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Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.4 earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.

5.9 earthquake hits Tajikistan.

5.7 earthquake hits near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

5.6 earthquake hits the Babuyan Islands in the Philippines.

5.5 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

5.4 earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.

5.3 earthquake hits central Turkey.

5.2 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.

5.1 earthquake hits the west Chile rise.

5.1 earthquake hits the Flores region, Indonesia.

5.1 earthquake hits northern Iran.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are currently no active tropical storm systems.

Newsbytes:

Brazil – Thousands of people have evacuated their homes after flooding and landslides in several northern states of Brazil. At least 6 people have lost their lives in the state of Maranhão and 3 in in the state of Ceará. Authorities in the state of Maranhão report that multiple municipalities in the state have declared a state of emergency in response to the recent heavy rainfall. Around 800 households have been displaced. The municipalities of Marabá and Itupiranga in Pará State, Brazil, declared an emergency on 21 March 2023 due to rising levels in the Tocantins and Itacaiúnas rivers. Local authorities in Marabá said more than 400 households were displaced. The two rivers have been rising for some time in the state but reached danger levels over the last few days.

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Disease

Typhoid Fever – DR Congo

Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 1,800 suspected cases of the typhoid fever epidemic, including 12 deaths, have been notified in the Panzi health zone in Kwango province, DRC media reports.

New invasive mosquitoes descend on Florida, USA

An invasive mosquito species from Central and South America, Culex lactator, has taken root in South Florida, raising concerns that the pests might spread dangerous viruses, like West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The mosquitoes, which physically resemble many others in Florida, may have already seeded populations in additional counties. It’s likely that the pest will continue to spread to more locations in the state.

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Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New activity for the week 15 March – 21 March 2023

Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG summarized the eruption at Merapi (on Java) during 10-16 March, including the collapses at the SW lava dome that began on 11 March and continued through the week. A total of 68 pyroclastic flows traveled as far as 4 km down the Bebeng and Krasak drainages on the SW flank. The largest pyroclastic flows were recorded during 11-12 March, which caused ashfall of varying intensity in areas to the W, NW, and N including in Dukun District, Sawangan, Magelang Regency; Magelang City; Selo District, Boyolali Regency; Ambarawa, Jambu, Sumowono, Pringapus, Banyubiru, Bawen Districts, Semarang Regency. Morphological changes to the SW lava domes were evident in webcam and drone images. The volume of the dome before 11 March was 2,759,100 cubic meters and by 13 March the dome volume had decreased to 1,686,200 cubic meters, with an estimate volume loss of 1,072,800 cubic meters. The volume of the summit dome remained unchanged and was estimated at 2,312,100 cubic meters. According to the Darwin VAAC ash plumes were visible in webcam images on 15 and 17 March rising as high as 1.2 km above the summit and drifting S and W, respectively. On both days weather conditions prevented satellite image views. During 16-20 March BPPTKG reported 14-38 daily counts of lava avalanches with material descending the SW flank as far as 1.8 km. Daily counts were not available for 17 March, though incandescent avalanches were visible in webcam footage; rainy weather sometimes prevented visual observations.

Nyamulagira – DR Congo : An 18 March satellite image of Nyamulagira showed a large thermal anomaly, possibly 600 m wide, in the summit crater, indicating that the eruption that had begun on 14 March was continuing.

Semisopochnoi – Aleutian Islands (USA) : AVO reported that low-level ash emissions from the N crater of Semisopochnoi’s Mount Young were observed in several web camera images during 18-19 March. Small explosions and volcanic tremor had also resumed. Ash emissions were not detected in satellite images, though on 18 March a robust steam-and-gas plume was visible drifting 150 km from the N crater. Low-level seismicity continued during 20-21 March and one small explosion was detected in seismic and infrasound data. Clouds obscured webcam and satellite views.

Takawangha – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that earthquake activity near Takawangha had decreased in both rate and magnitude from the peak of the swarm recorded during 9-11 March. More than 800 earthquakes, including multiple M2 and above events, were detected beneath Tanaga Island at depths less than 9 km below sea level during 11-17 March. The decline in activity decreased the potential for an eruption. Earthquake activity persisted through 20 March.

Tanaga – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that earthquake activity near Tanaga had decreased in both rate and magnitude from the peak of the swarm recorded during 9-11 March. More than 800 earthquakes, including multiple M2 and above events, were detected beneath Tanaga Island at depths less than 9 km below sea level during 11-17 March. The decline in activity decreased the potential for an eruption. Earthquake activity persisted through 20 March.