In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee. In Tennessee, flash floods killed at least 20; hundreds more perished in a heat wave in the Northwest. And in New York City, 10 inches of rain fell in just hours Wednesday, drowning people in their basements.

Disasters cascading across the country this summer have exposed a harsh reality: The United States is not ready for the extreme weather that is now becoming frequent as a result of a warming planet.

“These events tell us we’re not prepared,” said Alice Hill, who oversaw planning for climate risks on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “We have built our cities, our communities, to a climate that no longer exists.”

In remarks Thursday, President Joe Biden acknowledged the challenge ahead.

“And to the country, the past few days of Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in the West and the unprecedented flash floods in New York and New Jersey is yet another reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here,” said Biden, who noted that a $1 trillion infrastructure bill pending in Congress includes some money to gird communities against disasters. “We need to do — be better prepared. We need to act.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-says-weather-disasters-becoming-costlier-calls-for-better-mitigation-plan-410347">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-says-weather-disasters-becoming-costlier-calls-for-better-mitigation-plan-410347/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The country faces two separate but interlaced problems, according to climate and resilience experts.

First, governments have not spent enough time and money to brace for climate shocks that have long been predicted: everything from maintaining and fortifying electrical lines and stormwater systems to clearing forests of undergrowth in order to reduce the ferocity of wildfires.

“We’re feeling all the effects of that deferred maintenance,” said Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

But there’s a second, more sobering lesson: There are limits to how much the country, and the world, can adapt. And if nations don’t do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, they may soon run up against the outer edges of resilience.

“If we already can’t cope with where we are, then there’s little hope that it’s going to improve in a warming climate,” Dahl said.

The country’s vulnerability in the face of extreme weather was punctuated by the downpour that flooded the country's largest city. New York City has invested billions of dollars in storm protection since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — investments that seemed to do little to blunt the impact of the storm.

Rain poured down in furious torrents, turning the subway system into a kind of flume ride. Central Park recorded 7.19 inches of rain, nearly double the previous record set in 1927 for the same date, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the city’s first-ever flash flood emergency alert.

Before the storm, city and state officials activated preparation plans — clearing drains, erecting flood barriers in the subway and other sensitive areas, and warning the public. But the rainfall dumped more water, and faster, than what the city had factored into its new stormwater maps as an “extreme” flood event.

The pattern of damage reflects the relationship between climate exposure and racial inequality: Impacts were more apparent in low-income communities of color, which, because of historic inequalities, are typically more prone to flooding, receive less maintenance from city services, and frequently experience lax housing code enforcement.

Most of those killed in New York City drowned when floodwaters rushed into their basement apartments. Many such apartments do not meet safety requirements but have proliferated as affordable housing for the working poor and immigrants living in the city illegally, who may fear complaining to authorities about safety violations.

In one case, Tara Ramskriet, 43, and her son Nick, 22, drowned when water filled their basement apartment in the Hollis section of Queens so quickly that family members could not pull them out against the flow, and a wall collapsed, trapping them inside.

Neighbors were outraged, saying it took fatalities to bring city inspectors to the scene.

“This happens all the time,” said Jennifer Mooklal, 33, who lives across the street from the Ramskriets. “Even if it’s just rain, our basement gets flooded. We’ve been dealing with this problem for years and have been asking the city, but no one is listening to us.”

Damage from extreme weather, and threats to human life, will only increase as the planet warms. For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming, the atmosphere holds about 7% more moisture, scientists have found. That means much heavier rainfall when storms do occur.

Across the continental United States, the heaviest downpours have become more frequent and severe, according to the federal government’s National Climate Assessment. The Northeast has seen 50% more rainfall during the heaviest storms compared with the first half of the 20th century.

New York City is particularly vulnerable to flooding. Three-fourths of the city is covered by impervious surfaces like asphalt, which means runoff is channeled into streets and sewers rather than being absorbed by the ground.

And the city’s century-old subway system was not designed for a warming climate. Even on dry days, a network of pumps pours out 14 million gallons of water from its tunnels and stations. Heavy rains can overwhelm the system, as they did on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has invested $2.6 billion in resiliency projects since Hurricane Sandy inundated the city’s subways in 2012, including fortifying 3,500 subway vents, staircases and elevator shafts against flooding. Still, this week’s flash floods showed that the system remains vulnerable.

One reason is that city and federal officials focused on protecting against the kind of coastal storm surge that Sandy wrought, according to Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design, a nonprofit group that works on climate resilience.

But in the case of Hurricane Ida, the main threat was rainwater flowing downhill, not storm surge pushing in from the coast. So much water fell that it overwhelmed storm drains, overflowed riverbanks and poured into basements, from the hilly parts of Manhattan’s Washington Heights to the inland flats of Jamaica in Queens.

The investments that protect against storm surge differ from those that guard against extreme rain, Chester said.

Coping with severe rainfall means more places to absorb and hold water, whether with so-called green solutions like parks and bioswales or traditional structures like underground retention tanks. And it means increasing the capacity of the sewer system to handle a greater volume of water.

Because New York has mostly been spared the type of severe rainfall that occurred Wednesday, officials have made it less of a priority.

Other countries have heeded the warnings of climate scientists and acted.

In the Netherlands, where much of the country lies below sea level, the government strengthened flood design standards and in 2007 created a program called Room for the River, which in essence authorized the wholesale redesign and rebuilding of dozens of vulnerable watersheds around cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The goal was to prepare for the sort of one-in-10,000-year floods that Dutch scientists were warning might become more frequent.

In that country, government water boards have the ultimate authority over land use. If they determine an area is needed for flood protection, its residents must move.

Specific taxes are dedicated to water management. There is no National Flood Insurance Program for residents in flood zones in the Netherlands because, the Dutch argue, the government’s job is to protect people from floods, not help homeowners rebuild in areas vulnerable to damage.

Among other things, Room for the River created dozens of new parks, enhancing underserved neighborhoods, resettling populations living in flood zones into new homes out of harm’s way, and girding the nation’s economy in the process.

In the United States, efforts to protect U.S. cities from damage by severe storms and rising seas have been plodding. There are many reasons, including government reluctance to impose on private property, a legacy of racial and economic injustice, and a system of governance and regulation that often moves far slower than the hastening pace of climate change.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee. In Tennessee, flash floods killed at least 20; hundreds more perished in a heat wave in the Northwest. And in New York City, 10 inches of rain fell in just hours Wednesday, drowning people in their basements. Disasters cascading across the country this summer have exposed a harsh reality: The United States is not ready for the extreme weather that is now becoming frequent as a result of a warming planet. “These events tell us we’re not prepared,” said Alice Hill, who oversaw planning for climate risks on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “We have built our cities, our communities, to a climate that no longer exists.” In remarks Thursday, President Joe Biden acknowledged the challenge ahead. “And to the country, the past few days of Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in the West and the unprecedented flash floods in New York and New Jersey is yet another reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here,” said Biden, who noted that a $1 trillion infrastructure bill pending in Congress includes some money to gird communities against disasters. “We need to do — be better prepared. We need to act.” WATCH | The country faces two separate but interlaced problems, according to climate and resilience experts. First, governments have not spent enough time and money to brace for climate shocks that have long been predicted: everything from maintaining and fortifying electrical lines and stormwater systems to clearing forests of undergrowth in order to reduce the ferocity of wildfires. “We’re feeling all the effects of that deferred maintenance,” said Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. But there’s a second, more sobering lesson: There are limits to how much the country, and the world, can adapt. And if nations don’t do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, they may soon run up against the outer edges of resilience. “If we already can’t cope with where we are, then there’s little hope that it’s going to improve in a warming climate,” Dahl said. The country’s vulnerability in the face of extreme weather was punctuated by the downpour that flooded the country's largest city. New York City has invested billions of dollars in storm protection since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — investments that seemed to do little to blunt the impact of the storm. Rain poured down in furious torrents, turning the subway system into a kind of flume ride. Central Park recorded 7.19 inches of rain, nearly double the previous record set in 1927 for the same date, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the city’s first-ever flash flood emergency alert. Before the storm, city and state officials activated preparation plans — clearing drains, erecting flood barriers in the subway and other sensitive areas, and warning the public. But the rainfall dumped more water, and faster, than what the city had factored into its new stormwater maps as an “extreme” flood event. The pattern of damage reflects the relationship between climate exposure and racial inequality: Impacts were more apparent in low-income communities of color, which, because of historic inequalities, are typically more prone to flooding, receive less maintenance from city services, and frequently experience lax housing code enforcement. Most of those killed in New York City drowned when floodwaters rushed into their basement apartments. Many such apartments do not meet safety requirements but have proliferated as affordable housing for the working poor and immigrants living in the city illegally, who may fear complaining to authorities about safety violations. In one case, Tara Ramskriet, 43, and her son Nick, 22, drowned when water filled their basement apartment in the Hollis section of Queens so quickly that family members could not pull them out against the flow, and a wall collapsed, trapping them inside. Neighbors were outraged, saying it took fatalities to bring city inspectors to the scene. “This happens all the time,” said Jennifer Mooklal, 33, who lives across the street from the Ramskriets. “Even if it’s just rain, our basement gets flooded. We’ve been dealing with this problem for years and have been asking the city, but no one is listening to us.” Damage from extreme weather, and threats to human life, will only increase as the planet warms. For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming, the atmosphere holds about 7% more moisture, scientists have found. That means much heavier rainfall when storms do occur. Across the continental United States, the heaviest downpours have become more frequent and severe, according to the federal government’s National Climate Assessment. The Northeast has seen 50% more rainfall during the heaviest storms compared with the first half of the 20th century. New York City is particularly vulnerable to flooding. Three-fourths of the city is covered by impervious surfaces like asphalt, which means runoff is channeled into streets and sewers rather than being absorbed by the ground. And the city’s century-old subway system was not designed for a warming climate. Even on dry days, a network of pumps pours out 14 million gallons of water from its tunnels and stations. Heavy rains can overwhelm the system, as they did on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has invested $2.6 billion in resiliency projects since Hurricane Sandy inundated the city’s subways in 2012, including fortifying 3,500 subway vents, staircases and elevator shafts against flooding. Still, this week’s flash floods showed that the system remains vulnerable. One reason is that city and federal officials focused on protecting against the kind of coastal storm surge that Sandy wrought, according to Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design, a nonprofit group that works on climate resilience. But in the case of Hurricane Ida, the main threat was rainwater flowing downhill, not storm surge pushing in from the coast. So much water fell that it overwhelmed storm drains, overflowed riverbanks and poured into basements, from the hilly parts of Manhattan’s Washington Heights to the inland flats of Jamaica in Queens. The investments that protect against storm surge differ from those that guard against extreme rain, Chester said. Coping with severe rainfall means more places to absorb and hold water, whether with so-called green solutions like parks and bioswales or traditional structures like underground retention tanks. And it means increasing the capacity of the sewer system to handle a greater volume of water. Because New York has mostly been spared the type of severe rainfall that occurred Wednesday, officials have made it less of a priority. Other countries have heeded the warnings of climate scientists and acted. In the Netherlands, where much of the country lies below sea level, the government strengthened flood design standards and in 2007 created a program called Room for the River, which in essence authorized the wholesale redesign and rebuilding of dozens of vulnerable watersheds around cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The goal was to prepare for the sort of one-in-10,000-year floods that Dutch scientists were warning might become more frequent. In that country, government water boards have the ultimate authority over land use. If they determine an area is needed for flood protection, its residents must move. Specific taxes are dedicated to water management. There is no National Flood Insurance Program for residents in flood zones in the Netherlands because, the Dutch argue, the government’s job is to protect people from floods, not help homeowners rebuild in areas vulnerable to damage. Among other things, Room for the River created dozens of new parks, enhancing underserved neighborhoods, resettling populations living in flood zones into new homes out of harm’s way, and girding the nation’s economy in the process. In the United States, efforts to protect U.S. cities from damage by severe storms and rising seas have been plodding. There are many reasons, including government reluctance to impose on private property, a legacy of racial and economic injustice, and a system of governance and regulation that often moves far slower than the hastening pace of climate change.

Overlapping disasters expose harsh climate reality: the US is not ready

Wildfires erupted in Algeria's mountaineous regions engulfing people's homes. The fires have charred whatever people preserved over the years. The wildfires are Algeria's biggest disasters in years.

Wildfires engulf villages of Algeria

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked&nbsp;Haiti&nbsp;on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged.

The destruction came little more than a decade after a devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed&nbsp;Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 200,000 people.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/storm-brings-floods-as-haitians-seek-help-at-overloaded-hospitals-after-quake-406267">Storm brings floods as Haitians seek help at overloaded hospitals after quake</a>

Here's a look at why the Caribbean country is affected by earthquakes.

What causes earthquakes in&nbsp;Haiti?

Haiti&nbsp;occupies the western part of Hispaniola, a Caribbean island, it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is sandwiched between two fault systems, the Septentrional fault system to the north, and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system to the south.

The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system is considered likely responsible for Saturday's quake, as well as the one in 2010, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quake-death-toll-surges-to-1297-in-haiti-as-rescue-efforts-continue-405886">Quake death toll surges to&nbsp;1,297 in Haiti as rescue efforts continue</a>&nbsp;

Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates - separate parts of the Earth's crust - suddenly slip past each other. Though friction holds these two plates together, the sudden release of energy in seismic waves cause the shaking associated with earthquakes.

Which quake was bigger, 2010's or Saturday's?

Saturday's quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, which is used to measure earthquake size, according to the USGS.

