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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Near-normal monsoon forecast gives govt hope
Facing all-round flak on galloping inflation, the government on Wednesday tried to wash away some of its worries by predicting a "near-normal' south-west monsoon for the year, suggesting that increased farm production could be expected.
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Govt to form fund for mitigating effects of natural calamities
The government is going to float a budgetary fund from the next fiscal year for mitigating the effects of natural calamities, the finance and planning adviser, AB Mirza Azizul Islam, informed a pre-budget consultation meeting on Wednesday. The disclosure of such a contingency fund was made following a call from the Bangladesh Economic Association for launching the fund, amounting to Tk 1,000 crore, with local resources. The Ministry of Finance is already working on how to float the fund, and its size in the initial year [2008-09] may be small, said the secretary to the ministry.
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Meena focuses on landslides
Kalimpong: DGHC administrator B.L. Meena has agreed to take up landslide prevention work in the hills on a priority basis. He, however, cautioned that it would take time to accomplish the onerous task. After meeting representatives of NGOs like Citizen Rights Forum, Kalimpong, and Save The Hills, Meena said the Bengal government has already identified roads, drinking water, rural electrification, education and health as priority areas, and landslide prevention would be added to the list.
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Met predicts near-normal rains
The south west monsoon, crucial to agriculture, is likely to be near normal this year, the Meteorological Department has forecast amid hopes that good summer rains would lead to an easing in the price situation. "India Meteorological Department's long-range forecast for the 2008 southwest monsoon season (June-September) is that rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be near normal," earth sciences minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here. Quantitatively, monsoon season rainfall is likely to be 99 per cent of the long period average with a model error of five per cent.
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Lankans to participate in earthquake parley via Net
The US National Earthquake Conference will be held in Seattle from April 22 - 26. Earthquake experts from around the nation will convene to discuss the latest research on earthquakes and the generation of tsunamis. The conference will also focus on tsunami hazards, offering attendees and the media an opportunity to hear, via webcast, from experts from Sumatra, Sri Lanka and Phuket, Thailand, that were catastrophically impacted by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December, 2004.
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Thousands Evacuated After Colombian Volcano Erupts
Thousands Evacuated After Colombian Volcano Erupts COLOMBIA: April 16, 2008 BOGOTA - Thousands of Colombians were evacuated around the Nevado del Huila volcano in the southwest part of the country on Tuesday after an eruption of ash and gas that caused no damage, but put authorities on high alert. "Constant monitoring of the situation will be maintained," said a statement from Colombia's Interior Ministry. The volcano, in the province of Huila, is not located near any major coffee plantations integral to the economy of this part of the Andean country.
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Ten Students Missing In New Zealand River Flood
Ten Students Missing In New Zealand River Flood NEW ZEALAND: April 16, 2008 WELLINGTON - Ten teenagers are missing after being swept away in a raging river in New Zealand as violent storms caused widespread flooding in the country's North Island, local media and police said. The students were taking part in an activity with the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre when they got into trouble at the Mangatepopo Gorge, said police.
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Tornado study to dive into storm's heart
Tornado study to dive into storm's heart This funnel cloud formed April 10 in Keo, Ark, although no tornadoes on the ground were reported. A band of hail, heavy rain and twisters pounded Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma Thursday, damaging hundreds of homes, flooding roads and leaving thousands without power. U.S. scientists plan the most extensive tornado study since one in the mid-1990s that helped inspire the Hollywood film Twister. Starting in spring 2009, researchers intend to hunt tornado-spawning thunderstorms in the central part of the country.
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Major Quake Almost Inevitable For California - Study
Major Quake Almost Inevitable For California - Study US: April 15, 2008 LOS ANGELES - California will almost inevitably be struck by a major earthquake, and possibly a catastrophic quake, sometime in the next 30 years, scientists said on Monday in the most comprehensive geologic forecast for the state. California faces a more than 99 percent chance of being hit by a magnitude 6.7 temblor -- the size of the 1994 Northridge quake -- in the next 30 years, according to a study using new data and analyzing earthquake probabilities across the state.
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Thawing ice triggers Yellow River flood
More than 13,000 people were evacuated after sections of the main embankment of China's Yellow River collapsed on March 19. The collapse occurred along the river's southern bank in Ordos city in the