WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam

UPDATED at 06:00UTC

• Typhoon WUTIP has left dozens of people dead or injured in central Vietnam, as of posting.

• The storm has destroyed or damaged up to 100,000 homes, and much of the public infrastructure in central Vietnam. Large scale crop losses have also been reported.

• Powerful winds have destroyed national power lines, causing widespread power losses throughout the region and beyond.

• The worst affected areas are the central provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.

• As of 1:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday (18:00UTC on Monday), Typhoon WUTIP had moved west to Laos , where it’s expected to weaken to a tropical depression, said a report.

Powerful Winds, Torrential Rains Pounding Central Vietnam as WUTIP Crosses the Country

High winds and heavy rains brought by Typhoon WUTIP are triggering flash floods in central Vietnam,  forcing the authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of people from several  provinces, while more flooding and landslides are expected to hit the region in the coming days.

Search continues for 74 missing in triple boat sinking

Meantime, search continues for 74 people missing after three fishing boats sank in the South China Sea on Sunday due to Typhoon WUTIP, said a report.

“The boats, all from south China’s Guangdong Province with 88 fishermen aboard, were lost on Sunday afternoon near Shanhu Island of the Xisha Islands, about 330 km from China’s island province of Hainan,” the report said.

USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed

Typhoon USAGI Causes Major Disaster in S. China

The powerful typhoon has killed at least 25 people in south China’s Guangdong province, authorities said.

Previously, officials said the typhoon had also claimed more than a dozen lives in the neighboring Fujian province.

USAGI, the 19th and the most powerful typhoon to hit China so far this year, made landfall Sunday night with wind gusting up to 180 km/h.

The powerful typhoon has affected more than 3.56 million people in Guangdong province alone, forcing at least 226,000 people out of their homes, Xinhua said.

“The typhoon has also caused 7,100 homes to collapse and resulted in direct economic losses of 3.24 billion yuan (529.5 million U.S. dollars).”

“Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas and border police in Yunxiao County are rushing to repair two embankment sections that were damaged by strong waves.”

On Sunday, thousands of flights in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hong Kong and Macao were canceled or delayed, and shipping between Fujian and Taiwan was suspended.

Hong Kong was hit by severe winds and torrential rain, forcing schools and businesses to close, but the territory escaped a direct hit by the typhoon.

USAGI Hits S. China, Kills 20

Typhoon USAGI kills at least 20 in southern China

The typhoon made landfall in Shanwei city in southern China’s Guangdong province at 19:40 local time on Sunday, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain, said a report.

“All bullet trains from Guangzhou to Beijing have been suspended and hundreds of flights from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong have been cancelled. Schools in 12 coastal cities have suspended classes.”

China’s National Meteorological Center has issued the highest alert for storms, warning that most southern areas will experience torrential rains, specially Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No. 8 storm warning, the country’s third highest level, at 18:40 local time on Sunday, warning USAGI would make landfall later in the evening.

Typhoon Usagi makes landfall in Shanwei city in southern China’s Guangdong province. Source: CNTV

Disaster Calendar – August 19, 2013

Hundreds dead or missing as floods and mudslides devastate China

Extreme rain events, flooding and mudslides in northeast and southern China have left hundreds of people dead, injured or missing.

“The Heilongjiang Provincial Hydrological Bureau forecast the stretch of the Heilong River between Tongjiang and Fuyuan County will witness the largest flooding in its history. Authorities in Tongjiang have started a Grade I response preparing for floods,” said a report.

• The deluge has destroyed or damaged at least 210,000 houses in Jilin, Heilongjiang, Guangdong and Liaoning provinces, with the direct economic losses estimated at 18.5 billion yuan (3 billion U.S. dollars), said a report.
• Torrential rains and floods triggered by Typhoon Utor have affected 680,000 people in eight cities in Guangxi. Some 16,660 hectares of crops have been damaged and 1,080 houses have been destroyed.
• In Guangdong Province, TY UTOR has affected more than 2.5 million people destroying or damaging about 19,000 houses and forcing 513,000 people to relocate. The extreme rain has also ruined 173,333 hectares of farmland, according to local authorities.
• “In central China’s Hunan Province, landslides triggered by continuous rainfalls over the past two days have left one dead and 14 others buried or missing,” said a report.

