Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Guatemala.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Harvey is located about 30 mi…50 km NNE of Alexandria Louisiana and about 100 mi…160 km SE of Shreveport Louisiana with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…NNE or 30 degrees at 9 mph…15 km/h.
Tropical Storm Irma is located about 590 mi…950 km W of the Cabo Verde islands with maximum sustained winds…70 mph…110 km/h. Present movement…W or 280 degrees at 12 mph…19 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific: Tropical Storm Lidia is located about 115 mi…185 km SSE of Cabo San lucas Mexico with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…NNW or 335 degrees at 8 mph…13 km/h.
In the Western Pacific: Tropical storm 17w (Sanvu), located approximately 12 nm west-northwest of Chichi Jima, is tracking north-northeastward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Texas, USA – Tropical Storm Harvey bore down on eastern Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday, bringing the catastrophic downpours that paralyzed the U.S. energy hub of Houston, where record rainfall drove tens of thousands of people from their homes. The storm that first came ashore on Friday near Corpus Christi, Texas, as the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years has killed at least 17 people and forced 30,000 people to flee to emergency shelters. Damage has been estimated at tens of billions of dollars, making it one of the costliest U.S. natural disasters. Clear skies in Houston on Wednesday brought relief to the fourth-largest U.S. city after five days of downpours, as Harvey headed northeast, drenching cities including Port Arthur, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana. As Harvey churned out of the Houston area, it made landfall for a third time early on Wednesday, and was about 25 miles west of Lake Charles, Louisiana, at 8 a.m. ET with winds up to 45 miles per hour. It was expected to bring an additional 3 to 6 inches of rain to an area about 80 miles east of Houston as well as southwestern Louisiana, where some areas have already had more than 18 inches of rain.
Wildfires
Wildfires – California, USA
Authorities on Wednesday arrested a man suspected of starting an illegal campfire believed to have ignited a growing Northern California blaze that destroyed 10 homes, damaged five others and threatened hundreds more.
The wildfire sparked Tuesday near the town of Oroville, a region already hard-hit by fire and a massive evacuation earlier this year caused by damage to sections of the nation’s tallest dam.
It’s one of many wildfires burning across the U.S. West, including blazes in and around California’s Yosemite National Park that have closed a popular road into the park, shuttered the iconic Wawona Hotel and evacuated nearby towns. Some 58 homes near the park have been destroyed.
Wildfires – Oregon, USA
Wildfires in Oregon are burning an area roughly equivalent to half the state of Rhode Island.
The two dozen blazes around the state Wednesday are affecting air quality and have forced the evacuations of more than 4,500 people.
The largest fire is near the coastal town of Brookings near the California border. That 196-square-mile (508-square-kilometer) blaze is 5 percent contained and 4,568 people have fled their homes.
Disease
Yellow fever – France – French Guiana
On 22 August 2017, the National IHR Focal Point for France notified a confirmed fatal case of yellow fever in a 43-year-old Brazilian woman in French Guiana, with an unknown vaccination status. This was the first case of yellow fever in Fresh Guiana in two decades.
Volcanos
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 23 August – 29 August 2017
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite images and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 24 and 28 August ash plumes from Ibu rose 1.5-1.8 km (5,000-6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 21-28 August Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney cone ejected material as high as 75 m above the crater rim, and during 27-28 August as far as 100 m onto the W flank. Cloud cover sometimes prevented visual observations; explosions could be heard within a 5-km radius.
Sangay | Ecuador : Based on satellite data, the Washington VAAC reported that a plume from Sangay with possible ash content rose 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted over 30 km SW. A thermal anomaly was identified on 23 August.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Babuyan Islands in the Philippines.
5.3 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits Guam.
5.2 Earthquake hits off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Harvey is located about 5 mi…10 km w of Cameron Louisiana and about 30 mi…50 km ESE of Port Arthur Texas with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…NNE or 30 degrees at 7 mph…11 km/h.
Potential tropical cyclone Ten is located about 85 mi…140 km NE of Cape Hatteras North Carolina with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…NE or 50 degrees at 24 mph…39 km/h.
In the Western Pacific: Tropical storm 17w (Sanvu), located approximately 37 nm east of Chichi Jima, is tracking west-northwestward at 16 knots.
NewsBytes:
Houston, Texas, USA – Floodwaters reached the rooflines of single-story homes Monday and people could be heard pleading for help from inside as Harvey poured rain on the Houston area for a fourth consecutive day after a chaotic weekend of rising water and rescues. The nation’s fourth-largest city remained mostly paralyzed by one of the largest downpours in U.S. history. And there was no relief in sight from the storm that spun into Texas as a Category 4 hurricane, then parked over the Gulf Coast. With nearly 2 more feet (61 centimeters) of rain expected on top of the 30-plus inches (76 centimeters) in some places, authorities worried that the worst might be yet to come. The flooding was so widespread that the levels of city waterways have equaled or surpassed those of Tropical Storm Allison from 2001, and no major highway has been spared some overflow. The city’s normally bustling business district was virtually deserted Monday, with emergency vehicles making up most of the traffic.
