The total economic losses resulting from natural and man-made disasters in 2017 soared to US$ 306 billion from US$ 188 billion in 2016, according to a preliminary estimate by insurance company Swiss Re. Preliminary sigma estimates for insured global losses resulting…
At least eight people have been killed and nine are missing since Tropical Cyclone "Tembin," known locally as Vinta, started affecting the Philippines this week. Tembin made landfall along the east coast of Mindanao early Friday, December 22, 2017, with…
Several days of heavy rain caused widespread flooding on Maui and the Big Island, Hawaii this week. Heavy rains started Tuesday night but the worst hit Wednesday, December 20. According to NWS, Kahului Airport recorded nearly 67 mm (2.65 inches) of rainfall in 1…
Tropical Storm "Tembin," known as Vinta in the Philippines, formed late December 20, 2017, east of Philippines as the 27th named storm of the 2017 Pacific typhoon season. Landfall is expected over Surigao del Sur late December 21 or early December 22…
According to the Laboratory for X-ray Solar Astronomy of the PN Lebedev Physical Institute in Russia, the solar activity cycle has, by all indications, practically reached its minimum 1.5 years ahead of expected time. Given that the previous solar maximum in 2012…
The death toll in the Philippines caused by heavy rain, floods and landslides produced by Tropical Cyclone "Kai-Tak" (Urduja) rose to 46 on Thursday, December 20, 2017. 28 people are still missing. Meanwhile, another tropical system has organized into a…
A major eruption started at Bezymianni volcano, Kamchatka, Russia at 03:41 UTC on December 20, 2017. According to Tokyo VAAC, volcanic ash plume is reaching 15.2 km (50 000 feet) above sea level and drifting NE. In terms of ash cloud height, this is the strongest…
A quick-moving severe thunderstorm accompanied by destructive, golf-sized hail and strong winds hit Victoria, Australia on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, leaving 100 000 homes without power. The Victoria office of Bureau of Meteorology said an extraordinary amount of…
Six people have been confirmed dead in central Malawi on Sunday, December 17, 2017, after heavy rains that started on Friday caused severe floods. More than 200 homes were affected and over 1 000 people left homeless. Heavy rains also hit the country's north…
Heavy rain has been affecting northeastern Oman since December 16, 2017, causing severe floods and bringing traffic to a standstill. According to local media reports, as of December 18, three people were reported dead in Saham and Fariq towns and 120 more have been…
