Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits Pakistan.
5.3 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Coquimbo, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits Cuba.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic: Hurricane Matthew is located about 365 mi…585 km S of Port au Prince Haiti and about 400 mi…645 km se of Kingston Jamaica with maximum sustained winds…155 mph…250 km/h. Present movement…W or 270 degrees at 7 mph…11 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific: Invest 97E is an area of disturbed weather in the East Pacific that has the potential for further tropical development.
In the Western Pacific: Tropical Storm 21w (Chaba), located approximately 692 nm southeast of Kadena AB, Guam, is tracking northwestward at 12 knots.
Newsbytes:
Kuala Lumpur – Several areas in the state experienced flash flood to about knee-high after three hours of continuous rain early today. Among the affected areas were Jalan P.Ramlee and Jalan Perak on the island, as well as Permatang Rawa in Seberang Perai on the mainland, due to river overflow.
Ghana – Two persons lost their lives in floods that hit Koforidua and its environs on Sunday after heavy rains. The two were among the more than 2,000 people who were affected by the floods. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded.
Elusive Tree Rat Out of Hiding
A fuzzy, orange tree rat that was once thought to be extinct may be lurking in the mountainous forests of Colombia, and now researchers are pulling out all the stops to find the species again, including lacing their camera traps with candy.
When the rodent, called the Santa Marta Toro, was spotted in 2011, it was the first time the species had been seen in over 100 years. However, the Toro appears to have gone back into hiding, as it has not been seen since then.
Wildfires – California, USA
Officials say a wildfire threatening hundreds of structures in a remote area of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains continues to grow.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said Thursday that the Loma Fire has scorched 3,849 acres of trees and dry brush in steep terrain south of San Jose. At least 325 structures are in the path of the fire, which is 22 percent contained.