MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Cyclone Fantala - Indian Ocean's Most Powerful Storm On Record! [VIDEO]

Tropical Cyclone Fantala near peak intensity.  © NOAA/NASA, RAMMB/CIRA

April 21, 2016 - INDIAN OCEAN - The third record-breaking storm in under a year might owe its ferocity to human activity

Winds of 170 mph can lift and hurl heavy cars, even peel the bark from trees.

So it's a good thing not many people are in the waters north of Madagascar right now, where Tropical Cyclone Fantala just made history as the strongest-known storm in the Indian Ocean.

The mighty tempest spun itself up to 150 knots (173 mph) on Monday, surpassing the 145-knot (167 mph) barrage of Super Cyclonic Storm Gonu in 2007. (Reliable records only date to 1990, for what it's worth.)

That would make it a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. It simmered down to about 85 knots on Wednesday, and is expected to wander southeast for a couple days before running out of steam.

Fantala is the latest in a series of abnormally menacing cyclones: Hurricane Patricia became the strongest-known storm in the Northeast Pacific in October, and February's Winston caused devastation in Fiji as the most-potent cyclone on record in the Southwest Pacific.

This progression of monster storms might have something to due with human activity.

"Many parts of the tropics have seen record-warm sea surface temperatures in 2015 and 2016, triggered by a strong El Niño on top of longer-term warming caused by human-produced greenhouse gases," writes meteorologist Bob Henson at Weather Underground. "These unusual readings have added fuel to the fire of tropical cyclone production."

#Fantala from storm to Cat 5 cyclone seen by Met-10 https://t.co/FSeh7on5uR Thnx also to @DanLindsey77 for VIIRS pic pic.twitter.com/T8ljW076Nx

— EUMETSAT Users (@eumetsat_users) April 19, 2016

- CityLab.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Weather Anomalies - 3 Tropical Cyclones Form At The Same Time In The Southern Hemisphere!

3 tropical storms. © Google Maps

February 11, 2016 - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - Three tropical cyclones formed almost simultaneously in the Southern Hemisphere.

Daya was born in the Indian Ocean, whereas Eleven and Tatiana formed in the Pacific Ocean.

The tropical cyclone Daya formed east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and is moving in a south-easterly direction.

In the eye of the storm, wind speeds were measured at 72 km / h, with gusts reaching 97 km / h.

Tropical cyclone Daya.

Tropical Cyclone 11 is still nameless. It formed to the east of the islands of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.

The wind speed at the epicenter is 72 km / h, with gusts up to 97 km / h.

Tropical cyclone 11.

The cyclone is moving in a southeasterly direction and could grow significantly worse in the near future.

The tropical cyclone Tatiana formed east of Australia and to the west of the islands of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.

Tropical cyclone Tatiana.

It is currently moving in a south-easterly direction.

The wind speed at the epicenter is 80 km / h, with gusts up to 105 km / h. Hopefully they will not sweep through residential areas. - Strange Sounds.

MASS ANIMAL DIE-OFFS: Primates In Peril - 50 PERCENT Of Our Closest Living Relatives Are On The Brink Of Extinction Around The World!

More than half of the world's primates are at risk of dying out due to the threat posed by habitat loss and hunting. The Hainan gibbon (pictured)
is thought to be the world's most endangered primate, with just 25 of the animals left living on an isolated island in China

November 25, 2015 - EARTH - They are our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom, yet more than half of the world's primates are facing extinction due to our destruction of the habitats where they live.

Burning and clearing of large areas of tropical forest, combined with hunting of primates for food and illegal wildlife trade, has placed many species of apes, lemurs and monkeys at risk of dying out.

These include iconic species such as the Sumatran orang-utan, Grauer's gorilla, the Northern brown howler monkey and the Hainan gibbon.

Scientists and conservation experts have now updated a report on the world's 25 most endangered primates based on the current knowledge of the animals numbers and the risks facing them.

Dr Christoph Schwitzer, a primatologist and director of conservation at Bristol Zoological Society who helped compile the list, said: 'This research highlights the extent of the danger facing many of the world's primates. 'We hope it will focus people's attention on these lesser known primate species, some of which most people will probably have never heard of, such as the Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur from Madagascar - a species only discovered two years ago - or the Roloway monkey from Ghana and Ivory Coast, which we believe is on the very verge of extinction.' 'Some of these animals have tiny populations remaining in the wild and support and action to help save them is vital if we are to avoid losing these wonderful animals forever.

'This report makes scary reading for primatologists and the public alike, and highlights where we as conservationists must focus our attention over the coming years.'

There are 703 species and sub-species of primates around the world.

Every two years experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Bristol Zoological Society, International Primatological Society and Conservation International, produce a list of those most under threat.

In their latest report two species - the Philippine tarsier and the Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur from Madagascar - were included on the list for the first time.

The Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur was only discovered two years ago and its exact numbers are still unknown but its habitat is already being destroyed.

The report warned that Madagascar and Vietnam are home to large numbers of highly threatened primate species.

This is because many of the species live in isolated pockets of forest that are under threat of destruction.

The Northern sportive lemur from Madagascar is possibly the second most endangered animal to appear on the list with just 50 individuals known to survive. The Cat Ba langur, or golden headed langur as it is also known, has just 60 individuals left on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam.There are thought to be just 24 Hainan gibbons left on Hainan Island in China.

