Tornado damages dozens of homes and a mosque in Java, Indonesia
A tornado struck the island of Java, Indonesia, on September 16, 2025, damaging dozens of homes and a mosque. The full extent of damage is still being assessed.
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/ watchersnews.bigscoots-staging.com.
Very deep partial solar eclipse to shadow Antarctica and New Zealand on September 21
A very deep partial solar eclipse will occur at 19:43 UTC on September 21, 2025, visible across Antarctica, New Zealand, and parts of southern Australia. At maximum, the Moon will cover up to 85% of the Sun’s diameter, with obscuration reaching nearly 80% of the solar disk.
Extreme hailstorm with 40 mm (1.57 inches) per hour rainfall hits China’s Gansu Province
A severe hailstorm impacted Zhuoni County in Gansu Province, China, on September 16. Local reports and video evidence indicate intense rainfall reaching 40 mm (1.57 inches) per hour, combined with a surface temperature of 6°C (43°F). Large amounts of hail accumulated on the ground, covering roads, farmland, and residential areas. Video footage shared on social…
Asteroid 2025 RL2 to pass Earth at 0.5 lunar distances on September 19
A newly discovered asteroid designated 2025 RL2 is expected to fly past Earth at a distance of 0.56 lunar distances (0.00145 AU / 216 563 km / 134 566 miles) at around 08:57 UTC on September 19, 2025. The object has an absolute magnitude (H) of 26, with an estimated diameter between 17 and 37 m (56 and 121 feet), comparable in size to the Chelyabinsk meteor.
Spike in seismic activity raises phreatic eruption risk at Kanlaon volcano, Philippines
Kanlaon volcano in Negros Island, Philippines, registered 176 shallow earthquakes on September 15, 2025, raising the risk of a steam-driven eruption. PHIVOLCS maintains Alert Level 2 but and urges communities to avoid the 4 km (2.4 miles) Permanent Danger Zone.
Heavy rain and flooding risk as coastal low stalls over North Carolina and Virginia
A slow-moving coastal low is forecast to track northwestward into the Mid-Atlantic through September 18, 2025, bringing multiple hazards including heavy rainfall, gusty winds, shallow coastal flooding, rip currents, and large surf.
Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia
A strong and shallow M6.0 earthquake struck near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, at 16:34 UTC (04:34 LT) on September 15, 2025. The USGS reported a depth of 24.5 km (15 miles). This event is considered an aftershock of the major M8.8 tsunami-generating earthquake on July 29, 2025.
Asteroid 2025 RJ2 to pass 0.78 LD from Earth on September 15
Newly discovered asteroid designated 2025 RJ2 will fly past Earth at a distance of 0.78 LD (0.002 AU / 301 334 km / 187 241 miles) at 20:18 UTC on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Deadly landslides and floods leave 12 dead, 1 missing in Sabah, Malaysia
Severe rainfall caused widespread flooding and slope failures across Sabah from September 13 to 15, 2025, killing at least 12 people and leaving one missing. Landslides destroyed homes in Papar and Kota Kinabalu, while another fatal slope failure in Penampang collapsed a transmission tower and triggered a massive power outage.
Drainage failure suspected after sinkhole swallows truck in Mexico City
A soda delivery truck collapsed into a sinkhole in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City on September 13, 2025. Preliminary reports suggest the collapse was caused by failure of the borough’s drainage system.
