August Current Events 2023: Disaster News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the Disaster news events you need to know so far for August 2023.
- Northern Beijing Evacuated Following Flood And Typhoon
- Death Toll Rises In The Wake Of The Hawaiian Wild Fire
- Canadians Stuck In Traffic As They Race To Escape Yellowknife Wildfire
- Authorities In Greece Brace Up For Possible Sure In Spontaneous Wildfire
Northern Beijing Evacuated Following Flood And Typhoon
Photo Source: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Saturday, July 29, 2023 – One of the fiercest storms to slam the nation in recent memory, Typhoon Doksuri, battered the Philippines and Taiwan before hitting China's coast and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes in Beijing.
Small and medium-sized rivers began to overflow above warning levels over the weekend in southern Beijing, the central and western regions of Hebei, eastern Shanxi, and northern Henan, while flash floods and geological risks could happen near mountainous areas.
Typhoon Doksuri was one of the strongest to strike the southern province of Fujian since Typhoon Meranti in 2016. It was also the most potent to strike China this year. According to official media, it compelled the closing of businesses and schools, evacuating employees from offshore oil and gas sites, and suspending sporting activities.
Only a dozen other typhoons have landed or passed through Beijing since such records began in 1951.
Sources: The Guardian
Death Toll Rises In The Wake Of The Hawaiian Wild Fire
Photo Source: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Friday, August 11, 2023 – On Tuesday night, a fire consumed the town of 13,000 people as strong winds carried a flame that had started in vegetation to the city center. As the flames and smoke spread, numerous adults and children were forced to jump into the ocean for protection.
Since then, the disaster has injured at least 30 people, and the governor has warned that the death toll from the flames on the island of Maui would most likely grow "significantly." As firefighters resumed major evacuation attempts and desperate searches for survivors, at least 53 people died in the wildfires that blazed the ancient town of Lahaina in Hawaii.
President Joe Biden authorized a disaster declaration for Maui on Thursday, allowing federal money to assist local recovery efforts in regions devastated by the wildfires. He promised that the federal response would ensure that the people get the much-needed help as soon as possible.
Source: The Guardian
Canadians Stuck In Traffic As They Race To Escape Yellowknife Wildfire
Photo Source: AP Photo/Ryan Planche
Thursday, August 17, 2023 – The whole population of the Canadian city of Yellowknife — more than 20,000 people — has been given till noon on Friday to abandon their houses as water bombers flew all through the night and authorities issued a weekend city-wide evacuation alert. The Yellowknife Mayor, Rebecca Alty, said that evacuation flights will start on Thursday afternoon until all residents have safely departed the city.
The out-of-control wildfire, around 163,000 hectares wide, is currently 16 kilometers from Yellowknife, the capital of the vast and sparsely populated Northwest Territories. Over 2 million hectares of the territory have burned this season, and more than half of its residents are currently subject to an evacuation order. The communities of N'dilo and Dettah have also been forced to evacuate due to their proximity to Yellowknife.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was scheduled to call a meeting of the Incident Response Group, a group of ministers, senior officials, and ministers who meet during times of crisis.
Source: The Guardian
Authorities In Greece Brace Up For Possible Sure In Spontaneous Wildfire
Photo Source: AP Photo/Achilleas Chiras
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Extreme heat and heavy winds threaten the possibility of new devastating wildfires in several locations in Greece. Several regions in southern Greece, including Athens, have received extreme fire risk alerts. This week, temperatures in the capital will be close to 40 degrees Celsius.
Fires have been raging for several days, and 13 settlements around the capital, including the eastern Rhodopes and the northern city of Kavala. have been evacuated "for the safety of the citizens," according to Greece's fire department. France, Cyprus, and Romania dispatched reinforcements to assist Greek firemen.
So far, at least one person is believed to have died from the recent fires. According to local media, an 80-year-old man fell while attempting to save his sheep from the flames in the central Boeotia region, north of Athens.
Greece is one of several European countries currently at high threat of wildfires, with blazes on the Spanish island of Tenerife and rising temperatures in France's south.
Source: BBC
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