Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 07a (Seven), located approximately 619 nm southeast of Masirah Island, is tracking west-northwestward at 07 knots.
Newsbytes:
Spain – Storm Efraín brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of western and central areas of Spain on 13 December 2022. Flood damage was reported in Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and the Community of Madrid.
Wildfires – Europe
Over 20 wildfires raged across Portugal and several burned in western Spain yesterday, menacing villages and disrupting tourists’ holidays amid a heatwave that meteorologists expect to push temperatures into the high 40s Celsius.
In Spain’s western region of Extremadura bordering Portugal firefighters evacuated a few hundred villagers overnight as a precaution and continued to battle a blaze that on Tuesday swept into Salamanca province in the region of Castile and Leon.
In France too, about 800 firefighters, supported by six water-bomber aircraft, were battling two wildfires in the southwest, which have already prompted the evacuation of thousands of campers. About 2 700 hectares were burned.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 28w (Yamaneko), located approximately 183 nm north of Wake island, is tracking northward at 02 knots.
Newsbytes:
Colombia – Colombians are picking up the pieces after heavy rainfall caused the Cauca River to overflow. The National Unit for Risk Management said more than 390 towns are on red alert across the country.
Spain – Heavy rain causes floods in eastern Spain. Firefighters were seen rescuing people from stranded cars in flooded streets. Water overflowed from a ravine in the town of Aldaia, near Valencia city, where airport authorities were forced to shut the runway until further notice. Spanish national meteorology agency (AEMET) declared maximum level of alert for the Valencia region, with the storm moving towards Catalonia and the interior of Spain.
Wildfires – Spain
Dozens of wildfires raged in northern Spain on Friday after unusually high temperatures hitting 30 Celsius (86F) in some areas a day earlier turned vegetation into dry fuel, adding to mounting concerns about changing weather patterns in Europe. In the Basque Country, Asturias and Cantabria about 40 blazes were reported, according to regional emergency services.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Ian is located about 5 mi…10 km s of the city of Pinar del Rio, Cuba and about 175 mi…280 km ssw of the Dry Tortugas with maximum sustained winds…125 mph…205 km/h. Present movement…n or 355 degrees at 12 mph…19 km/h.
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 18w (Noru), located approximately 169 nm east of D Nang, Vietnam, is tracking west-northwestward at 08 knots.
Tropical Storm 19w (Kulap), located approximately 408 nm south-southeast of Yokosuka, Japan, is tracking northward at 08 knots.
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical Cyclone 02s (Ashley), located approximately 619 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 11 knots.
Newsbytes:
Philippines – Heavy rain brought by Typhoon Noru caused widespread flooding in several northern provinces of the Philippines on 26 September 2022. Authorities reported 5 rescuers workers died in the Province of Bulacan Typhoon Noru, known as Karding in the Philippines, is the most powerful typhoon to hit the country this year. Noru made landfall in northern Quezon Province on 25 September, then crossed central Luzon, and continued west towards Vietnam over the South China Sea. Heavy rain caused flooding in northern provinces. The town of Subic in Zambales Province recorded 283.3 mm of rain in 24 hours to 26 September. To the north the municipality of Iba recorded 142.3 mm. Ambulong in the province of Batangas recorded 123.2 mm. Roads were deemed impassable in Camarines Sur Province, Bicol Region, leaving areas isolated. Army troops were carrying out rescues and evacuations in parts of Zambales and Quezon provinces, Central Luzon. Thousands were left without power in the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija.
Canada – At least one person has died and dozens have been displaced in Newfoundland, Canada, after huge waves and storm surge brought by Hurricane Fiona swept homes into the ocean. Environment Canada said Storm Fiona generated damaging winds, torrential rainfall, large waves and destructive storm surge along Canada’s Atlantic coast from 23 September 2022. Fiona then made landfall as a category-2 hurricane strength (maximum sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h) post-tropical cyclone near Whitehead in the province of Nova Scotia, early 24 September 2022. Impacts of the storm were reported across the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec. Thousands of households were left without power.
Spain – Torrential rain has caused devastation in parts of Murcia region in south-eastern Spain. Firefighters report one person died after floods destroyed a home, while emergency services responded to dozens of call-outs including flood rescues. Heavy rain fell in the Murcia Region of Spain from late 25 September 2022. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency AEMET reported more than 29 mm of rain was recorded in just 10 minutes at the Cabo de Palos weather station in the municipality of Cartagena, and more than 86 mm in an hour. The heavy rain triggered flooding and landslides.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Fiona is located about 35 mi…55 km se of Samana Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds…90 mph…150 km/h. Present movement…nw or 310 degrees at 8 mph…13 km/h.
Hurricane Fiona made landfall along the extreme southwestern coast of Puerto Rico, near Punta Tocon, at 3:20 p.m. ET Sunday with winds of 85 mph. The hurricane is already causing catastrophic flooding as it moves just west of Puerto Rico and heads for the Dominican Republic
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm 14e (Madeline), located approximately 910 nm southeast of San Diego, is tracking north-northwestward at 09 knots.