Though the quake in 2010 measured 7.0, the Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that Saturday's earthquake released twice as much energy as the previous one. It was felt in Jamaica, more than 200 miles (320 km) away.

Damage caused on Saturday so far appears less than 2010, the reasons for which are being studied.

"That's the million-dollar question right now," said William Barnhart, a geophysicist in the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-turmoil-haiti-gets-hit-with-deadly-quake-killing-over-300-405544">After turmoil, Haiti gets hit with deadly quake killing over 300</a>&nbsp;

While the 2010 earthquake struck in Leogane, just outside of&nbsp;Haiti's capital, Saturday's quake hit further from Port-au-Prince, in the Nippes department of southwestern&nbsp;Haiti.

Preliminary work suggests the quake's further distance from the capital and the mountainous, sparsely inhabited location of the epicentre - where a quake starts on the Earth's surface - could have had an impact, he added.

Will there be more earthquakes in&nbsp;Haiti?

Before the 2010 quake, the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system had not produced a major earthquake in decades, the USGS says.

However, the fault system was probably behind three other major earthquakes, occurring in 1751, 1770, and 1860 respectively, the USGS says, adding that the first two quakes destroyed Port-au-Prince.

Other quakes are likely to happen in the future.

"We know they will happen, but we don't know when they will happen," Barnhart said.

Did lessons from the 2010 earthquake have any impact?

While Barnhart says just Japan, Mexico, and US Western states have early-warning systems for earthquakes - which can buy just tens of seconds of advance notice - Claude Prepetit,&nbsp;Haiti's chief seismologist, said&nbsp;Haitians behaved differently after Saturday's quake, compared to in 2010.

Back then, he said, people exposed themselves to more danger by sheltering in buildings while aftershocks continued.

"We have learned our lesson," Prepetit said, but added more needs to be done. "We must build better, with better building materials, and then educate the population so that they can develop the right reflexes."

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked Haiti on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged.

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked Haiti on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged. The destruction came little more than a decade after a devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 200,000 people. Also read | Storm brings floods as Haitians seek help at overloaded hospitals after quake Here's a look at why the Caribbean country is affected by earthquakes. What causes earthquakes in Haiti? Haiti occupies the western part of Hispaniola, a Caribbean island, it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is sandwiched between two fault systems, the Septentrional fault system to the north, and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system to the south. The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system is considered likely responsible for Saturday's quake, as well as the one in 2010, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Also read | Quake death toll surges to 1,297 in Haiti as rescue efforts continue Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates - separate parts of the Earth's crust - suddenly slip past each other. Though friction holds these two plates together, the sudden release of energy in seismic waves cause the shaking associated with earthquakes. Which quake was bigger, 2010's or Saturday's? Saturday's quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, which is used to measure earthquake size, according to the USGS. Though the quake in 2010 measured 7.0, the Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that Saturday's earthquake released twice as much energy as the previous one. It was felt in Jamaica, more than 200 miles (320 km) away. Damage caused on Saturday so far appears less than 2010, the reasons for which are being studied. "That's the million-dollar question right now," said William Barnhart, a geophysicist in the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Also read | After turmoil, Haiti gets hit with deadly quake killing over 300 While the 2010 earthquake struck in Leogane, just outside of Haiti's capital, Saturday's quake hit further from Port-au-Prince, in the Nippes department of southwestern Haiti. Preliminary work suggests the quake's further distance from the capital and the mountainous, sparsely inhabited location of the epicentre - where a quake starts on the Earth's surface - could have had an impact, he added. Will there be more earthquakes in Haiti? Before the 2010 quake, the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system had not produced a major earthquake in decades, the USGS says. However, the fault system was probably behind three other major earthquakes, occurring in 1751, 1770, and 1860 respectively, the USGS says, adding that the first two quakes destroyed Port-au-Prince. Other quakes are likely to happen in the future. "We know they will happen, but we don't know when they will happen," Barnhart said. Did lessons from the 2010 earthquake have any impact? While Barnhart says just Japan, Mexico, and US Western states have early-warning systems for earthquakes - which can buy just tens of seconds of advance notice - Claude Prepetit, Haiti's chief seismologist, said Haitians behaved differently after Saturday's quake, compared to in 2010. Back then, he said, people exposed themselves to more danger by sheltering in buildings while aftershocks continued. "We have learned our lesson," Prepetit said, but added more needs to be done. "We must build better, with better building materials, and then educate the population so that they can develop the right reflexes."

Explainer: Why does Haiti have earthquakes?

Japan braces for further downpours as rescuers sort through landslide and flood damage following record rainfall that killed at least six people,&nbsp;

In the Southwest, residents are returning to check on their mud-covered homes after dozens of rivers overflowed, forcing nearly two million to seek refuge.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/it-was-so-so-scary-rain-sparks-floods-landslides-in-japan-405571">'It was so, so scary': Rain sparks floods, landslides in Japan</a>

Recent rainfall levels have been termed "unprecedented" by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Scientists warn that in Japan and elsewhere, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/climate-change">climate change</a> increases the chance of heavy rains owing to a warmer atmosphere that holds more water.

The town of Ureshino, located in Saga prefecture, experienced about one metre (three feet) of rain during just four days. In the entire year 2020, the same town had 3.3 meters of rain, and in the year 2019, it had 2.3 metres.

There were fewer showers on Sunday in the hardest-hit region, with weather alerts downgraded&nbsp;from the top level, but more rain was predicted to fall late Sunday night.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/torrential-rains-lash-wide-areas-of-japan-three-feared-dead-after-landslide-405605">Torrential rains lash wide areas of Japan, three feared dead after landslide</a>

"It is still possible that extreme, severe rain will continue in many areas across the nation," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at an emergency cabinet meeting.

"Because it has been raining so much, ground soil in many areas is becoming looser, and large-scale disasters could happen at any time," he said, advising residents to exercise caution and stay in shelters.

Landslide warnings have been issued in 372 municipalities across Japan after 44 were detected, a quarter of them in Nagasaki,&nbsp;the land ministry said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/millions-urged-to-seek-shelter-as-floods-and-landslides-hit-japan-405681/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Last month, heavy rains triggered a devastating wave of landslides in the central resort town of Atami, killing 23 people. Four more are unaccounted for.

There were more than 200 fatalities from floods and landslides in western Japan during the annual rainy season of 2018.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan braces for further downpours as rescuers sort through landslide and flood damage following record rainfall that killed at least six people, In the Southwest, residents are returning to check on their mud-covered homes after dozens of rivers overflowed, forcing nearly two million to seek refuge.

Japan braces for further downpours as rescuers sort through landslide and flood damage following record rainfall that killed at least six people, In the Southwest, residents are returning to check on their mud-covered homes after dozens of rivers overflowed, forcing nearly two million to seek refuge. Also read | 'It was so, so scary': Rain sparks floods, landslides in Japan Recent rainfall levels have been termed "unprecedented" by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Scientists warn that in Japan and elsewhere, climate change increases the chance of heavy rains owing to a warmer atmosphere that holds more water. The town of Ureshino, located in Saga prefecture, experienced about one metre (three feet) of rain during just four days. In the entire year 2020, the same town had 3.3 meters of rain, and in the year 2019, it had 2.3 metres. There were fewer showers on Sunday in the hardest-hit region, with weather alerts downgraded from the top level, but more rain was predicted to fall late Sunday night. Also read | Torrential rains lash wide areas of Japan, three feared dead after landslide "It is still possible that extreme, severe rain will continue in many areas across the nation," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at an emergency cabinet meeting. "Because it has been raining so much, ground soil in many areas is becoming looser, and large-scale disasters could happen at any time," he said, advising residents to exercise caution and stay in shelters. Landslide warnings have been issued in 372 municipalities across Japan after 44 were detected, a quarter of them in Nagasaki, the land ministry said. Last month, heavy rains triggered a devastating wave of landslides in the central resort town of Atami, killing 23 people. Four more are unaccounted for. There were more than 200 fatalities from floods and landslides in western Japan during the annual rainy season of 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan floods: Scientists warn climate change may cause erratic rain patterns worldwide

Heatwaves, landslides, wildfires, flooding, are not isolated incidents. Countries around the world are battling the onslaught of nature. The US climate envoy has issued a grim warning after taking account of the situation.

WION Climate Tracker: Climate Catastrophe looms over the world

India is battling deadly floods and landslides after heavy monsoon rains. 9 people have been killed in the disaster. The states of Himachal, Maharashtra are the ones worst affected by the disaster. The PM's house has announced compensation to those affected by the disaster.

At least 9 killed in landslides, floods in parts of northern and western India

Philippines evacuates thousands as monsoon rains flood Manila, provinces

Three dead, dozens injured as rare tornado razes Czech homes

'Thin but destructive': Tornado hits Canada's Saskatchewan area

We’re all familiar with land avalanches that pose damage to life and property. But the damage caused by an underwater avalanche is touted to be more intense and a recent disaster on Africa’s western coast serves as testimony to the same.

An expansive underwater avalanche along the Congo river recently pushed sand over 1,100 kilometres across oceanic waters over 48 hours causing damage not immediately visible to the human eye.

Longest flow of sediment ever!

The damage disrupted internet in many parts of Africa, scientists claim. This avalanche marks the longest flow of sediment ever recorded in human history, for it travelled from the mouth of Congo river into the deep ocean, a new study posits.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-dinosaur-species-discovered-in-australia-declared-the-continents-largest-390081" hreflang="en">New dinosaur species discovered in Australia declared the continent's largest</a>

The avalanche hit Africa in January 2020, but details about it emerged just now. The most uncanny part of it all? We may have missed the avalanche’s occurrence altogether if it hadn’t disrupted telecommunications cables. The first sign of the underwater disaster was noticed when data traffic between Nigeria and South Africa slowed down considerably.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-oceans-day-2021-health-of-oceans-matters-to-you-here-is-why-390123" hreflang="en">Health of oceans matters to you. Here is why</a>

According to The Guardian, the event was also recorded by devices that were placed underwater by scientists to track the speed of sediments and currents. The readings suggest that the flow of mud accelerated from five metres per second to eight metres per second as the avalanche picked up pace.

How did it happen?

According to a report on Earth ArXiv, the avalanche was caused by the flooding in Congo river which happened during the end of 2019. This marked the worst flooding event in the region in over 50 years.

Such avalanches or “turbidity currents” pose a serious risk to underwater connectivity for 99 per cent of global data traffic between continents happens underwater. If disrupted, services like the internet, cloud storage and financial trading could malfunction.

A similar underwater avalanche off the coast of&nbsp;Louisiana caused a major spill when an oil production platform was damaged. A National Geographic report claims that such avalanches are more common in the Gulf of Mexico than elsewhere and could cause further oil accidents if mitigation measures are not worked out in the near future.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/heres-how-a-24000-year-old-organism-was-recently-able-to-reproduce-390130" hreflang="en">Here's how a 24,000-year-old organism was recently able to reproduce</a>

We’re all familiar with land avalanches that pose damage to life and property. But the damage caused by an underwater avalanche is touted to be more intense and a recent disaster on Africa’s western coast serves as testimony to the same.

We’re all familiar with land avalanches that pose damage to life and property. But the damage caused by an underwater avalanche is touted to be more intense and a recent disaster on Africa’s western coast serves as testimony to the same. An expansive underwater avalanche along the Congo river recently pushed sand over 1,100 kilometres across oceanic waters over 48 hours causing damage not immediately visible to the human eye. Longest flow of sediment ever! The damage disrupted internet in many parts of Africa, scientists claim. This avalanche marks the longest flow of sediment ever recorded in human history, for it travelled from the mouth of Congo river into the deep ocean, a new study posits. Also read: New dinosaur species discovered in Australia declared the continent's largest The avalanche hit Africa in January 2020, but details about it emerged just now. The most uncanny part of it all? We may have missed the avalanche’s occurrence altogether if it hadn’t disrupted telecommunications cables. The first sign of the underwater disaster was noticed when data traffic between Nigeria and South Africa slowed down considerably. Also read: Health of oceans matters to you. Here is why According to The Guardian, the event was also recorded by devices that were placed underwater by scientists to track the speed of sediments and currents. The readings suggest that the flow of mud accelerated from five metres per second to eight metres per second as the avalanche picked up pace. How did it happen? According to a report on Earth ArXiv, the avalanche was caused by the flooding in Congo river which happened during the end of 2019. This marked the worst flooding event in the region in over 50 years. Such avalanches or “turbidity currents” pose a serious risk to underwater connectivity for 99 per cent of global data traffic between continents happens underwater. If disrupted, services like the internet, cloud storage and financial trading could malfunction. A similar underwater avalanche off the coast of Louisiana caused a major spill when an oil production platform was damaged. A National Geographic report claims that such avalanches are more common in the Gulf of Mexico than elsewhere and could cause further oil accidents if mitigation measures are not worked out in the near future. Also read: Here's how a 24,000-year-old organism was recently able to reproduce

A massive underwater avalanche hit Africa in 2020. We're learning about it now.

New Zealand authorities declared a state of emergency in the province of Canterbury Sunday, as the region was pounded by heavy rain that could force thousands of people to abandon their homes.

Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi, who visited the hardest-hit southern parts of the area, said about 3,000 homes were at risk and the army had been mobilised to assist with evacuations if necessary.

"The rain is going to stick around until at least tomorrow. It will be heavy and the authorities will be watching those river levels tonight," Faafoi said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-mice-war-intensifies-country-seeks-banned-poison-from-india-to-fight-plague-388367">Australia's 'mice war' intensifies: Country seeks banned poison from India to fight plague</a>

The New Zealand Meteorological Service has issued a rare "red" warning for the area, with up to 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) of rain expected to fall in inland areas.

