2024 Disasters in Numbers
<p>In 2024, the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) recorded 393 natural hazard-related disasters. These events caused 16,753 fatalities and affected 167.2 million people. Economic losses totaled US$241.95
Natural Disasters
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Northwest India too will share monsoon spoils
The International Research Institute (IRI) for Climate and Society at the University of Columbia has come out with more daring predictions on the Indian monsoon compared to those made public by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. The most glaring difference in perception relates to rainfall trends for northwest India. While the IMD was apologetic about the prospects for this region, the IRI predicts good rainfall here during the July-August-September and August-September-October quarters.
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Karnah's quake hit orphans still await cash relief under NCSV scheme
The October 8, 2005 earthquake wrecked havoc on life and property in the bordering area of Karnah. Three years after the natural disaster hit Karnah villages, at least 99 children rendered orphans are still awaiting cash relief compensation announced by the union government under National Calamity Scheme for Victims (NCSV) scheme. To rehabilitate the victimised children and enable them to continue with their education, the union government under the scheme had announced a cash relief of Rs five lakh each in favour of the children whose parents died in the quake and
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Post-Tsunami housing in Tamil Nadu
The tsunami relief effort was based on the recognition that out of disaster an opportunity can be created to rebuild, expand and improve upon services, correct imbalances and meet the needs of vulnerable groups. But in housing, this case study from Tamil Nadu shows that even three years after the disaster, a large proportion of the affected continue to live in temporary shelters. April 19-25, 2008
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Reconfiguring the coast
An enormous amount of funds (government, multilateral and non-government) flowed into the coastal areas hit by the tsunami of December 2004. But what has been the quality of rehabilitation and what lives do the survivors
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Natural disasters, mily action displaced millions
Millions of displaced Baloch and Pushtoon people are living like refugees in worst condition due to the ongoing military operation in various parts of Balochistan and Waziristan while about 17,000 Kashmiris are still in refugee camps at the Pakistani side of the LoC, said a study report prepared by different NGOs. According to the report, the number of displaced people in Pakistan has increased during the year 2007 and they are still living in a refugee-like condition in their own country.
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South China Braces For First Typhoon Of Year
Southern China braced on Thursday for the first typhoon of the year, with almost 22,000 fishing boats called back to harbour, state media said. Typhoon Neoguri was heading north for the island province of Hainan, skirting the coast of Vietnam, and was forecast to make landfall on Friday night or Saturday morning. "Heavy rain and strong gales will hit Guangdong and Hainan with the approach of the typhoon," Xinhua news agency said.
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Greenland Glacial Lake Vanishes In Warming Drama
Surface melting fuelled by climate warming can trigger dramatic events on the vast Greenland ice sheet such as a lake suddenly vanishing through a crack with force of Niagara Falls, experts said on Thursday. Rising global temperatures are expected to cause an increase in meltwater in frozen expanses like the Greenland ice sheet, and this meltwater often forms sizable lakes.
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Indonesia Raises Alert For Java Volcano
Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level for a volcano near the country's third largest city following increased volcanic activity, a volcanology centre official said on Thursday. More than 100 volcanic tremors were recorded from Mount Papandayan in West Java on Wednesday, although there were no visible signs it would erupt soon, said Estu Kriswati from the volcanology centre in the nearby city of Bandung. "The volcano has shown increased activity since April 9 but it reached its peak yesterday," she said.
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Central aid: LDF on the warpath
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has declared a virtual war against the Centre for its failure to provide relief to the State reeling under the rain havoc of the last few weeks and the general price spiral.
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Relief package for Rajasthan farmers
The Rajasthan Government on Thursday released the first instalment