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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As Australia dries, a global shortage of rice
DENILIQUIN, Australia: Lindsay Renwick, the mayor of this dusty southern Australian town, remembers the constant whir of the rice mill. "It was our little heartbeat out there, tickety-tick-tickety," he said, imitating the giant fans that dried the rice, "and now it has stopped." The Deniliquin mill, the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere, once processed enough grain to satisfy the daily needs of 20 million people. But six long years of drought have taken a toll, reducing Australia's rice crop by 98 percent and leading to the mothballing of the mill last December.
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Australian drought creates global rice shortage
Lindsay Renwick, the mayor of this dusty southern Australian town, remembers the constant whir of the rice mill. "It was our little heartbeat out there, ticketytick-tickety," he said, imitating the giant fans that dried the rice, "and now it has stopped." The Deniliquin mill, the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere, once processed enough grain to meet the needs of 20 million people around the world. But six long years of drought have taken a toll, reducing Australia's rice crop by 98 per cent and leading to the mothballing of the mill last December.
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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.
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The hope of rain
For the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it has been an annual ritual for the past 20 years to issue its long-range monsoon forecast around this time of the year, though the credibility of these predictions has been on the wane. The projection that the rainfall during this year's monsoon season (June to September) will be equal to 99 per cent of the long-period average, should therefore be viewed with some caution, even if prima facie it is a good news for the country's farmers, economy and the hydrological balance.
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NDMA to train Arunachal on disaster management
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will help Arunachal Pradesh in disaster management by imparting training to the police force, including communities, who are frontliners during disasters. Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day state level workshop on disaster and risk management here today, NDMA member K M Singh told reporters that the Central Statutory Body, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as its Chairman, would help the State in making preparations to cope with any situation during disasters.
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Indonesian Volcano Spews Ash, Residents Evacuated
About 600 people have been evacuated in eastern Indonesia after a volcano began spewing ash, a vulcanologist said on Wednesday. Mount Egon on Flores Island started to erupt late on Tuesday, emitting grey ash up to 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) above the crater, said Muhammad Hendrasto, head of monitoring at the volcanology office in Bandung on Java island. Authorities immediately raised the alert to orange, one notch below the highest level, and evacuated people living about 1.8 km (1 mile) from the peak of the volcano, he said.
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Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System Set For 2011
Scientists are developing a tsunami warning system for the Mediterranean region which they said on Wednesday should be ready in 2011 and could save thousands of lives. The 40-50 million euro ($63.32 million) project started three years ago, shortly after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people and which prompted Asian nations to develop warning systems. "It is true that in the Mediterranean tsunamis are rare," said project vice chairman Gerassimos Papadopoulos at a geoscience conference.
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China Bosses Jailed For Mine Flood That Killed 172
Two Chinese coal mine managers have been jailed for seven years for negligence after a colliery flood killed 172 workers, the country's worst such accident in decades, local media said on Wednesday. The tragedy happened in August 2007 when a river dyke burst in torrential rain, sending water rushing into two mineshafts. The miners were declared dead after weeks of trying to pump out the water ended in vain.
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A Drought in Australia, a Global Shortage of Rice
Lindsay Renwick, the mayor of this dusty southern Australian town, remembers the constant whir of the rice mill. "It was our little heartbeat out there, tickety-tick-tickety,' he said, imitating the giant fans that dried the rice, "and now it has stopped.' Has the increase in food prices caused you to change your buying habits?
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Rains claimed 24 lives in TN
Heavy rains in Tamil Nadu resulted in the loss of 24 lives and caused extensive damage to 3.91 lakh hectares of standing crops, government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. In response to a question, minister of state for home affairs Radhika V Selvi said, "Tamil Nadu has submitted a memorandum seeking central assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund for relief operations in the areas affected by heavy rains during March 2008.' TNN