Arizona Attacked by Wildfires

At least 4 major blazes consume 90 km² of central and eastern AZ forest, brush and chaparral

The Sunflower Fire, the largest of AZ blazes, has consumed 70km² in the Tonto National Forest, about 65km north of Phoenix, fire officials reported.

Up to 350 residents of Crown King in central Arizona remain under evacuation orders after a large blaze, the Gladiator Fire, consumed about 25 sq km of Prescott National Forest and destroyed a dozen structures.

See also:

• U.S. Wildfires – June 21 Update Posted on June 21, 2011
• Arizona Wildfires Update – June 19 Posted on June 19, 2011

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• Colorado. A wildfire northwest of Fort Collins, northern Colorado, has consumed about 1,200  acres and is fast growing. The fire was less than 5 percent contained, as of posting.
  • “Two groups of residents have received notices to be prepared for possible evacuations, but no one has had to leave. The fire is within a quarter mile of some homes,” a report said.
• The Rocky Mountains, USA. The white-nose bat syndrome, a disease that has killed at least 5.5 million hibernating bats in hundreds of colonies across 19 U.S. states is now spreading westward, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
  • The deadly disease was first detected in New York in 2006, the USGS reported.

• The Midwest, U.S.  The number of extreme rain events, rainstorms that dump at least 3 inches of rain in 24hrs, have doubled in the U.S. Midwest between 1961 and 2011, a report said.

• Manitoba, Canada. A large wildfire in Sandilands Provincial Park has consumed about 5,300 hectares of pine forest since the weekend and prompted the authorities in the RM of Piney to issue an evacuation order.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 16 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,400 Days Left

[16 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,400 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Up to Half Million People Displaced by Flooding in Kenya

Extreme rain events flood dozens of rivers in Kenya, leaving at least 50 dead and up to 1/2 million people displaced

Flash floods and landslides in Kenya have so far killed at least 50 people in the capital Nairobi, destroying thousands of homes, businesses, and public infrastructure, spoiling crops and food stocks, and leaving  about half a million people displaced.

Most parts of the country have received significant rainfall of up to 50mm per day since late April. Heavy rains are expected to continue, especially in the central, western and coastal areas through end of June, reports said.

Recurring cycles of drought and deluge have plagued Kenya since the 1970s.

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• Brazil.  A severe drought is affecting at least 1,100 towns in NE Brazil, devastating crops and threatening the lives of local residents and livestock.  In rural areas ‘water wars’ have erupted, claiming an average of one life per day, reports said.
  • Drought has devastated farm output and destroyed about half of the region’s livestock.
  • The drought is said to be Brazil’s worst in living memory.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 15 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,401 Days Left

[15 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,401 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Schmallenberg Virus Continues to Surge in Europe

More EU farms infected by Schmallenberg virus

• Germany.  Some 1,481 farms across Germany had reported animals testing positive for the virus as of May 14, 2012, including 92 new farms.
• France.  France reported infections on 1,471 farms on May 11, including 105 new cases.
• Belgium.  Some 477  farms had reported SBV by May 2, 2012, including 33 new farms from a week earlier.
• Netherlands.  At least 339 farms have reported SBV  as of May 11, 2012.
• U.K. As of May 14, some 258 UK farms had reported SBV including two new farms, one in the Channel Islands and one in Buckinghamshire, a new addition to the list of counties reporting affected animals, said DEFRA.
• Luxemburg, Spain, Italy and other European countries. No reliable statistics available!

Related Links

• Next Mutations of SBV May Be Even Deadlier Posted on May 8, 201

• Schmallenberg Virus Outbreak: April 3 Update Posted on April 3, 2012
• Schmallenberg Virus Outbreak – UPDATE: March 25
• Schmallenberg virus up by more than 10 percent in 7 days
• Schmallenberg Virus Continues Spreading Posted on March 15, 2012

• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 10
• Schmallenberg virus entry for March 6
• Schmallenberg Virus Hits 7 Countries posted on February 22, 2012

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• Hunan Province, China. At least 20,078 cases of HFMD infections were reported in Hunan province in April, with 19 fatalities.
  • Continuous rain has affected more than 2.91 million people in 50 of the province’s counties as of May 14, said a report.

Original caption: Photo taken on May 13, 2012 shows a bridge that collapsed after being hit by flood in Pingjiang County, central-south China’s Hunan Province, May 13, 2012. Torrential rain that struck south China since May 11 has affected the daily lives of 2.91 million residents within Hunan as of Monday noon. Direct economic losses caused by the flood reached 2.88 billion yuan (456.2 million U.S. dollars), according to provincial flood control authorities. (Xinhua/Bai Yu). Image may be subject to copyright.  More images…

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 14 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,402 Days Left

[14 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,402 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Millions of People Affected by Extreme Rain Events in China

Continuous rainstorms forces hundreds of thousands of residents to relocate in southern, eastern and central China

Extreme rain events have destroyed tens of thousands of homes in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, central China’s Hunan province, east China’s Jiangxi province, leaving dozens of people dead, injured or missing.