In Africa, the red colobus monkeys was under 'particular threat', as were some of South America's howler monkeys and spider monkeys.

The Northern brown howler monkey, for example, has less than 250 mature animals living in the wild.

The report warned: 'All of these species are relatively large and conspicuous, making them prime targets for bushmeat hunting.'

Russell Mittermeier, chair of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN, said he hoped the report would encourage governments to commit to 'desperately needed biodiversity conservation measures'.

He said there was growing evidence that some primate species play important roles in dispersing tropical forest tree seeds, meaning they were essential to those habitats.

He added: 'The purpose of our Top 25 list is to highlight those primates most at risk, to attract the attention of the public, to stimulate national governments to do more, and especially to find the resources to implement desperately needed conservation measures.

'In particular, we want to encourage governments to commit to desperately needed biodiversity conservation measures.' THE WORLD'S 25 MOST ENDANGERED PRIMATES

Sumatran orang-utans (pictured) are one of the world's most threatened species and has been the focus of intense conservation campaigns.

Madagascar has many unique species of primate but many of the island's lemurs are now threatened, including the Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur (upper), which number just
5,000 animals left in the wild. South American primates like the Colombian black spider monkey (lower) are also under threat from habitat loss

Although some of the species that appear on the list of the most threatened animals are small and rarely seen, like the Philippine tarsier (upper),
others are quite large and noisy species, like the brown howler monkey (lower)

Lemurs in Madagascar are among the most threatened according to the report, including the red ruffed lemur (pictured).
Exact numbers of this species are not known but they are extremely rare

The Roloway monkey lives in the forests of from Ghana and Ivory Coast but is thought to be on the 'very verge' of extinction,
according to experts behind a new report on the world's most endangered primates

Primate species. Number remaining in the wild.

Lavasoa Mountains dwarf lemur Unknown

Lake Alaotra bamboo lemur 2,500 - 5,000

Red ruffed lemur Unknown

Northern sportive lemur Around 50

Perrier's sifaka 1,700 - 2,600

Rondo dwarf galago Unknown, but remaining habitat is just 100 square km

Roloway monkey Unknown, but thought to be on the very verge of extinction

Preuss' red colobus monkey Unknown

Tana River red colobus monkey 1,000

Grauer's gorilla 2,000 - 10,000

Philippine tarsier Unknown

Javan slow loris Unknown

Pig-tailed langur 3,300

Cat Ba langur 60

Delacour's langur 234 - 275

Tonkin snub-nosed monkey less than 250

Kashmir grey langur Unknown

Western purple-faced langur Unknown

Hainan gibbon 25

Sumatran orang-utan Unknown

Ka'apor capuchin Unknown

Northern brown howler monkey Less than 250 adults

Colombian brown spider monkey Unknown

Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey Unknown

Courtesy of IUCN, the Bristol Zoological Society, International Primatological Society and Conservation International

- Daily Mail.

 

MONUMENTAL DELUGE: Widespread Flooding – The Latest Reports Of High Tides, Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods, Sea Level Rise, And Catastrophic Storms!

March 10, 2015 - EARTH - The following list constitutes the latest reports of high tides, heavy rainfall, flash floods, widespread flooding, sea level rise and catastrophic storms.

Madagascar Floods – Relief Efforts Increased as More Rain Expected

Madagascar was battered by heavy rains during the first days of March 2015. Since then 25 people have died, 4,800 houses have been destroyed and 35,000 people forced from their homes in the capital Antananarivo.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) “People are seeking shelter wherever they can, including schools”.

Madagascar is bracing itself further heavy rainfall this week. The situation could be made worst still by the chance of yet more rain that may come in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Haliba, despite the cyclone taking a path into the Indian Ocean and away from land. Twenty-two towns remain on high alert, ready to evacuate should the expected rainfall lead to further floods.

Antananarivo region, Madagascar, 2015.  Malagasy Red Cross Society.

Red Cross Response

With more heavy rains expected this week, the Malagasy Red Cross Society has teams and materials positioned and ready to respond to growing needs following already extensive flooding which has left thousands homeless.

According to a statement by IFRC:

“Malagasy Red Cross Society has deployed volunteer teams to the affected sites, where they have built 80 emergency shelters in Grand Tana, using prepositioned stocks by the Indian Ocean Platform for Regional Intervention (PIROI). Teams are involved in conducting damage assessments and sharing messages with communities to ensure they remain on alert for the possibility of further flooding and the need for evacuation”.

So far the PIROI has delivered 57 tonnes of emergency supplies from warehouses in Antananarivo and Reunion to support the Malagasy Red Cross Society in responding to the crisis.

Water-borne Diseases

The Red Cross say there is particular concern about the outbreak of water-borne diseases, given the damage done to water points. They say that Red Cross teams are assisting in delivering potable water and conducting hygiene promotion sessions with those living in temporary sites.

Argentina Floods – 12 Dead, Around 4,000 Remain Displaced

At least 12 people have been killed in the flooding that affected the three provinces of Cordoba, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero in Argentina over the last 10 days.

Improved weather conditions in some areas has meant that some of those displaced by the recent floods have been able to return home. However, as many as 4,000 people are still waiting to return to their homes.

Santiago del Estero

According to the local civil defence agency (Defensa Civil de la Municipalidad de Santiago del Estero) around 3,500 people have been evacuated in the province as a result of flooding since 05 March 2015, when heavy rainfall pushed levels of the River Dulce to overflow.

