I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
Strombolian activity at Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater evolved into lava fountaining on April 30, 2025, producing ash emissions and prompting a temporary elevation of the Aviation Color Code to Red. This was the 11th eruptive episode at Etna since March 15.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit the Macquarie Island region at 14:53 UTC on April 29, 2025. The agency reports a depth of 4.5 km (2.8 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Macquarie Island is located about halfway between Antarctica and New Zealand.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit off the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand at 13:16 UTC on April 29, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). GeoNet is reporting it as an M5.9 earthquake at a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles).
Solar activity increased on April 29, 2025, with three M-class solar flares recorded during the first half of the UTC day as large Active Region 4079 rotated into Earth’s view. Region 4079, formerly designated AR 4055, underwent significant growth while on the far side of the Sun and is expected to be the primary source of solar activity in the coming days.
Kosmos 482, a Soviet descent module built to survive Venus’s atmosphere, is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere between May 8 and 11, 2025, with a high probability of debris survival due to its robust design.
A major power outage affected Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France on April 28, 2025, causing widespread disruptions in transport, communication, and public services.
A phreatic eruption occurred at Bulusan volcano, Philippines, on April 28, 2025, generating a 4.5 km (1 650 feet) high ash plume and resulting in ashfall over nearby communities. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the Alert Level to 1.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit near the coast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, at 11:44 UTC (06:44 local time) on April 25, 2025, at a depth of 35 km (22 miles). The earthquake damaged more than 800 buildings, destroyed at least 179, and injured 32 people, according to the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR).
A toxic algal bloom impacting marine animals has been observed along the Southern California coast in late April 2025, according to experts. The event, producing the neurotoxin domoic acid, has resulted in the most severe dolphin stranding associated with a toxic algal bloom ever recorded in the region.
A severe weather outbreak is forecast across parts of the Midwest and Upper Midwest on Monday, April 28, 2025, with threats including large hail, severe wind gusts, and strong to intense tornadoes, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC). The greatest risk is expected across southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and southwestern Wisconsin, including cities such as St. Paul, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids.
