Australian River on Fire in Mining Area

Massive fracking fires in the river burn for over an hour: Australian MP

Massive flames erupt from methane gas bubbling to the surface of the Condamine River in Quessland, Australia due to ongoing coal seam gas mining [fracking] in the region, according to locals.

[Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs, also known as coal seam gas mining releases coalbed methane, or coal seam gas (CSG), a method of gas production popular in Australia, Canada, United States, and several other countries.]

River on Fire in Queensland, Ausralia!

“Large bubbles of the gas gurgle along the surface of the river before [Australia] Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham waves a kitchen lighter over the side of a tinny boat,” said a report.

“I was shocked by the force of the explosion when I tested whether gas boiling through the Condamine River, Qld was flammable,” Buckingham said.

“So much gas is bubbling through the river that it held a huge flame for over an hour.”

“Over the last few years there more and more patches of bubbles have appeared on the river and the pressure of the gas has increased to the point where it is like an over-sized spa bath. It’s a river, it shouldn’t be doing that,” said local resident John Jenkyn, who lives next to the gas field.

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Significant Events – April 23, 2016

EQ death toll exceeds 600, as significant aftershocks continue to rattle Ecuador

More than 600 people have now been killed following Ecuador’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake last Saturday, as significant aftershocks continue to plague the disaster areas.

The devastating earthquake, the worst in almost seven decades, has left about 12,500 people injured with many others missing, the national authorities said.

Latest Significant Event

M5.8 at 0.601°N, 80.270°W about 26km W of Muisne, Ecuador; depth=10.0 km (6.2 mi)

Today’s Seismicity

• 4.8 40km W of Muisne, Ecuador 2016-04-23 04:06:33 UTC 10.0 km
• 4.8 53km NW of Bahia de Caraquez, Ec
• 5.8 26km W of Muisne, Ecuador 2016-04-23 01:24:34 UTC 10.0 km
• uador 2016-04-22 15:39:05 UTC 10.0 km
• 4.8 50km NNW of Manta, Ecuador 2016-04-22 15:36:27 UTC 10.0 km

deadly heat wave, the number of victims since the beginning of the 2016 has reached 220, local media reported Saturday.

Heatwaves claim 220th victim in India

The official death toll from heatwaves that have plagued India has reached 220, so far this year, local media reported.

At least 150 people have died from scorching heat in the last two weeks alone, with as many as 120 of the them in the southern states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

On Thursday, the maximum daily temperature climbed to 47.5 degrees Celsius (117.5 Fahrenheit) in Titlagarh, Odisha (Orissa), eastern India.

“Sonepur was the second hottest place with mercury rising to 46.3 degrees Celsius. Most of the areas in western Orissa have been reeling under intense heat wave conditions with temperature hovering around 44 degree Celsius,” said a report.

Major U.S. cities plagued by record number of rats

Several major U.S. cities—including Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.— have been plagued by record number of rats in recent months, according to a report.

“In Chicago, which historically notches more rat complaints than any other city, residents’ reports of rodent activity rose by about 70% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year,” the report said.