Heavy rain between 05 and 06 March 2015, resulted in a house collapse in La Banda that injured a young child. Two people have died in the floods in Santiago del Estero, according to state newswire Telam.

Santa Fe

The flood waters have started to recede and the province is now let with the clean up of the damage left behind.

Newspaper La Nacion reports that there is now an increased threats of diseases such as leptospirosis, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and respiratory infections. The flooding damage sewage systems and has left contaminated, stagnant water in the streets. Ministry of Health of the province of Santa Fe is delivering medication tp help combat the spread of such diseases.

Córdoba

Our earlier report of 03 March 2015 said that at least 2,000 people had been evacuated in the province as a result of recent flooding. The worst affected areas include Totoral, Jesús María, Caroya, Ascochinga, Idiazabal and Balnearia.

Floods, 17/02/2015, Córdoba. Photo: Humberto Millares / Gobierno de Córdoba

Improved weather conditions in some localities has meant that some of those evacuated have been able to return home. Currently around 1,500 people remain displaced, most of them in the small town of Idiazabal. Around 10 people have been reported killed in the floods in Cordoba.

Floods in Idiazábal, Córdoba, Argentina, March 2015. Photo: Gobierno de Córdoba

UPDATE – Marapa River Overflows as State of Emergency Declared in Tucuman

Local authorities have declared a State of Emergency throughout the province of Tucumán in northwest Argentina after several days of heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow and increased the threat of landslides in the area.

Around 300 families have already been evacuated in the southern part of the province. Authorities have told around 7,000 more people that they may also need to evacuate their homes should levels of the nearby Marapa river rise further. Most of those affected are located in Graneros and La Madrid, an area which suffered from major flooding in 1992, affecting around 10,000 people.

Floods in La Madrid, Tucumán, Argentina. Photo: Government of Tucumán

According to Tucuman government, dozens of trucks and buses were in place, ready and waiting to carry out an evacuation operation unprecedented in the area. The government of Tucumán say that the entire population of La Madrid could be evacuated.

Governor of Tucumán, José Alperovich, said, “We will try to evacuate all if water continues to rise…we are on full emergency”.

Local leader Dardo Herrera told Telam, the state news agency, “we are prepared to face a very complicated situation and there is no history of an operation of this magnitude in our people.”

According to Telam, levels of the Escaba dam were so high yesterday 09 March 2015 that it was necessary to open the flood gates, which could further complicate the situation.

Tucumán is the fourth province in Argentina to be hit by flooding in this month. Yesterday FloodList reported that at least 12 people have been killed in the flooding that affected the three provinces of Cordoba, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero in Argentina over the last 10 days.

Floods in Nampula Province, Mozambique

Three days of torrential rain in the province of Nampula, northern Mozambique, has caused severe flash floods that have damaged road and rail networks and left 8 districts cut off.

According to Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), the districts affected are Mossuril, Larde, Moma, Liupo. Mogincual, Mozambique Island, Angoche and Mogovolas. Storms have also caused power outages in the area over the last 3 days.

Quoting independent television station STV, AIM said that around 2,500 families have been affected by the floods and at least 500 houses have been destroyed in Mossuril.

The province of Cabo Delgado is also suffering from torrential rain. AIM said that flash floods have damaged a bridge in Ancuabe district.

Mozambique is still recovering from the massive floods that struck in January this year. At least 117 people died and 157,000 were affected by the floods, most of them in the province of Zambézia.

Malawi Floods – Concern Over Cramped Conditions in Displacement Camps

In a statement of 04 March 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that the current situation in for flood victims in Malawi is precarious.

With further heavy rains expected to fall in already saturated parts of Malawi over the coming week, the situation could become worse as more people seek shelter in the temporary camps that have been established along the periphery of the flood waters.

Cramped Conditions in Displacement Camps

230,000 people were displaced by the floods, some of the worst seen in the country in recent years. Michael Charles, IFRC’s acting regional representative in southern Africa said that accommodation in some camps for those displaced is extremely cramped.

“The situation is precarious,” said Michael Charles, IFRC’s acting regional representative in southern Africa. “In some camps, family tents that were designed to accommodate six people have been housing 30 individuals. In the larger tents, designed to accommodate between 20 and 30 adults, up to 100 people have crammed inside. Everyone is desperate to find shelter, even if it means living virtually on top of their neighbours.”

IFRC to Scale Up Response

IFRC is ramping up its efforts to assist those displaced by the floods and aims to assist more than 46,000 people.

“When the flooding began in January, the scale of the emergency was still unclear,” said Charles. “Together with the government and other partners, we conducted assessments and now know that at least 230,000 people have lost their homes and are struggling to survive. It is vital that we scale up our activities if we are to safeguard the lives of these vulnerable people and ensure that they survive this flood and future environmental extremes.”

More Emergency Funding Required

With the scope of the disaster becoming more clear, IFRC has revised its emergency appeal upwards and is now requesting 4 million Swiss francs in emergency funding to support activities related to the provision of shelter, health care, access to clean water and proper sanitation, and reuniting families separated by the flooding.

Building Resilience

In addition to providing for the immediate needs of 46,712 people, the revised appeal seeks to address the resilience and longer-term development of affected communities. The appeal will be sufficient to help 100 families build more resilient permanent houses as a pilot project for further flood-resistant housing.

