News

US Climate Agency Sees 'Dramatic Changes' in the ArcticWashington, 11 Dec (ONA) --- The Arctic tundra has stored carbon dioxide in the frozen ground and in trees for thousands of years, but now a new report has found that it is releasing more planet-warming CO2 into the atmosphere than it absorbs. The reason for this, according to the report by the US climate agency NOAA, is rising temperatures and more frequent forest fires. The report was co-authored by 97 researchers from 11 countries. It said that over the past 20 years, wildfires in the northern polar region have ...

Mass Evacuation in Philippines After Major Volcanic Eruption Manila, 10 Dec (ONA) --- About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region today after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes. The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur. Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than ...

Floods, Landslides Leave 10 Dead in IndonesiaJakarta, 9 Dec (ONA) --- At least ten people died due to flash floods and landslides that hit hilly villages on Indonesia's main island of Java, officials said today. Two people are still missing. Torrential rains since last week have caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through more than 170 villages in Sukabumi district of West Java province, as mud, rocks and trees tumbled down mountainside hamlets. Landslides, flash floods and strong winds devastated 172 villages and forced more than 3,000 people to ...

Seven Dead, One Missing after Fishing Boat Capsizes in South KoreaSeoul, 9 Dec (ONA) --- Seven people died and one person remained unaccounted for after a fishing boat capsized off South Korea's southeastern coast today. According to the Korean Coast Guard, the eight were crew members aboard the 29-ton Geumgwang when the fishing vessel collided with a 456-ton cargo ship and capsized in waters near Gyeongju, about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported. In February 2023, nine fishermen went missing after their boat capsized off South ...

Death Toll from Uganda Landslide Climbs To 28 Kampala, 3 Dec (ONA)--- The death toll from the landslide in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda, has climbed to 28, even as rescue efforts continue. Police say that five more bodies have been retrieved from the mud after the landslide — triggered by heavy rains — hit multiple villages in Buluganya Sub-County last week. Uganda Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said that all the five victims were residents of Masugu village. Search operations are ongoing as joint teams, including the Red Cross and local ...

Over 30 Dead as Floods Devastate Malaysia, Southern Thailand Kuala Lumpur, 3 Dec (ONA)--- Severe floods caused by monsoon rains have killed more than 30 people and displaced tens of thousands in Malaysia and southern Thailand, officials said today, with both countries preparing shelters and evacuation plans in anticipation of more heavy rain. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said five days of heavier-than-expected rain that battered the country’s east coast last week was equal to the rainfall over the past six months, wreaking havoc in the north-eastern state of ...

Sea Surge Cases Increasing: StudyNew Delhi, 2 Dec (ONA) --- Researchers at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) are seeing a notable rise in sea surge events, threatening vulnerable communities. This, the researchers observed over Kerala’s 593-km coastline, which might indicate similar global trends. The study, which spans 2012 to 2023, provides a comprehensive analysis of the events, identifying key sea surge hotspots, and suggests essential management strategies for safeguarding the coastline.The study recorded 684 incidents, with a three-fold rise in ...

Death Toll from Southern Thailand Floods Climbs to 12Bangkok, 1 Dec (ONA) --- The death toll from the floods hitting several provinces across southern Thailand has risen to at least 12, authorities announced. The country's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said the worst floods in decades have impacted hundreds of thousands of households across 10 provinces and the evacuation of 13,000 ...

Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands Off New Zealand Coast Wellington, 1 Dec (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 4.9 magnitude on the Richter scale today struck the Kermadec Islands off the coast of New Zealand.The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km, with no reports of human losses or material damage so far, US Geological Survey (USGS) said.Kermadec Islands are about 1,000 km northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and are often exposed to strong earthquakes, the most recent of which was a 5.0 magnitude earthquake last October. --- Ends/AH ...

Biggest November Snowstorm in Half a Century Hits South Korea Seoul, 27 Nov (ONA) --- The biggest November snowstorm to hit South Korea’s capital in more than a half century blanketed the capital today, grounding hundreds of flights, disrupting commuter traffic and leaving at least two dead. South Korea’s weather agency said 20 to 26 centimeters (7.8 to 10 inches) of snow fell in northern areas of Seoul and nearby areas. The agency said it was the heaviest snowstorm Seoul has experienced in November in 52 years. A storm on 28 November 1972, dumped 12 centimeters (4.7 ...