In coastal Christchurch, the main city in Canterbury, forecasters expected about 100 mm to fall, well above the monthly total average for May.

Canterbury Civil Defence emergency management group controller Neville Reilly told the New Zealand Herald that the state of emergency was declared because authorities could not afford to take chances.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/first-instance-of-killer-robot-attacking-human-without-orders-recorded-in-libya-un-report-388344">First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report</a>

"There's a lot of contingency planning going on so that if something untoward should happen we are in a position to get people out and give them somewhere to go," he said.

"Really we're just holding our breath overnight."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/would-dinosaurs-be-alive-if-they-had-spaceships-tech-mogul-elon-musk-believes-so-388379">Would dinosaurs be alive if they had spaceships? Tech mogul Elon Musk believes so</a>

Neil Brown, the mayor of Ashburton, said about 4,000 people in the town could be forced to evacuate if the Ashburton River breaks its banks.

New Zealand authorities declared a state of emergency in the province of Canterbury Sunday, as the region was pounded by heavy rain that could force thousands of people to abandon their homes.

New Zealand authorities declared a state of emergency in the province of Canterbury Sunday, as the region was pounded by heavy rain that could force thousands of people to abandon their homes. Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi, who visited the hardest-hit southern parts of the area, said about 3,000 homes were at risk and the army had been mobilised to assist with evacuations if necessary. "The rain is going to stick around until at least tomorrow. It will be heavy and the authorities will be watching those river levels tonight," Faafoi said. Also Read | Australia's 'mice war' intensifies: Country seeks banned poison from India to fight plague The New Zealand Meteorological Service has issued a rare "red" warning for the area, with up to 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) of rain expected to fall in inland areas. In coastal Christchurch, the main city in Canterbury, forecasters expected about 100 mm to fall, well above the monthly total average for May. Canterbury Civil Defence emergency management group controller Neville Reilly told the New Zealand Herald that the state of emergency was declared because authorities could not afford to take chances. Also Read | First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report "There's a lot of contingency planning going on so that if something untoward should happen we are in a position to get people out and give them somewhere to go," he said. "Really we're just holding our breath overnight." Also Read | Would dinosaurs be alive if they had spaceships? Tech mogul Elon Musk believes so Neil Brown, the mayor of Ashburton, said about 4,000 people in the town could be forced to evacuate if the Ashburton River breaks its banks.

Emergency declared as New Zealand floods threaten thousands of homes

A severe&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;is brewing off&nbsp;India's eastern coast, the nation's weather bureau warned Sunday, as the death toll rose&nbsp;from a major&nbsp;storm&nbsp;that wreaked havoc in the west of the virus-hit nation last&nbsp;week.

Moving northwards in the Bay of Bengal, the depression was set to form a&nbsp;cyclone,&nbsp;to be dubbed Yaas, before intensifying and hitting the eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha on Wednesday, the&nbsp;India&nbsp;Meteorological Department said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-tauktae-six-dead-as-powerful-storm-heads-for-india-385552">Cyclone Tauktae: Six dead as powerful storm heads for India</a>

The&nbsp;storm&nbsp;could pack winds of up to 165 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, hitting occasional highs of up to 185kph by mid-Wednesday as a "Very Severe Cyclonic&nbsp;Storm", the third-worst category, the department said.

It also warned of&nbsp;storm&nbsp;surges of up to four metres (13 feet) high in coastal areas.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-review-preparations-to-deal-with-cyclone-yaas-386841">PM Modi to review preparations to deal with cyclone Yaas</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday he had chaired a meeting on the approaching&nbsp;storm, with the military and disaster teams deployed to help with the preparations and potential rescue operations.

Cyclone&nbsp;Yaas is set to hit soon&nbsp;after&nbsp;Cyclone&nbsp;Tauktae,&nbsp;India's first major tropical&nbsp;storm&nbsp;this season, which battered the western state of Gujarat late Monday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/barge-p305-located-on-seabed-indian-navy-continues-search-for-20-missing-personnel-386866">Barge P305 located on seabed, Indian Navy continues search for 20 missing personnel</a>&nbsp;

The death toll from the&nbsp;storm&nbsp;rose to at least 140 on Sunday, with 70 bodies recovered&nbsp;after&nbsp;the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;hit an oil rig off Mumbai and several support vessels, the navy said.

Around 600 people were rescued by the navy but five remain missing from an accommodation barge for oil workers that ripped free of its anchors in the&nbsp;storm&nbsp;and sank.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-tauktae-22-dead-in-mumbai-after-barge-sank-386076/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Search &amp; Rescue ops by ships and helicopters/aircraft will continue in the area to locate the remaining crew of the sunken vessels," the navy said in a statement Sunday.

India's neighbour Bangladesh, which borders West Bengal, said it was monitoring Yaas.

"All the boats and fishing trawlers have been ordered to come close to the coast as a precautionary measure. Tomorrow (Monday) we will have better idea where it is heading," Bangladesh Meteorological Department senior weather forecaster Bazlur Rashid told AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-coast-guard-teams-on-stand-by-fishermen-sailors-alerted-for-cyclone-yaas-on-east-coast-386334">Indian Coast Guard teams on stand-by, fishermen, sailors alerted for Cyclone ‘Yaas’ on East Coast</a>

Scientists say cyclones in the densely populated region, currently reeling from a&nbsp;deadly&nbsp;wave of Covid-19 infections, are becoming both more frequent and stronger as climate change leads to warmer sea temperatures.

Last May, more than 110 people died&nbsp;after&nbsp;"super&nbsp;cyclone" Amphan ravaged eastern&nbsp;India&nbsp;and Bangladesh, flattening villages, destroying farms and leaving millions without electricity.

A severe cyclone is brewing off India's eastern coast, the nation's weather bureau warned Sunday, as the death toll rose from a major storm that wreaked havoc in the west of the virus-hit nation last week.

A severe cyclone is brewing off India's eastern coast, the nation's weather bureau warned Sunday, as the death toll rose from a major storm that wreaked havoc in the west of the virus-hit nation last week. Moving northwards in the Bay of Bengal, the depression was set to form a cyclone, to be dubbed Yaas, before intensifying and hitting the eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department said. Also read | Cyclone Tauktae: Six dead as powerful storm heads for India The storm could pack winds of up to 165 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, hitting occasional highs of up to 185kph by mid-Wednesday as a "Very Severe Cyclonic Storm", the third-worst category, the department said. It also warned of storm surges of up to four metres (13 feet) high in coastal areas. Also read | PM Modi to review preparations to deal with cyclone Yaas Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday he had chaired a meeting on the approaching storm, with the military and disaster teams deployed to help with the preparations and potential rescue operations. Cyclone Yaas is set to hit soon after Cyclone Tauktae, India's first major tropical storm this season, which battered the western state of Gujarat late Monday. Also read | Barge P305 located on seabed, Indian Navy continues search for 20 missing personnel The death toll from the storm rose to at least 140 on Sunday, with 70 bodies recovered after the cyclone hit an oil rig off Mumbai and several support vessels, the navy said. Around 600 people were rescued by the navy but five remain missing from an accommodation barge for oil workers that ripped free of its anchors in the storm and sank. "Search & Rescue ops by ships and helicopters/aircraft will continue in the area to locate the remaining crew of the sunken vessels," the navy said in a statement Sunday. India's neighbour Bangladesh, which borders West Bengal, said it was monitoring Yaas. "All the boats and fishing trawlers have been ordered to come close to the coast as a precautionary measure. Tomorrow (Monday) we will have better idea where it is heading," Bangladesh Meteorological Department senior weather forecaster Bazlur Rashid told AFP. Also read | Indian Coast Guard teams on stand-by, fishermen, sailors alerted for Cyclone ‘Yaas’ on East Coast Scientists say cyclones in the densely populated region, currently reeling from a deadly wave of Covid-19 infections, are becoming both more frequent and stronger as climate change leads to warmer sea temperatures. Last May, more than 110 people died after "super cyclone" Amphan ravaged eastern India and Bangladesh, flattening villages, destroying farms and leaving millions without electricity.

Another cyclone Yaas looms for India, week after deadly storm Tauktae

The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia rose to at least 55, with 40 still missing, the disaster agency BNPB said on Monday.

At least 400 people in the East Nusa Tenggara province, which comprises of several islands, were evacuated after their homes were hit by flash floods, landslides and strong winds amid heavy rain brought by the cyclone, the agency said.

Several bridges collapsed, trees fell and blocked some roads and at least one ship sank as the cyclone also triggered high waves, complicating search and rescue operations, the BNPB said.

"We're sending basic logistical needs such as food, blankets and others," Raditya Jati, the agency spokesman said.

President Joko Widodo offered his condolences and urged residents to follow the direction from field officers during extreme weather.

"I have ordered for disaster relief efforts to be conducted quickly and well, for example for health service assistance, availability of logistics and basic needs for the displaced and the reparation of infrastructure," he said in remarks streamed online.

Local officials said the death toll had risen to over 100, but BNPB said it was unable to confirm that.

On Sunday, a Reuters witness reported three deaths in neighbouring East Timor from a landslide on the outskirts of its capital, Dili. There was no official toll of casualties on Sunday.

The Seroja cyclone hit the Savu sea southwest of Timor island in the early hours of Monday, Indonesia's weather agency said, warning that it could bring yet more rain, waves and winds.

Extreme weather in the Nusa Tenggara area has obstructed distribution of oil fuel there, state energy firm Pertamina said, with a filling stations, a kerosene shop and four tank cars flooded.

Pertamina has alerted fuel terminals in nearby islands to support the supply of fuel to the impacted region, it said.

The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia rose to at least 55, with 40 still missing, the disaster agency BNPB said on Monday.

The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia rose to at least 55, with 40 still missing, the disaster agency BNPB said on Monday. At least 400 people in the East Nusa Tenggara province, which comprises of several islands, were evacuated after their homes were hit by flash floods, landslides and strong winds amid heavy rain brought by the cyclone, the agency said. Several bridges collapsed, trees fell and blocked some roads and at least one ship sank as the cyclone also triggered high waves, complicating search and rescue operations, the BNPB said. "We're sending basic logistical needs such as food, blankets and others," Raditya Jati, the agency spokesman said. President Joko Widodo offered his condolences and urged residents to follow the direction from field officers during extreme weather. "I have ordered for disaster relief efforts to be conducted quickly and well, for example for health service assistance, availability of logistics and basic needs for the displaced and the reparation of infrastructure," he said in remarks streamed online. Local officials said the death toll had risen to over 100, but BNPB said it was unable to confirm that. On Sunday, a Reuters witness reported three deaths in neighbouring East Timor from a landslide on the outskirts of its capital, Dili. There was no official toll of casualties on Sunday. The Seroja cyclone hit the Savu sea southwest of Timor island in the early hours of Monday, Indonesia's weather agency said, warning that it could bring yet more rain, waves and winds. Extreme weather in the Nusa Tenggara area has obstructed distribution of oil fuel there, state energy firm Pertamina said, with a filling stations, a kerosene shop and four tank cars flooded. Pertamina has alerted fuel terminals in nearby islands to support the supply of fuel to the impacted region, it said.

More than 50 killed in Indonesian floods; many still missing

Multiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in Alabama, US on Thursday causing the death of at least five people and ripping through neighbourhoods.

Five people were killed in Ohatchee, a town of 1,200 people in northwestern Alabama. In addition, many homes were destroyed and trees downed. Many places also lost electricity to the tornado, as stated by the Calhoun County Emergency Agency.

The victims have not been identified yet, and rescue operations are currently on to look for additional casualties.

<img alt="Damage is seen after tornadoes tore through Pelham, Alabama, US March 25, 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1a5a374a-7792-4aac-a41a-f14dc0258d84" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/oof%20%282%29_0.jpg" />

Photos and videos on social media show the damage sustained by Ohatchee, whereby buildings had collapsed. The roofs of many structures were destroyed, exposing furniture and other contents. Thousands of people are currently without power.

According to the National Weather Service, two storms created violent tornadoes that ripped through 100 miles of the state on Thursday afternoon. In Florence, a police officer was struck by lightning while setting up road barriers, the police department said. The officer remained “conscious and responsive” at the North Alabama Medical Center.

Authorities said that more tornadoes may have ripped through the area, but that the number would remain unknown until a survey ascertains the damage in the coming days.

<img alt="Damage is seen after tornadoes tore through Pelham, Alabama, US March 25, 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2807d26f-7320-4476-a508-fa19eade5046" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/oof%20%283%29_0.jpg" />

Significant damage was recorded in multiple countries in central Alabama. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego, in a statement to AI, said that the county had seen “significant tornado damage” and that “multiple injuries” had been reported.

"Shelby County has suffered significant tornado damage. We can confirm local residential structures have been completely destroyed," Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego was quoted by Reuters as saying.

"Our priority at the moment is identifying those citizens in need of emergency medical attention. ... This search and outreach effort will continue throughout the night and into the early morning hours," Samaniego said.

First Lady Jill Biden was slated to visit Alabama with the actress Jennifer Garner to promote President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief measures, but now the train remains cancelled.

(Images: Reuters)

Multiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in Alabama, US on Thursday causing the death of at least five people and ripping through neighbourhoods. Five people were killed in Ohatchee, a town of 1,200 people in northwestern Alabama.

Multiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in Alabama, US on Thursday causing the death of at least five people and ripping through neighbourhoods. Five people were killed in Ohatchee, a town of 1,200 people in northwestern Alabama. In addition, many homes were destroyed and trees downed. Many places also lost electricity to the tornado, as stated by the Calhoun County Emergency Agency. The victims have not been identified yet, and rescue operations are currently on to look for additional casualties. Photos and videos on social media show the damage sustained by Ohatchee, whereby buildings had collapsed. The roofs of many structures were destroyed, exposing furniture and other contents. Thousands of people are currently without power. According to the National Weather Service, two storms created violent tornadoes that ripped through 100 miles of the state on Thursday afternoon. In Florence, a police officer was struck by lightning while setting up road barriers, the police department said. The officer remained “conscious and responsive” at the North Alabama Medical Center. Authorities said that more tornadoes may have ripped through the area, but that the number would remain unknown until a survey ascertains the damage in the coming days. Significant damage was recorded in multiple countries in central Alabama. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego, in a statement to AI, said that the county had seen “significant tornado damage” and that “multiple injuries” had been reported. "Shelby County has suffered significant tornado damage. We can confirm local residential structures have been completely destroyed," Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego was quoted by Reuters as saying. "Our priority at the moment is identifying those citizens in need of emergency medical attention. ... This search and outreach effort will continue throughout the night and into the early morning hours," Samaniego said. First Lady Jill Biden was slated to visit Alabama with the actress Jennifer Garner to promote President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief measures, but now the train remains cancelled. (Images: Reuters)

Tornadoes rip through US state of Alabama killing at least 5

Everyone hopes their wedding day becomes the most special day of their lives, and probably for everyone else attending the wedding too.

Kate Fotheringham, a resident of New South Wales (NSW) had the same dreams about her big day. However, little did she know that her wedding will become the talk of the town.

On Saturday morning, when Kate woke up excited for her wedding day, she realised she was trapped in her parents' house as the water surrounded the property, leaving no way to step outdoors.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/worst-floods-in-100-years-force-thousands-to-flee-in-australia-372217">Worst floods in 100 years force thousands to flee in Australia</a>

Upon more inspection, Kate and her family — who were trapped in the town of Wingham — quickly realised that the only bridge to the town where she was to marry Wayne, her fiance, was submerged in water.

"I had accepted the fact it was going to be raining and I was wearing gumboots, but I didn’t know how I was going to deal with a one-in-a-hundred-year flood and a natural disaster," Kate said.

However, the marvellous bride decided to not give up, and instead of postponing the wedding, the couple decided to float through the obstacle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-australia-submerged-under-record-flood-372513">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-australia-submerged-under-record-flood-372513/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"It took three months to plan the wedding, 12 hours for it go to hell and six hours for it come together again," Kate said.

&nbsp;"I did have a bit of a meltdown – a bit of a cry – and said this just wasn’t funny anymore. This just sucks. Then I think I also said: we’re just going to have deal with this," she added.

With the spirit of "today's the day", the couple started looking for options as to how can the two meet and tie the knot in the one-in-a-hundred-years flood.

The two families first thought of getting Kate and her family to the venue through a boat, but safety reasons ruled out this option. After that, the two thought of getting the team bride on a high rail car and swish through the rail line that ran past her parents' house.

In the end, the couple agreed on an emergency airlift. Kate decided to blast social media with requests for help and soon an Affinity helicopter confirmed its availability in 50 minutes.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Help me!!! It’s my wedding day and we’re flooded in! We need help to get to Wingham over the flooded creek. Anyone know someone willing to help? <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sunriseon7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TODAYshow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TODAYshow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCRural?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABCRural</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/helpme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#helpme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flooded?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flooded</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWFloods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fotherbellwedding?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fotherbellwedding</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wingham?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wingham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weddingday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weddingday</a>
— Kate Fotheringham (@KatelFog) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatelFog/status/1373027237469978631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Wayne rang and said you have to be ready in 50 minutes," Late recalled. "We were waiting out the front for the helicopter. We took off and flew less than 5km and Justin, the pilot, dropped us off in the circle of Wingham Showground."

With the caterers and hair-and-makeup- people stuck in different parts of NSW, Kate decided to do her own make- up and used the help of her grandparents and friends who were already present in the town.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Update, I made it to the church and married the love of my life! Affinity Helicopters in Port Macquarie came to the rescue and made sure we all got there. This is the bridge that blocked us from making the 5minute drive into town! What a day! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fotherbellwedding?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fotherbellwedding</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/floodwingham?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#floodwingham</a> <a href="https://t.co/u7OlsFsTjQ">pic.twitter.com/u7OlsFsTjQ</a>
— Kate Fotheringham (@KatelFog) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatelFog/status/1373859864372387841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"It’s like, how is this possible? You can’t make it up. I can’t believe that we pulled it off," Kate exclaimed. "My family is incredible. We’re not ones to back down from something difficult, we can deal with a challenge or 10 – or a massive flood."

Everyone hopes their wedding day becomes the most special day of their lives, and probably for everyone else attending the wedding too. Kate Fotheringham, a resident of New South Wales (NSW) had the same dreams about her big day.

Everyone hopes their wedding day becomes the most special day of their lives, and probably for everyone else attending the wedding too. Kate Fotheringham, a resident of New South Wales (NSW) had the same dreams about her big day. However, little did she know that her wedding will become the talk of the town. On Saturday morning, when Kate woke up excited for her wedding day, she realised she was trapped in her parents' house as the water surrounded the property, leaving no way to step outdoors. Have a look | Worst floods in 100 years force thousands to flee in Australia Upon more inspection, Kate and her family — who were trapped in the town of Wingham — quickly realised that the only bridge to the town where she was to marry Wayne, her fiance, was submerged in water. "I had accepted the fact it was going to be raining and I was wearing gumboots, but I didn’t know how I was going to deal with a one-in-a-hundred-year flood and a natural disaster," Kate said. However, the marvellous bride decided to not give up, and instead of postponing the wedding, the couple decided to float through the obstacle. Watch | "It took three months to plan the wedding, 12 hours for it go to hell and six hours for it come together again," Kate said. "I did have a bit of a meltdown – a bit of a cry – and said this just wasn’t funny anymore. This just sucks. Then I think I also said: we’re just going to have deal with this," she added. With the spirit of "today's the day", the couple started looking for options as to how can the two meet and tie the knot in the one-in-a-hundred-years flood. The two families first thought of getting Kate and her family to the venue through a boat, but safety reasons ruled out this option. After that, the two thought of getting the team bride on a high rail car and swish through the rail line that ran past her parents' house. In the end, the couple agreed on an emergency airlift. Kate decided to blast social media with requests for help and soon an Affinity helicopter confirmed its availability in 50 minutes. Help me!!! It’s my wedding day and we’re flooded in! We need help to get to Wingham over the flooded creek. Anyone know someone willing to help? @sunriseon7 @TODAYshow @abcnews @ABCRural #helpme #flooded #NSWFloods #fotherbellwedding #9News #7NEWS #wingham #weddingday — Kate Fotheringham (@KatelFog) March 19, 2021 × "Wayne rang and said you have to be ready in 50 minutes," Late recalled. "We were waiting out the front for the helicopter. We took off and flew less than 5km and Justin, the pilot, dropped us off in the circle of Wingham Showground." With the caterers and hair-and-makeup- people stuck in different parts of NSW, Kate decided to do her own make- up and used the help of her grandparents and friends who were already present in the town. Update, I made it to the church and married the love of my life! Affinity Helicopters in Port Macquarie came to the rescue and made sure we all got there. This is the bridge that blocked us from making the 5minute drive into town! What a day! #fotherbellwedding #floodwingham pic.twitter.com/u7OlsFsTjQ — Kate Fotheringham (@KatelFog) March 22, 2021 × "It’s like, how is this possible? You can’t make it up. I can’t believe that we pulled it off," Kate exclaimed. "My family is incredible. We’re not ones to back down from something difficult, we can deal with a challenge or 10 – or a massive flood."

Twelve hours of hell: Couple gets married amid NSW floods

The aftermath of flash floods caused by a glacier burst in the Indian state of Uttarakhand has brought out tales of despair and overcoming, and such is the story of Blackie - a dog who has spent days outside the Tapovan tunnel where many people are feared trapped.

Locals believe that the dog is waiting for its caretakers who may be trapped in the tunnel. Born near the tunnel, Blackie has spent most of his life with people who work in the area.

"He must have realised something was amiss. The place was full of strangers who paid no attention to him," AFP quoted a worker Rajinder Kumar as saying. Kumar had managed to escape the tunnel.

<h6><img alt="In this picture taken on February 8, 2021 an army personnel interacts with a stray dog called Blackie near the entrance of Tapovan tunnel, where dozens are still feared to be trapped following a flash flood thought to have been caused when a glacier broke off on February 7. &quot;The dog has been roaming near the tunnel and was likely someone's pet who is trapped inside,&quot; an army officer told AFP." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9c7554-462e-4183-b2a2-ada7d9972ded" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_125.jpg" /> 
In this picture taken on February 8, 2021 an army personnel interacts with a stray dog called Blackie near the entrance of Tapovan tunnel, where dozens are still feared to be trapped following a flash flood thought to have been caused when a glacier broke off on February 7. "The dog has been roaming near the tunnel and was likely someone's pet who is trapped inside," an army officer told AFP. | AFP 
 
&nbsp;</h6>

Reportedly, rescue teams in the area attempted to shoo Blackie away, but he kept on returning. "He just wouldn't leave", Kumar told the Times of India.

"The dog has been roaming near the tunnel and was likely someone's pet who is trapped inside," an army officer said to AFP. "It entered the tunnel twice and looks distressed. We are trying to feed and comfort it", the officer added.

According to media reports, Blackie was not at the scene when the tragedy struck and returned on Monday when he was unable to locate his caretakers.

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This will melt your heart. He is blackie &amp; he is most probably waiting for his owner to be rescued from the tapovan tunnel. What a heartwarming story. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AFP</a> <a href="https://t.co/yVG6A58DTW">pic.twitter.com/yVG6A58DTW</a>
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParveenKaswan/status/1360155584608280582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Another officer from the Indian Forest Service Parveen Kaswan shared a clip of Blackie on Twitter with the caption reading - "This will melt your heart".

"He is Blackie &amp; he is most probably waiting for his owner to be rescued from the Tapovan tunnel. What a heartwarming story", he further wrote.

The video has triggered an array of responses on Twitter. While many reflected on the seriousness of the devastation caused by floods, others spoke of Blackie's loyalty and unconditional love.

The aftermath of flash floods caused by a glacier burst in the Indian state of Uttarakhand has brought out tales of despair and overcoming, and such is the story of Blackie - a dog who has spent days outside the Tapovan tunnel where many people are feared trapped.

The aftermath of flash floods caused by a glacier burst in the Indian state of Uttarakhand has brought out tales of despair and overcoming, and such is the story of Blackie - a dog who has spent days outside the Tapovan tunnel where many people are feared trapped. Locals believe that the dog is waiting for its caretakers who may be trapped in the tunnel. Born near the tunnel, Blackie has spent most of his life with people who work in the area. "He must have realised something was amiss. The place was full of strangers who paid no attention to him," AFP quoted a worker Rajinder Kumar as saying. Kumar had managed to escape the tunnel. In this picture taken on February 8, 2021 an army personnel interacts with a stray dog called Blackie near the entrance of Tapovan tunnel, where dozens are still feared to be trapped following a flash flood thought to have been caused when a glacier broke off on February 7. "The dog has been roaming near the tunnel and was likely someone's pet who is trapped inside," an army officer told AFP. | AFP Reportedly, rescue teams in the area attempted to shoo Blackie away, but he kept on returning. "He just wouldn't leave", Kumar told the Times of India. "The dog has been roaming near the tunnel and was likely someone's pet who is trapped inside," an army officer said to AFP. "It entered the tunnel twice and looks distressed. We are trying to feed and comfort it", the officer added. According to media reports, Blackie was not at the scene when the tragedy struck and returned on Monday when he was unable to locate his caretakers. This will melt your heart. He is blackie & he is most probably waiting for his owner to be rescued from the tapovan tunnel. What a heartwarming story. Via @AFP pic.twitter.com/yVG6A58DTW — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) February 12, 2021 × Another officer from the Indian Forest Service Parveen Kaswan shared a clip of Blackie on Twitter with the caption reading - "This will melt your heart". "He is Blackie & he is most probably waiting for his owner to be rescued from the Tapovan tunnel. What a heartwarming story", he further wrote. The video has triggered an array of responses on Twitter. While many reflected on the seriousness of the devastation caused by floods, others spoke of Blackie's loyalty and unconditional love.

'Blackie' is waiting for his caretakers trapped inside tunnel in Uttarakhand

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion.

As many as 2,067 lives were lost during the June-October floods, the highest number of fatalities due to climate change-induced weather events this year, said global NGO Christian Aid in its report The Cost: A Year of Climate Breakdown, where 15 of the most damaging extreme weather events globally in 2020 were studied.&nbsp;

According to the report 10 of those events cost $1.5 billion or more.&nbsp;

The US was hit by the highest costs due to the record-breaking hurricane season and fires.

Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher.

While the report focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property, some extreme weather events in 2020 were devastating in poorer countries, even though the price tag was lower.

South Sudan, for example, experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people and destroyed the year's crops.

Some of the disasters hit fast, like cyclone Amphan, which struck the Bay of Bengal in May and caused losses valued at $13 billion in just a few days.

Other events unfolded over months, like floods in China and India, which had an estimated cost of $32 billion and $10 billion respectively.

Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon.

And in Africa, huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries, causing damages estimated at $8.5 billion.

The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change.

But the impact of extreme weather was felt all over the world. In Europe, two extra-tropical cyclones, Ciara and Alex, had a combined cost of almost $6 billion.

The US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $60 billion in damages.

Some less populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world.

In Siberia, a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. 
A few months later, on the other side of the world, heat and drought drove the fires in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

While there were no human casualties reported from these events, the destruction of these areas has a great impact on biodiversity and the planet's capacity to respond to a warmer world.

While climate change may have influenced all these events, many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected.

This includes Nicaragua, which was hit by hurricane Iota, the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the Philippines, where typhoons Goni and Vamco made landfall almost back-to-back.

These extreme events highlight the need for urgent climate action. 
The Paris Agreement, which set the goal of keeping temperature rise "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels, has just turned five years old.

Countries must commit to bold new targets ahead of the next climate conference, which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021.

The report's author Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead, told IANS: "The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably been a major worry this year. For millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world, climate breakdown has compounded this.

"The good news is that, like the vaccine for Covid-19, we do know how to fix the climate crisis. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground, boost clean energy investment and help those who are suffering on the frontline.

"Whether it floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020. It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide.

"With US President-elect Biden in the White House, social movements across the world calling for urgent action, post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK, there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future." Roxy Mathew Koll, the climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, said: "2020 was exceptionally warm, as far as the Indian Ocean is concerned. We saw record temperatures in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, straddling between 30-33 degrees Celsius.

"These high temperatures had the characteristics of marine heatwaves that might have led to the rapid intensification of the pre-monsoon cyclones Amphan and Nisarga. Amphan was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon season."

M. Shahjahan Mondal, a climate scientist and Director of the Institute of Flood and Water Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said: "Scientific evidence shows that the intensity of the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal has been increasing over the past few years because of the temperature rise, and cyclone Amphan was one of the strongest ever recorded this year as a consequence.

"Moreover, the 2020 flood was one of the worst in history (of Bangladesh), as more than a quarter of the country was under water."

"Not only is this linked with changing climatic conditions and global warming, but also linked with changing land-use patterns and deforestation. Unfortunately, the situation might be worsening in the coming years if we fail to achieve the Paris climate goal to restrict global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius."

(With inputs from agencies)

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion.

Extreme weather events due to climate change have cost the world billions in damages in 2020, says a new report, including the terrible floods that struck India cost $10 billion. As many as 2,067 lives were lost during the June-October floods, the highest number of fatalities due to climate change-induced weather events this year, said global NGO Christian Aid in its report The Cost: A Year of Climate Breakdown, where 15 of the most damaging extreme weather events globally in 2020 were studied. According to the report 10 of those events cost $1.5 billion or more. The US was hit by the highest costs due to the record-breaking hurricane season and fires. Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher. While the report focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property, some extreme weather events in 2020 were devastating in poorer countries, even though the price tag was lower. South Sudan, for example, experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people and destroyed the year's crops. Some of the disasters hit fast, like cyclone Amphan, which struck the Bay of Bengal in May and caused losses valued at $13 billion in just a few days. Other events unfolded over months, like floods in China and India, which had an estimated cost of $32 billion and $10 billion respectively. Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon. And in Africa, huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries, causing damages estimated at $8.5 billion. The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change. But the impact of extreme weather was felt all over the world. In Europe, two extra-tropical cyclones, Ciara and Alex, had a combined cost of almost $6 billion. The US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $60 billion in damages. Some less populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world. In Siberia, a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius. A few months later, on the other side of the world, heat and drought drove the fires in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. While there were no human casualties reported from these events, the destruction of these areas has a great impact on biodiversity and the planet's capacity to respond to a warmer world. While climate change may have influenced all these events, many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected. This includes Nicaragua, which was hit by hurricane Iota, the strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the Philippines, where typhoons Goni and Vamco made landfall almost back-to-back. These extreme events highlight the need for urgent climate action. The Paris Agreement, which set the goal of keeping temperature rise "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels, has just turned five years old. Countries must commit to bold new targets ahead of the next climate conference, which will take place in Glasgow in November 2021. The report's author Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead, told IANS: "The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably been a major worry this year. For millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world, climate breakdown has compounded this. "The good news is that, like the vaccine for Covid-19, we do know how to fix the climate crisis. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground, boost clean energy investment and help those who are suffering on the frontline. "Whether it floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020. It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide. "With US President-elect Biden in the White House, social movements across the world calling for urgent action, post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK, there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future." Roxy Mathew Koll, the climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, said: "2020 was exceptionally warm, as far as the Indian Ocean is concerned. We saw record temperatures in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, straddling between 30-33 degrees Celsius. "These high temperatures had the characteristics of marine heatwaves that might have led to the rapid intensification of the pre-monsoon cyclones Amphan and Nisarga. Amphan was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon season." M. Shahjahan Mondal, a climate scientist and Director of the Institute of Flood and Water Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said: "Scientific evidence shows that the intensity of the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal has been increasing over the past few years because of the temperature rise, and cyclone Amphan was one of the strongest ever recorded this year as a consequence. "Moreover, the 2020 flood was one of the worst in history (of Bangladesh), as more than a quarter of the country was under water." "Not only is this linked with changing climatic conditions and global warming, but also linked with changing land-use patterns and deforestation. Unfortunately, the situation might be worsening in the coming years if we fail to achieve the Paris climate goal to restrict global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius." (With inputs from agencies)

2020’s weather disasters: India lost $10 billion, over 2000 killed

2020 has been an uncanny year on all fronts, from a raging pandemic to natural disasters to political upheavals, this year has seen it all.

In another uncanny yet good news coming in from a tiny Pacific island, three mariners were rescued after flagging an SOS message on the beach sand.

Thrown off course

Last Thursday, the three men intended to&nbsp;travel&nbsp;on a boat for 42 kilometres (26 miles) from Pulawat to Pulap in the Federated States of Micronesia.

After taking on the journey, mariners fell off the right path, which led to an uninhabited island called Pikelot, which was 190 kilometres (118 miles) away from where they had originally planned to go.&nbsp;After running out of fuel in the ocean, they were forced to take refuge on the stranded island, Australian and US authorities reported.

<h6><img alt="This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows the letters &quot;SOS&quot; (L) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a giant &quot;SOS&quot; they had scrawled on the beach, officials said." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14a4b77a-205f-4796-b294-cfd705808d1b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-2_43.jpg" /> 
This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows the letters "SOS" (L) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a giant "SOS" they had scrawled on the beach, officials said. | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The island where they got lost lies 800 kilometres (500 miles) from Guam. When people realised that the man hadn’t arrived in Pulap, a search and rescue operation was launched by the US Coast Guard in Guam.

A US Air Force KC-135 noticed the SOS sign by the beach. Three men were found after three hours of operation.

"SOS" saved their lives

Apparently, the aircraft was just nearing the end of three hour long operation when they an SOS sign on the beach, after which they also spotted a boat. The pilot made a post on Facebook which further claimed that they sought the assistance of Australian Navy after which they were rescued.

<h6><img alt="This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows an Australian Army ARH Tiger helicopter landing near the letters &quot;SOS&quot; (C) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a gian" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7623b20-f7bb-41ea-9dfa-66e7825bb7a7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_32.jpg" /> 
This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows an Australian Army ARH Tiger helicopter landing near the letters "SOS" (C) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a giant SOS sign | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

"We were toward the end of our search pattern. We turned to avoid some rain showers and that's when we looked down and saw an island, so we decide to check it out and that's when we saw SOS and a boat right next to it on the beach. From there we called in the Australian Navy because they had two helicopters nearby that could assist and land on the island”, the pilot, Lt Col&nbsp; Jason Palmeira-Yen, said in a post made on Facebook.

Supplies for the distressed men were dropped by Australia’s assault ship HMAS Canberra, while they were also checked for major injuries. Their identities were then confirmed and they were rescued from the island.

2020 has been an uncanny year on all fronts, from a raging pandemic to natural disasters to political upheavals, this year has seen it all. In another uncanny yet good news coming in from a tiny Pacific island, three mariners were rescued after flagging an SOS message on the beach sand.

2020 has been an uncanny year on all fronts, from a raging pandemic to natural disasters to political upheavals, this year has seen it all. In another uncanny yet good news coming in from a tiny Pacific island, three mariners were rescued after flagging an SOS message on the beach sand. Thrown off course Last Thursday, the three men intended to travel on a boat for 42 kilometres (26 miles) from Pulawat to Pulap in the Federated States of Micronesia. After taking on the journey, mariners fell off the right path, which led to an uninhabited island called Pikelot, which was 190 kilometres (118 miles) away from where they had originally planned to go. After running out of fuel in the ocean, they were forced to take refuge on the stranded island, Australian and US authorities reported. This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows the letters "SOS" (L) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a giant "SOS" they had scrawled on the beach, officials said. | AFP The island where they got lost lies 800 kilometres (500 miles) from Guam. When people realised that the man hadn’t arrived in Pulap, a search and rescue operation was launched by the US Coast Guard in Guam. A US Air Force KC-135 noticed the SOS sign by the beach. Three men were found after three hours of operation. "SOS" saved their lives Apparently, the aircraft was just nearing the end of three hour long operation when they an SOS sign on the beach, after which they also spotted a boat. The pilot made a post on Facebook which further claimed that they sought the assistance of Australian Navy after which they were rescued. This handout photo taken on August 2, 2020 and received on August 4 from the Australian Defence Force shows an Australian Army ARH Tiger helicopter landing near the letters "SOS" (C) on a beach on Pikelot Island where three men were found in good condition after being missing for three days. Three Micronesian sailors stranded on a tiny island in the remote Western Pacific were rescued after Australian and US warplanes spotted a giant SOS sign | AFP "We were toward the end of our search pattern. We turned to avoid some rain showers and that's when we looked down and saw an island, so we decide to check it out and that's when we saw SOS and a boat right next to it on the beach. From there we called in the Australian Navy because they had two helicopters nearby that could assist and land on the island”, the pilot, Lt Col Jason Palmeira-Yen, said in a post made on Facebook. Supplies for the distressed men were dropped by Australia’s assault ship HMAS Canberra, while they were also checked for major injuries. Their identities were then confirmed and they were rescued from the island.

'SOS' on the sand saves lives of three men stranded on a Micronesian island

Large parts of Asia are currently facing a natural crisis as devastating monsoons continue to displace millions and flood large regions.

<h6>A quarter of Bangladesh alone is flooded. Northeastern parts of India too, that lie close to the neighbouring Bangladesh are also currently experiencing a lot of floods, especially Assam. China, too is reeling from major flooding near Wuhan, the original epicentre of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
<img alt="Bangladesh flooding" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="05b07fc3-39a5-4cbd-b331-f752eb997d95" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-4_11.jpg" /> 
Image from June 2, 2020 | Credit: NASA</h6>

Images show the devastation

Images acquired by NASA show the scale of flooding, and were recorded over more than a month between June 2 and July 25. The navy blue and black portion of the map depict the water inundation, while clouds are white. The greenery can be seen in on the images too.

<h6><img alt="Bangladesh floods" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5bf8a039-22a2-4b92-a660-97a82bf959d2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-5_11.jpg" /> 
Image from July 25, 2020 | Credit: NASA</h6>

Monsoons in Bangladesh are intense, with over 80 per cent rain taking place during the season between June and October. Even though flooding is common during these month, this year’s water damage has been particularly devastating. It is the longest-lasting flooding in Bangladesh in 1988, and has been termed the worst flooding in a decade.

As per data from the flood monitoring agency of Bangladesh on July 31, the Jamuna River is experiencing water levels way above the dangerous level. As a direct result, over 1,500 square kilometres of farming land has been submerged, with over a million homes rendered unusable.

Pre-existing issues add&nbsp;to woes

This has also cut off communication lines in the country, with roads leading to remote and rural areas facing heavy damage.

<h6><img alt="Bangladesh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b34f57eb-33b0-41e1-9d10-8cc9e2b5fd01" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-6_10.jpg" /> 
Image from July 25, 2020 | Credit: NASA</h6>

 
Even though the country has protective provisions for embankments and dykes, these have been rendered vulnerable owing to the yearly damage caused by monsoons.

With a recovery cycle of three to five years, the loss is typically more than the measures in place. Given the situation caused by coronavirus, rescue and relief measures have become really difficult. The region also faced Cyclone Amphan in May 20, which caused considerable damage.

As of July 28, at least 100 people had died in flood-related fatalities in Bangladesh, with over four million people being in the direct impact of the inundation.

Large parts of Asia are currently facing a natural crisis as devastating monsoons continue to displace millions and flood large regions. A quarter of Bangladesh alone is flooded.