“Building flood resistant shelter is a key component of the revised appeal,” said Naemi Heita, IFRC regional disaster risk management coordinator. “Malawi experiences flooding every year, and we want to ensure that people are better prepared for future flooding. We also want to minimize the impact the flooding has had on their livelihoods.”

Distribution of Seeds and Root Cuttings

Up to 638,000 people lost their crops during the floods, leaving them unable to feed themselves or their families. To help compensate for this loss, and improve food security and nutrition in affected areas, the Red Cross is distributing root cuttings and seeds of basic food crops, such as cassava and sweet potato, to all households with access to land.

LENE VENDELBO, Danish Red Cross. Southern Malawi, Feb 2015

- Floodlist.

MONUMENTAL DELUGE: Widespread Flooding – The Latest Reports Of High Tides, Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods, Sea Level Rise, And Catastrophic Storms!

March 4, 2015 - EARTH - The following list constitutes the latest reports of high tides, heavy rainfall, flash floods, widespread flooding, sea level rise and catastrophic storms.

Floods in Northern Spain as Ebro River Breaks its Banks

Floods in Zaragoza, March 2015. Photo: Ana

Levels of the Ebro River have been high for the last 3 to 4 days. By 28 February 2015, the overflowing river had flooded around 20,000 hectares in Aragon, north-eastern Spain.

Since then river levels have continued to rise and have now flooded areas along the river in Zaragoza, the capital of the region and Spain’s fifth largest city.

Levels of the Ebro at Zaragoza are now thought to have peaked. Early on Monday 02 March 2015, the river reached 6.10 meters. Several hours later the level had dropped slightly to 6.06 metres. According to Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, as of 11:00 today 03 March 2015, Ebro levels at Zaragoza now stand at 5.28 metres.

Ebros River Levels at Zaragoza since 18 February 2015. Image: Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro

The worst affected areas are Ribera Alta del Ebro and Ribera Baja, according to the regional government of Aragon. Evacuations have been carried out in the towns of Boquiñeni (900 people) and Pradilla (600 people). The displaced found temporary accommodation with relatives or in local sports centres.

Ebro floods from the air, March 2015. Photo: UME

The flooding has caused damage to bridges and the ARA-1 motorway in Villafranca de Ebro, near Zaragoza.

Bridge / road collapse after Ebro floods, Spain. Photo: UME

Spain’s Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) or emergency military units, are providing support to flood victims and affected towns. The UME has deployed 450 troops and 145 vehicles to the flooded areas and are carrying out emergency repairs to roads and bridges, as well as carrying out evacuations and flood rescues.

UME troops working to clear the floods – Photo: UME

Pumping flood water –  Photo: UME

Floods Moving Downstream

A flood alert remains for Zaragoza, although river levels are dropping. There is now a fear that communities downstream will be affected by flooding. According to Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, levels of the Ebro are dangerously high at Ascó in Tarragona province, Catalonia, where the Ebro stood at 4.78 metres at 11:00 today, 03 March 2015.


WATCH: Floods in Spain.

38 Dead after Floods in Tanzania

AFP and BBC are reporting that floods have killed 38 people in Kahama district, Shinyanga region in north-western Tanzania. Around 80 others have been injured in the floods which struck late on Tuesday 03 March 2015 after torrential rain, hail and high winds.

Officials estimate that around 3,500 people have been affected by the floods. Homes, roads, crops and livestock have all been severely damaged. Police and authorities are still assessing damage and searching for survivors.

The Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest and richest city, was hit by severe floods in April last year, where at least 41 people were thought to have died.

In march last year, heavy rainfall caused deadly flooding in Tanzania’s Arusha and Dodma regions.
The BBC report for the recent floods in Shinyanga can be found here.

6 Killed in Floods in Papua New Guinea

Six people – 5 children and a mother – were killed when flash floods struck in Jiwaka province in Papua New Guinea on Friday 27 February 2015.

The victims were washed away by the flood waters of an overflowing river near to Kaip, a village, close to the border with Western Highlands province.

Around 200 families were affected by the flooding in the area. Jiwaka Provincial Disaster Coordinator and Deputy Provincial Administrator Mr Joseph Amban told local media:

“As a result of the flood up to 200 families were affected and are in need of relief assistance as their food gardens were destroyed by the flood. Domestic animals other properties were also lost.”

Jiwaka province was formed in 2012 and comprises of districts that were previously part of Western Highlands Province.

Recent flooding and landslides have caused damage to homes, roads and farms in the Western and Southern Highlands, Central Province as well as Jiwaka. Roads in the Highlands region have been particularly badly affected. Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Office said it is still trying to fully asses the damage.

Further Rainfall Expected

Heavy rain has been falling across the country for several days and could be on the way. Rabaul, East New Britain province, saw 62mm of rain in 24 hours between 02 and 03 march 2015, according to WMO.

Papua New Guinea’s National Weather Service have said that rainfall will be at its peak during March, with the Highlands region expected to be worst hit.

Two people died after floods in Kimbe and across the province of West New Britain in early February this year.

Madagascar Floods – More Rain, Death Toll Rises, Antananarivo Remains on Alert

Floods in Antananarivo

More heavy rainfall in Madagascar over the last 24 hours threatens to worsen the flood situation for the 3 regions already suffering (Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga and Vakinankaratra) and bring flooding to other parts of the country.

