Bolivia Declares Second Largest Lake ‘Disaster Area’

Mass Deaths of Fish, Waterfowl in Bolivian Lake, River

Agricultural authorities in Bolivia have declared Poopo Lake in Oruro department a disaster area after the death of thousands of fish and waterfowl.

More than 10 kilometers of dead fish and birds were found on the banks of Lake Poopó (Oruro department) earlier this month. The deaths occurred either as a result suffocation, caused by the high volumes of mud washed into the water after recent torrential rains in the region, or by an abnormal rise in the temperature, said reports.

“That event will affect more than 780 thousand fishing families with low production in the coming years, as the fish were on procreation age,” said a report.

Lake Poopó is the second largest in the Andean country, after Titicaca.

In another disaster, thousands of dead fish were found in the Rio Grande, a major river in the department of Santa Cruz, eastern Bolivia, less than two weeks ago, said the report.

 

 

Disaster Declared for Chile Quake Zone

SEISMIC HAZARD
LARGE EARTHQUAKE ALONG PERU-CHILE TRENCH
DISASTER DECLARED FOR EQ ZONE
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Chile declares disaster zones after major earthquake

Chilean President has declared parts of northern Chile disaster areas after a large earthquake measuring 8.2Mw struck offshore about 95km NW of Iquique.

The quake struck off the northern coast of Chile late Tuesday, triggering tsunami waves of up to 2.1m that hit the coastal areas.

There have been reports of large landslides, fires, power cuts and prison escapes. The landslides reportedly blocked highways, hampering mass evacuation efforts.

Quake-related deaths stood at five, with more than 80,000 people displaced as of posting,  reported the interior ministry.

President Bachelet said she would visit Arica and Tarapaca regions on Wednesday, and would dispatch the military  to the disaster areas to prevent looting and disorder.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude: 8.2Mw
Location: 19.642°S, 70.817°W
Depth: 20.1km (12.5mi)
Date/Time: 2014-04-01 at 23:46:46 UTC
Nearby Cities: 95km (59mi) NW of Iquique, Chile

Aftershocks

Dozens of aftershocks, including at least 27 significant shocks measuring up to 6.2Mw have struck the area as of posting.

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP

Since march 16, hundreds of earthquakes have occurred along the Peru-Chile trench off the northern coast of Chile. A 6.7 magnitude quake struck the region on March 16, prompting the authorities to evacuate about 120,000 people in low-lying areas.

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast for Chile

On March 17, 2014, FIRE-EARTH posted an Earthquake Forecast for Chile, which was immediately hacked. The update was posted at Another Significant Aftershock Strikes Coastal Chile, on the same day, which stated:

FIRE-EARTH Models show a large earthquake could strike along Peru-Chile Trench in the coming weeks.

Tsunami Forecast: Large tsunami waves highly probable.

Forecast Details

• Magnitude: ≥8.2Mw
• Location: 23.6°S, 70.8ºW
• Depth: 30km
• Time: March 17 – April 29, 2014
• Probability of Occurrence: 0.75
• Total Earthquake Energy for the Episode ≥ 0.25EJ

Tsunami Warning/ Watch/ Advisory

A TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, according to NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI.

Related Links

• M8.2 Strikes Coast of Chile April 2, 2014
• Enhanced Seismicity Continues Along Peru-Chile Trench on March 24, 2014
• Significant Seismic Activity Continues Along Peru-Chile Trench March 22, 2014
• FIRE-EARTH Forecast: Large Earthquake Could Strike Peru-Chile Trench March 17, 2014
• Another Significant Aftershock Strikes Coastal Chile March 17, 2014
• Intense Seismicity Along Peru-Chile Trench March 16, 2014

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 24 June 2013

Himalayan Tsunami Death Toll May Top 5,000

“At least 5,000 people must have been killed in the deluge that inflicted heavy damage on vast tracts of land especially in Kedarnath valley,” Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya told reporters on his return from an aerial survey of the disaster areas.

The official death toll had climbed to 680 as of June 22, and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand has said that the death toll would likely be around 1,000, said a report.

Official forecasters have issued various warnings concerning adverse weather in the disaster area starting today, June 24, including heavy rain to last until June 30.

At least 19,000 are still stranded in three areas, while 83,000 others have been rescued, according to reports.

At least two major landslides and numerous mudslides have been reported in the disaster zone.