[NOTE: Some of the stats quoted above are already outdated as the  catastrophe continues to unfold in China on an almost hourly basis.]

Original caption: People walk on ruins after the flood in Nankouqian Township, Fushun, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Aug. 18, 2013. The death toll has risen to 54 as of Monday morning after the worst flooding in decades ravaged Fushun City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, said the local authorities on Aug. 19, 2013. Extreme rainstorms battered Liaoning from Thursday to Saturday, leaving many rivers flooded in Fushun. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

• In Fushun City, 139,800 houses were damaged and many have collapsed.

• In Guangdong province, 19,000 houses have collapsed or sustained severe damage, forcing  about 513,000 residents to relocate.  The direct economic loss is estimated at 490 million yuan (80 million U.S. dollars).
• “Heilongjiang Province reported [37]  flood-related deaths. The floods have destroyed over 2,500 houses and severely damaged at least 12,500 others, with direct economic losses estimated at 7.13 billion yuan (1.15 billion U.S. dollars).”
• In Jilin Province, at least “35,000 houses were destroyed or damaged with direct economic losses at 2.4 billion yuan (387 million U.S. dollars).”
• “As of 10 a.m. Monday, a total of 1.8 million people in 30 counties in Liaoning Province have been affected and 162,000 have been evacuated from flooded areas. More than 6,100 buildings have collapsed and the total direct economic loss is around 8.5 billion yuan(1.39 billion U.S. dollars), according to the ministry.”

Don’t bring your car to China!

Heping Town in Shantou City, south China’s Guangdong Province devastated by extreme rain events and severe flooding, August19, 2013.  (Xinhua/Yao Jun). More images…

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Philippines’ Cebu declares calamity as sunken ferry leaks oil

The central Philippine province of Cebu has declared a state of calamity as an oil slick from a ferry that sank last week spread to about 20 percent of the coast, said a report.

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16 Counties across three states declared agricultural disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 16 counties in three states as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by frost and freezing temperatures that occurred March 25-29, 2013.

The disaster designations are

• Alabama: Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile, Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington and Monroe counties.

• Florida: Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.

• Mississippi: George, Greene, Jackson and Wayne counties.

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Beaver Creek Fire Consumes 100,000 acres

As of August 18, 2013 10pm,  the Beaver Creek Fire had grown to at about 100,921 acres with 8% containment.

Beaver Creek Fire. Red Flag conditions, including higher temperatures and wind gusts to 38 miles per hour, increased fire activity on the Beaver Creek Fire. Credit: Sawtooth National Forest/ USFS.

For additional information see

• “Take Your Essentials Belongings and Pets and GO NOW” August 18, 2013

Floods Kill Dozens in NE China

China Plagued by Extreme Weather Events

Flooding in the northeast, drought and extreme heat in the south, central and the southwest affecting about 20 percent of China’s population, FIRE-EARTH models show.

Flooding in northeast China’s Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces has left dozens of people dead, millions affected and at least a million others relocated.

• The deluge has destroyed or damaged at least 55,000 houses in Jilin and  Heilongjiang provinces, with the direct economic losses direct economic losses estimated at 10 billion yuan (1.6 billion U.S. dollars), said a report.
• Torrential rains and floods triggered by Typhoon Utor have affected 680,000 people in eight cities in Guangxi. Some 16,660 hectares of crops have been damaged and 1,080 houses have been destroyed.
• In Guangdong Province, TY UTOR has affected more than 2.5 million people destroying about 4,000 houses and forcing 321,500 people to relocate. The extreme rain has also ruined 173,333 hectares of farmland, according to local authorities.
• “In central China’s Hunan Province, landslides triggered by continuous rainfalls over the past two days have left one dead and 14 others buried or missing,” said a report.

