• India records its hottest temperature ever – 51 °C (123.8 °F)

    The city of Phalodi, in India's Rajasthan, has set a new temperature record for the entire country hitting a scorching 51 °C (123.8 °F) on May 19, 2016. According to the IMD, the previous high was 50.6 °C (123 °F), reached in 1956 in the city of…

  • Active volcanoes in the world: May 11 – 17, 2016

    New activity/unrest was observed at 2 volcanoes between May 11 and 17, 2016. During the same period, ongoing activity was observed at 18 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Awu, Sangihe Islands (Indonesia) | Ruapehu, North Island (New Zealand). Ongoing activity: Aira,…

  • Strombolian eruption at Etna’s Voragine crater, Italy

    During the afternoon of May 18, 2016, the lava fountaining activity at Etna's Voragine crater passed into a modest Strombolian activity, which continued to feed the lava overflow toward west until the late evening, INGV Osservatorio Etneo reports today. A second…

  • Massive sand influx buries 16 villages, southeastern Iran

    According to Amin Baqeri, the governor of Rigan, Iran's southeastern province of Kerman, 16 villages in Rigan were buried in sand and became completely deserted amid consistent sandstorms. "Massive sand influx and consistent sandstorms have led to the…

  • Pyroclastic flows observed at Fuego, large lahars possible, Guatemala

    Guatemala's Fuego volcano produced at least 9 explosions early May 18 that expelled volcanic ash to a height of 4 300 m (14 110 feet) and dispersed at a distance of 7 – 10 km (4.3 – 6.2 miles) to the south. Moderately large pyroclastic flows were observed later…

  • Very strong and shallow M6.8 earthquake hits Ecuador

    A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit Ecuador at 16:46 UTC on May 18, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 31 km (19.3 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). After M6.7 at 07:57 UTC, this is a second…

  • Wettest day in history of Vero Beach, Florida

    Severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall swept through Vero Beach, Florida on May 17, 2016. The day was recorded as the wettest day in the history of the city, as two months worth of rainfall was received in one day. The widespread flooding was also…