Mumbai, India – Heavy monsoon rains have brought Mumbai to a halt for a second day as the worst floods to strike south Asia in years continued to exact a deadly toll. Streets in Mumbai have turned into rivers and people waded through waist-deep waters. On Tuesday, the city received about 12.7cm (5ins) of rain, paralyzing public transport and leaving thousands of commuters stranded in their offices overnight. Poor visibility and flooding also forced airport authorities to divert some flights while most were delayed by up to an hour.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
No 5+ magnitude Earthquakes reported so far today.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Harvey is located about 100 mi…160 km ENE of Port O’Connor, Texas with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…E or 90 degrees at 3 mph…6 km/h.
Potential tropical cyclone Ten is located about 95 mi…150 km ENE of Charleston South Carolina and about 65 mi…100 km SW of Wilmington North Carolina with maximum sustained winds…40 mph…65 km/h. Present movement…NE or 45 degrees at 12 mph…19 km/h.
In the Western Pacific: Tropical storm 17w (Sanvu), located approximately 260 nm north-northeast of Agrihan, is tracking northward at 11 knots.
Disease
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates
On 29 July 2017, the national IHR focal point of the United Arab Emirates reported one additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Mauritania reports confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever case
In May, health officials reported two imported cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Senegal imported from Mauritania. A third imported case was reported in June. On Aug 24, the Mauritania Ministry of Health notified WHO of a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) from Arafat Village in Mohammedia.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits northwestern Iran.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Harvey is located about 15 mi…25 km NNE of Port O’Connor, Texas with maximum sustained winds…40 mph…65 km/h. Present movement…SE or 130 degrees at 3 mph…6 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Houston, Texas, USA – Catastrophic flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Harvey inundated Houston on Sunday, forcing residents of the fourth most populous U.S. city to flee their homes in boats or hunker down in anticipation of several more days of “unprecedented” rainfall. The storm caused chest-deep flooding on some streets in Houston as rivers and channels overflowed their banks. More than 30 inches (76 cm) of rain had fallen in parts of Houston in the past 48 hours. The storm struck at the heart of the country’s oil and gas industry, forcing operators to close several refineries and evacuate and close offshore platforms.
Disease
Nepal – Flood-Related Viral Outbreak
After going through the worst flooding in decade which has claimed lives of almost 150 people and left 90,000 homes destroyed, Nepal yet again seems to be facing with another shamble as an epidemic viral outbreak has taken hold of hundreds of flood- affected people in several districts of the country.
The viral outbreak has affected the lives of flood victims, who are now suffering from health problems like fever, cold, diarrhea, headache and skin infections.
Mozambique – Anthrax
Sporadic cases of the bacterial disease, anthrax, is responsible for the deaths of three animals at the Karingani Game Reserve in southwestern Mozambique, according to Dr Américo Da Conceicao, National Director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Maputo, Mozambique last week. Two African elephants and one greater kudu (a woodland antelope) fell victim to Bacillus anthracis, the agent of anthrax.
India – Swine Flu
With one more swine flu death reported in Indore on Friday, the death toll of the dreaded disease reached three on Saturday. Meanwhile, after one more patient tested positive of swine flu on Saturday, the total number of affected patients rose to 17 in city.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Islands.
5.6 Earthquake hits the Greenland Sea.
5.5 Earthquake hits south of Java, Indonesia.
5.4 Earthquake hits north of Macquarie Island.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Harvey is located about 50 mi…80 km ESE of San Antonio Texas and about 95 mi…155 km NW of Port O’Connor Texas with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…SSW or 200 degrees at 1 mph…2 km/h.
In the Western Pacific: Tropical storm 16w (Pakhar), located approximately 54 nm southwest of Hong Kong, is tracking northwestward at 23 knots.
NewsBytes:
Texas, USA – Hurricane Harvey was downgraded to a tropical storm after thrashing southern Texas, bringing heavy rain and “widespread devastation” in its wake. High howling winds, downed power lines and intense flooding hit the Lone Star State in one of the strongest storms to slam into Texas in a decade. Upwards of 20 inches of rain had hit the Corpus Christi area, which was in the path of the storm, and an additional 20 to 30 inches were expected elsewhere. By midday Saturday, some 338,000 customers along the Texas coast were without power. Extremely serious flooding was possible throughout the state.