Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.4 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.3 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.3 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits eastern Iran.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5,0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore El Salvador.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Tsunami – Tonga
A tsunami triggered by the explosive eruption of the underwater Tonga volcano in the Pacific Ocean slammed the shoreline of the Pacific nation Saturday (Jan. 15), sending residents rushing for higher ground, according to news reports. A 4-foot-tall (1.2 meters) tsunami reportedly hit Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of the underwater volcano. There have been no reports of injuries, because communication with the nation went down after the eruption. Local officials said the powerful underwater eruption had a radius of 161.5 miles (260 km), and sent ash, steam and gas more than 12 miles (20 km) into the air. Tsunami warnings were issued Saturday for the entire US West Coast after a massive volcanic eruption across the Pacific Ocean in Tonga, with tsunami waves triggering low-level flooding in Hawaii.
Wildfires – Paraguay
Wildfires in southern Paraguay have left behind dozens of scorched livestock and 10,000 hectares of burned forests and grasslands during the last three days. Video showed burnt, and rotting carcasses of livestock were strewn on grasslands, stark evidence of the devastating effects of massive bushfires on cattle unable to flee in time or trapped behind fences. According to firefighters, some 200 cattle, sheep, horses, and wild animals have died due to the fires that started on Tuesday (January 11) in Caapucu, southern Paraguay, following the burning of garbage in the area.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Anthrax – Uruguay
The Uruguay Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing reported Thursday outbreaks of anthrax in cattle, horses, and possibly humans, in the department of Rocha, in the eastern part of the country. In Uruguay, anthrax outbreaks occur in the summer months, with a peak in February. Anthrax spores are very resistant, being able to survive for years or decades in the soil, so the disease tends to be localized in certain high-risk areas.
England – Avian Malaria
Officials at the Dudley Zoo and Castle are reporting a huge loss of Humboldt penguins due to the parasitic disease, Avian malaria. The malarial infection killed 50 of the 69 penguin colony.
African Swine Fever – Thailand
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) announced the first cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Thailand. The outbreak in Wang Thonglang in the Bangkok Metro area affected three swine that all died. According to the report, the owner bought these pigs for companion purposes.