Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

  • Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan as strongest typhoon since 1996 and first ever after mid-October

    ByRishav Kothari

    Typhoon “Kong Rey” made landfall at the coast of Taiwan’s Taitung county at around 05:00 UTC on Thursday, October 31, unleashing destructive winds and heavy rainfall that claimed one life and knocked power out for over half a million homes in the regions and forced eveacuations of over 8 000 people. Around 500 flights have been canceled and schools and markets have been shut down due to the storm’s impact.

  • Catastrophic floods in Valencia, Spain caused by historic rainfall claim over 150 lives, leave dozens missing

    ByRishav Kothari

    A powerful storm system hit eastern Spain this week, delivering more than a year’s worth of rain in just one day and causing historic flooding in Valencia, where at least 62 people lost their lives on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The town of Chiva set a new 24-hour rainfall record, reporting 491 mm (19.33 inches) in just eight hours, while several other areas recorded rainfall totals between 100 mm (3.94 inches) and 200 mm (7.87 inches) on the same day.

  • United States sees record-breaking 24 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2024, with 418 fatalities

    ByRishav Kothari

    The United States experienced a record-breaking 24 “billion-dollar” weather and climate disasters thus far in 2024, each incurring significant economic damage and resulting in the loss of 418 lives. This year’s toll greatly exceeds the long-term annual average of 8.5 events recorded between 1980 and 2023 and surpasses the recent five-year average of 20.4 events.

  • Over 28 000 homes flooded, 58 villages issolated as Tropical Storm “Trami” claims 3 lives in Vietnam

    ByRishav Kothari

    Tropical Storm “Trami”, struck Central Vietnam’s Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang regions on Sunday, October 27, 2024  flooding more than 28 000 homes and isolating 58 villages in Quang Binh Province. With at least three casualties and one person missing, authorities have mobilized rescue teams as rain and high tides continue to impact the area.

  • Severe hailstorm damage in El Ejido, Almeria, Spain

    ByRishav Kothari

    A powerful, isolated high-altitude depression brought severe weather conditions to Andalusia on Monday, October 28, 2024, with the province of Almería being particularly impacted by the heavy rainfall, hail, and thunderstorms. The storm, which began Sunday night, October 27, led to road closures and widespread damage, including hailstones up to 5 cm (1.97 inches) in diameter.