August Current Events 2024: 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 2024.
- Rate Of Significant Flood Reaching Its Highest In Recorded History
- Up To A Hundred Acres Burnt In Massive California Wildfire
- Severe Flooding In Sudan Kills Dozens And Renders People Homeless
- Brazil Continues To Tackle Amazon Forest Fire
- Japan Faces Deadly Disaster As Typhoon Shanshan Heads Towards Its Coast
Rate Of Significant Flood Reaching Its Highest In Recorded History
Friday, August 2, 2024 – China has already witnessed the most catastrophic floods since record-keeping started in 1998, as well as the warmest July since 1961. So far this year, it has registered 25 "numbered" incidents, defined by the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources as water levels that necessitate an official warning or are measured at a magnitude of a "once in two to five years" event.
At a news conference this week, officials said that 3,683 river flood alerts and 81 mountain flood catastrophe warnings had been issued, state media reported. To avoid the migration of more than 6.5 million people, over 5,000 reservoirs were placed into action, diverting 99 billion liters of floodwater.
According to the National Meteorological Agency, China's climate has "deviated from the norm" this year, resulting in natural calamities. The national rainfall average was 13.3% greater than normal, with 30 meteorological stations setting record highs. Four main rivers got above-average rainfall. The Huaihe and Liaohe river basins got double the average.
Source: The Guardian
Up To A Hundred Acres Burnt In Massive California Wildfire
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 – Several houses were destroyed on Monday as a fast-moving wildfire engulfed a California hillside enclave, prompting evacuations as hundreds of firefighters battled the flames. Extreme heat in the region exacerbated the problem. A fire department official, Eric Sherwin, mentioned that more than 200 firemen were deployed to the incident.
According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the Edgehill fire began at 3 p.m. in the Shandin Hills district of San Bernardino. It moved quickly over the neighborhood, destroying houses and causing evacuations. As the fire progressed, news sites aired footage of houses being destroyed to their foundations.
According to early accounts, the fire had grown to at least 100 acres (40 hectares). By around 6 p.m., county authorities reported that the fire's forward advance had been halted and that it was holding at 54 acres (22 hectares) with 25% containment.
Source: The Guardian
Severe Flooding In Sudan Kills Dozens And Renders People Homeless
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Heavy rains in Sudan killed hundreds of people, exacerbating the country's already dire situation. According to the interior ministry, at least 68 people have died in Sudan because of the rains that have hit various sections of the nation this year.
The biggest rains since 2019 have hit the country's western, northern, and eastern regions, flooding communities and damaging homes, crops, and infrastructure. The UN reports that floods have displaced around 27,000 people since June.
Experts noted that Famine, floods, and other challenges have aggravated Sudan's humanitarian catastrophe to a "catastrophic, apocalyptic breaking point"; and without an urgent, substantial, and coordinated global response, there is a risk of seeing tens of thousands of needless fatalities in the coming months."
Before the disaster, the country is plagued with the horrors of civil war in the country. Nearly 50,000 families reside in Jebel Marra, including thousands of displaced individuals who fled neighboring regions due to combat between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Source: The Guardian
Brazil Continues To Tackle Amazon Forest Fire
Thursday, August 22, 2024 – The Brazilian government has sent over 1,500 firemen to the Amazon, where the most severe drought in decades is transforming the rainforest's normally wet fire kindles. Research conducted by international experts has shown that the Pantanal wetlands, one of Brazil's significant biomes, have seen catastrophic fires.
These fires have been exacerbated by human-induced climate disruption, increasing their likelihood by at least four times and intensity by 40%. Despite a significant drop in deforestation since President Lula da Silva took office in January 2023, satellite data from the National Institute for Space Research show that there have been 59,000 forest fires since the beginning of the year, the most since 2008.
The influence on nonhuman animals is transcendent. Last year, over 100 endangered river dolphins perished in Lake Tefé's shallow, polluted water, which had heated to 39 degrees Celsius. Recent research found that more than a third of the Amazon rainforest is failing to recover from drought.
Source: The Guardian
Japan Faces Deadly Disaster As Typhoon Shanshan Heads Towards Its Coast
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Thursday, August 29, 2024 – Japan’s strongest typhoon of the year has made landfall in the country’s southwest, bringing heavy rain and gusts gusting up to 252 km/h (157 mph), powerful enough to damage buildings. According to the meteorological bureau, Typhoon Shanshan, also known as Typhoon No. 10, made landfall on the Japanese island of Kyushu at 8 a.m. The power provider said that 254,610 homes were already without power.
Typhoon Shanshan is predicted to reach southern Kyushu with exceptional power by August 29 based on reports from chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi days before. Volatile gusts, huge waves, and storm surges at levels that many people have never experienced before are likely to occur.
Shanshan’s poor pace raises the possibility of significant harm. According to the meteorological organization, the storm is heading north at a speed of about 15 km per hour. There have already been reports of casualties from landslides, a significant threat in hilly regions, and tens of thousands of people have been warned to leave.
Source: The Guardian
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