Disasters/ Significant Events – Dec 25, 2015

Brazil warns against pregnancy amid surge in ZIKV birth defects

States of Emergency have been declared in six  Brazilian states after a surge in the number of suspected microcephaly among the newborn linked to Zika virus (ZIKV).

In Pernambuco State, about 1,000 cases have been reported. In Rio de Janeiro, about 400 pregnant women are suspected of having Zika infection. About 3 dozen related infant deaths are being investigated. 

Brazilian health authorities are advising would-be parents not to get pregnant, especially in the country’s northeast. The advice follows research that have linked the potentially deadly virus Zika, a mosquito-borne infection, to newborn microcephaly—a neurological disorder that can result in a severe birth defect in which the brain fails to develop properly and the head is much smaller than normal.

“Microcephaly can be caused by genetic factors, infections, or injuries. In recent years, there have been between 150 and 200 cases in Brazil per year. As of 30 November, more than 1,200 cases had been reported in 10 states, all of which have also reported Zika virus infections, says Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, head of the flavivirus laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

However, the number of suspected infections have now doubled to more than 2,400  cases and spared to 20 Brazilian states (compared with 147 cases last year).

 

Storms kill at least a dozen, injure dozens more, leave trails of destruction across the U.S. South

Gov. Haslam approved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s recommendation to go to a Level III State of Emergency, after storms moved across the state Wednesday night, killing at least two people.

Gov. Deal declared a state of emergency in Georgia for Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties through January.

“Following severe weather that resulted in flooding, damage to roads and properties and downed trees, the state is working to ensure the affected counties have access to the resources necessary for response efforts,” said Deal.

Gov. Bryant has declared a State of Emergency in seven Mississippi counties after storms pummeled the state late Wednesday..

Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Prentiss and Tippah counties have all reported damage,  at least six dead and more than 40 injuried.

• Macon County North Carolina issued a state of emergency after the storm caused severe flooding across the area.

• An unknown number of people were injured after the storm overturned planes at a local airport northwest of the state, said reports.

A large tornado, one of at least 3 dozens, landed in Mississippi and raked along a 240-km trail to Tennessee.

SPC received hundreds of severe weather reports including 39 tornadoes, as of posting. Tornadoes left trails of destruction across multiple states: Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois.

 

Beijing air pollution worsens significantly

Air pollution index (AQI) in China hit a high of 592 on Friday and persisted at 562, as of posting.

[The EPA’s revised breakpoints for the upper end of the hazardous air pollution band, AQI of 401 – 500, is equivalent to PM2.5 concentration of 350.5 – 500 μgm−³ averaged over a 24-hour period.  —Editor]

There’s apparent confusion among officials concerning the severity and duration of the smog events, on the one hand, and the extent of willpower exercised by government to shoo away the potentially deadly pollution, on the other. The official news agency, Xinhua, wrote:

Even though Beijing has lifted the red alert for severe pollution, the capital city will remain in haze for a few more days. [How dare smog worsens “even though” the authorities have downgraded the pollution warning to the lowest level. Ed.]

The Beijing municipal heavy pollution emergency response headquarters issued a blue alert for heavy pollution in the city on Thursday afternoon, saying smog will hit central Beijing and southern suburbs on Thursday night. It called on residents in these areas to take protective measures.

“Red” represents the most severe warning level on China’s four-tier warning system,  followed by orange, yellow and blue.

In addition to Beijing, at least 50 other cities in northern and eastern China have issued air pollution alerts for potentially deadly smog this week.

 

 

Thousands Take Shelter as Massive Snowfall Buries Japan

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
MEGA SNOWFALL
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Record snowfall continues to paralyze central Japan, thousands seek shelter

Scores of evacuation centers were opened in two dozen cities and towns  in central Japan sheltering more than 1,600 people who were stranded in cars and trains, as well as thousands of residents who feared their homes, damaged in the snowstorm, could collapse.

Some 1,000 vehicles have been stuck in snow on freeways NW of Tokyo since early Saturday.

Supermarket shelves were left bare, as delivery trucks, also stuck in the snow, failed to arrive, according to reports.

The latest snowstorm has killed at least 18 people and left up to 2,000 others injured.

More snow is forecast along Japan’s Pacific Coast starting Tuesday.

UPDATE

Snow forces Toyota, Honda, Suzuki … to suspend operations at multiple plants

Toyota Motor Corp  suspended operations at four plants in Aichi prefecture, central Japan because heavy snow has disrupted its parts delivery chain, according to reports.

Honda Motor also stopped production at its plants in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo for similar reasons.

Suzuki Motor announced on Monday it too had halted production at 3 plants in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Many other major manufacturers have followed suit including Seiko Epson and the Hitachi group, said reports.

