May 6, 2016

What happened this week?

Ecuador. Landslides and floods affect homes in the provinces of Azuay and Morona Santiago: Heavy rains in Azuay and Morona Santiago in southern Ecuador caused homes to be affected and rivers to overflow on April 28, 2016. A landslide occurred and damaged homes in the eastern canton of Guachapala in Azuay, another landslide occurred near the municipality of Guachapala. In Morona Santiago, rivers overflowed flooding homes. However, the ocean and atmospheric conditions will normalize and the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in the coastal region will begin in the coming weeks. Occasional rains may still occur in the western mountainous areas... Read more

Honduras. 1,290 people affected by rains: As of May 2, 2016, municipalities in four departments were affected by rains. According to COPECO, 1,293 people (316 families) have been affected and 316 homes have also been affected. Humanitarian assistance is being provided... Read more

Dominican Republic. 5,425 people have been displaced due to heavy rains: As of May 2, 2016, the Emergency Operations Center reported that 5,425 people have been displaced due to heavy rains, 4 homes destroyed, approximately 1,081 homes affected, 21 communities isolated, and five bridges have been damaged. ONAMET maintains alert due to the possibility of flash floods, overflowing rivers and landslides... Read more

Costa Rica. Turrialba Volcano generates ash fall affecting potable water: During the weekend of April 30, the Turrialba Volcano erupted, spewing ash and gas 500 to 1000 meters above the crater. The Turrialba Municipal Emergency Committee has activated security protocols by activating a security barrier 5 km around the crater and bringing potable water to four communities that were affected by ash fall contaminating their water sources. In addition, authorities from the Ministry of Education cancelled schools surrounding the volcano due to ash fall. Scientific and technical agencies are maintaining strong operational surveillance, monitoring and analysis of information generated from the volcano... Read more

Interesting Facts

Hi-tech opens up Earth's secrets. A scientist has developed a hi-tech animation of millions of years of tectonic plate movements that could lead to new mineral discoveries and help predict volcanic eruptions...  Read more

Accounting for volcanoes using tools of economics. Scientists can read old descriptions of eruptions and analyze ash deposits captured in polar ice, but consistently estimating the climate impact of past eruptions has been difficult. A new technique may change that.. Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Mexico to lead global effort to reduce economic losses from disasters. Mexico, as host country, will encourage the 2017 Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction to focus on reducing economic losses from disasters, it emerged this week... Read more