Flood-devastated Shachang Residential Compound in Hongshi Town, Huadian City, NE China’s Jilin Province, Aug. 17, 2013. (Xinhua/Xu Chang). More images …

Drought, heatwave affecting half the population in SW China’s

Guizhou province

The heat wave has spread across the province since July, causing rivers and reservoirs to dry up and affecting 16.67 million people, or about 48 percent of Guizhou’s total population, according to the headquarters.

“Half of the 88 counties in our province are on the ‘worst-hit’ list, with more than 2.98 million people facing drinking water shortages,” said an official with the headquarters.

In Wumian, a village some 240 kilometers southeast of Guiyang, the provincial capital, villagers have had to queue up at the only well in the village to get water.

Villager Yang Aduo told Xinhua that he waited two hours before getting a bucket of water, and he had to wait several hours for the sediment to settle before drinking.

Drought leaves 13 million thirsty in China’s south

“A drought that has parched since last month has left nearly 13 million people without easy access to drinking water, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Thursday.”

• Drought ‘Orange Alert’ Issued in E China

Related Links

• Extreme heat kills at least 40 people in south China August 13, 2013
• Drought, Extreme Heat Cripple China, Japan, S. Korea August 11, 2013

• Major Catastrophe Unfolding in China
• China’s Latest Drought Disaster Figures
• Shanghai Sets Yet Another Record High Temp August 7, 2013

Thousands of Towns and Villages Devastated by Floods in China

Extreme Rain Events and floods destroy or damage an estimated 200,000 homes affecting 50 million people

Extreme rain events and devastating floods have left about 600 people dead or missing and affected up to 50 million others  in 30 provinces since the beginning of the year, authorities said.

The toll so far this year stands at

• No of people killed by floods: at least 337 
• No of people missing: 213
  
• No of injuries: NOT released, possibly thousands
• No of houses destroyed: at least 150,000
• No of houses damaged: NOT released, probably hundreds of thousands
• Farmland affected: 4 million hectares
• Source: China’s Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFCDRH)

And the flood season hasn’t even started!

“China is expected to face serious flood control challenges in the next 30 days as it heads into flood season,” said a report quoting the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

This year’s flood season will run from about July 15 to Aug 15, authorities said.

Heavy rainfall is expected in northern and southwestern China, causing severe flooding in many major rivers, such as the upper reaches of the Yangtze, Haihe, Yellow, Songhua and Liaohe rivers.

Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Henan and Guangdong provinces should expect 24-hour rainfall amounts of up to 200 mm, said the National Meteorological Center.

Sichuan will be in the height of its rainy season over the next few months, possibly bringing more chaos to the already battered province.

“Since most of the same parts of Sichuan province will be hit again with heavy rainfall, severe floods, flash floods and mudslides are likely,” said a Ministry of Water Resources official. (Xinhua)

Meantime, Tropical Cyclone CIMARON, the eighth storm of the year, is forecast to make landfall  in Southeast China on Friday, just days after Tropical Storm SOULIK hit Fujian and Jiangxi provinces.

Sichuan Province

Rainstorms and floods hit 43 counties in Sichuan producing total  precipitations of 400 mm to 800 mm in Deyang and Dujiangyan, and 800 mm to 1,151 mm in some areas  between July 7 and 12, said deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Meteorological Administration.

The extreme events destroyed 13,400 houses, affecting 3.47 million people and forcing at least 300,000 people to relocate.

Related Links

• China to Become Top Wheat Importer after Major Crop Disaster July 17, 2013
• Fire Destroys 200 Houses in SW China July 17, 2013
• Flooding Destroys Town of Caopo in SW China July 16, 2013

• Typhoon SOULIK Affects 2 Million in China  July 15, 2013
• Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated as SOULIK Hits China July 13, 2013
• Extreme Weather Wreaks Havoc in SW China July 10, 2013

Typhoon SOULIK Affects 2 Million in China

Torrential rains by SOULIK forces hundreds of thousands to evacuate, 20,000 to relocate

Typhoon SOULIK, the seventh typhoon to hit China this year, has affected at least 2 million, forcing 500,000 to evacuate, and leaving at least 20,000 displaced in south China’s Guangdong Province.