-oOo-

1,000 residents flee, as State of Emergency declared in Siksika Nations

Raging waters from the Bow River have devastated the Siksika Nation, forcing a least 1,000 people from homes.

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State of Emergency declared in Houston County, Minnesota

Authorities have declared a  state of emergency in Houston County, Minnesota, due to losses and damage caused by a storm.

Large swathes of southeastern Minnesota have been hit hard from flash flooding over the weekend, but storm damage  across Houston county is said to be extensive,  a state of emergency declaration.

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Deluge forces Manitoba community to declare state of emergency

“Environment Canada said radar indicated accumulations of 100 mm hovering above that area when the system hit,” said a report.

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Winnipegosis declares a state of emergency due to flooding

The Village of Winnipegosis has declared a state of emergency, making it the third rain-soaked part of Manitoba to be dealing with overland flooding.

“A lot of the land here looked like [a] lake. The water, the ditches began to overflow, and consequently the water was rising up around homes,” said a local resident.

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States of Emergency in Crawford and Grant Counties, Wisconsin

Crawford and Grant counties in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin have declared states of emergency due to water damage.

“Crawford County had flooding and multiple mudslides that closed several roads and forced evacuation of a number of homes. In Grant County, roadways were flooded along with an unspecified number of homes.”

-oOo-

Saskatchewan, Canada: Cumberland House declares state of emergency

Cumberland House declared a state of emergency, as authorizes started  evacuations of  the Village of Cumberland House and the Cumberland House Cree Nation, a total of more than 2,200, as rising floodwater in Alberta threatened to move into the prairie province, said a report.

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Town of Devon remains under a state of emergency,  2,200 people evacuated

The Devon Lions Campground and Voyageur Park have been evacuated. More than 2,000 people were forced to leave the campground.

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Final Eviction Notice to Australians?

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,139 Days Left 

[January 28, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,139 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

You’ve overstayed your welcome!

Forced evacuations of about 5,000 people are under way in flood-hit city of Bundaberg (pop: ~ 72,000), with authorities warning people could die if they stay.

Severe flooding continues to bury large areas in Queensland, destroying or damaging thousands of properties and forcing mass evacuation of residents in the city of Bundaberg.

Queensland flood map. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

• Floodwater is surging through some parts of the city at  a speed of about 40 knots (~ 75kmh).
• “The velocity of the water, and the rises in the water levels, means that literally houses, particularly in north Bundaberg, and maybe other locations, could be swept away,” said Queensland premier.
• “The communities of Gympie and Maryborough are flooding, Gladstone had suffered severe flooding downstream from Awoonga dam, and Rockhampton was braced for a significant flood from this weekend.”

• The storm is heading to NSW, while floodwaters threaten two major cities of Brisbane and Sydney.

• Earlier this months hundreds of fires in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria burnt more than 750,000 hectares of the state, destroying dozens of properties and forcing the government to declare disaster in at least 43 local government areas.

Meantime, the Australian PM, who was visiting bushfire-ravaged states of Victoria and NSW, said: 

• “Whether it’s bushfires, whether it’s floods we are being challenged by nature…”
• “Across Queensland the wild weather has broken a lot of hearts. It’s a very tough period…”

• “To those right now, in the grip of this disaster, I say to you: `You are not alone’. This state and its people will rise to the challenge I am supremely confident of that.” Ms. Gillard said.

• “We’ll do whatever we can to protect you, in some cases to rescue you, and to do everything to stand by you in the days, weeks and months ahead. Together we will get through this.”

Challenged by nature? We beg to differ!

We believe you have overstayed your welcome, as far as Mother Nature is concerned.

In the words of Queensland police commissioner:  “Do not wait. Move now. Yr life depends on it.”

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page]

• Wild storms hit Canberra
• Floods likely to isolate hundreds in NSW
• Brisbane expected to flood
• LARGE, out-of-control bushfire continues to threaten homes on the outskirts of the central Victorian community of Violet Town.
• Mass evacuation under way in Qld city

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

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

Statewide Catastrophe Declared in Queensland, Australia

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,140 Days Left 

[January 27, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,140 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Australian Army Called to Help as QLD Flood Disaster Intensifies

Flood and storm damage across the Australian state of Queensland has prompted a statewide catastrophe declaration from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), said a report.

• ‘‘Insurers are greatly concerned about extreme weather expected over the next few days in Queensland, with severe inundation already having been experienced in several towns and cities, and major flood warnings now in place for every river from Cairns to the border,’’ said ICA chief executive.

