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Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.7 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.

A powerful earthquake with an initial magnitude 7.1 has struck off the west coast of Chile, rocking the capital Santiago and generating at least two significant aftershocks. No major damage was immediately apparent, according to an assessment by Chile’s emergency services. The Chilean Navy and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake was not expected to cause a tsunami.

5.5 Earthquake hits off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile.

5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.4 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.

Two 5.1 Earthquakes hit offshore Valparaiso, Chile.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Guam.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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In the Western Pacific: Tropical depression 03w (Three), located approximately 244 nm north-northwest of Yap, is tracking northwestward at 04 knots.

NewsBytes:

Australia – Homes were damaged and drivers trapped in their cars as flash flooding wreaked havoc in the Geelong area last night. Videos uploaded to social media showed roads looking more like rivers, and water spouting out of gutters like fountains. There were reports of flash floods, building damage and flooded homes.

Tennessee, USA – Officials say heavy rain that fell over the weekend has caused road flooding and school closures in Middle and East Tennessee. In the Nashville suburb of Franklin, portions of the Harpeth River overflowed into a section of a sewer system under repair — sweeping raw sewage into streets. Schools in about a dozen counties were closed Monday. Parts of the Tennessee River overflowed its banks on Monday after TVA engineers opened spillways on the Chickamauga dam.

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Environment

Plastic-eating caterpillar

A caterpillar that munches on plastic bags could hold the key to tackling plastic pollution, scientists say.

Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered that the larvae of the moth, which eats wax in bee hives, can also degrade plastic. Experiments show the insect can break down the chemical bonds of plastic in a similar way to digesting beeswax.

Each year, about 80 million tonnes of the plastic polyethylene are produced around the world. The plastic is used to make shopping bags and food packaging, among other things, but it can take hundreds of years to decompose completely.

However, caterpillars of the moth (Galleria mellonella) can make holes in a plastic bag in under an hour.

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Nature – Images

Interesting Images

New Aurora Feature in Northern Lights

Photographers captured a stunning view of a proton arc (white/grey line seen on the left) and the northern lights above Porteau Cove Provincial Park, near Vancouver, Canada on May 8, 2016

Read more.

Screen Shot 2017 04 25 at 11 31 44 AM

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Georgia, USA

Georgia’s wildfire season is underway, and true to form, a major blaze is burning land in the southern part of the state. The West Mims fire has scorched more than 36,000 acres around the Okefenokee Swamp. It’s just over 4 percent contained.

Wildfires – Arizona, USA

A wildfire that broke out Sunday near Madera Canyon, southeast of Green Valley, had burned 4,500 acres and continued to grow on both state lands and the Coronado National Forest Monday. As of Monday morning, containment was estimated at 5 percent.

Wildfires – Florida, USA

Evacuations due to wildfires have been lifted in Lee and Collier Counties. 7000 acres burned in Collier at 30th Avenue in Golden Gate Estates that was 50% contained as of Sunday afternoon. Three homes were destroyed. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

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Disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates

Between 9 and 11 April 2017, the National IHR Focal Point of United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported two additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Malaria in Burundi

The Burundi Ministry of Health declared a malaria epidemic on Mar. 13 due to increased numbers of malaria in the country. Just during the first three months of 2017, Burundi has reported 1,960,620 with 869 deaths. This prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for Burundi today.