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.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 hit near the Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska at 17:54 UTC on March 4, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), there is no tsunami danger from this event.
A swarm of small earthquakes has been shaking the desert northeast of Tonopah, Nevada, since late February 2026, with nearly a hundred shallow events recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey through 17:00 UTC on March 4.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz sharply declined in early March after escalating conflict in the Gulf disrupted commercial navigation through the narrow corridor between Iran and Oman. While the strait is widely known as one of the world’s most important oil routes, it also connects natural gas exports from Gulf producers to global fertilizer production and agricultural supply chains. Disruptions affecting this corridor can therefore propagate beyond energy markets and influence fertilizer availability, agricultural input costs, and ultimately food prices worldwide.
An impulsive explosion from the Bocca Nuova crater at Mount Etna, Italy, generated a short-lived ash emission at 13:12 LT (12:12 UTC) on March 4, 2026. Surveillance cameras recorded the ash plume dispersing quickly toward the eastern side of the volcano. The eruption followed an earthquake swarm on Mount Etna’s southwestern flank earlier in the day, which included a notable ML4.5 earthquake.
Thick Saharan dust from North Africa covered parts of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and neighboring countries on March 4, 2026, producing hazy skies, orange deposits, and moderate-to-poor air quality. Forecasts show the plume spreading toward central Europe before dispersing after March 6.
Heavy rainfall on March 3, 2026, triggered a destructive volcanic mudflow on Mount Merapi’s Kali Senowo channel in Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, sweeping away at least three trucks and one car.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit near Simeulue, Indonesia, at 04:56 UTC (11:56 local time) on March 3, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 26.2 km (16 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit the Fiji region at 05:44 UTC on March 1, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 596 km (370 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Prolonged rainfall and cross-border inflows have triggered a state of emergency across northeastern Greece, where severe flooding along the Evros River in February 2026 submerged tens of thousands of acres of farmland and destroyed wheat, barley, lentil, and alfalfa crops. No fatalities have been confirmed, but authorities warn of extensive economic losses for the region’s farm sector.
A Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft crashed while landing at El Alto International Airport on February 27, 2026, killing at least 15 people and injuring 28. Authorities said the plane overran the runway during intense hail and lightning activity that severely reduced visibility over the high-altitude airport.
