A damaging tornado formed hit the village of Zira, near the city of Tarn Taran in Punjab, India on February 12, 2018, causing 'huge' devastation and injuring up to 20 people.
Within minutes, the twister sent cars, tractor-trolley, water tanks, iron sheds, bricks and tree branches flying through the air.
Locals said some 15 to 20 people were injured by flying bricks, stones and tree branches but none of them had life-threatening injuries.
Authorities said their damage assessment is not yet over, adding that at least 18 homes were damaged and 12 people injured, 8 of which were discharged from the hospital.
Featured image: Tornado near Tarn Taran, Punjab, India on February 12, 2018. Credit: Anu Insan
Author:
Teo Blašković
Researcher, journalist and editor of The Watchers. You can reach me at teo [ at ] watchers.news.
Latest articles
Severe flooding damages hundreds of buildings, strands 14 000 people in Piura, Peru
As many as 14 000 people have been cut off after flooding hit the Piura Region in northern Peru, the National Institute of Civil Defence (INDECI) reported on March 2, 2021. Up to 187 homes have been damaged, as well as public buildings and roads. Intense rains hit...
Severe Tropical Cyclone "Niran" heading toward New Caledonia
Severe Tropical Cyclone "Niran" (Category 5 on the Australian scale) is tracking ESE at 46 km/h (28 mph) and is forecast to pass very near New Caledonia on Saturday, March 6, 2021. At 11:00 UTC on March 5, Niran had a central pressure of 931 hPa and was...
Cold blast sweeps through Northeast following winter storm in the West, U.S.
Parts of New York and New England are recording below zero-degree wind chills on Friday morning, March 5, 2021, as a cold blast sweeps through the Northeast. The cold wave came after a winter storm brought heavy snow to parts of the West on Thursday, March 4. Wind...
Veniaminof volcano alert level raised after sensors detect small explosion, Alaska
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has raised the Volcano Alert Level to Watch and the Aviation Color Code to Orange for Veniaminof volcano at 18:04 UTC on March 4, 2021. The last time this volcano erupted was in 2018 (VEI 1). According to Volcano Observatory...
Powerful earthquakes, including M8.1, M7.4 and M6.1 hit the Kermadec Islands - Tsunami warnings issued
Powerful earthquakes are shaking the Kermadec Islands region of New Zealand on March 4, 2021, including M7.4 at 17:41 UTC, M8.1 at 19:28 (08:28 NZDT, March 5), and M6.1 at 20:25 UTC at depths between 10 and 55 km (6.2 and 34.2 miles). The epicenters are located...
Winter season ends with strong winds, rain, and heavy snow in Atlantic Canada
Harsh winter conditions, including rains, strong winds, and heavy snow hit parts of Atlantic Canada on Monday, March 1, 2021, just as the winter season was coming to an end. The severe weather caused disruptions, as well as dangerous travel conditions. Atlantic...
Tropical cyclone landfall locations over the western North Pacific shifting in 100-year intervals
A team of scientists investigated tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific and landfalls in Japan by examining a combination of TC tracking and meteorological data, including recovered historical observations in the mid-19th century. The...
Declining discharge of glacier outburst floods in Chilean Patagonia
Mountain 'tsunamis' or flooding due to the rupture of glacial lakes in Chilean Patagonia have been taking place cyclically since the last glacial maximum 10 000 years ago at a declining magnitude, according to a new study by researchers from the Centro...
Very strong M7.2 earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand
A very strong earthquake registered by GeoNet as M7.2 hit off the east coast of the North Island, New Zealand at 13:27 UTC on March 4, 2021 (02:27 LT, March 5). The agency is reporting a depth of 94 km (58 miles). USGS is reporting it as M6.9 at a depth of 10 km,...
Another eruption at Etna volcano, heavy ash up to 12 km (39 370 feet) a.s.l., Italy
Etna's 9th paroxysmal eruptive episode since February 16 started at 02:20 UTC on March 4, 2021, followed by several hours of strong strombolian activity and renewed fountaining at 07:50 UTC. Lava fountains reached about 500 m (1 640 feet) above the edge of the...
Pinatubo volcano Alert Level raised after 1 722 earthquakes since January 20, Philippines
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has raised the Alert Level for Pinatubo volcano from 0 (Silent) to 1 (Partial Disturbance) at 23:00 UTC on March 3, 2021. Since January 20, 2021, 1 722 weak earthquakes were detected under the...
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: February 24 - March 2, 2021
New activity/unrest was reported for 6 volcanoes from February 24 to March 2, 2021. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 16 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Etna, Sicily (Italy) | Klyuchevskoy, Central Kamchatka (Russia) | Krysuvik, Iceland |...
Increased eruptive activity at Pacaya volcano, heavy ashfall reported, Guatemala
Strong strombolian activity is taking place at Guatemalan Pacaya volcano on March 3, 2021, with incandescent material ejected up to 500 m (1 640 feet) above the Mackenney crater, strong ash emissions and two new lava flows. The southwest flank now has three active...
Sudden increase in seismic tremor southwest of Keilir at Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
A sudden increase in seismic tremor was detected throughout most of Iceland's national seismic network at 14:20 UTC on March 3, 2021. Similar bursts of tremor have been observed ahead of previous volcanic eruptions in Iceland. As of 19:00 UTC, the tremor...
First space hurricane discovered over the Earth’s polar ionosphere
Scientists have discovered a space hurricane above the North Pole for the first time, which offered an initial glimpse at a phenomenon that could also be taking place on other planets across the universe. The hurricane was raining electrons instead of water,...
Rare earthquakes highlight Black Rock Desert volcanic field in Utah
Rare earthquakes in the Black Rock Desert in Utah have provided a glimpse into the volcanic system of the field, which is still active despite not showing signs of erupting, according to a new study. A pair of earthquake sequences in September 2018 and April 2019,...
Locust plague persists in Ethiopia, threatening crops and livelihood
Crops and livelihoods in Ethiopia are at high risk as locust plague persists in the country, with the highest number of swarms reported in the northern and central region. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), immature swarms are currently...