• ‘‘Unfortunately, this catastrophe declaration is the result of the first cyclone to come close to the coast this season, and the weather bureau has warned it’s highly possible we will see more before the end of summer.’’

Meantime, the Queensland Government has asked the Australian Army to help amid extreme rain events, worsening flood disaster  and tornado outbreaks.

“Local rainfall daily records in central and southeast Queensland are tumbling after falls of 461mm at Boolaroo Tops, 454mm in Walla and 272mm in Gayndah since yesterday morning.”

• A giant storm cell is slowly moving southeast toward the population centers, dumping at least 200mm of rain, and destructive winds and tornadoes are expected along the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island, reports said

• A 5-meter wall of  water is pouring over the spillway of the Awoonga Dam into the Boyne, south of Gladstone.

Awoonga Dam on January 26. Source: Reece Ireland, Gladstone/ via The Australian

• A saddle dam off the Awoonga Dam is close to overflowing, which would put 500 homes in peril, the authorities said.

• “Water continues to spill from Wivenhoe dam in preemptive releases.”

• Forecasters have warned more than 300mm of rain could fall in Wivenhoe Dam catchment, upstream of Brisbane, in the next few days, with coastal areas receiving about 500mm, isolating additional communities.

• Authorities have issued an evacuation order for north Bundaberg after the Burnett River broke its banks.
  • The Burnett River is now forecast to peak at 9 meters—well above the levels recorded during the 2010/11 floods, reports said.

• Residents in the Gympie area, north of Brisbane, are being rescued from rooftop, as Mary River continues to rise to a forecast peak of  peak at 17m.

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page]

• Wild storms hit Canberra
• Floods likely to isolate hundreds in NSW
• Brisbane expected to flood

United States

The deep freeze persists throughout much of the Northeast as forecasters warn of looming ice storms. Severe ice storm are expected to hit Northern Illinois, southern Michigan, NE Missouri, large swathes  of the Midwest as well as mid-Atlantic, and Ontario.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map. Source: NWS

• Tennessee has declared state of emergency as the eastern portion of the state continues to see significant icing, reports said.

• Michigan governor has declared state of emergency to boost propane deliveries.

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

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

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/brisbane-expected-to-flood-20130127-2deip.html

Flooding in Mozambique Displaces 70,000, Killing Dozens

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,141 Days Left 

[January 26, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,141 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

“We are eating grasshoppers”

Severe flooding, triggered by week-long extreme rain events in South Africa and Zimbabwe,  continued to spread across southern Mozambique.

“The number of displaced people now stood at 67,995 while nearly 85,000 have been affected by the raging waters in recent days, the UN said, urging donors to urgently make more funds available ‘to help deal with this emergency’ in the impoverished southeast African nation.”

Hunger is setting in among tens of thousands of the victims who are waiting for help to arrive, said a report.

“We are eating grasshoppers,” a flood victim told AFP, adding that she believed they were the “lucky ones.”

“We have family in the town, our aunts. They must be on the rooftops now,” she said.

“We left at midnight without taking food. We have nothing to sleep under.”

• Mozambique Floods Threaten 50,000 January 22, 2013

The Great Crocodile Escape

A crocodile farm in northern South Africa was forced to open its gates after being inundated, letting loose at least 15,000 crocodiles.

Australia

Several ‘mini-tornadoes’ spawned by the remnants of cyclone Oswald have hit the Queensland coast injuring about two dozen people, as severe weather and flooding batters the disaster state.

The tornadoes have damaged scores of homes and forced the evacuation of towns around Bundaberg, reports said.

• Tornadoes  caused severe damage to coastal townships of Bargara and Burnett Heads, both of which have since been declared disaster areas.

Further north, severe flooding in Gladstone led to the city (population ~ 30,000) being declared a disaster zone, and the authorities told at least 2,000 people  to evacuate.

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page]

Oklahoma, USA

The drought in Oklahoma has caused more than $2 billion in damage in the past two years, said a report.

Oklahoma Drought Map. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

• “Cities are facing water rationing, and Tulsa residents will see dying lawns, trees and plants.”
• It cost twice as much to feed the livestock. “A load of feed, which lasts about a month, has gone from about $3,500 to $7,500.”
• USDA has declared 917 counties as primary and contiguous drought disaster areas including the entire state of Oklahoma and parts of 25  other states, in January 2013.

High Plains Drought Map. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

• Drought 2013

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

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