Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.9 Earthquake hits the Alaska Peninsula.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that based on its available data, no tsunami was expected. The USGS said the quake was unlikely to cause casualties and notable damage, and there were no immediate reports of such.
5.3 Earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
5.2 Earthquake hits Atacama, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits the southeast Indian ridge.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Storm Andres is located about about 795 mi…1285 km SSW of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds…70 mph…110 km/h. Present movement…WNW or 295 degrees at 9 mph…15 km/h.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 120.6 degrees Fahrenheit (49.2 degrees Celsius) at Nawabshah, Pakistan.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 112.2 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 80.1 degrees Celsius) at Russia’s Vostok Antarctic research station.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
A Promising Treatment for Deadly Bat Infection
Scientists say they have found a way to treat and protect bats from a deadly fungus that has killed an estimated 5.7 million of them in the United States and Canada over the past seven years.
Many caves in eastern parts of both countries have experienced a 78 to 100 percent reduction in the number of bats since white-nose syndrome emerged.
The fungus interrupts the bats’ winter hibernation, causing them to starve to death.
But researchers have found a common soil bacteria, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, appears to inhibit the growth of the cold-loving fungus.
They conducted experiments last fall in which diseased bats were treated with compounds produced by the bacteria.
Many of the treated bats survived the winter and experienced improvements in their health.
Scientists say the results are promising, but caution that more research is needed.
Biologists have released bats that had white-nose syndrome last fall but were successfully treated during a field trial over the past winter.
Measles Outbreak in Sierra Leone
Health authorities in Sierra Leone`s Kono district have confirmed an outbreak of Measles in the area. According to reports Thursday, the World Health Organization have dispatched emergency support and have engaged local health personnel in training to face a new threat mostly dangerous to children.
Kono was declared a “Measles Positive District” following test of 21 samples which turned back five positive cases, said Sahr Amara Moiba, Kono District Disease Surveillance Officer, Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS).
The disease was confirmed in seven out of fourteen chiefdoms in the district – Fiama, Nimikoro, Nimiyama, Gorama Kono, Sandor, Tankoro and Gbense – Moiba said.
98% of the cases are children between zero and one year, he added.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Two people have been reported injured, presumably burnt by pyroclastic surge, and were flown to a hospital in Yakushima island. So far, it is not clear whether the eruption is a large-scale phreatic (steam-explosion driven) event or caused by new magma. Ash analysis should bring light into this soon.
A powerful vulcanian explosion occurred this morning at 11:02 am local time at the volcano. The eruption – a both vertical and partially lateral massive explosion, occurred with apparently little warning from the Shintake vent and produced large pyroclastic flows by column collapse. A tall mushroom ash plume quickly rose to approx. 12 km altitude (36,000 ft). JMA raised the alert level to the highest (5 out of 5) and authorities ordered immediate evacuation of the 130 inhabitants. Preliminary reports say that no fatalities or significant damage occurred, although this seems almost too good to be true, judging from the view of a massive pyroclastic flow that swept down to the coast near the port of the small island.
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): After having been comparably calm the past days, the volcano started a series of strong explosions this morning. Ash plumes rose to reported 14,20,000 ft altitude. The eruptions were followed by long phases of mild to moderate, continuous jets of ash.
Wolf (Galápagos Islands, Ecuador): During the evening of 27 May (local time), the lava flow entered the sea on the southeast shore of the northern part of Isabela island.