Large parts of Asia are currently facing a natural crisis as devastating monsoons continue to displace millions and flood large regions. A quarter of Bangladesh alone is flooded. Northeastern parts of India too, that lie close to the neighbouring Bangladesh are also currently experiencing a lot of floods, especially Assam. China, too is reeling from major flooding near Wuhan, the original epicentre of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Image from June 2, 2020 | Credit: NASA Images show the devastation Images acquired by NASA show the scale of flooding, and were recorded over more than a month between June 2 and July 25. The navy blue and black portion of the map depict the water inundation, while clouds are white. The greenery can be seen in on the images too. Image from July 25, 2020 | Credit: NASA Monsoons in Bangladesh are intense, with over 80 per cent rain taking place during the season between June and October. Even though flooding is common during these month, this year’s water damage has been particularly devastating. It is the longest-lasting flooding in Bangladesh in 1988, and has been termed the worst flooding in a decade. As per data from the flood monitoring agency of Bangladesh on July 31, the Jamuna River is experiencing water levels way above the dangerous level. As a direct result, over 1,500 square kilometres of farming land has been submerged, with over a million homes rendered unusable. Pre-existing issues add to woes This has also cut off communication lines in the country, with roads leading to remote and rural areas facing heavy damage. Image from July 25, 2020 | Credit: NASA Even though the country has protective provisions for embankments and dykes, these have been rendered vulnerable owing to the yearly damage caused by monsoons. With a recovery cycle of three to five years, the loss is typically more than the measures in place. Given the situation caused by coronavirus, rescue and relief measures have become really difficult. The region also faced Cyclone Amphan in May 20, which caused considerable damage. As of July 28, at least 100 people had died in flood-related fatalities in Bangladesh, with over four million people being in the direct impact of the inundation.

NASA images show quarter of Bangladesh submerged in devastating floods

United States President Donald Trump had once seriously thought of selling off Puerto Rico in 2017. This was when the territory was ravaged by Hurricane Maria.

In a conversation with the New York Times, the former acting Homeland Security secretary, Elaine Duke, made the bizarre claims, while adding that Trump only thinks like a “businessman”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/puerto-rico-justice-secretary-says-she-doesnt-want-to-be-governor-239149" hreflang="en">Puerto Rico justice secretary says she doesn't want to be governor</a> 
 
According to Duke, in the beginning of Trump’s presidency, he mostly thought of everything as a businessman. The hurricane had hit the island in September 2017.

Reportedly, Trump thought of outsourcing electricity, and also to sell&nbsp;off the island. Additionally, he also seemed interested in “divesting” the asset. However, the idea was never taken seriously, even after Trump had suggested it.

3,000 deaths

In 2017, Hurricane Maria killed 3,000 people on the island, and major power cuts were witnessed everywhere.

Trump had been involved in spats with Puerto Rican leaders and blamed them of mismanaging resources, including the billions put out by the federal government to help with recovery. He accused the leaders of using the money elsewhere, instead of the island’s recovery.

<h6><img alt="People break into a warehouse with supplies believed to have been from when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017 in Ponce, Puerto Rico on January 18, 2020, after a powerful earthquake hit the island. President Donald Trump on January 16 freed up emergency aid for Puerto Rico's recovery from a January 7 earthquake that caused widespread disruption and damage on the island. Trump's declaration of a major disaster in Puerto Rico makes federal funding available for repairs, temporary housing and low-cost loans &quot;to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,&quot; the White House said." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="96bc5313-a92b-471e-8bd1-d1c023d421df" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-6_6.jpg" /> 
People break into a warehouse with supplies believed to have been from when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017 in Ponce, Puerto Rico on January 18, 2020, after a powerful earthquake hit the island. President Donald Trump on January 16 freed up emergency aid for Puerto Rico's recovery from a January 7 earthquake that caused widespread disruption and damage on the island. Trump's declaration of a major disaster in Puerto Rico makes federal funding available for repairs, temporary housing and low-cost loans "to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said. | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

In fact, in November 2018, Trump wanted an end to aid being sent out to the island. White House officials had informed leaders of the same.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/search-warrant-against-puerto-ricos-embattled-governor-ricardo-rossello-238089" hreflang="en">Search warrant against Puerto Rico's embattled governor, Ricardo Rossello</a>

The hurricane that left 3,000 dead was touted as “an incredible, unsung success”, by Donald Trump, who had constantly denied any mishandling of the situation.

Corona won't let up!

The US is currently reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, and had recorded 59,747 new cases in the last 24 hours, as per numbers from the Johns Hopkins University.

The country has been inducting record numbers over the last few weeks. Just on Saturday, 11 July, there were 66,528 new cases in the country.

As of now, the country has registered 3,301,820 infections in total. 135,171 people have also been killed, with over 442 additional deaths.

Even amid such numbers, President Trump has called for a complete reopening of schools across the country this autumn, which could put thousands of kids at risk.

Trump was seen donning a mask for the first time in public on Sunday.

United States President Donald Trump had once seriously thought of selling off Puerto Rico in 2017. This was when the territory was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. In a conversation with the New York Times, the former acting Homeland Security secretary, Elaine Duke, made the bizarre claims, while adding that Trump only thinks like a “businessman”.

United States President Donald Trump had once seriously thought of selling off Puerto Rico in 2017. This was when the territory was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. In a conversation with the New York Times, the former acting Homeland Security secretary, Elaine Duke, made the bizarre claims, while adding that Trump only thinks like a “businessman”. Also read: Puerto Rico justice secretary says she doesn't want to be governor According to Duke, in the beginning of Trump’s presidency, he mostly thought of everything as a businessman. The hurricane had hit the island in September 2017. Reportedly, Trump thought of outsourcing electricity, and also to sell off the island. Additionally, he also seemed interested in “divesting” the asset. However, the idea was never taken seriously, even after Trump had suggested it. 3,000 deaths In 2017, Hurricane Maria killed 3,000 people on the island, and major power cuts were witnessed everywhere. Trump had been involved in spats with Puerto Rican leaders and blamed them of mismanaging resources, including the billions put out by the federal government to help with recovery. He accused the leaders of using the money elsewhere, instead of the island’s recovery. People break into a warehouse with supplies believed to have been from when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017 in Ponce, Puerto Rico on January 18, 2020, after a powerful earthquake hit the island. President Donald Trump on January 16 freed up emergency aid for Puerto Rico's recovery from a January 7 earthquake that caused widespread disruption and damage on the island. Trump's declaration of a major disaster in Puerto Rico makes federal funding available for repairs, temporary housing and low-cost loans "to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said. | AFP In fact, in November 2018, Trump wanted an end to aid being sent out to the island. White House officials had informed leaders of the same. Also read: Search warrant against Puerto Rico's embattled governor, Ricardo Rossello The hurricane that left 3,000 dead was touted as “an incredible, unsung success”, by Donald Trump, who had constantly denied any mishandling of the situation. Corona won't let up! The US is currently reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, and had recorded 59,747 new cases in the last 24 hours, as per numbers from the Johns Hopkins University. The country has been inducting record numbers over the last few weeks. Just on Saturday, 11 July, there were 66,528 new cases in the country. As of now, the country has registered 3,301,820 infections in total. 135,171 people have also been killed, with over 442 additional deaths. Even amid such numbers, President Trump has called for a complete reopening of schools across the country this autumn, which could put thousands of kids at risk. Trump was seen donning a mask for the first time in public on Sunday.

Trump reportedly considered 'selling off' Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

Seven persons died due to lightning in Bihar on Tuesday, state Disaster Management Department said. 
 
Three persons died in Begusarai and one each in Bhagalpur, Munger, Kaimur and Jamui.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/india-news/climate-change-fuelling-deadly-india-lightning-strikes-310899" hreflang="en">Climate change 'fuelling deadly India lightning strikes'</a> 
 
Heavy rainfall, thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds have been predicted for Bihar by Indian Meteorological Department for the next few days. 
 
IMD said in its evening bulletin that moderate to intense thunderstorm and lightning is "very likely" to occur over Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next 12 hours.

Seven persons died due to lightning in Bihar on Tuesday, state Disaster Management Department said. Three persons died in Begusarai and one each in Bhagalpur, Munger, Kaimur and Jamui.

Seven persons died due to lightning in Bihar on Tuesday, state Disaster Management Department said. Three persons died in Begusarai and one each in Bhagalpur, Munger, Kaimur and Jamui. Also read: Climate change 'fuelling deadly India lightning strikes' Heavy rainfall, thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds have been predicted for Bihar by Indian Meteorological Department for the next few days. IMD said in its evening bulletin that moderate to intense thunderstorm and lightning is "very likely" to occur over Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next 12 hours.

Lightning kills 7 in Bihar

A shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Kabul on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, sending crowds into the streets of the Afghan capital.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties after the quake shook Kabul at 8:36 pm (1606 GMT) with such violence that some residents at first thought it was a new explosion in the war-torn city.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-kill-taliban-terrorists-after-clash-at-military-checkpoints-310891" hreflang="en">Afghan forces kill Taliban terrorists after clash at military checkpoints</a>

The USGS assessed the quake's depth at 7.5 kilometres, making it a shallow temblor, and put its epicentre in Paghman district of Kabul province, less than 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the capital.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-will-cooperate-to-bring-back-peace-in-afghanistan-khalilzad-310750" hreflang="en">Taliban will cooperate to bring back peace in Afghanistan: Khalilzad</a>

In May 2018, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded in northern Afghanistan and felt as far away as Islamabad and Dushanbe.

In October 2015, a devastating 7.5-magnitude quake killed nearly 400 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Aid agencies have regularly stressed the need for greater disaster preparedness in Afghanistan, which remains extremely susceptible to recurring earthquakes, floods and landslides.

A shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Kabul on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, sending crowds into the streets of the Afghan capital. There were no immediate reports of any casualties after the quake shook Kabul at 8:36 pm (1606 GMT) with such violence that some residents at first thought it was a new explosion in the war-torn city.

A shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Kabul on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, sending crowds into the streets of the Afghan capital. There were no immediate reports of any casualties after the quake shook Kabul at 8:36 pm (1606 GMT) with such violence that some residents at first thought it was a new explosion in the war-torn city. Also read: Afghan forces kill Taliban terrorists after clash at military checkpoints The USGS assessed the quake's depth at 7.5 kilometres, making it a shallow temblor, and put its epicentre in Paghman district of Kabul province, less than 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the capital. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Also read: Taliban will cooperate to bring back peace in Afghanistan: Khalilzad In May 2018, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded in northern Afghanistan and felt as far away as Islamabad and Dushanbe. In October 2015, a devastating 7.5-magnitude quake killed nearly 400 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Aid agencies have regularly stressed the need for greater disaster preparedness in Afghanistan, which remains extremely susceptible to recurring earthquakes, floods and landslides.

Shallow 4.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Kabul

&nbsp;Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place.&nbsp;

Flooding and mudslides that began at the weekend have killed 21 people so far. A further 18 people were showing no vital signs and presumed dead pending official confirmation, and 13 people were missing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/several-dead-missing-in-japan-as-heavy-rain-causes-floods-310854" hreflang="en">Several dead, missing in Japan as heavy rain causes floods</a>

"I offer my deepest condolences for those who have passed from the torrential rains," Suga said, adding that some 40,000 members of the Self-Defence Force were involved in rescue missions.

He added that evacuation centres were also working on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus by distributing disinfectant and asking evacuees to maintain their distance from each other.

Also read: <a href="/world/14-feared-dead-at-flooded-nursing-home-in-japan-310673" hreflang="en">14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan</a>&nbsp;

As of Saturday, some 200,000 have been ordered to evacuate their homes, according to Kyodo news agency.

The floods are Japan's worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis in October last year that left about 90 people dead.

Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place.

Nearly 40 people were feared dead as torrential rains continued to hit Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, with river banks at risk of bursting on Monday morning and new evacuation orders put in place. Flooding and mudslides that began at the weekend have killed 21 people so far. A further 18 people were showing no vital signs and presumed dead pending official confirmation, and 13 people were missing, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference. Also read: Several dead, missing in Japan as heavy rain causes floods "I offer my deepest condolences for those who have passed from the torrential rains," Suga said, adding that some 40,000 members of the Self-Defence Force were involved in rescue missions. He added that evacuation centres were also working on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus by distributing disinfectant and asking evacuees to maintain their distance from each other. Also read: 14 feared dead at flooded nursing home in Japan As of Saturday, some 200,000 have been ordered to evacuate their homes, according to Kyodo news agency. The floods are Japan's worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis in October last year that left about 90 people dead.

Nearly 40 feared dead as torrential rains hit southwest Japan

A strong earthquake hit southern Mexico on Tuesday, shaking buildings in the center of the capital Mexico City hundreds of miles away, and sending people fleeing their homes into the streets.

The US&nbsp;Geological Survey said the quake's magnitude was 7.4, revised down from an earlier estimate of 7.7. The earthquake was centered in the Pacific coastal state of Oaxaca.

Related story:&nbsp;<a href="/world/more-than-17000-die-in-mexico-from-coronavirus-305959" hreflang="en">More than 17,000 die in Mexico from coronavirus</a>

Reuters witnesses in Mexico City saw no initial signs of injuries or damage.&nbsp;

Quakes of such size can be devastating. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck central Mexico in 2017 killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states.&nbsp;

Situated at the intersection of three tectonic plates, Mexico is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. The capital is seen as particularly vulnerable due to its location on top of an ancient lake bed.

A strong earthquake hit southern Mexico on Tuesday, shaking buildings in the center of the capital Mexico City hundreds of miles away, and sending people fleeing their homes into the streets.

A strong earthquake hit southern Mexico on Tuesday, shaking buildings in the center of the capital Mexico City hundreds of miles away, and sending people fleeing their homes into the streets. The US Geological Survey said the quake's magnitude was 7.4, revised down from an earlier estimate of 7.7. The earthquake was centered in the Pacific coastal state of Oaxaca. Related story: More than 17,000 die in Mexico from coronavirus Reuters witnesses in Mexico City saw no initial signs of injuries or damage. Quakes of such size can be devastating. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck central Mexico in 2017 killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states. Situated at the intersection of three tectonic plates, Mexico is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. The capital is seen as particularly vulnerable due to its location on top of an ancient lake bed.

Quake measuring 7.7 hits southern Mexico, people run into streets in capital

Tropical storm Cristobal made its landfall in the United States today in southeast Louisiana.&nbsp;Strong winds and incessant rains are expected today, as per the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Sustaining winds of over 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph), the storm hit the coast of the state.

Winds were as strong as 64 mph in Mississippi’s one island, which is close to where the landfall is happening.

In view of the storm, US President Donald Trump recently promised aid for the state from the federal funds. He intends to sign an emergency declaration soon.

<h6><img alt="A relative carries belongings of the seven victims of a landslide caused by heavy rains amid tropical storm Cristobal in Santo Tomas, El Salvador, on June 05, 2020. Seven members of a family died in a landslide two days ago 10 km southeast of the Salvadoran capital." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="665fbc8b-ca09-402d-877a-75a38283fcfe" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_15.jpg" /> 
A relative carries belongings of the seven victims of a landslide caused by heavy rains amid tropical storm Cristobal in Santo Tomas, El Salvador, on June 05, 2020. Seven members of a family died in a landslide two days ago 10 km southeast of the Salvadoran capital | AFP</h6>

According to NHC, the storm involves “a danger of life-threatening inundation” in the areas along Mississippi river, spanning 90 miles.

High winds and heavy rainfall are predicted as far as Florida Panhandle.

Starting Monday, the storm will begin to weaken as it moves towards Arkansas and Missouri.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/tropical-storm-cristobal-advances-toward-us-gulf-coast-303927" hreflang="en">Tropical Storm Cristobal advances toward US Gulf Coast</a>

According to meteorologists and experts, this season is heavier than usual in terms of storms.

Cristobal is a byproduct of the Tropical Storm Amanda, which has taken over 26 lives in Central America, bringing devastation due to flooding, which has causes landslides across the region.

The Atlantic hurricane season, of which Cristobal is a part, is set to run from June 1 to November 30.&nbsp;This is the third such storm this year in the US.

Tropical storm Cristobal made its landfall in the United States today in southeast Louisiana. Strong winds and incessant rains are expected today, as per the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Tropical storm Cristobal made its landfall in the United States today in southeast Louisiana. Strong winds and incessant rains are expected today, as per the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Sustaining winds of over 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph), the storm hit the coast of the state. Winds were as strong as 64 mph in Mississippi’s one island, which is close to where the landfall is happening. In view of the storm, US President Donald Trump recently promised aid for the state from the federal funds. He intends to sign an emergency declaration soon. A relative carries belongings of the seven victims of a landslide caused by heavy rains amid tropical storm Cristobal in Santo Tomas, El Salvador, on June 05, 2020. Seven members of a family died in a landslide two days ago 10 km southeast of the Salvadoran capital | AFP According to NHC, the storm involves “a danger of life-threatening inundation” in the areas along Mississippi river, spanning 90 miles. High winds and heavy rainfall are predicted as far as Florida Panhandle. Starting Monday, the storm will begin to weaken as it moves towards Arkansas and Missouri. Also read: Tropical Storm Cristobal advances toward US Gulf Coast According to meteorologists and experts, this season is heavier than usual in terms of storms. Cristobal is a byproduct of the Tropical Storm Amanda, which has taken over 26 lives in Central America, bringing devastation due to flooding, which has causes landslides across the region. The Atlantic hurricane season, of which Cristobal is a part, is set to run from June 1 to November 30. This is the third such storm this year in the US.

Storm Cristobal makes landfall in the US state of Louisiana

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot.

The Southland region declared a state of emergency after being deluged with more than 1,000 mm of rainfall in 60 hours, triggering landslides on major roads and causing rivers to burst their banks.

Authorities told residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura to evacuate immediately early on Wednesday as floodwaters in the Mataura river peaked, warning those further downstream in Wyndham to prepare to leave.

"We have issued notices to evacuate and to prepare to evacuate to 6,000 people across the region," an Emergency Management Southland (EMS) spokeswoman told AFP.

<h6><img alt="pppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="739274ac-fe29-406a-9a11-2172efd2078c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_71.jpg" /> 
This handout picture taken on February 3, 2020 and released by the New Zealand Transport Agency shows a main highway devastated by the flood after severe flooding near Mataura in New Zealand's South Island</h6>

Residents were advised to grab medication, clothing and identification documents, then head to higher ground.

Power to affected areas was cut off as a precaution and evacuation centres were set up in local churches and schools.

Floodwaters washed away sections of the only road to Milford Sound, a popular hiking spot for international tourists, and EMS said almost 200 people were being airlifted to nearby Te Anau.

"The tourists... have been well catered for," it said.

"Morale has been high amongst the visitors and staff, as they received regular briefings and have been in contact with friends and family."

Only two minor injuries have been reported after a landslide hit a hut on the Routeburn walking track, with both people receiving treatment at the scene.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-foreigners-from-china-barred-entry-to-new-zealand-travel-ban-to-last-a-fortnight-278102">Foreigners from China barred entry to New Zealand; travel ban to last fortnight</a>

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot.

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot. The Southland region declared a state of emergency after being deluged with more than 1,000 mm of rainfall in 60 hours, triggering landslides on major roads and causing rivers to burst their banks. Authorities told residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura to evacuate immediately early on Wednesday as floodwaters in the Mataura river peaked, warning those further downstream in Wyndham to prepare to leave. "We have issued notices to evacuate and to prepare to evacuate to 6,000 people across the region," an Emergency Management Southland (EMS) spokeswoman told AFP. This handout picture taken on February 3, 2020 and released by the New Zealand Transport Agency shows a main highway devastated by the flood after severe flooding near Mataura in New Zealand's South Island Residents were advised to grab medication, clothing and identification documents, then head to higher ground. Power to affected areas was cut off as a precaution and evacuation centres were set up in local churches and schools. Floodwaters washed away sections of the only road to Milford Sound, a popular hiking spot for international tourists, and EMS said almost 200 people were being airlifted to nearby Te Anau. "The tourists... have been well catered for," it said. "Morale has been high amongst the visitors and staff, as they received regular briefings and have been in contact with friends and family." Only two minor injuries have been reported after a landslide hit a hut on the Routeburn walking track, with both people receiving treatment at the scene. Also read: Foreigners from China barred entry to New Zealand; travel ban to last fortnight

Flooding in New Zealand, thousands flee their homes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nocs-confident-tokyo-2020-can-overcome-heat-water-quality-issues-244462">Tokyo&nbsp;2020</a> organisers are putting the final touches to preparations less than six months out from the start of the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;but the area they are most concerned about remains readiness for any natural disaster striking during the Games.

With thousands of&nbsp;foreigners&nbsp;expected to descend on&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;for the July 24 to August&nbsp;9 event, organisers are acutely aware of the need to provide clear instructions in English and raise awareness of what to do in case of an earthquake or tsunami.

On Tuesday, over 200 of&nbsp;Tokyo's approximately 570,000 foreign residents gathered at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, which will stage events during the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-olympics-heavy-policy-speech-japan-pm-says-games-mark-new-era-for-nation-275383">Olympics</a>, to run through drills aimed at making them more disaster-savvy.

<img alt="Olympics preparation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dccdde51-a84f-4b68-a60a-63503671b38c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2826%29_6.jpg" />

As well as testing earthquake simulators, the participants were also taught how to use fire extinguishers, walkthrough smoke-filled rooms, phone the police in case of emergency and even what exercises to do if stuck in an evacuation shelter.

Japan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to typhoons and earthquakes, and experiences an average of 1,500 temblors a year, although few cause any damage, let alone loss of life.

However, experts believe there is a 70 per cent&nbsp;chance of a major earthquake striking the Japanese capital in the next 30 years.

Because of this, the foreign residents welcomed all the advice they could get.

<img alt="Olympics preparation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2ce2bca-95ff-4a11-99d6-6792af5bec1e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2827%29_8.jpg" />

"For the Japanese government to hold an event like this, it really helps&nbsp;foreigners&nbsp;like me because kids in Japan are already taught in school but we have no idea," said Vietnamese student Hoa Nguyen, who has lived in Japan for over a year.

Over 30 interpreters, speaking six different languages, we're on hand to help the participants, who hailed from 44 countries.

"I actually think it is amazing the effort they tell you ... to prepare, prepare, prepare because it is easy to go through daily life and not worry about it," said Rodrigo Coronel, the Nicaraguan ambassador to Japan.

"So, the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;government has done a fantastic job with these kinds of events."

<img alt="Olympics preparation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="81685507-e4a8-4903-bc20-2ef812a3b235" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2829%29_4.jpg" />

Last year,&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;2020 organisers held an earthquake drill at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, a newly built venue for the&nbsp;Olympics, as part of their growing contingency plan&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of the Games.

Olympics&nbsp;organisers will also want to learn from the Rugby World Cup last year, when a powerful typhoon struck, prompting the unprecedented cancellation of three matches.

Tokyo 2020 organisers are putting the final touches to preparations less than six months out from the start of the Olympics but the area they are most concerned about remains readiness for any natural disaster striking during the Games.

Tokyo 2020 organisers are putting the final touches to preparations less than six months out from the start of the Olympics but the area they are most concerned about remains readiness for any natural disaster striking during the Games. With thousands of foreigners expected to descend on Tokyo for the July 24 to August 9 event, organisers are acutely aware of the need to provide clear instructions in English and raise awareness of what to do in case of an earthquake or tsunami. On Tuesday, over 200 of Tokyo's approximately 570,000 foreign residents gathered at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, which will stage events during the Olympics, to run through drills aimed at making them more disaster-savvy. As well as testing earthquake simulators, the participants were also taught how to use fire extinguishers, walkthrough smoke-filled rooms, phone the police in case of emergency and even what exercises to do if stuck in an evacuation shelter. Japan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to typhoons and earthquakes, and experiences an average of 1,500 temblors a year, although few cause any damage, let alone loss of life. However, experts believe there is a 70 per cent chance of a major earthquake striking the Japanese capital in the next 30 years. Because of this, the foreign residents welcomed all the advice they could get. "For the Japanese government to hold an event like this, it really helps foreigners like me because kids in Japan are already taught in school but we have no idea," said Vietnamese student Hoa Nguyen, who has lived in Japan for over a year. Over 30 interpreters, speaking six different languages, we're on hand to help the participants, who hailed from 44 countries. "I actually think it is amazing the effort they tell you ... to prepare, prepare, prepare because it is easy to go through daily life and not worry about it," said Rodrigo Coronel, the Nicaraguan ambassador to Japan. "So, the Tokyo government has done a fantastic job with these kinds of events." Last year, Tokyo 2020 organisers held an earthquake drill at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, a newly built venue for the Olympics, as part of their growing contingency plan ahead of the Games. Olympics organisers will also want to learn from the Rugby World Cup last year, when a powerful typhoon struck, prompting the unprecedented cancellation of three matches.

Ahead of Olympics, Tokyo prepares foreigners for potential disasters

The Australian government has pledged $52 million (A$76 million) to the tourism industry in the aftermath of bushfires that ravaged the country. Currently, Australia is witnessing heavy rains that have helped to dampen the effect of the fire.

The fires were brought under control very recently after the disaster ruined an area roughly a third the size of Germany since September.&nbsp;

"Our federal response to these devastating bushfires is comprehensive and unprecedented," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement.

Around 29 people have killed in the bushfires, with millions of animals falling victim to the fire.

The country is famous for its pristine beaches, abundant wildlife, and open-air sporting events.

<h6><img alt="iii" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8604447-7e6a-4821-a709-d01cbff5941d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_52.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;A general view of Tomich Winery following a bushfire in December 2019, in Adelaide Hills, Australia January 18, 2020 | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

Reuters reported that the damage to tourism has cost the country A$1 billion, as per the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC).

However, the losses may run over A$4.5 billion by the end of 2020, as suggested by the Australian Tourism Export Council.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Australia: Floods, road closures affected bushfire-hit regions after heavy storm

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-floods-road-closures-affected-bushfire-hit-regions-after-heavy-storm-275117/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

More funds may be allotted for recovery later on, with Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham calling it an ''initial package''.

"There may need to be additional support and funding as we work through this recovery," Birmingham said.

Tourism accounts for three per cent of the annual economic output in the country and is expected to take hits owing to the disastrous fires.&nbsp;

The states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland have been affected the most by fires, and are now dealing with unprecedented rain and thunderstorms.

<h6><img alt="ttt" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d828c6e5-b989-4997-bdd0-a58e1b99cc54" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_43.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;This photo taken on January 15, 2020 shows a burnt vehicle seen after a bushfire in Budgong area of New South Wales | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

More rain is expected in eastern and southern Australia in the next two days, which will help the cause of the firefighters and help cool the fires further.

Reuters reported that 69 bushfires are still burning in New South Wales, with a third of them still uncontained.&nbsp;

Victoria might get some relief from fire as storms are expected to gain traction. As of today, 14 fires are burning in the state, which is a famous hiking spot.

There were fears of smoke emanating from bushfires causing a delay in the Australian Open tennis tournament, but the smoke had receded by then.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-bushfires-unprecedented-rain-floods-parts-of-australian-east-coast-274966">After bushfires, unprecedented rain floods parts of Australian east coast</a>

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Australian government has pledged $52 million (A$76 million) to the tourism industry in the aftermath of bushfires that ravaged the country. Currently, Australia is witnessing heavy rains that have helped to dampen the effect of the fire.

The Australian government has pledged $52 million (A$76 million) to the tourism industry in the aftermath of bushfires that ravaged the country. Currently, Australia is witnessing heavy rains that have helped to dampen the effect of the fire. The fires were brought under control very recently after the disaster ruined an area roughly a third the size of Germany since September. "Our federal response to these devastating bushfires is comprehensive and unprecedented," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement. Around 29 people have killed in the bushfires, with millions of animals falling victim to the fire. The country is famous for its pristine beaches, abundant wildlife, and open-air sporting events. Image: A general view of Tomich Winery following a bushfire in December 2019, in Adelaide Hills, Australia January 18, 2020 | Reuters Reuters reported that the damage to tourism has cost the country A$1 billion, as per the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC). However, the losses may run over A$4.5 billion by the end of 2020, as suggested by the Australian Tourism Export Council. Watch: Australia: Floods, road closures affected bushfire-hit regions after heavy storm More funds may be allotted for recovery later on, with Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham calling it an ''initial package''. "There may need to be additional support and funding as we work through this recovery," Birmingham said. Tourism accounts for three per cent of the annual economic output in the country and is expected to take hits owing to the disastrous fires. The states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland have been affected the most by fires, and are now dealing with unprecedented rain and thunderstorms. Image: This photo taken on January 15, 2020 shows a burnt vehicle seen after a bushfire in Budgong area of New South Wales | AFP More rain is expected in eastern and southern Australia in the next two days, which will help the cause of the firefighters and help cool the fires further. Reuters reported that 69 bushfires are still burning in New South Wales, with a third of them still uncontained. Victoria might get some relief from fire as storms are expected to gain traction. As of today, 14 fires are burning in the state, which is a famous hiking spot. There were fears of smoke emanating from bushfires causing a delay in the Australian Open tennis tournament, but the smoke had receded by then. Also read: After bushfires, unprecedented rain floods parts of Australian east coast (With inputs from Reuters)

Australian government pledges $52 million to revive tourism in bushfire-ravaged states

As part of the rescue efforts in Australia in the aftermath of Australian bushfires, the New South Wales (NWS) government has found a new way to ensure the animals that are seeking shelter remain fed.

CNN reported that the operation, known as "Operation Rock Wallaby'' is part of a post-fire wildlife recovery programme, as iterated by Matt Kean, the Minister of Energy and Environment.

"The provision of supplementary food is one of the key strategies we are deploying to promote the survival and recovery of endangered species like the brush-tailed rock-wallaby," Kean said.&nbsp;

Officials claim that over 1,000 kilograms worth of sweet potatoes and carrots have been dropped in the last week.

"Initial fire assessments indicate the habitat of several important brush-tailed rock-wallaby populations was burnt in the recent bushfires. The wallabies typically survive the fire itself, but are then left stranded with limited natural food as the fire takes out the vegetation around their rocky habitat", Kean added.

<h6><img alt="bushfire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1ad07dd2-b7b5-42f7-8009-d0575926fcca" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_48.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;This photo taken on January 9, 2020 shows a rescued kangaroo being cared for by volunteers of wildlife rescue group WIRES, who are working to save and rehabilitate animals from the months-long bushfire disaster, on the outskirts of Sydney | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The key target of this drop is the brush-tailed rock wallabies. These are marsupials, like kangaroos that live on ''rocky escarpments, granite outcrops, and cliffs'', as per the Australian Department of Environment and Energy.&nbsp;

Department data added that out of the 15 species in Australia, many can no longer be seen and are now perceived as threatened. They are endangered in New South Wales.

Nearly hundreds of bushfires in Australia have wiped out livelihoods, animals, and infrastructure. The fires were brought under control only very recently. 
 
Kean said, "When we can, we are also setting up cameras to monitor the uptake of the food and the number and variety of animals there."

Over half a billion animals have been affected by the bushfire damage in New South Wales alone.

According to the University of Sydney, millions of animals could be possibly dead. These include birds, reptiles and mammals.

CNN reported that the total number of animals affected by the wildfire damage could be as high as a billion, according to Christopher Dickman, an ecologist at the University of Sydney.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="fire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ca51075c-d1d2-4739-a4bf-53a181861be9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_37.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;This photo taken on January 16, 2020 shows an Australian Defence Force helicopter taking off on Kangaroo Island as part of the deployment of 3,000 soldiers to assist in bushfire-affected areas after they ravaged the island off of the south coast of Australia | AFP</h6>

The NWS government is planning to continue dropping food until the natural supply of resources like food and water is restored organically.&nbsp;

In the Australian east coast, thunderstorms are now ravaging the disastrous remains of the bushfires. At one point, there were more than 100 bushfires in the country alone, which were recently brought under control.

International response to the bushfire crisis has contributed to controlling the mega blaze. Recently, specialists from countries like Japan and the United States joined local fire teams to help control the fire.

The Defence Force of New Zealand recently announced the dispatch of more reinforcements from to Australia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-bushfires-unprecedented-rain-floods-parts-of-australian-east-coast-274966">After bushfires, unprecedented rain floods parts of Australian east coast</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

As part of the rescue efforts in Australia in the aftermath of Australian bushfires, the New South Wales (NWS) government has found a new way to ensure the animals that are seeking shelter remain fed.

As part of the rescue efforts in Australia in the aftermath of Australian bushfires, the New South Wales (NWS) government has found a new way to ensure the animals that are seeking shelter remain fed. CNN reported that the operation, known as "Operation Rock Wallaby'' is part of a post-fire wildlife recovery programme, as iterated by Matt Kean, the Minister of Energy and Environment. "The provision of supplementary food is one of the key strategies we are deploying to promote the survival and recovery of endangered species like the brush-tailed rock-wallaby," Kean said. Officials claim that over 1,000 kilograms worth of sweet potatoes and carrots have been dropped in the last week. "Initial fire assessments indicate the habitat of several important brush-tailed rock-wallaby populations was burnt in the recent bushfires. The wallabies typically survive the fire itself, but are then left stranded with limited natural food as the fire takes out the vegetation around their rocky habitat", Kean added. Image: This photo taken on January 9, 2020 shows a rescued kangaroo being cared for by volunteers of wildlife rescue group WIRES, who are working to save and rehabilitate animals from the months-long bushfire disaster, on the outskirts of Sydney | AFP The key target of this drop is the brush-tailed rock wallabies. These are marsupials, like kangaroos that live on ''rocky escarpments, granite outcrops, and cliffs'', as per the Australian Department of Environment and Energy. Department data added that out of the 15 species in Australia, many can no longer be seen and are now perceived as threatened. They are endangered in New South Wales. Nearly hundreds of bushfires in Australia have wiped out livelihoods, animals, and infrastructure. The fires were brought under control only very recently. Kean said, "When we can, we are also setting up cameras to monitor the uptake of the food and the number and variety of animals there." Over half a billion animals have been affected by the bushfire damage in New South Wales alone. According to the University of Sydney, millions of animals could be possibly dead. These include birds, reptiles and mammals. CNN reported that the total number of animals affected by the wildfire damage could be as high as a billion, according to Christopher Dickman, an ecologist at the University of Sydney. Image: This photo taken on January 16, 2020 shows an Australian Defence Force helicopter taking off on Kangaroo Island as part of the deployment of 3,000 soldiers to assist in bushfire-affected areas after they ravaged the island off of the south coast of Australia | AFP The NWS government is planning to continue dropping food until the natural supply of resources like food and water is restored organically. In the Australian east coast, thunderstorms are now ravaging the disastrous remains of the bushfires. At one point, there were more than 100 bushfires in the country alone, which were recently brought under control. International response to the bushfire crisis has contributed to controlling the mega blaze. Recently, specialists from countries like Japan and the United States joined local fire teams to help control the fire. The Defence Force of New Zealand recently announced the dispatch of more reinforcements from to Australia. Also read: After bushfires, unprecedented rain floods parts of Australian east coast (With inputs from agencies)

Australia: Authorities dropping food from helicopters to feed bushfire-ravaged animals

In the Australian east coast, thunderstorms are now ravaging the disastrous remains of the bushfires. At one point, there were more than 100 bushfires in the country alone, which were recently brought under control.

Australia is now witnessing the heaviest rainfall in months. Major highways have been shut down in Queensland. In New South Wales, power was cut off.

"Heavy, intense rainfall has eased, but showers and thunderstorms still possible through the weekend," the Bureau of Meteorology in Queensland tweeted on Saturday.

"Take care on the roads - if it's flooded, forget it", it added.

<h6><img alt="bushfire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0f355dc8-f529-40ad-9b4b-78a65cbd7880" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1NT5TJ.jpg" /> 
Image:&nbsp;This photo taken on January 16, 2020 shows a burnt out part of local farmer Rick Morris' 2,300-acre property on Kangaroo Island after bushfires ravaged the island off of the south coast of Australia | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The bushfire killed 29 people and adversely hit the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. More than 2,500 homes have been destroyed and millions of acres of land burnt.&nbsp;

In the southern areas of Queensland, there was thrice as much as rain anticipated overnight. Even though no major damage to life and infrastructure has been reported yet, many residential areas and state parks are now flooded.

Watch:&nbsp;Australians rejoice as showers of rain on bushfire-ravaged east coast bring relief

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australians-rejoice-as-showers-of-rain-on-bushfire-ravaged-east-coast-bring-relief-274798/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Even now, 25 bushfires continue to rage in Australia, with 75 under control. According to the New South Wales fire services, this rain would bring immense respite, even though some sites of fire are yet to witness rain.

Less intense storms are expected to hit Victoria, which has witnessed a hard week owing to multiple severe storms and smoke from bushfires.

The Australian Open, the final qualifying round of which is due today, could be disrupted owing to the smoke. The air quality in Melbourne is expected to chart between ''moderate'' and ''very poor'' scales.

<h6><img alt="floods" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3fc8a303-ad32-465f-8bac-d7e8271c8cd3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_47.jpg" /> 
Image: Flooding is seen along a road at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, New South Wales | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

The bushfires are now majorly in control, with evacuation orders being lifted one-by-one. Recently, the order was lifted in Victoria, where more than a dozen fires continue to burn.

International response to the bushfire crisis has contributed to controlling the mega blaze. Recently, specialists from countries like Japan and the United States joined local fire teams to help control the fire.

The Defence Force of New Zealand recently announced the dispatch of more reinforcements from to Australia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/east-coast-of-australia-experiences-heavy-rainfall-and-thunderstorms-274649">After bushfire, Australian east coast experiences heavy rain and thunderstorms</a>

(with inputs from Reuters)

In the Australian east coast, thunderstorms are now ravaging the disastrous remains of the bushfires. At one point, there were more than 100 bushfires in the country alone, which were recently brought under control.

In the Australian east coast, thunderstorms are now ravaging the disastrous remains of the bushfires. At one point, there were more than 100 bushfires in the country alone, which were recently brought under control. Australia is now witnessing the heaviest rainfall in months. Major highways have been shut down in Queensland. In New South Wales, power was cut off. "Heavy, intense rainfall has eased, but showers and thunderstorms still possible through the weekend," the Bureau of Meteorology in Queensland tweeted on Saturday. "Take care on the roads - if it's flooded, forget it", it added. Image: This photo taken on January 16, 2020 shows a burnt out part of local farmer Rick Morris' 2,300-acre property on Kangaroo Island after bushfires ravaged the island off of the south coast of Australia | AFP The bushfire killed 29 people and adversely hit the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. More than 2,500 homes have been destroyed and millions of acres of land burnt. In the southern areas of Queensland, there was thrice as much as rain anticipated overnight. Even though no major damage to life and infrastructure has been reported yet, many residential areas and state parks are now flooded. Watch: Australians rejoice as showers of rain on bushfire-ravaged east coast bring relief Even now, 25 bushfires continue to rage in Australia, with 75 under control. According to the New South Wales fire services, this rain would bring immense respite, even though some sites of fire are yet to witness rain. Less intense storms are expected to hit Victoria, which has witnessed a hard week owing to multiple severe storms and smoke from bushfires. The Australian Open, the final qualifying round of which is due today, could be disrupted owing to the smoke. The air quality in Melbourne is expected to chart between ''moderate'' and ''very poor'' scales. Image: Flooding is seen along a road at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, New South Wales | Reuters The bushfires are now majorly in control, with evacuation orders being lifted one-by-one. Recently, the order was lifted in Victoria, where more than a dozen fires continue to burn. International response to the bushfire crisis has contributed to controlling the mega blaze. Recently, specialists from countries like Japan and the United States joined local fire teams to help control the fire. The Defence Force of New Zealand recently announced the dispatch of more reinforcements from to Australia. Also read: After bushfire, Australian east coast experiences heavy rain and thunderstorms (with inputs from Reuters)

After bushfires, unprecedented rain floods parts of Australian east coast

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everythings-just-gone-weve-got-nothing-aish-australian-bushfire-victim-272566">Australia's months-long bushfire crisis</a>, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis.

The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter</a>

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction.

Scores of people have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-update-authorities-race-to-reopen-blocked-roads-evacuate-people-272450">rendered homeless</a>, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water.

Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing.

Watch:&nbsp;Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-bushfires-scott-morrison-announces-new-recovery-agency-272334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''.

"There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported.

High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">arsenal of bushfires</a>.

"They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported.

Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze". Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia. Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis. The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed. Also read: As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction. Scores of people have been rendered homeless, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water. Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing. Watch: Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''. "There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported. High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new arsenal of bushfires. "They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported. Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months. (With inputs from Reuters)

Australian 'mega-blaze': 2,000 homes destroyed; military buries 4,000 animals to prevent diseases

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