October 2, 2015

What happened this week?

Guatemala: 73 killed in Guatemala landslide; hundreds may be missing. At least 73 people are dead and many more are missing after a massive landslide covered much of a town in Guatemala, according to the nation's Public Ministry... Read More

Colombia:

• A wildfire in the municipality of San Sebastian, town of Rosal leaves at least five people injured, at least ten missing, and over 700 people affected in the village of Macizo Colombiano... Read More
• Municipality of Timbiquí, Department of Cauca. Gale and high tides overflowed the rivers Timbiquí and Saija on September 29, leaving four roads flooded, 1100 people (220 families) affected, and three people missing... Read More
• Hurricane-force winds in the village of Banquito, municipality of Tierraalta, department of Córdoba leaves at least 90 families affected, eight homes destroyed, 45 homes without roofs, and 8 hectares of farmlands destroyed... Read More

Peru: Ubinas Volcano erupted yesterday spewing ash 4000 meters high and scattered ash creating a 15 km radius covering the surrounding north-east and south regions. The towns that have been affected by the ash are, Santa Rosa de Phara, Ubinas, Yalagua, Lloque, and Lucco. After the explosion, the seismic activity associated with the eruption was recorded. The Regional Emergency Operations Center recommended the affected population to use masks and safety goggles... Read More

Costa Rica: High swells in the cities of Puntarenas, Golfito, and Osa in the province of Puntarenas. Unusual high tides flooded 220 homes on Tuesday, September 29, affecting more than 70 families and leaving 100 without potable water... Read More

Guatemala: CONRED reported that in the departments of Marcos, Petén, Quetzaltenango, El Progreso and Alta Verapaz several rivers have overflowed, flooding about 70 homes. Floods and landslides were also reported in the municipalities of Sacatepéquez and various sectors of the capital... Read More

Mexico: Rains from Tropical Storm Marty have flooded over 300 homes (in the municipality of Coyuca de Beitez and Atoyac), overflowed 6 rivers, and caused landslides on Highway 11 in Guerrero, state authorities reported. Declaration of emergency was issued for the town of Mulege, Baja California Sur and five municipalities in Sonora for damages caused by severe rains in recent days... Read More

Panama: Flooding in coastal communities in the Pacific. High tides and rains affected 1,076 people, over 35 families, and 276 homes, specifically in the community of El Salado in the province in Aguadulce and the community of Puerto Caimito in the province of La Chorrera, where a temporary shelter has been set up for 14 families. Humanitarian aid has been distributed by the Joint Task Force... Read More

Interesting Facts

No phone signal in a disaster? Solar network 'in a box' to the rescue. Pakistani researchers have developed a portable, solar-powered mobile phone network for use in disasters like floods and earthquakes when regular communications are often disrupted... Read More

3D Meteorological Experience: Tornado in the Cube. Researchers can better understand how tornadoes develop, allowing for more accurate predictions and improved warning systems... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Changing the Disaster Narrative. A group will work to find new ways of assessing and addressing damage caused by disasters. By combining data from physical and social sensors, they will help plot a path that helps disaster recovery teams act more effectively and efficiently... Read More