• Increased activity continues at Sakurajima volcano, Japan

    Explosive eruption continues at Sakurajima volcano, with moderate to strong explosions on December 9 and 10 becoming nearly continuous. An explosion at 19:30 UTC on December 9, produced a volcanic ash column up to 3.6 km (12 000 feet) above sea level, extending…

  • At least 18 dead after heavy rains cause severe flooding in DRC

    Heavy rainfall in the Democratic Republic of Congo during early December has caused deadly flooding in Mbanza-Ngungu, leaving at least 18 fatalities. On December 1, at least 13 deaths were reported after overnight heavy rains triggered floods. A day after, December…

  • Cold snap brings unseasonal snow to parts of southeast Australia

    Unseasonal snow has fallen in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania on December 7, 2020, as the Australian states are gripped by a cold snap after half of the continent sweltered through a record heatwave. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, (BOM), the snow…

  • Historic hailstorm hits Beirut, Lebanon

    A massive hailstorm accompanied by exceptionally heavy rain and drastic temperature drop hit Lebanon's capital Beirut on December 5, 2020, causing massive floods and traffic chaos. The last time Beirut witnessed a similar event was back in 1968. The hailstorm…