Death Toll from Floods in Indonesia's Sumatra Rises to 20Jakarta, 26 Nov (ONA) --- The death toll from floods in four provinces of Indonesia's Sumatra Island has risen to 20 people. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency reported today that flash floods and landslides have affected four provinces on Sumatra Island, including Karo, Deli Serdang, South Tapanuli and Padang Lawas. The death toll from the floods has so far reached 20, with two people still missing. Indonesia has faced a series of extreme weather conditions during the rainy season, ...

Twenty-Eight Rescued After Tourist Boat Sinks in Red SeaCairo, 25 Nov (ONA) --- Egyptian authorities rescued 28 people after a tourist boat sank off its Red Sea coast, as search operations continued for the remaining passengers and crew members.The boat, Sea Story, was carrying 45 people, including 31 tourists of varying nationalities and 14 crew, on a multi-day diving trip when it went down near the coastal town of Marsa Alam, according to a statement by the Red Sea Governorate.Efforts to locate more survivors were ongoing in coordination with the Egyptian navy ...

Canada Plans to Develop Nuclear Facilities, Increase Uranium ProductionOttawa, 25 Nov (ONA) --- Canada plans to rapidly expand its nuclear power sector to contribute heavily to the country's energy demand. Nuclear power contributes around 15% of Canada's energy at present. However, with plans to develop several new nuclear facilities, this figure is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades. The 2023 Federal Budget showed strong support for nuclear power, including a refundable Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for clean electricity and a 30% ITC for clean ...

China Issues Yellow Alert for Snowstorms, Cold WaveBeijing, 25 Nov (ONA) --- China's meteorological authority today issued a yellow alert for snowstorms, with blizzards expected to hit parts of the country's northeast. From today to tomorrow, snowstorms will lash parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, the National Meteorological Center said. Parts of Liaoning will see 20-25 millimeters of snow during the period. The center also renewed a yellow alert for a cold wave today, as most parts of central and northern China will see temperatures ...

17 Dead as Bus Crashes into Ravine in BrazilRio de Janeiro, 25 Nov (ONA) --- Seventeen people died when a bus fell into a ravine in the state of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. The state governor Paulo Dantas said in a statement that the accident, which occurred in a ravine more than 20 meters deep, resulted in 17 fatalities and several others injured. Brazilian media reported that the bus was carrying 40 passengers, and that the crash took place in a remote mountain area known as Serra da Barriga. Brazil witnesses deadly traffic accidents, often caused by ...

4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Hits East Timor Dili, 24 Nov (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 4.9 magnitude on the Richter scale hit the city Lospalos in East Timor today.According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was 138 km northeast of Lospalos, at a depth of 170.6 km.There have been no reports of material damage or human losses as a result of the earthquake so far.East Timor is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where many tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activity. --- Ends/AH ...

Study Finds Massive Glaciers Once Covered Earth to the Equator Washington, 17 Nov (ONA)--- A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder reveals compelling evidence that massive glaciers once stretched to the equator, supporting the Snowball Earth theory. This theory suggests that between 720 and 635 million years ago, Earth underwent a dramatic climate shift, causing ice sheets miles thick to cover the planet. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined rocks in Colorado’s Front Range, where sandstones known as ...

Typhoon Man-yi Strikes Philippines, Causing Widespread Destruction and Displacing ThousandsManila, 17 Nov (ONA) --- A powerful typhoon wrecked houses, caused towering tidal surges and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee to emergency shelters as it cut across the northern Philippines today in the sixth major storm to hit the country in less than a month. Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the eastern island province of Catanduanes last night with sustained winds of up to 195 kilometers (125 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 240 kph (149 mph). The Philippines' ...

Researchers Discover World’s Largest Coral in the Solomon IslandsHoniara, 14 Nov (ONA) --- The largest coral in the world, measuring 32 metres long, has been found in the Solomon Islands. The coral, which is visible from space, is three times larger than the previous record-breaker, and is believed to be about 300 years old. It is mostly brown, but features splashes of bright yellows, blues and reds, and is covered with ripples of waves, mirroring the ocean’s surface. At 34 metres wide, the organism is made up of a network of coral polyps, tiny individual ...

Indonesia Volcanic Eruptions Disrupt International FlightsJakarta, 13 Nov (ONA) --- The ongoing eruptions of the Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on Indonesia's Flores island are disrupting international air travel across South-East Asia. Since yesterday, many airlines companies have cancelled dozens of flights from Bali to destinations like Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia due to safety concerns over ash clouds. The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano, located on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, just 500 kilometres from Bali, has been active again since late ...

