Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
No magnitude 5+ earthquakes so far today.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclone 03B (Ockhi), located approximately 444 nm south-southeast of Karachi, Pakistan, is tracking north-northeastward at 09 knots.
Newsbytes:
Albania – Albania on Monday faced a fifth day of severe floods, which have forced 600 families from their homes and left more than 4,700 households suffering flood-related damaged. No new deaths as a result of floods have been reported since an electrician from Albania’s state-owned energy company, OSHEE, lost his life while trying to restore power connections. Some 10,622 hectares were reported to be underwater.
Australia – Severe thunderstorms could bring hailstones and damaging winds to parts of Queensland, prompting authorities to issue warnings after heavy rainfall in several areas. More than 60mm of rain per hour has been recorded around western Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and the Bureau of Meteorology has warned flash flooding could occur around central Brisbane, Maroochydore, Logan City, Strathpine, Caboolture, Kilcoy and Caloundra throughout Monday afternoon.
Global Warming
Hindu Kush Himalayan Ice at Risk
Global warming is not only posing a serious threat to glaciers, it will also result in a loss of 33 per cent of total ice volume in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region which extends from Afghanistan to Myanmar by the end of the century, leading dire consequences for people living there according to the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
When the glaciers retreat, new lakes will be formed and this has already happened in Sikkim in India. The increased water mass can cause flash floods if the lakes and dams overflow or burst bringing a new risk to the people living there. The HKH sources 10 major river systems in Asia that provide water, ecosystem services and livelihoods to more than 210 million people. The region holds and distributes water for more than 1.3 billion people living in the downstream river basins.
Disease
Listeriosis – South Africa
Health Ministry says 36 people have died following an outbreak of Listeria in South Africa. A total of 557 lab-confirmed Listeriosis cases have been reported. The majority of these cases have been reported in Gauteng, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.