Mananjary in Vatovavy-Fitovinany region saw 95 mm of rain in 24 hours between 03 and 04 March, according to WMO. Ambohitsilaozana in Alaotra-Mangoro Region saw 88 mm of rain in the same period.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is still on a red alert for possible flooding. As of BNGRC’s latest report (03 March 2015, 19:00 local time) further rainfall has meant that levels of the Imamba, Sisaony and Ikopa rivers have started to climb again.

BNGRC are also warning of the threat of landslides in the slopes and hillsides of the city.

Death Toll Rises

There has been one further death since our earlier report, with the death toll from the Madagascar floods now standing at 20.

At least 71,854 people have been affected by the flooding, with 38,498 people displaced. 581 homes have been destroyed and 1,698 damaged in the flooding. BNGRC say that 6,339 hectares of crops, mostly rice, has been destroyed.

13 districts across the 3 regions of Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga and Vakinankaratra have been affected by the floods. The recent heavy rainfall may widen the affected areas.

Disease

There is also fear of increased disease in the flood affected areas. BNGRC warned that drinking water contaminated by floods, standing water attracting mosquitoes and uncollected garbage in the flood zones may all add to the increase of diseases such as malaria, dengue and cholera. Recent floods in Malawi and Mozambique have resulted in outbreaks of cholera amongst flood victims.

Heavy Rain Turns Antananarivo into a City of Landslides

While residents of Antananarivo living near to the city’s rivers are suffering from the recent floods, those in the hillsides now live in fear of deadly landslides.

Madagascar’s disaster management agency, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC) has warned of possible widespread landslides in the capital Antananarivo.

Days of heavy rain have made slopes and hillsides around the city dangerously unstable. According to BNGRC, areas most at risk are Ambolokandrina, Ankatso and the slopes around Manjakamiadana.

Antananarivo Landslide PhotosBNGRC say that they are working with technical to carry out in-depth analyzes of the risks of landslides. The photos below were taken from a helicopter by the BNGRC assessment team. The numerous patches of bare earth dotted around the hillsides, sometimes partly covered with plastic or other material by locals to help stabilise the soil, indicate the location of recent landslides (some landslide locations have been marked in red by BNGRC).

Photo credits: Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes, Madagascar

Three regions of Madagascar have been suffering from heavy rain and flooding since 26 February. At least 20 people are thought to have died in the floods.

25 Killed in Severe Weather in Pakistan – 161 mm of Rain in Islamabad

A total of 25 deaths have been reported in Pakistan over the last 7 days as a result of recent severe weather.
At least 15 of the deaths came after houses and buildings collapsed after torrential rainfall. At least 8 people were killed in Wah Cantonment in the province of Punjab after houses collapsed there. In similar circumstances, 7 people died in Mohmand Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the semi-autonomous tribal region in northwestern Pakistan, according to ECHO. Local media report that other deaths occurred in landslides and road accidents.

The country has experienced heavy rainfall since 25 February, when 5 people died in north west Pakistan.

Yesterday Islamabad saw 161 mm of rain fall in a 24 hour period. The town of Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province saw 66 mm of rain, according to WMO figures.

Rain levels in Pakistan. Image: Pakistan National Meteorological Service

The heavy rainfall has caused flooding, disrupted transport and caused power and communication outages.

Further heavy rain and snowfall is has been forecast by Pakistan’s National Meteorological Service. For the next 24 hours at least. The severe weather is likely to affect Islamabad, FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhua and Punjab provinces.

Northern India

Parts of northern India are also seeing high levels of rain and snow, in particular Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh which has caused landslides and avalanches killing at least 6 people.

Argentina Floods – Thousands Evacuated in Cordoba

Floods in Idiazábal, Córdoba, Argentina, March 2015. Photo: Gobierno de Córdoba

José Manuel de la Sota, the governor of Cordoba province in Argentina, today declared a state of emergency throughout the province.

Parts of the province have been under water for the last 5 days. One local observer said the region had seen 18 consecutive days of rain. Six people died in floods in the province in mid February 2015 after 320 mm of rain fell in 12 hours. Further heavy rainfall over the last 2 days has worsened the situation.

WMO report that 75 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 02 and 03 March 2015 in Marcos Juárez in Cordoba.

At least 2,000 people have been forced from their homes after flooding across the province. The worst affected areas are the towns of Idiazabal and Balnearia. Idiazábal has been under water since 27 February 2015, when at least 400 people had to evacuated their homes, according to La Voz.

After the recent heavy rain, Totoral, Jesús María, Caroya and Ascochinga can also be added to the list of affected areas.

In a statement, the government of Cordoba said: “The situation is critical, it rained abundantly in places that until now had not been affected and worsened in already flooded areas.”

The statement also said that flooding rivers and increase the flow of water from dams was hampering relief efforts. Affected communities are also spread over a wide area, in the east, north and central parts of the province.

San Luis and Santa Fe Provinces

The provinces of San Luis and Santa Fe gave also been affected by severe weather over the last 2 days. Around 350 people have been evacuated from their homes in San Luis province, which had also been badly hit by floods last month. In Sauce Viejo, Santa Fe, 61 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 03 March 2015.

Deforestation in Cordoba

Greenpeace Argentina say deforestation is one of the main causes of increased flooding in Cordoba. Their report says:

“despite the enactment of the National Forest Act, land clearing for agriculture and urban development has wiped out native forests in fragile areas”

Greenpeace said that between 2007, when the Forest Act came into force, and mid-2013, as much as 44,823 hectares of forest was cleared.