35 Died, 43 Injured in Car Ramming Accident in Southern ChinaBeijing, 12 Nov (ONA) --- Thirty-five people died and 43 others injured in a car ramming accident at a sports center in Zhuhai City, southern China's Guangdong Province. The Zhuhai Public Security Bureau reported that the accident occurred last night when a number of people were exercising at the center. The bureau said that shortly after the accident, the 62-year-old driver was taken under control.--- ...

UN Warns of More Climate Refugees If Investments Not Made: COP29Baku, 12 Nov (ONA) --- The UN refugee agency today warned of increasing numbers of refugees from regions that are particularly affected by climate change if investments are not made to improve the environment. The UNHCR report was presented at the UN's Climate Change Conference, or COP29, in Baku. "As climate shocks hit harder, more often and in more places, displaced people are increasingly finding themselves forced to move again and again in search of somewhere safe and habitable," said UN High ...

Philippines Evacuates Thousands as New Typhoon Hits Manila, 11 Nov (ONA) --- The Philippines ordered thousands to evacuate and shut ports as Typhoon Toraji hit its northeast coast near Dilasag, officials reported today. Typhoon Toraji hit northeastern Aurora province in the Philippines today, around 220 kilometers from Manila, bringing strong winds and heavy rains. The storm made landfall with winds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) and gusts reaching 180 km/h (112 mph). It is expected to move northwest across Luzon, weakening as it crosses mountainous ...

UN Weather Body Raises Climate Alarm Again on Presenting 2024 ReportGeneva, 11 Nov (ONA) —- The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has again signalled the highest alarm level in the face of the speed of climate change within a single generation, in presenting its report on global temperatures for 2024. The average global temperature came in at a record 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level between 1850 and 1900, the WMO reported at the UN Climate Conference in Baku. WMO researchers are not confident that much will change by the end of the ...

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon at its Lowest Level in Nine YearsBrasilia, 7 Nov (ONA) —- Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest level in nine years, according to government reports. The deforested area in the region amounted to 6,288 square kilometres between August 2023 and July 2024, the Ministry of Environment reported, citing data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). This represents a decline of 30.6% compared to the previous year, when 9,064 square kilometres were deforested. In the Cerrado, the wet savannas in the ...

2024 on Track to be World's Warmest Year on RecordLondon, 7 Nov (ONA) —- It is now "virtually certain" that 2024 - a year punctuated by intense heatwaves and deadly storms - will be the world's warmest on record, according to projections by the European climate service.Global average temperatures across the year are on track to end up more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, which would make 2024 the first calendar year to breach this symbolic mark, BBC news reported.These high temperatures are mainly down to human-caused climate change, with smaller contributions from natural factors ...

At Least 36 Die after Bus Falls into a Gorge in IndiaNew Delhi, 4 Nov (ONA) --- At least 36 people have died and several have been injured after a bus fell into a gorge in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand.Local officials said 44 people were on board when the driver lost control and the bus fell into a 50m-deep ditch in Marchula, located in the state’s Almora district.The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.Buses are the main mode of transport in the Himalayan state and accidents are not uncommon.Several passengers died on the spot, while those injured were ...

Japan Nuclear Reactor in 2011 Disaster Area Stops Days after RestartTokyo, 4 Nov (ONA) --- A Japanese nuclear reactor at the Onagawa Power Plant was shut down today, after it was recently restarted for the first time in more than 13 years, following the devastating 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant. Japan's Kyodo quoted Tohoku Electric Power Co., the reactor's operator, as saying: it had to be shut down again due to a glitch in a device related to neutron data inside the reactor. The No. 2 reactor at the ...

Colonists Storm Al-Aqsa MosqueOccupied Al Quds, 3 Nov (ONA) --- Israeli colonists stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque today, under the protection of the Israeli occupation police. According to Palestinian news agency (WAFA), dozens of colonists stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups, carried out provocative tours in its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals.--- ...

Death Toll After Storms in Spain Reaches 213, Many Still MissingMadrid, 3 Nov (ONA) --- The death toll from severe storms in the east and south of Spain today reached 213 and many people are still missing. The emergency services in the hardest-hit Mediterranean region of Valencia said that 213 people are known to have died, the state broadcaster RTVE reported. Severe weather continues to affect Spain's Mediterranean coast. An orange alert - the second-highest level - is in effect in parts of the Valencia region, including the province of Castellón, where heavy ...