Weekly Report on Natural Disasters #9. Tornado in the US & China. Eruption in Indonesia. Floods
POWERFUL TORNADO IN THE USA
On April 26, a powerful tornado outbreak struck the USA, leaving behind destruction and more than a dozen injured. The Storm Prediction Center received at least 78 tornado reports: 37 in Iowa, 29 in Nebraska, 5 in Kansas, 4 in Missouri, and 3 in Texas. Numerous cases of severe hail and extreme winds were also reported. These events were part of a severe weather system spanning over 60 million Americans.
TORNADO IN GUANGZHOU, CHINA
On April 27, a strong tornado swept through Guangzhou, one of China's major economic centers, causing extensive damage and human casualties. The tornado hit the city around 3:00 pm in the Baiyun district and traveled approximately one kilometer in less than four minutes. The giant funnel crushed everything in its path, causing fires, destroying buildings, and hurling debris hundreds of meters away. A maximum wind gust of 20.6 meters per second was recorded. The disaster resulted in 5 fatalities and 33 injuries.
ANOMALOUS FLOODING IN TANZANIA
Ongoing anomalous downpours in Tanzania triggered massive flooding, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. Officially, 155 people died from the floods, with at least 236 injured and over 200,000 affected. The catastrophic event also caused damage to crops and infrastructure, with bridges, roads, and over 10,000 houses affected. Thousands of people living in valleys were displaced from the Rufiji River basin, and landslides occurred in Arusha and Manyara, damaging homes and roads.
DEADLY TORNADO IN OKLAHOMA
On Sunday, April 28, a destructive outbreak of severe weather swept through Oklahoma. Tornadoes led to the deaths of four people in the state, with at least 100 others injured. Over 40,000 people were left without electricity. The deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma were part of a multi-day severe weather event affecting over 60 million Americans from Texas to Iowa. In late April, within just three days, over 160 tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 occurred, resulting in 5 deaths, over 100 injuries, and thousands displaced.
STRING OF CATASTROPHES IN INDIA
India is experiencing ongoing climate-related catastrophes. Five people died and several were injured due to landslides and floods in Jammu and Kashmir. Four days of continuous rainfall triggered severe flooding and numerous landslides in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir. In Sonmarg, an avalanche occurred due to heavy rain and snowfall.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN INDONESIA
Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, resumed eruptions for the second time in the last 2 weeks. On Tuesday, April 30, the volcano erupted three times, ejecting lava and ash to a height of over three miles. Authorities ordered the evacuation of 12,000 local residents. Nearly 700 earthquakes of various types (shallow and deep volcanic, local tectonic, etc.) were recorded in the vicinity of the volcano.
MASSIVE FLOODING IN BRAZIL
Severe flooding in Brazil submerged over 150 cities. Around ten thousand people were forced to evacuate their homes. Authorities deployed 8 aircraft and around 600 military personnel to aid the affected. In some areas, flooding was so severe that helicopters couldn't land. At least 29 people died as a result of the destructive flooding caused by heavy rains in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