Hernán Giardini, coordinator of Greenpeace forest campaigner, said:

“Scientists and environmentalists have long been warning that forests are our natural sponge, thus more deforestation means more flooding. It is necessary that politicians and businessmen strictly comply with the Forest Act”

Photos of the floods in Cordoba from Social Media below:

MONUMENTAL DELUGE: Widespread Flooding – The Latest Reports Of High Tides, Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods, Sea Level Rise, And Catastrophic Storms!

March 2, 2015 - EARTH - The following list constitutes the latest reports of high tides, heavy rainfall, flash floods, widespread flooding, sea level rise and catastrophic storms.

Madagascar Floods – 19 Dead and 37,000 Displaced

The flood situation in Madagascar is worsening. The latest report from Madagascar’s disaster management agency, the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC) said that further assessments of the flood disaster that struck on 26 February show that 19 people have been killed, 36,956 have been displaced and over 60,000 affected by the disaster.

517 houses have been destroyed and 1,698 damaged in the floods. BNGRC also report that the floods have damaged 6,339 hectares of rice fields.

Three regions of the country have been affected. Over 2,000 people have been displaced in Alaotra Mangoro region. The worst affected region is Analamanga where 18 of the deaths occurred, many of them around the country’s capital, Antananarivo. The remaining fatality occurred in Vakinankaratra region.

High Alerts

BNGRC issued a list of around 20 districts or communities still on high alert as of 01 March 2015.

Antananarivo Renivohitra, Masindray, Ambohimanambola, Alasora, Ankaraobato, Tanjombato, Soavina, Anosizato-Andrefana, Andranonahoatra, Bemasoandro, Ambohidrapeto, Ankadimanga, Ampitatafika, Fenoarivo, Itaosy, Ambohitrimanjaka, Antehiroka, Talatamaty, Sabotsy Namehana and Ankadikely Ilafy.

River Levels

However, there is hope for some relief ahead, as levels of the Ikopa and Sisaony rivers are expected to fall in the next 24 hours so long as there is no further heavy rainfall.

More Rain

Yesterday did see some heavy rain fall in northern parts of the country. Antalaha in the Sava Region saw 53 mm of rain in 24 hours to 01 March 2015, according to WMO.

Floods Return to Jakarta

Parts of Jakarta, Indonesia, were once again under water on 28 February 2015, just 2 weeks after severe flooding forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

Jakarta’s Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) said this time there have been no evacuations, although a number of houses have been flooded in Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta. Flood water was reported to be as high as 150cm in some areas after heavy rain had increased levels of the Ciliwung River.

Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta, floods 28 February 2015. Photo: BPBD Jakarta

Flooding has also been reported in Bukit Duri, Tebet, South Jakarta.

Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, floods 28 February 2015. Photo: BPBD Jakarta

Rainfall Figures

The heaviest of the rain fell in the hills around Bogor and Puncak, catchment areas for some of Jakarta’s many rivers. According to WMO, 62.1mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Bogor to 01 March 2015. Bogor is around 50 km (30 miles) south of Jakarta.

Over the last 24 hours, other parts of Java and Indonesia have also seen some heavy rainfall. In Cirebo, Java, 75 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 02 March 2015, according to WMO figures. In South Sulawesi, Makassar saw 76.1 mm of rain during the same period.

More Floods in Malawi as Cholera Spreads in Camps for Flood Victims

Further flooding has hit southern parts of Malawi, while 39 cases of cholera have been reported in the camps set up for the victims of the flooding that hit the country in January 2015.

According to Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), floods have struck once again in the southern districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje after heavy rain in the southern Region.

Rising River Levels and Calls for Evacuation

In a statement made on 27 February 2015, Paul Chiunguzeni, secretary of the DoDMA, said water levels in Shire River, Mwanza River and all other waters bodies in the areas continue to rise. He continued:

“As a result of these developments, The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) wishes to appeal to the people in the affected areas to leave all low lying areas and move upland. Those that are already in upland areas must remain there at all cost. In the same vein, the people are being advised against crossing rivers and streams because doing so is a life threatening risk.”

Cholera Outbreak

Meanwhile in the camps for the 230,000 already displaced by the floods in January, there has been an outbreak of cholera. Two people have died and 39 cases of the disease have been reported, according to UNICEF. These are the first cases of cholera seen in the country for over 3 years.

Cholera outbreaks often follow after flood disasters, where drinking water becomes contaminated by flood water.

There has also been an outbreak of cholera in neighbouring flood hit Mozambique, where 37 people have died from the disease.

UNICEF Representative in Malawi, Mahimbo Mdoe said:

“As humanitarian actors in Malawi, we need to move quickly to stop any further spread of this disease. These displaced populations are extremely vulnerable, particularly those with low-immunity, such as malnourished children.

UNICEF is working to support the Government with mobile health services, as well as safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, which are critical factors in preventing the spread of cholera.”

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES: World Health Organization Says Plague Cases Rise In Madagascar - Fear Of More Epidemics!

February 1, 2015 - MADAGASCAR - Plague has killed 57 people out of 213 known cases in Madagascar and more deaths are feared after recent flooding forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and set rats on the run, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

The U.N. agency's first update since late November, when there were 119 cases including 40 deaths, was based on new figures from the Health Ministry.

