Global Disasters/ Significant Events – August 1, 2014

MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
SCENARIOS 888, 817, 699, 444, 111, 023
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Destructive emerald beetle found in Boston

Emerald beetle,  a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia, which can quickly kill ash trees has been found at the Arnold Arboretum, said Boston state park and agriculture officials.

“Massachusetts has about 45 million ash trees, or about 3 percent of its total tree population. The ash borer was first seen in the United States in Michigan in 2002, and has since destroyed millions of ash trees across 23 states. The estimated cost of treating, removing, and replacing trees runs into the billions of dollars. The insect cannot be eradicated because of its prevalence,” said a report.

Death toll climbs to 27 in Taiwan gas explosions

Multiple gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed at least 27 people and injured about 300 others, officials said. The powerful blasts tore up an entire street.

“The local fire department received calls of gas leaks late Thursday and then there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting an area of [more than 4 sq km,]” said the National Fire Agency.

Millions of Jellyfish-Like Creatures Wash Up on Pacifica Beaches

Mounds of millions of jellyfish-like creatures have washed up on beaches along the US west coast over the past month, giving the shoreline a purple gleam and an unpleasant odor, said the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Flash flooding shuts Serbian power plant

Extreme Rain Events unleashed severe flash flooding in Serbia forcing authorities to shut down a 181-megawatt unit at Kostolac power plant, the country’s second largest, said the state power utility EPS.

A 348.5 megawatt block in the 1,000-Megawatt Kostolac plant is offline for maintenance until December 1, Reuters reported.

“The Kolubara coal mine, supplying the country’s biggest thermal plant complex, Nikola Tesla, halved production after two of its open pits were flooded in May.”

Related Links

• Deadly Deluge Devastates Romania, Bulgaria July 31, 2014