SOULIK landed in Fujian province Saturday afternoon, and moved to Jiangxi province on Sunday.

The typhoon brought torrential to Guangdong province. Local weather stations reported precipitation of more than 250mm (10 in) in 20 hours to 4 p.m. Sunday.

SOULIK has affected at least 382,000 people in Guangdong province alone, destroying 1,076 houses in 80 townships in three cities of the province and leaving 3 dead, Xinhua reported.

Torrential rains have further raised water in local rivers to above warning levels, the report said.

Oil pipeline in NW China damaged by mudslide

Original Caption: Villagers help clean oil stains in the Zichang County, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, July 15, 2013. The oil pipe from Ansai County to Yongping Town was damaged by mudslide following days of rainstorms. Rescue efforts for repairing the broken pipe are underway. (Xinhua). More images …

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Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

Iraq Violence: Death Toll Continues to Mount

At least 400 people have been killed and thousands more injured amid escalating violence in Iraq, between July 1 and 14, 2013.

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Brown Declares State of Emergency for Powerhouse Fire

California Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County for the so-called Powerhouse Fire. The declaration comes a month after the wildfire destroyed 53 structures, including 24 residences, and more than 47 square miles of brush.

The fire began May 30 near a utility station and was contained on June 11.

“Kelly Huston, deputy director of the California Emergency Management Agency, says the move is required before LA County can qualify for federal emergency highway funds to repair roadways damaged by the fire,” said a report.

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Communication companies help surveillance: Former CIA official

“According to UK newspaper, the Guardian, Snowden has only released part of the intelligence he has. During his revelations of the US surveillance program, Snowden says the US government and US communication companies are involved.

“Although related companies like Google and Microsoft are trying to exclude themselves from the scandal, a former CIA official says communication companies are accomplices in the surveillance.”

Ray McGovern, a former CIA official, told CNTV News:

“What’s happened here is the U.S. companies have become joined in a way with United States Government in such a way that you have the corporations, the government, the media and the congress and judiciary all pretty much joined in a complicit attempt to circumvent the constitution of the United States. There’s zero concern on the part of the communication companies to violate the law. They know that they’ll be protected, even if it’s ex post facto…”

Related Links

• Google Continues to Undermine FIRE-EARTH July 4, 2013
• Google Corporate Terrorism: A Conspiracy Against the People!
• Former CIA official: Communication companies help surveillance July 15, 2013

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Typhoon VICENTE Slamming into S. China

VICENTE to land near Taishan, Guangdong , China

Currently punching sustained winds of about 150kmph, Typhoon VICENTE is forecast to land between the cities of Taishan (Guangdong province) and Wenchang (Hainan province)  late Monday/ early Tuesday,  the provincial meteorological station of Hainan reported.

• Having strengthened to a tropical storm on Sunday, VICENTE developed into a typhoon  Monday morning local time, bringing powerful winds and torrential rains to coastal regions in south China.

Typhoon VICENTE – Visible IR satellite image. Source: CIMSS

Typhoon VICENTE – Enhanced IR MTSAT/NOAA.

Violent Storms Kill at least 65 in S China

Violent storms and torrential rains devastated southern China killing at least 65, and leaving thousands homeless.

Deadly storms and torrential rains claimed at least 65 lives leaving about 200 people injured and 14 others  missing, with more than  50 thousand people made homeless, the official Xinhua reported the authorities as saying.

Original Caption: Photo taken on May 7, 2010 shows the scene of landslide in Tianxin Village, Egong Town of Dingnan County in east China’s Jiangxi Province. Seven people were dead and five were missing after floods and landslides wreaked havoc in Jiangxi over the past two days.(Xinhua/Zhou Ke). Image may be subject to copyright.