The outbreak began in August on the Indian Ocean island, one of the world's poorest countries, where the disease is endemic.

The bacterial disease is mainly spread from one rodent to another by fleas. Humans bitten by an infected flea usually develop a bubonic form of plague, which swells the lymph node and can be treated with antibiotics, according to the WHO.

However, if the bacteria reach the lungs, the patient develops pneumonia (pneumonic plague), which is transmissible from person to person through infected droplets spread by coughing. It is one of the most deadly infectious diseases and can kill people within 24 hours.

"Plague established a foothold in the capital city, affecting densely populated slums. This is alarming, as around 8 percent of cases progress to the lethal pneumonic form," WHO director-general Margaret Chan said.

She said flooding from a tropical storm and a cyclone last week displaced tens of thousands of people and untold numbers of rats, "raising the risk of more rodent-borne epidemics".

Adding to the danger, the fleas that transmit the disease from rats to humans have developed resistance to the first-line insecticide, Chan told the WHO Executive Board on Monday.

Madagascar's president announced the replacement of eight ministers late on Sunday, including a new finance minister, after the government was dissolved earlier this month amid mounting public frustration over power cuts and social woes. - Yahoo.

EXTREME WEATHER: Tropical Storm Chedza Batters Madagascar - Claims 46 Lives; Over 120,000 Others Injured!

A NASA satellite photo shows Tropical Cyclone Bansi off Madagascar on January 14, 2015 (AFP Photo/)

January 22, 2015 - MADAGASCAR - A tropical storm that overwhelmed Madagascar last week has left at least 46 people dead and more than 120,000 others injured, the state-run National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management has said.

The bureau said previously that tropical storm "Chedza" had killed 15 people and injured 100,000 others.

It said in a Wednesday statement that the central region of Vakinankaratra had been the most affected by the storm, noting that 12 people in the region had been killed.

A tropical storm that overwhelmed Madagascar last week has left at least 46 people dead

It added that around 53,000 people had been affected by the storm in the southeastern Vatovavy Fitovinany region.

"Rains that accompanied the storm left six people dead and badly harmed 43,000 others in the Analamanga region, which includes capital Antananarivo," the bureau stated.

It went on to note that most deaths had occurred due to building collapses and landslides.

Madagascar remains in a state of high alert in the wake of the storm, which overwhelmed ten of the island-nation's 22 regions. - AA.

MONUMENTAL DELUGE: Widespread Flooding – The Latest Reports Of High Tides, Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods, Sea Level Rise, And Catastrophic Storms!

January 22, 2015 - EARTH - The following list constitutes the latest reports of high tides, heavy rainfall, flash floods, widespread flooding, sea level rise and catastrophic storms.

Malawi Floods – 250 Square Miles Under Water

Nsanje and Chikwawa, Malawi Jan 2015. Malawi Red Cross

Vice President Saulos Chilima yesterday 21 January 2015, issued a statement on the current flood situation in Malawi In it he said that Malawi’s Department of Surveys estimates that 63,531 hectares (about 245 square miles) have been submersed by the flood waters.

Areas and Numbers Affected

Since later December, floods have affected 15 of the country’s 28 districts, including Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe, Zomba, Rumphi, Karonga, Thyolo, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Balaka, Salima and Blantyre.

The Department of Surveys estimates that 63,531 hectare have been submersed by flood waters as of 21 January 2015 – about 245 square miles, an area just under the size of Singapore.

Displaced

There remains some confusion over numbers of casualties and displaced. Figures understandably change as further assessments are carried out.
In his statement, the Vice President said that currently 121,000 households were displaced. Most of those displaced are living in displacement sites like: churches, schools and evacuation centres. In an earlier statement, the UN said that the number of displaced is 121,000 people rather than households.

Casualties

The latest figures from the Government regarding the number of victims puts the total at 62 deaths, with a further 153 people still missing.

Crop Damage

The Malawi government estimate that around 120,000 farmers country-wide have been affected by the floods, which have submerged around 40,000 hectares of farm land. The government say this represents an expected food production loss of over 48,000 metric tons.

Malawi Defence Force Rescues

Rescue operations continue and the Malawi Defence Force and other organisations have been using boats and helicopters to rescue those still cut off by the floods and to find those (153) still missing.
The MDF has also been involved in delivery of relief items, which is still ongoing.

Aid and Relief

According to WFP, a total of 33,500 metric tons of relief food at an estimated cost of $22 million U.S. is needed to feed thousands of displaced people in Malawi.

International governments have been quick to respond to the crisis and contributions have come from countries including US, UK, Japan, South Africa, EU, Canada and Zambia, with further promises from Ireland and Germany once a Disaster Response Plan has been finalised.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on 20 January, 2015:

“Search and rescue operations continue with relief supplies being dispatched to affected areas, and such assistance includes food and non-food items and chlorine for water treatment in affected communities.”

The Red Cross, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, plans to assist 40,000 affected people in Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe and some urban parts of the city of Blantyre between February and March.

Ethel Kaimila, Secretary General of the Malawi Red Cross Society, said that “Working through our local volunteers, we have been responding to the disaster and helping victims in all the affected areas,”

Apart from general response operations, the Red Cross has directly supported 7,000 displaced people with tarpaulins, family tents, shelter kits, mosquito nets and hospital tents.

