Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits the Philippines.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Madagascar – Tropical storm Cheneso has continued to cause flooding, fatalities and damages in Madagascar. As of 30 January, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) said at least 30 people have lost their lives and a further 21 are still missing. A total of 90,519 people have been affected by the storm across 18 regions. As many as 26,397 homes have been flooded or damaged, and a total of 1,073 homes and 199 schools completely destroyed.
New Zealand – Further heavy rain is forecast for New Zealand as the city of Auckland struggles to come to terms with the damage caused by catastrophic flooding after record rainfall on 27 January 2023 in which at least 4 people died. Red (highest) warnings for heavy rain until 01 February were issued for areas to the north of Orewa, a suburb about 40 km north of the city.
Wildlife
Bird Sanctuary at Risk in Albania
Protests broke out in Albania on Saturday against a new airport being built near a bird sanctuary on the Adriatic coast. The Vjosa-Narta lagoon is a crucial stop for flocks of birds in their annual migration between Europe and Africa. The area was declared a protected landscape in 2004.
Environmentalists say the airport could threaten around 200 bird species, including flamingos and pelicans. Set to be the biggest in the country, the airport will serve the southwestern city of Vlore on Albania’s Adriatic coast. The government hopes it will boost tourism in the often overlooked Balkan country.
Disease
Lassa fever – Nigeria
During the first three weeks on 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a total of 244 confirmed cases with 37 deaths and a case fatality rate of 15.1 % from 16 states.
Diphtheria – Nigeria
In a follow-up on the diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports 111 confirmed cases since last May 2022, with 89 of the cases reported in 2023. The majority (91.9%) of the confirmed cases occurred in those aged 2 – 14 years.