Hashmat Khan Bahaduri, the spokesperson for the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the flash floods have mainly affected the northern and central part of the country, damaging around 900 houses.

May 16, 2018: Violent storms in parts of the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic have claimed lives of at least five people. A woman, aged 58, died after a tree fell on her vehicle in the town of Newburgh, New York. An 11-year-old girl died in Newburgh, New York, when a large tree fell on the vehicle she was in, police said.  A 41-year-old woman was killed in New Fairfield, Connecticut, when a tree struck her car during the storm Tuesday. Similarly, in Danbury, Connecticut, a man was also killed when a tree fell on his vehicle. According to CNN, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, a 31-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on his car, the county coroner's office said.