What a week: natural hazards showing their hand all over the world!
A week of torrential rainfall in western Guatemala unleashed tons of mud and rock that killed atleast 45 people when they were buried alive in scores of separate mud slides.
Read more
Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung continued to erupt for a second week, producing its most violent activity since it roared back to life after remaining dormant for 400 years. More than 30,000 people living along the volcano’s fertile slopes have been evacuated and vulcanologists fear that a much more destructive explosion could occur in the coming weeks or months. Torrential rains accompanying the eruption have washed large quantities of ash and mud down the volcano’s slopes, inundating abandoned homes. The volcano caught scientists off guard: they failed to notice signs of rising magma, slight uplifts in land and minor volcanic tremors.
In New Zealand, Christchurch was under a state of emergency after a 7.1 magnitude quake wrecked buildings, cracked roads and created a new 11-foot-wide fault. Officials say that at least 500 buildings were destroyed, but there were no reports of fatalities.
Read more
