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Map of 186 Largest Quakes Since 1900

Note: The events marked on the map are equal to or greater than magnitude 7.8.

Disaster Toll for China in November

Disasters affected 5+ million people across China in November: Officials

[Human-enhanced] natural disasters across China left 330,000 people displaced, dozens dead, and an unknown number of others injured in November, according to official figures.

Official Toll

• Number of People Affected: More than five million
• Displaced: 330,000
• Fatalities: 24
• Injured: Not known
• No. of homes destroyed or damaged: 255,000 dwellings
• Crop area affected: 661,900 hectars (ha)
• Cropland destroyed: 67,600 ha
• Direct economic losses:  6.81 billion yuan ($1.12 billion)

Source: the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Commission for Disaster Reduction/via Xinhua.

“Natural disasters last month were mainly earthquakes and typhoons, while droughts, floods and snowstorms also played their part. The overall damages were heavier than those from the same period last year,” the report said.

London Shrouded by Dense Fog

Fog forces scores of flight cancellation from London airports

All flights to and from London City Airport were canceled until at least noon on Wednesday, and several incoming flights were redirected to Stansted airport.

At least 80 flights were also canceled at London’s main Heathrow airport Wednesday morning due to poor visibility.

“Due to extreme fog conditions we are expecting some schedule disruptions… It’s taking longer to rise than we expected but it is lifting.” said an airport spokesperson.

Image Credit: London Metropolitan Police/via local media.
East London’s Canary Wharf business district. Photo taken from the Metropolitan Police helicopter during a foggy morning on December 11, 2013.

Rio Declares a State of Emergency due to Flooding, Landslides

EXTREME RAIN EVENTS

Torrential Rains, Flooding and Landslides Paralyze Rio de Janeiro

EXTREME RAIN EVENTS unleashed widespread floods and numerous landslides in Brazil’s state of Rio de Janeiro, while authorities urged residents of at least 43 favelas [shanty towns] to abandon their homes.

About 190mm (7.5 inches) of rain swamped Realengo a populous neighborhood in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

The rainfall was the equivalent of total amount of precipitation that is normally expected during the entire month of December, said local meteorologists.

Tens of thousands of people were unable to get to work and Rio mayor Eduardo Paes urged residents in the worst-hit areas to stay at home, as the city prepared to evacuate tens of thousands of people from areas prone to landslides.

“The situation is critical… we have had very heavy rain. Our priority is the alert system in the favelas and areas at risk of landslides,” the mayor told reporters.

City employees clear a flooded street in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Credit: AFP

President Dilma Rousseff is sending federal security personnel to help  state police maintain law and order.

Extreme rain events  in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia left at least 38 people dead, over the weekend.

In 2011, torrential rains in the mountains outside Rio triggered large-scale mudslides that left about 1,000 people dead or missing.

Tropical Cyclone MADI Striking Southern India

MADI packing sustained winds of about 70km/h

MADI [Tropical Cyclone 06B] was located approximately 210km ESE of Chennai, India, [position: 11.9N, 81.5E] tracking southwestward at about 20km/h at 00:30UTC on December 12, 2013, according to JTWC. 

The cyclone was packing sustained winds of about 70km/h gusting up to 90km/h.

The system was generating maximum significant wave height of up to 5m and was being monitored for signs of regeneration.

Tropical Storm MADI – Water Vapor [FIRE-EARTH Enhancement] Satellite image – recorded at 00:30UTC on December 12, 2013. Original Image Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Related Links

• Mass Evacuations Ordered as Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Approaches India November 28, 2013
• LEHAR Closing in on Indian Coast November 27, 2013
• Cyclonic Storm LEHAR Strikes Andaman Islands November 25, 2013
• Tropical Cyclone HELEN Striking East India Coast November 21, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale
• Satellite Imagery