“As of Friday, the storms had affected up to 2.55 million people and 100,000 hectares of arable land, leaving 65 people dead, 14 missing, 9,900 buildings damaged, said the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in a statement on its website.” Xinhua said.

Two days of heavy downpour caused floods and triggered landslides and mud flows  in south China’s provinces of Guangdong, Sichuan and Guizhou.

Fire-Earth had forecast a major disaster in China on May 4, 2010, though the blog did not release any specific details.

Related Links:

• 70 Killed in Afghanistan Flash Floods
• Landslides Leave 55 Dead or Missing in Tajikistan
• Southern U.S. Flooding Update
• Parking Lot Vanishes Under Landslide

• Landslides Kill Dozens of People
• Landslides Kill Dozens of People
• FLOODING: Kentucky governor declares a state of emergency Posted on May 4, 2010
• 2010 Disaster Calender [May] Posted on May 1, 2010
• Landslide kills at least 10 in Kenya

• Landslide News
• Landslide and sinkhole close part of U.S. 64
• Taiwan Massive Landslide Buries 6-Lane Freeway
• Mudslide Buries Chemical Factory in China

• Super-destructive events may strike anytime
• Extreme Rain Events, Floods, Mudslides 2010
• 2010 Likely the Most Disastrous Year on Record: FEWW
• 2010: Year One of Human-Enhanced Disasters

• 2010 Disasters
• 2010 Disaster Calender [May]
• Landslides

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Serial No 1,697. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

China “Frankenstein”

Nature Angry About Beijing Olympics?

China competes with Venice

Residents row boats along a flooded street in the township of Yuecheng in Deqing county, west of Guangdong Province, June 18, 2008. REUTERS/Aly Song. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Here’s what the China “Frankenstein” looks like:

Hundreds of troops, police and rescue workers are shoring up dams which might burst under torrential rain that has already flooded an area of about 24,000 square kilometers, including homes, businesses and farmlands.

The damage:

• Floods have killed about 180 people so far in Guangdong
• Another 60 people are missing
• More rain is expected in the annual flood season
• Six reservoirs are in “danger of bursting” in southern Guangxi region
• About 1.7 million people have been evacuated in nine southern provinces since the start of the flood season earlier this month.
• Floodwater has collapsed about 150,000 homes,
• About 2.4 million hectares (~ 6 million acres) of crops have been damaged or destroyed
• The mounting economic losses already exceed $4 billion

All of this comes in addition to the soaring food prices the have already plagued China, record snowstorms last winter and, of course, the Sichuan earthquake which killed about 70,000 people and left five million homeless. Serious danger of epidemics in the soaring summer temperatures looms.

Droughts, floods and other human-enhanced disasters throughout China are nothing new, of course, but their frequency and intensity this year are alarming experts.

The biggest disaster yet to strike China in 2008 may prove to be a major drought causing water shortages throughout the country later in the summer.

It’s as if nature is mad at China: Drop the Olympics, or have your annual quota of H2O now!

Related Links:

• China rushes to fix dams as 9,000 sq miles flooded
• China earthquake: Teacher left students behind as he ran to safety

• Why Didn’t China Prevent the Loss of 86,000 Lives?
• The Anguished Cries of China Quake Nurse
• Chinese paratroopers rescuing survivors or preventing plague?
• How Many More Survivors?
• Heavy Death Toll, Corruption, Criminal Incompetence
• Why Was the Girl Removed from Family?

• Chinese Leaders Incapable of Handling Quake Aftermath
• Bigger China Disaster Unfolds

• China’s grieving quake parents start to voice anger
• Beijing’s quick response to disaster won’t cover cracks of corruption
• Almost five million left homeless, China says
• Corruption blamed for rising death toll in China
• Parents’ grief turns to anger at shoddily built deathtrap schools

• Earthquake Predictions In China Are Also Political

More Links:

• China “quake lake” fears force new evacuation
• Swelling China lakes a danger 2 weeks after quake
• Big aftershock causes more misery in China

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