Related Link

• Massive Snowstorm Paralyzes Tokyo, Much of Japan February 16, 2014
• Japan Hit by Major Snowstorm  February 8, 2014

Massive Snowstorm Paralyzes Tokyo, Much of Japan

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR SNOWSTORM
RECORD SNOWFALL
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Record snowfall plagues Japan, killing at least 11, injuring hundreds

The second major snowstorm to batter Japan in one week left at least 11 people dead and more than 1,200 others injured.

More heavy snow is forecast along the Pacific Coast of Tohoku through Sunday, as officials warn of strong winds and avalanches.

Tokyo and surrounding areas were pounded by record snowfall Friday through Saturday morning. The extreme event forced cancellations of up to a thousand flights, suspensions of many train services and severe  disruptions to road traffic.

Hundreds of thousands of people were stranded at train stations and airports throughout the country, as snowstorm knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes in 7 prefectures.

Up to 30cm of snow left large sections of expressways in and around Tokyo impassable, reported NHK.

“On the Tomei Expressway linking Tokyo and Aichi Prefecture, vehicles have remained virtually stranded for more than 20 hours in Shizuoka Prefecture. The jam stretches for about 40 kilometers.”

The Shinkansen bullet train services were suspended on lines linking the capital with Nagano prefecture in  central Japan, Niigata pref. on the Japan Sea Coast, and Yamagata pref. in the northeast, said the report.

Related Links

• Japan Hit by Major Snowstorm  February 8, 2014

Storm Death Toll Climbs to 140 in Puntland, Somalia

Puntland death toll could top 300

Final death toll from tropical cyclone 03A that hit Puntln, Somalia’s semi-autonomous region at the weekend could top 300, said the government.

Tropical cyclone 03A hit the Somali coast on November 10, 2013, prompting the Puntland government to declare a state of disaster on 11 November, citing very heavy rainfall and flash floods that have so far killed 140 people and at least 100,000 livestock. The government has “appealed for international aid to help the tiny Horn of Africa region, which is rich in energy resources and is being sized up by oil explorers,” said a report.

“So far we have confirmed the storm killed 140 people and left hundreds more missing. We are afraid the death toll may reach 300 because many people are still missing. Roads have been cut and the only access to those areas is by air,” Puntland’s interior minister told Reuters.

The government has asked the international community for supplies of clean water, non-perishable foods, medicines, shelter materials and blankets.

The cyclone brought torrential rains to the region causing flash floods that swept more than 100,000 livestock and scores of fishing boats into the Indian Ocean.

• About 65 percent of Somalia’s population depends on livestock, said the FAO.

• Famine has added to Somalia’s woes in the last three years.

“Knowing that livestock and fisheries are key livelihood activities in the affected regions, we anticipate the storm to heavily hurt coastal communities,” said the acting head of FAO in Somalia.

Related Links

• Hundreds Dead or Missing after Storm Hits Somalia November 12, 2013

Hundreds Dead or Missing after Storm Hits Somalia

State of Emergency declared in Puntland, Somalia amid storm disaster

Hundreds are dead or missing after a tropical cyclone, known as 03A, hit Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Saturday, according to the government.

“A tropical cyclone storm (has) wreaked death and destruction… the storm brought high wind speeds and torrential rains, causing flash floods,” said the government of the of Puntland.

“Information collected from coastal areas via irregular telephone contact over the past 48 hours indicates that up to 100 people might have been killed, while hundreds of other people remain unaccounted for.”

Puntland President Farole said the scale of “crisis was immense,” as his government declared the calamity a “disaster,” proclaiming a state of emergency.

“Houses and livestock were swept into the ocean by the floods,” said the President at a news conference in the capital Garowe.

“We urge United Nations aid agencies to assist the victims. As Puntland, we have established a committee to investigate the loss and damage. Electricity, communication and fishing boats were all destroyed.”

The storm hit the eastern coast of the country, destroying entire villages and  sweeping at least 100,000 livestock and scores of people into the ocean.

“Preliminary information also indicates that homes, buildings, boats and entire villages have been destroyed and over 100,000 livestock lost, endangering the livelihoods of tens of thousands of local people,” the government said.

High Winds and Heavy Rains

High winds and heavy rains hit a vast area causing flash floods and cutting off roads, as the immediate impact of the storm was forecast to continue until Wednesday.

“I have buried 10 members of my family, the icy storm and rain killed more than hundred people here,” Reuters quoted a villager as saying.

“I have never witnessed such fatal cold. Some people were blown away and others died after their houses collapsed on them. Some people, and the animals they were looking after, are still missing,” he said.