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm 16w (Nanmadol), located approximately 33 nm north-northeast of Iwakuni, Japan, is tracking northeastward at 13 knots.
Newsbytes:
Spain – Stormy weather including heavy rain affected the regions of Catalonia and Valencia in eastern Spain from 16 September 2022. In 12 hours, Oropesa del Mar recorded 144.4 mm of rain; Benissa 139.0 mm; Torreblanca 138.8 mm; and Callosa d’en Sarrià 132.0 mm. A police officer died in tragic circumstance trying to rescue a driver swept away in flood waters in Benissa.
Alaska – The remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused widespread flooding in coastal areas of western Alaska, USA, from 17 September 2022. Alaska Governor issued a disaster declaration in response to what he called an “unprecedented storm”. Extreme winds crashing waves and coastal sea surge have impacted numerous communities along 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of the Alaska coastline.
Nepal – Officials in Nepal report over 20 people have lost their lives and one is missing after heavy rain triggered landslides over the last few days. Heavy rain has also caused some flooding in areas of Bardiya, Kailali and Dadeldhura Districts. Heavy rain triggered several landslides in Achham District in Sudurpashchim Province on 17 September.
Wildfires – Spain
A wildfire burning out of control in the eastern province of Valencia has become one of the biggest this year in Spain, having already scorched more than 19,000 hectares along a 120-kilometre perimeter. Thirty-five aircraft have been deployed as the blaze entered its fifth day. Rain boosted hopes the fire could be brought under control on Thursday but strong winds have made it “very aggressive”.
Wildfires – Algeria
Wildfires in Northeast Algeria have killed at least 38 people according to reports by local journalists and the fire service. Most of the fatalities have occurred in the El Tarf province near Algeria’s border with Tunisia within about 20 miles of the Mediterranean Sea. Officials said that 39 fires were spreading through parts of northern Algeria, and they warned that hot, dry winds could worsen the situation. Approximately 16 fires are near the city of El Tarf. About 90 people are thought to have died in fires last year when more than 250,000 acres of forests burned.
Wildfires – Spain
Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as more wildfires sweep across parts of Spain. Climate change and lightning strikes have seen fires break out across the land in recent days, causing damage to countryside and populated areas, as firefighters try to control the situation. In one hair-raising incident, a train service was caught up in a sweeping wildfire near Valencia, which left three passengers seriously injured.
Wildfires – Spain
A large wildfire in northeast Spain grew rapidly overnight and was burning out of control Sunday, forcing the evacuation of eight villages and 1,500 people in Zaragoza province, firefighters said. The wildfire, which began Saturday, developed a 50-kilometer (31-mile) perimeter in less than 24 hours, the local forest chief said. It’s estimated burned surface could be up to 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres).
Wildfires – California
The Six Rivers fire, burning more than 16,900 acres in Trinity and Humboldt counties, is just 15% contained Sunday, according to fire officials.
The McKinney fire, which claimed the lives of four people, remains 95% contained after burning 60,000 acres. Some evacuation orders had been lifted, but many others remained in effect particularly around Highway 96.
Wildfires – Australia
Western Australia’s emergency services issued a bushfire warning on Sunday for an out of control blaze around Mokine in the Shire of Northam, 71 km east of the state capital Perth that was threatening homes and lives. Residents were advised to leave their homes and seek safer areas.
Wildfires – Spain
Spanish firefighters on Saturday struggled to contain wildfires that have ravaged large tracts in the northwest, as a third summer heat wave grips the country. Firefighters were battling six blazes in Galicia that have scorched nearly 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres). Some 700 people have been evacuated from the area around Boiro, where a blaze broke out on Thursday, according to regional officials. But no casualties have been reported so far.
Wildfires – Idaho, USA
The Moose Fire has burned an estimated 68,166 acres — or about 106 square miles — since July 17. The fire was 14% contained as of the morning of Saturday, Aug. 6.
California Wildfire Causes Fish Deaths
A wildfire burning in a remote area just south of the Oregon border appears to have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Klamath River fish, the Karuk Tribe said Saturday. The dead fish of all species were found Friday near Happy Camp, California, along the main stem of the Klamath River.
Tribal fisheries biologists believe a flash flood caused by heavy rains over the burn area caused a massive debris flow that entered the river at or near Humbug Creek and McKinney Creek. The debris entering the river led to oxygen levels in the Klamath River dropping to zero on Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to readings from tribal monitors at a nearby water quality station.
Wildfires – Europe
Though temperatures have cooled in France and the UK, firefighters are still tackling blazes in Greece, Spain and Italy.
The fires in France’s badly hit south-west have started to be brought under control.
And as the heatwave moves north-east, low water levels are hampering transport on rivers in Germany.
More than 1,000 deaths have been linked to the extremely high temperatures in Portugal while in Spain it is at least 500.
