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
Storms
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Olympics - Beijing Seeds Clouds To Protect Opening Ceremony
Olympics - Beijing Seeds Clouds To Protect Opening Ceremony CHINA: April 11, 2008 BEIJING - More than 100 people and three aircraft will be on standby at the Beijing Olympics to manipulate the weather if storms threaten the opening ceremony. Staff at 21 locations around the capital will fire rockets to seed storm clouds if there is a danger that rain would disrupt the Aug. 8 ceremony, officials said on Thursday.
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Forecaster Expects Eight Atlantic Hurricanes This Year
Forecaster Expects Eight Atlantic Hurricanes This Year US: April 10, 2008 MIAMI - The noted Colorado State University hurricane research team predicted on Wednesday that 15 tropical storms would form during the coming Atlantic storm season, of which eight would strengthen into hurricanes. The team founded by forecasting pioneer Bill Gray increased its outlook by two tropical storms and one hurricane over its last outlook issued in December due to improved conditions for storm development, including warmer sea surface temperatures in the eastern Atlantic.
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Disaster mitigation and management for West Bengal, India An appraisal
We examine the predominant natural hazards in West Bengal, along with an analysis of the prevalent disaster mitigation and management perspectives. Pre-hazard activities towards its mitigation are emphasized and explicated.
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Freak Hailstorm Kills Five In Central China
Freak Hailstorm Kills Five In Central China CHINA: April 9, 2008 BEIJING - A freak hailstorm that lasted only half an hour killed five people, injured 66 others and damaged thousands of homes in central China on Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said. The storm, with wind gusts of over 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour, hit Dangyang city, Hubei province, in the early hours of the morning and doused it with 6 centimetres of rain.
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Haneda closes one runway due to flooding as storms pummel eastern Japan
Haneda closes one runway due to flooding as storms pummel eastern Japan Tuesday 08th April, 01:48 PM JST TOKYO
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Tornado hits central Arkansas
Tornado hits central Arkansas By Mike Wintroath, AP A tree lays across a car at a home in Little Rock, early Friday, April 4, 2008. A tornado hit parts of Little Rock and its suburbs Thursday, injuring an unknown number of people while damaging businesses and downing trees and power lines.
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Canadian Researchers Warn Of New Arctic Worries
Canadian Researchers Warn Of New Arctic Worries CANADA: April 4, 2008 VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's massive Mackenzie Delta is feeling the impact of climate change faster than expected and could foretell of problems elsewhere in the Arctic, a Canadian researcher said on Thursday. Melting ocean ice is apparently allowing larger storm surges to flood into the delta in Canada's far north, a change that could have an impact on energy development plans for the region, said Lance Lesack, who has been tracking environmental changes in the region for more than a decade.
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Roads, ports, rails aren't ready for changing climate, says report
A federal study released documents the significant impact that climate change is expected to have on the U.S. transportation system. Its conclusion, says Henry Schwartz, the former head of one of the country's largest highway engineering firms, is "a pretty damning tale of what could happen."
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UK researchers say sharks could warn of storms
London: Forget Jaws. Sharks can save lives too by giving early warning of storms.
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Ecologists report huge storm losses in China's forests
From delicate orchids and magnolias to rare Chinese yews and Kwangtung pines, the flora of Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve is considered so precious that ecologists call the reserve "a treasure trove of species." But winter storms have reduced the biological hot spot to a splintered ruin.