Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.
6.1 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.8 earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.
5.7 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.3 earthquake hits Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia.
5.2 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.2 earthquake hits the west Chile rise.
5.1 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Sebastien is located about 730 mi…1175 km w of the Azores with maximum sustained winds…65 mph…100 km/h. Present movement…ne or 50 degrees at 33 mph…54 km/h.
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 01p (One), located approximately 452 nm north of Port Vila, Vanuatu, is tracking eastward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Mozambique – Severe weather in Gondola district of the Manica province in Mozambique has claimed the lives of at least three people. Two people died when a lightning struck the house in Nhachoco and Maguiguane regions of Mozambique. One woman died after swept away by the flooded Mussatua River.
Kenya – Landslides caused by severe weather have claimed the lives of at least 24 people in in West Pokot county, Kenya. Seven children died in the landslide disaster and severely affected Nyarkulian and Parua villages of Kenya. According to the Kenya Red Cross, in Mikinduri, Meru County, a number of houses have been reportedly swept away after river Thanantu broke it’s banks.
UK – Flash floods caused sudden road closures, car crashes and left entire villages cut off in the south west of England. Exton has also been ravaged by flooding and villagers in Kennford in the early hours were forced to pump out water outside their homes in a battle to protect their community. The River Teign is subject to a flood warning issued by the Environment Agency over fears it may rise above its banks and flood homes.
Koalas ‘Functionally Extinct’ After Australia Bushfires
As Australia experiences record-breaking drought and bushfires, koala populations have dwindled along with their habitat, leaving them “functionally extinct.”
The chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart, estimates that over 1,000 koalas have been killed from the fires and that 80 percent of their habitat has been destroyed.
Recent bushfires, along with prolonged drought and deforestation has led to koalas becoming “functionally extinct” according to experts.
Functional extinction is when a population becomes so limited that they no longer play a significant role in their ecosystem and the population becomes no longer viable. While some individuals could produce, the limited number of koalas makes the long-term viability of the species unlikely and highly susceptible to disease.
Cryptosporidium – France
The Agence régionale de santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (ARS Paca) is reporting a Cryptosporidium outbreak in Grasse and several surrounding municipalities of the Alpes-Maritimes. Since October 7, at least 92 cases of diarrhea caused by a parasite have been reported. There is a suspicion of contamination in the Grasse sector water supply.