Posted on

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.5 Earthquake hits central Italy.

A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Italy on Sunday, causing the collapse of more buildings in small cities and towns already shaken by tremors in the past two months, although there no immediate reports of casualties.

Italy’s emergency services said there was serious damage in multiple locations in the central regions of Marche and Umbria on Sunday. State broadcaster RAI said three people were rescued from rubble in the town of Ussita, but there were no reports of deaths.

The ancient Basilica of St. Benedict in the walled town of Norcia, almost 100 kilometres from Perugia, was devastated by the quake, the monks said. Images on television showed one side of the church reduced to rubble, and another church in the town centre also collapsed.

Local authorities said many towns and villages already battered by the 6.2 quake in August had seen further significant damage.

5.4 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.

5.2 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits offshore O’Higgins, Chile.

Posted on

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

No current tropical storms.

Newsbytes:

Egypt – Update – Torrential rainfall and flooding in Egypt have claimed the lives of at least 30 people. Nine people died in South Sinai, eight in Sohag and five in Beni Suef. Similarly, nine others died in the Red Sea. According to the the health and population ministry, more than 70 people have been injured following weekend floods. Heavy rainfall triggered flooding in several towns in Upper Egypt and along the Red Sea coast.

Malaysia – For the second time in two months, flash floods brought Penang to its knees, halting traffic and submerging homes in various parts of the city. Among the areas affected by flash floods were Jalan Paya Terubong and Taman Lumba Kuda.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Flash floods hit two villages in Batang Asai district, Sarolangun regency, on Friday, leaving one person missing and dozens of houses inundated.

Posted on

Drought

Drought in Southern Africa

Southern Africa is in the midst of its most severe drought in 35 years, and according to a UN climate envoy, things are forecast to worsen over the months ahead.

Following a four-day trip to Mozambique, special envoy on El Niño and climate change Macharia Kamau said “[t]he crisis has yet to peak.” He highlights that the devastating drought will be at its worst at or near January of 2017.

Approximately 18 million people have been affected by the drought’s widespread impacts, region-wide. Among the worst-hit countries is Mozambique, with 1.5 million suffering from extreme heat. Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho, and southern Madagascar also fall in the same group.

For many children, women and the elderly, the next few months will be about looking at survival straight in the face. Parts of Mozambique have been water-starved for years — with certain areas seeing no rainfall for as much as three years, the nation’s disaster management agency reports.

El Niño, which affects rainfall patters by influencing flooding and drought, has been pegged as the cause of the detrimental drought.

Posted on

Disease

Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease in Grenada

Grenada health officials reported this week on an outbreak of the childhood viral disease, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Grenada’s Ministry of Health has received reports of twelve cases linked to daycare and preschool centres across the island.

Cholera strain likely present in Haiti for centuries

A non-virulent variant of the deadly Vibrio cholerae O1 strain has likely been present in Haitian aquatic environments for several hundred years, with the potential to become virulent through gene transfer with the toxigenic strain introduced by UN peacekeepers, according to research published today by scientists at the University of Florida’s Emerging Pathogens Institute.

Cholera in Ghana

The Central regional capital Cape Coast has recording new cases of the cholera disease, according to the Cape Coast Health directorate.

Some 10 people in the Cape Coast Metropolis have been diagnosed of cholera and are receiving treatment in the various health facilities in the region.

The victims mostly adults are said to have eaten contaminated food with element of faecal matter according to health experts.