• Forced evacuations and burn ban as wildfires spread across North and South Carolina

    A series of wildfires erupted across North and South Carolina over the weekend, fueled by dry vegetation, low humidity, and gusty winds, prompting evacuations, road closures, and a statewide burning ban in South Carolina. As of early Sunday, firefighting crews are battling blazes that have collectively scorched thousands of acres, with some fires remaining at 0% containment.

  • Japan hit by largest wildfire in over 30 years

    A massive forest fire has burned approximately 1 400 ha (3 460 acres) in Akasaki Town, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, since it broke out on February 26, 2025. This is now the largest wildfire in modern Japan history, surpassing the previous record of 1 030 ha (2 545 acres) set in Kushiro, Hokkaido, in 1992.

  • Lava overflow, increase in volcanic tremor at Stromboli, Italy

    An increase in volcanic tremor accompanied by lava overflow from the North crater area has been observed at Stromboli volcano on February 28, 2025. The activity includes a modest lava fountain at vent N2, with the lava flow confined to the upper portion of the Sciara del Fuoco.

  • New degassing pit crater forms at Etna’s Bocca Nuova Crater, Italy

    A new degassing pit crater was identified at 3.1 km (10 170 feet) a.s.l. on the southern flank of Etna’s Bocca Nuova Crater on February 28, 2025. A modest lava overflow was also observed from the Southeast Crater at 07:00 LT (06:00 UTC), producing a lava flow on the upper southern flank of the crater.