Weekly Disaster Insights of the last 7 days (Ending 21 July, 2024)

Critical disaster and crisis insights of the last 7 Days

This past week has been marked by a string of devastating natural disasters across the globe, from heavy rains causing widespread flooding in South Asia and Canada to wildfires raging in Western Canada and a major earthquake in Chile. We have also witnessed destructive storms in Afghanistan, Belarus, and the United States, resulting in fatalities and significant damage.

India

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy rains in Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala on Monday, July 15. An orange alert was also issued for Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. More…
• Heavy rains have triggered landslides in Karnataka, killing at least 10 people and leaving 3 others missing. More…
• Assam has been battling floods, with the death toll reaching 93. The flood situation is gradually improving as water levels recede. More…
• Schools and colleges in Kerala were shut down on Monday, July 16 due to heavy rains. The IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts for various districts in the state. More…
• The state of Himachal Pradesh has been affected by heavy rains since the onset of monsoon. According to the state emergency operation centre, 40 people have died and the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 329 crore. More…
• Bihar has requested the Centre to announce flood control measures and infrastructure projects. More…

Nepal

• Rescuers have recovered 11 bodies from a river in Nepal after two buses were swept into it by a landslide. More…
• Nepal has requested India’s technical assistance to search for the missing passengers of the buses. More…

Afghanistan

• Heavy rainfall has killed at least 40 people and injured nearly 350 others in eastern Afghanistan. More…

United States

• Hurricane Beryl has left millions of Texans without power during a brutal heat wave. Several people have died. More…
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott condemned CenterPoint Energy’s response to Hurricane Beryl, saying that more than 200,000 Houstonians are still waiting for their power to be restored after the storm. More…
• The Public Utility Commission of Texas has launched a formal investigation into CenterPoint’s response to the power outages following Hurricane Beryl. More…
• Gov. Greg Abbott defended his trip to East Asia during Hurricane Beryl. More…
• A father and daughter died at a US National Park after running out of water in extreme heat. More…
• Severe storms and tornadoes have caused damage and deaths in the Midwest. The Chicago area has been particularly hard hit. More…
• Residents of an Illinois town have been ordered to evacuate after officials warned of an imminent dam failure. More…
• A tornado ripped the roof off a Des Moines apartment. More…
• A tornado damaged a third-party warehouse in the United States, which is likely to affect sales of Reckitt’s Mead Johnson baby formula powder. More…
• Rainfall of 6 to 11 inches overnight prompted a rare flash flood emergency in Marion County, Arkansas, where water was rising inside homes and bridges were washed-out. More…
• In Kern and San Luis Obispo counties, California, multiple wildfires have forced over 1,000 evacuations and briefly shut down Interstate 5. More…

Canada

• Heavy rainfall flooded highways, parts of the subway, and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents in Toronto. More…
• Drake’s Toronto home was hit by floods. More…
• Wildfires are erupting again in western Canada during a suffocating heat wave in the province of Alberta, forcing evacuations and causing one of Canada’s largest oil companies to curb production. More…
• The fire threatening Labrador City is still burning, but rain and additional firefighters are expected to help crews get a better handle on the situation. More…

Chile

• A major 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile near the Argentine border, with no immediate reports of injuries or damage. More…

China

• Heavy rainfall has caused at least 20 floods in major rivers across the country, with 31 rivers surpassing their flood warning levels. More…
• Flash floods in northern and southwest China have killed at least 20 people and left dozens missing. More…
• Heavy downpours have caused roadside landslides and mudflows, leading to traffic disruptions in Baoji, a city in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. More…
• At least 11 people have died and 30 others are missing in the partial collapse of a highway bridge in northwest China following heavy storms and flooding. More…

Belarus

• A heavy weekend storm that swept through much of the country killed 6 people and left cities without electricity. More…

Philippines

• Footage shows a waterspout off the coast of Misamis Oriental province. More…

United Kingdom

• The Met Office issued two yellow warnings for rain, with most of England and Wales expected to see flooding, power cuts, and difficult driving conditions. More…
• Torrential rain hit London and other parts of England. More…

Australia

• Heavy rain in Victoria led to a flood warning for Yea and hundreds of calls to the SES. More…
• Damaging winds and driving rain lashed Victoria, while snow flurries were reported in northern New South Wales. More…
• Years of catastrophic weather ranging from fire, floods, storms, landslips, and endless rain have led to the closure of the world heritage-listed Jenolan Caves precinct for at least 18 months for repairs. More…

South Korea

• Heavy rain fell in the Seoul metropolitan area, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration to issue an emergency disaster message. More…
• Heavy rains in the Gyeonggi-do province brought about 355 millimeters of rain. More…

This past week’s events highlight the increasing vulnerability of communities across the globe to natural disasters. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are growing, posing a significant threat to infrastructure, human life, and economic stability. These events also underscore the need for robust preparedness and response systems, along with long-term adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. Furthermore, the occurrence of such widespread disasters raises concerns about global security and potential disruptions to supply chains and international aid efforts. These challenges necessitate international cooperation and coordinated efforts to address the growing threat of natural disasters.

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