Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.8 earthquake hits the Balleny Islands.
5.5 earthquake hits the Western Indian-Antarctic Ridge.
5.3 earthquake hits the island of Hawaii, Hawaii.
5.2 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits the Rota region, North Mariana Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Michoacan, Mexico.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 11w (Eleven), Tropical storm (ts) 11w (Son-Tinh), located approximately 177 nm south-southeast of Hong Kong, is tracking westward at 27 knots.
In the Central Pacific Ocean: Invest 91L is an area of disturbed weather in the central Pacific that has the potential for further tropical development.
NewsBytes:
France – Eight departments in south-west France remained on alert on Monday morning after overnight storms caused flash flooding that closed roads and train lines in the region. Violent storms overnight left roads closed and train lines underwater, which meant travelling in the region was difficult. On Monday morning the departments of Ariège, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne remained on alert with more downpours forecast.
New Mexico, USA – Rushing water tore through a small New Mexico community overnight, leaving behind a path of destruction. Waist high flood waters damaged about 20 homes in San Antonio.
8 Endangered Rhinos Died in Mission to Save Them
A mission meant to save critically endangered rhinoceroses by transferring them to a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya has ended in tragedy, with the deaths of eight of the odd-toed ungulates, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism.
But the culprit wasn’t poaching. Rather, it was likely salty water, the ministry said.
Preliminary investigations showed that once the black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) arrived at the newly created sanctuary in Tsavo East National Park, they gulped down water with a high salt content. The more salty water the rhinos drank, the thirstier they became, leading to a vicious cycle ending in tragedy, the ministry reported on July 13.
Wildfires – Oregon, USA
A lightning storm ignited between 50 and 70 wildfires in southwest Oregon on Sunday. Most of the fires, however, remained small and were contained.
Two of the largest fires brought major concern, including the evacuation of around 30 homes near Jacksonville, officials said. The storm began in the morning and lasted throughout the day, bringing hundreds of strikes across the region. The two biggest fires, as of Sunday night, were the Sterling Creek Fire and Green Top Mountain Fire.
Wildfires – Yosemite, California, USA
A deadly California wildfire more than doubled in size and raged through more than 14 square miles of brush and forest Monday, blanketing much of Yosemite National Park in smoke and forcing closure of a major access road at the height of tourist season.
Fire officials had not determined the cause of the blaze that began burning Friday night along the park’s western edge, where evacuation orders were issued for a handful of small communities.
Wildfires – Sri Lanka
A group of hikers trapped in a mountainous area that was engulfed in a bush fire was rescued by a team of Sri Lanka Army personnel on Friday (13). According to Army media, the hikers who remained trapped in a forested area were save after troops were rushed to put out a fast spreading wild fire in the hilly region of Haldummulla – Wangedigala.
Lassa Fever – Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria says 115 people from across 21 states have died of Lassa fever since the disease outbreak was confirmed in January this year. In its latest epidemiological situation update on the Lassa fever outbreak, the government said 2,115 suspect cases were reported in the period between 1 January and 8 July.