“The affected people will need continued support for some time and we need 2.7 million US dollars to provide such support between,” added Kaimila.

Funds raised will be used to distribute additional emergency relief supplies such as kitchen sets, shelter kits and tarpaulins; food supplies to support displaced families for three months, and to rehabilitate 600 houses damaged by the floods.

Marshall Islands King Tide Floods

The Marshall Islands sits in the open ocean located about halfway between Hawaii and Australia, in the region of the Pacific known as Micronesia. The average height above sea level of its 1,225 islets in 29 atolls is only 7 feet (2 meters). As such, it is extremely vulnerable to rises in sea levels.

Yesterday 21 January 2015, a king tide flooded wide areas of the capital, Majuro, as well as several of the country’s outer islands, including Mejit, Kili, Utrik and Ailuk. Further flooding is expected, and could be worsened if accompanied by strong winds and storm surges.

The flooding has caused damage to property and some roads. Some reports say local schools had to be evacuated. There are no reports of any casualties.

Photos below courtesy of Tony de Brum, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Regular High Tide Floods

Many areas of the Marshal Islands are of course no stranger to coastal flooding.

In March last year, a storm surge combined with a an extreme high tide flooded parts of the Marshall Islands, including the capital Majuro, early on Monday 3 March 2014. Around 800 people had to evacuate their homes and stay in temporary accommodation.

Later in the year, during October 2014, high waves and tide caused yet more coastal damage and flooding.

Marshal Islands – The Canary in the Coal Mine

Christopher Loeak, President of the Marshall Islands, last year presented the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the world to be more ambitious on climate action.

He also has warned the world against indifference, saying what is happening in his country is just a foretaste of what other countries will soon experience. In a video address, he said:

“We are all in the same boat together; what is happening here is a mere preview … If my country goes, others will surely follow.”“We are the canary in the coal mine.”

In September last year United Nations chose 26-year-old Marshall Islands poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner to be a keynote speaker at the U.N.’s climate summit in New York

In her address, she said:

“We’ve seen waves crashing into our homes and our breadfruit trees wither from salt and droughts. We look at our children and wonder how they will know themselves or their culture should they lose our islands.”

Thousands Evacuated after Floods in Malaysia and Indonesia

Heavy rainfall in Borneo and Sumatra over the last 3 days has left parts of Malaysia and Indonesia struggling with yet more flooding. Malaysia is still recovering from the floods of December 2014 in the north of the country, which were some of the worst flooding seen in years.

Floods in Sarawak, Malaysia, January 2015. Photo: BOMBA

Sarawak, Malaysia

In Borneo, over 5,000 people have been evacuated in the flood-hit state of Sarawak. This figure has dropped slightly from almost 7,000 earlier today. 38 relief centres have been set up to house those displaced by the floods.

The worst affected area is around the state capital of Kuching, where at one point almost 5,000 were staying in temporary accommodation. Just over 1,000 people have been displaced in Padawan.

One flood-related death has been reported in Mukah, when a teenage girl drowned after a boat capsized in rough waters.

Floods in Sarawak, Malaysia, January 2015. Photo: BOMBA

Power Outages

The heavy rain has caused power outages in Limbang, Bau and Lundu after Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) said it had shut down several substations in areas affected by torrential rain

Flood Waters Receding but More Rain Forecast

Some reports say that the flood water have started to recede, at least in some places, allowing almost 2,000 to return to their homes. Malaysia’s Drainage and Irrigation Department say there are currently no rivers with water levels at the danger point.

The rainfall over the last 24 hours has been less intense. 64 mm of rain fell in Kuching in 24 hours yesterday, compared to over 250 mm the day before.

However, further heavy rainfall has been forecast for parts of Borneo, including parts of Sarawak, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued Orange level severe weather warnings.

Floods in Sarawak, Malaysia, January 2015. Photo: BOMBA

East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Just over the border from Sarawak, the Indonesian provinces of East and West Kalimantan has also been affected by heavy rain and flooding over the last 3 days. Over 160 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Putussibau yesterday, according to WMO.
Around 1,000 people have been evacuated in East Kalimantan after a river overflowed in the province.

Sumatra

Elsewhere in Indonesia, over 2,000 people have been evacuated in Aceh province after floods in South Aceh regency that first struck almost one week ago. Pidie Jaya regency has also been badly affected and 4,000 houses have been reportedly damaged as a result.

NASA's Earth Observatory Images Of Madagascar Flooding That Killed 13 People And Damaged Over 3,000 Homes

A tropical disturbance that had already swamped southern Africa with rain strengthened into a tropical storm as it passed over the Mozambique Channel on January 15, 2015. When tropical storm Chedza passed over Madagascar the next day, it brought lashing winds and heavy rains that killed at least 13 people, destroyed or damaged more than 3,000 homes, and displaced 9,500 people.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured this image of flooding along the Tsiribihina River on January 20, 2015. For comparison, the lower image shows the same area on December 3, 2014. Turn on the comparison tool to slide between the two images. In the more recent image, brown, sediment-rich floodwater spills across the river delta and into the Mozambique Channel.

Several settlements along the Tsiribihina River—including Belo Tsiribihina and Masoarivo—appear to be at least partially flooded. The same weather system produced widespread flooding in Mozambique and Malawi. For a broader view of flooding on the Tsiribihina River, you can view imagery captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on the Worldview browser. 

- Floodlist | EO.