Severe weather, including heavy rainfall, strong wind, and severe hailstorms, wreaked havoc in southern Brazil from April 16 to 17, 2023, causing floods and damage to hundreds of homes.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit the New Britain region, Papua New Guinea at 09:06 UTC (19:06 LT) on April 19, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 55 km (34 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 80 km (49 miles).
A massive landslide hit a key highway in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, April 18, 2023, burying about two dozen trucks. As of early Thursday, rescuers have discovered the lifeless bodies of two individuals, while the fate of an undetermined number of missing persons remains uncertain. Local officials said it looks like the entire mountain has collapsed.
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit south of the Fiji Islands at 04:31 UTC on April 18, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 562.5 km (349 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.5 at a depth of 576 km (358 miles).
A pod of 25 rough-toothed dolphins stranded on a reef at Tauroa Point at the southern end of 90 Mile Beach, New Zealand’s Far North District on April 17, 2023. A stranding of this size for this species is unprecedented.
A wildfire that started on April 15, 2023, in the northern Cerbère area of Cap Peyrefitte in France, quickly spread to neighboring Spain, causing evacuations and significant damage in both countries.
Heavy rainfall has been affecting western Tanzania, particularly the Rukwa Region, since April 12, 2023, causing river overflows and floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
Ash clouds produced by the major eruption of Russia’s Sheveluch volcano led to the cancellation of scores of flights in Alaska. The ash clouds drifted across the International Date Line into Alaska airspace, causing safety concerns for airlines over the next couple of days. As a precautionary measure, Alaska Airlines canceled 45 flights to and from Alaska and within the state. Other airlines also had to cancel or delay their flights.
Tropical Cyclone “Ilsa” made landfall as a Category 5 system near Port Hedland, Western Australia around 16:00 UTC on April 13, 2023 (00:00LT on April 14), as the strongest cyclone to hit the region in 14 years.
A very strong and deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.0 hit near the northern coast of Java, Indonesia at 09:55 UTC on April 14, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 594 km (369 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 603 km (374 miles). BMKG is reporting it as M6.6 at a depth of 632 km (393 miles).