The rainstorms have affected at least 3 million people, destroying their food stocks, also destroying or damaging tens of thousands of hectares of crops.

Villagers transport pork carcasses using a boat in Wuning County of Jiujiang City, east China’s Jiangxi Province, May 13, 2012.  Days of heavy rains have caused local rivers and reservoirs to rise above warning levels in Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua). Image may be subject to copyright. More images…

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 13 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,403 Days Left

[13 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,403 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Deadly Floods Hit Afghanistan, Georgia, China

Dozens dead or missing after flash floods sweep away villages in N Afghanistan

Torrential rains triggered deadly flooding in Takhar province, washing away homes, blocking roads, making large areas inaccessible and leaving dozens of people dead or missing. 

Last week, another flash flood caused havoc in the northern Afghanistan province of Sari Pul, washing away scores of homes and leaving dozens of people  dead or missing.

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• Tbilisi, Georgia.  Flash floods triggered by heavy rains and melting snow have left at least a dozen people dead or injured.
  • The floods triggered mudslides destroying or damaging many homes. Rescuers were forced to evacuate hundreds of people using boats.
  • Emergency service officials described the extreme rain event as the heaviest downpour in many years.

• China.  Lingering floods continue to plague SE China’s Fujian Province.
  • Dozens of people have lost their lives or are missing after flash floods hit multiple locations in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
  • Heavy rainstorms have flooded several cities in east China’s Jiangxi Province, inundating roads and destroying or damaging homes. The extent of damage or details of casualties have not been reported.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 12 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,404 Days Left

[12 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,404 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Fire Destroys Over 1,000 Homes in Manila Shanty Town

Thousands left homeless by fire in Philippine capital

The fire destroyed at least 1,000 shanties in a squatters community in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo (Port of Manila dock area), leaving more than 10,000 residents homeless.

Original caption: Residents gather reusable materials from remains of their homes after a fire in Manila, capital of the Philippines, May 12, 2012. A fire destroyed hundreds of shanty homes, leaving over 10,000 residents homeless on May 11. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Image  may be subject to copyright. More images…

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 11 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,405 Days Left

[11 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,405 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Dozens Dead or Missing after Storm Batters NW China

Deadly storm leaves a trail of destruction in Gansu province, NW China

Extreme Weather has left more than 60 people dead or missing in Minxian County in Gansu Province, affecting tens of thousands of people and forcing about 3,000 people to flee their homes.

The storm, which lasted only about an hour, left a trail of destruction in 17 of the county’s 18 towns and many villages, dumping up to 70mm of rain, reports said.

Torrential rains and hail caused flash floods unleashing torrents of mud which destroyed homes, farmland and infrastructure.

Villager stands next to the remains of his house destroyed by hail and torrential rains in Minxian County in northwest China’s Gansu Province, May 11, 2012. The death toll has climbed to 24 and 37 people remain missing after hail and torrential rains battered Minxian County in Gansu Province on Thursday, the local government said Friday. The natural disaster on Thursday has affected 36,000 people in Minxian County, forcing the area to be evacuated of 2,183 local residents. Roads were blocked, houses collapsed, and farmland was destroyed by the extreme weather, according to state and local disaster relief agencies. (Xinhua/Nie Jianjiang). More images …

Related Disasters

• Flooding, Drought and Wildfires Ravage China Posted  on May 10, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 10 May 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,406 Days Left

[10 May 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,406 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Flooding, Drought and Wildfires Ravage China

Tens of thousands evacuated as extreme rain events swamp central China

More than a million people have been affected in central China’s Hunan province, as storms dumped 200+mm of rain in less than 24 hours.

Floods have claimed at least a dozen lives, leaving many others injured, damaging or destroying thousands of homes, and forcing the authorities to evacuate more than  30,000 people.

In Yunnan province, more than 700 people are desperately attempting to control a major wildfire on Mt. Laoyingshan on the outskirts of Lijiang, said to be a popular tourist destination.

There were no details available concerning the extent of damage or the number of casualties, as of posting.

The blaze is one of a dozen or so significant wildfires aided by the severe drought in southwest, north and northeast China in the recent weeks.

Severe Geological Event in South China

A significant land subsidence in Maohe Village, Liuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, caused buildings to collapse, affecting an area of about 7 hectares, and forcing the authorities to evacuate more than 1,700 villagers.

Original caption: Photo taken on May 10, 2012 shows collapsed wall in the Maohe Village in Liunan District, Liuzhou City of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A severe geologic hazard hit Maohe Village in Guangxi on Thursday, affecting an area of about 100 mu (66,667 square meters) and forcing more than 1,700 villagers to be evacuated to safe places. Several buildings have collapsed in the disaster, local sources said. (Xinhua/Li Bin). Image may be subject to copyright. More images…

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• In the first 4 months of 2012, China’s railways carried
  • 606 million passengers (up 2.8 percent YoY)
  • 785.34 million tons of coal (up 6.6 percent)
  • 35.96 million tons of grain (increase of 15 percent)
  • 1.33 billion tons of cargo (up 3.8 percent)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar