• Large sinkhole swallows four cars in downtown Ruijin, southeast China

    A large sinkhole opened in a major avenue crossing in downtown Ruijin, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province on May 22, 2016, swallowing four cars and a tree. The hole is 3 meters deep (9.8 feet) and 30 meters (98.4 feet) wide. Nobody was hurt, and an…

  • Nevado del Ruiz eruption closes Manizales airport, Colombia

    Seismicity under Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz continues at elevated levels, and the volcano is experiencing frequent ash emissions since May 17, 2016. An eruption at about 10:40 UTC on May 22 sent ash 2.3 km (7 545 feet) above the crater (7.5 km / 24 606 feet…

  • Officials say ‘fragile’ dams caused deaths after Roanu hit Bangladesh

    Tropical Cyclone "Roanu" made landfall over the southern Bangladesh at 06:00 UTC on May 21, 2016. The storm brought very heavy rains and 88 km/h (54 mph) winds that caused widespread devastation. At least 24 people have lost lives, most of them washed away…

  • Deadly eruption of Mount Sinabung, Indonesia

    Large pyroclastic flows produced by the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung on Saturday, May 21, 2016, claimed lives of 7 people, officials said Sunday. Two other people are in critical condition. National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo…

  • Strong and shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Northern Territory, Australia

    ​A strong and shallow earthquake registered by Geoscience Australia as Mwp6.1 hit Central Ranges, Northern Territory, Australia at 18:14 UTC on May 20, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles). USGS is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 10 km (6.2…

  • 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,…