Spain has also been battling multiple wildfires. Though one in the central province of Zamora has been brought under control, according to the local government, two large wildfires are still out of control in the north-western region of Galicia. A fire in the Gredos mountain range is also spreading east towards the Madrid region, the BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe reports. Some 5,600 hectares (13,800 acres) of land have also been burnt in the north-eastern region of Aragon.
In Portugal, some 900 firefighters were fighting two active fires in the country’s far north.
Major fires have also affected Italy in the past days, causing the country to be put on its highest heatwave alert for Thursday. Italian infrastructure has also been heavily impacted, with temporary closure of a key rail route between Rome and Florence, Italian media report.
Wildfires – Europe
Thousands of firefighters are continuing to battle wildfires in Portugal, Spain and France, as a heatwave shows no sign of easing.
In northern Portugal, a pilot died when his waterbombing plane crashed in the Foz Coa area, near the Spanish border. The Portuguese authorities say at least 238 people have died from the heat over the past week.
Fires are ravaging areas of France’s south-western Gironde region, where over 12,000 people have now been evacuated with more than 10 000 hectares burned.
Wildfires – Canada
The British Columbia Fire Service reported at 4:02 p.m. Saturday that the fire activity on the Nohomin Creek Fire northwest of Lytton, BC has been stable today and no major growth was observed. Fire officials said Friday that at least six homes have been destroyed, and that number could rise with about 1 500 hectares burned.
Wildfires – Europe, Morocco
Thousands of people in Portugal, Spain, France and Morocco have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters tackle wildfires caused by this week’s heatwave, which has brought extreme temperatures of more than 45C (113F) to parts of Europe and north Africa.
One person has died and at least 135 people have suffered mainly minor injuries since wildfires began in Portugal last week. About 800 people have been evacuated from their homes. By Thursday, Portugal had registered 28 active fires, with more than 2,000 firefighters on the ground.
Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes in south-west France as wildfires raged out of control on Friday. Since Tuesday, more than 1,000 firefighters, supported by nine water-bomber aircraft, have been battling two blazes fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds. Authorities in the Gironde department, where the fires are still raging, described the situation as “adverse”. One of the two Gironde fires was around the town of Landiras, south of Bordeaux, where 4,200 hectares have been burned, roads have been closed, and almost 1,000 residents have been evacuated. The other blaze, that has already burnt 3,100 hectares, was along the Atlantic Coast close to the “Dune du Pilat” – the tallest sand dune in Europe – in the Arcachon Bay area.
Temperature records have been equalled or broken across many parts of Spain, with the mercury hitting 44.1C in the north-western city of Ourense for the first time on Thursday. Temperatures in parts of Extremadura, where firefighters are battling a wildfire that has consumed more than 4,000 hectares of land, reached 45C on Thursday.
Moroccan firefighters, soldiers, police officers and civil defence workers have been battling at least four fires that are ripping through forests in the north of the country. At least 1,000 hectares of forest have been burned since Wednesday night in Larache and Ouezzane, according to initial reports. The country, which is struggling under intense droughts, has in recent days been hit by soaring temperatures approaching 45C.
Italy and Croatia have also reported forest fires this week, and eight people had to jump into the sea at Bibione on the Adriatic coast to escape the fire and smoke.
Strong winds have greatly increased the risk of wildfires in five regions in Greece, civil protection officials have warned. Central Greece, Attica and Crete are among the areas most at risk and the fire brigade said they had counted 51 forest fires in the past 24 hours.
Wildfires – Spain, Germany and Greece
Germany – Residents of about 20 villages were ordered to evacuate as a forest fire, that has been burning since Friday, approached their homes about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Berlin. Others were told to prepare to leave in the next few hours. Earlier, a fire brigade spokesperson said the wildfire’s area had spread to “around 100 to 110 hectares,”.
Germany has seen numerous wildfires in recent days following a period of intense heat and little rain.
Greece – On Sunday, a wildfire continued to rage out of control in central Evia, Greece’s second-largest island. Fanned by strong winds, the blaze spread across the slopes of a mountainous forest in Gaia. Authorities ordered the evacuation of the village of Kremastos as a precaution as the blaze got as close as 800 meters (roughly 2,600 feet) from some homes.
Spain – Spanish authorities said temperatures dropped on Sunday morning, giving some respite to the 650 emergency workers battling the burning vegetation. Supported by water-dumping aircraft, they were able to establish a perimeter around the fire that started in Zamora’s Sierra de la Culebra which has scorched 25 000 ha, while 18 villages have been evacuated. Wildfires were also active in three parts of northeastern Catalonia: in Lleida, in Tarragona and in a nature park in Garraf, just south of Barcelona. Firefighters said they have responded to over 200 different wildfires just in Catalonia over the past week.
Wildfires – Spain
Firefighters battled to bring raging wildfires under control in Spain on Saturday. Almost 20,000 hectares of land had been burned in the Sierra de la Culebra mountain range and the fire was “still active”. In Catalonia, firefighters who were trying to bring a fire under control in Baldomar said they expected Saturday to be “complicated” by “very high temperatures and a strong southerly wind”.