A powerful eruption took place at Indonesia’s Merapi volcano at 05:12 UTC on March 11, 2023, producing massive pyroclastic flow near populated areas and blanketing nearby villages in ash. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Alert Level remains at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public is warned to stay 3 – 7 km (1.8 – 4.3 miles) away from the summit based on location.
Peru has been hit hard by Cyclone Yaku over the past few days, with the country’s northern regions experiencing severe flooding and significant damage. The cyclone, which has caused at least six deaths, has been described by the director of civil defense, César Sierra, as an unusual phenomenon causing intensifying rains in the north.
A small earthquake swarm started at Katla volcano, beneath the Myrdalsjökull icecap in Iceland, on March 9, 2023. The last confirmed eruption at this volcano took place in 1918 (VEI 4).
A tornado tore through the village of Pontarion in Creuse, central France, around 17:00 LT on Thursday, March 9, 2023, leaving behind a trail of destruction to infrastructure and buildings. The violent weather caused significant damage to a number of houses, leaving roofs and windows shattered, while telephone lines were also damaged.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is delivering potentially catastrophic amounts of rainfall over the Quelimane region of Mozambique as the storm stalls just 30 km (18 miles) offshore with winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). Over the past couple of weeks, heavy rains and floods in Mozambique claimed the lives of at least 117 people.
A dangerous excessive rainfall event, brought by a powerful atmospheric river, is underway across much of Central California today. Areal rainfall totals of 100 – 230 mm (4 – 9 inches) through today, atop areas with saturated soil and deep snowpack are expected to cause widespread and severe flooding impacts, particularly in the High Risk area.
Active seismic activity beneath the Tanaga and Takawangha volcanoes on Tanaga Island, Alaska, approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) apart, has increased the potential for eruption, according to official reports from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).
Active vents at White Island/Whakaari volcano in New Zealand are emitting substantial steam and gas plumes. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Color Code at Yellow.
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on March 7, 2023, leading to disrupted traffic, damaged roads, and casualties. As the city has been prone to flooding in recent years, officials have been discussing flood prevention measures, and President Mahama has emphasized the need for “drastic steps” to address the problem. However, with more heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours, concerns remain about the potential for further damage and loss of life.
Heavy rain caused by Cyclone Yaku produced severe flooding and landslides in western Ecuador, resulting in the deaths of at least 3 people. The worst affected was Chone Canton in Manabí Province. The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (Senamhi) described Yaku as an unusual and unorganized tropical cyclone.
