• Monsoon to drench parts of northern Australia with heavy rains

    Parts of northern Australia, including Darwin, are bracing for their first monsoon of the season, with forecasts predicting up to 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rain in a week, potentially leading to widespread flooding and cyclone activity.

  • M6.7 earthquake hits near Talaud Islands, Indonesia

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit near Talaud Islands, Indonesia at 20:48 UTC on January 8, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 68 km (42 miles). BMKG is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 97 km (60 miles); EMSC M6.8 at a depth of 91 km (56 miles).

  • Heavy to record-breaking snowfall hitting Japan, including earthquake-hit Ishikawa Prefecture

    A powerful M7.6 earthquake centered in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on January 1, 2024, was followed by intense snowfall a week later, creating very hard conditions for survivors and complicating rescue efforts. On January 8, authorities reported 161 fatalities caused by the earthquake and 305 people missing.