Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

February 21, 2020: Magnitude 3.5 light earthquake has been recorded in Castaic today, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. According to the USGS, the quake's epicenter was located 2 km NNW of Castaic, California . The earthquake occurred at 17 km depth. Weak intensity of MMI III have been felt by the people of Castaic, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch, Newhall and Chatsworth, CA. No preliminary damage or injuries have been reported.

February 14, 2020: At least 21 people have died in avalanches in the Daykundi province in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan's disaster management authority confirmed. Other 10 people have been injured. About 50 houses have been destroyed by the avalanches. The Afghanistan Meteorological Department  had predicted of severe weather with rainfall, heavy snow and flash flooding for several provinces, including Daykundi.

February 12, 2020: Magnitude 2.8 earthquake has been recorded in  Muswellbrook todat at around 5.26 am. According to the Geoscience Australia , the quake's epicenter was located near a mine west of Lake Liddell. It occurred at 10 km depth. Geoscience Australia received earthquake felt reports from Port Stephens, Newcastle, North Western Sydney and Blue Mountains.

February 11, 2020: Two people died due to the severe storm Ciara in the United Kingdom.  Fatalities have been reported from Clydebank, West Dumbartonshitre and at the A33 near Winchester. Storm Ciara (Storm Sabine in the German-speaking countries) brought heavy rain and severe winds across much of the United Kingdom, Ireland , Sweden and other northern regions in Europe. Last week, the Met Office had issued a yellow warning for a potential storm, covering all of the United Kingdom. The Environment Agency had issued 186 flood alerts, 251 flood warnings and 1 severe flood warning in England. The storm was named Ciara by the Met Office in the United Kingdom, and Sabine by the Deutscher Wetterdienst in Germany.

February 6, 2020: At least 41 people have been killed and 84 others have been injured after two avalanches hit Turkey's eastern border with Iran, the Turkish Natural Disaster and Crisis Directorate (AFAD) said. Two avalanches occurred near Bahçesaray in Turkey's eastern Van Province. On 4 February 2020, an avalanche took place in a mountain pass in the Bahçesaray district.  Fatalities included eight military police officers, three government-paid village guards, three firefighters and nine volunteers. 

February 5, 2020: Storm Ciara is forecast to bring damaging winds across Ireland this weekend. On 4 February 2020, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering the entirety of the United Kingdom. Storm Ciara has been named by the Met Office as the third storm of the 2019-2020 storm season. *Ciara is pronounced Kee-ra according to official Met Éireann