All disastrous events fit into three classifications:
Natural - Caused from natural processes of the earth (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)
Man-made - Crime, arson, civil disorder, terrorism, war, biological/chemical, cyber attacks, etc.
Hybrid - technical failure or sabotage, disaster planning and management, and warning systems
Disasters can strike at any time and in any place in the world. You are probably aware of local news breaking disasters. Many of us are myopic, only able to see what is happening in our own area. It is important to be informed of disasters affecting other areas of the world because they may affect your own life indirectly. The CDP (Center for Disaster Philanthropy) keeps an eye on the status of disasters worldwide and compiles disaster information.
Considering the ongoing worldwide Coronavirus pandemic that started in China and spread to every corner of the world, COVID-19 still affects humankind on a global scale.
The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps track of disasters and reports them by region on a weekly basis.
How do disasters affect people’s lives?
Homes and possessions lost
Financial burden
Physical injury or death
Emotional trauma
Many lessons are learned from each disaster. Relief officials use knowledge gained from past experiences to help prepare for future disasters.
In January 2021, the following natural or man-made disasters were recorded:
Europe
January 12 - Floods in Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Kosovo
North America
January 6 - Powerful winter storms in Alaska, Pacific Northwest, and Canada
January 13 - Deadly windstorm through Pacific Northwest left many without power
Africa
January 27 - Malarial mosquito widespread in the Horn of Africa
January 14 - 25 - Cyclone Eloise affected more than 300,000 people.
Antarctica
January 24 - Earthquake hit South Shetland Islands
Argentina
January 24 - Salmonella cases in Salta province
January 13 - 4.2 M quake northwest of Chilecito
January 18 - 6.4 M quake in San Juan, Argentina
Australia
January 4 - Tropical Cyclone “Imogen” brought floods and disruption to Queensland, Australia
January 29 - Victoria drenched by a month’s worth of rain in 12 hours in NSW.
January 16 - Tropical Cyclone “Kimi” in Queensland
Bangladesh
January 14 - Large fire in Bangladesh
Canada
January 3 - Storm caused power outages to thousands of Nova Scotia power customers
January 29 - Pertussis outbreak in Northwest Territories
China
January 20 - Miners trapped in gold mines
Croatia
January 8 - Large earthquake causes fatalities
Ethiopia
January 18 - Locust invasion
Fiji
January 30 - Tropical depression intensified into a tropical cyclone
India
January 12 - Heavy snow causes deaths in Jammu and Kashmir
January 21 - Fire at world’s largest vaccine producer: Serum Institute
Indonesia
January 11 - Flooding in Indonesia’s Capital
January 27 - Significant Merapi Volcano eruption
January 18 - Worst floods in 50 years hit South Kalimantan
January 16 - Semeru Volcano spewing lava
Italy
January 2 - Etna’s Southeast Crater eruption
Japan
January 7 - Severe weather and heavy snow
Madagascar
January 12 - Drought causes humanitarian crisis
Mali
January 13 - Attack in Mali leaving United Nation peacekeepers dead
Mozambique
January 26 - Tropical Cyclone “Chalane” in Beira, Mozambique
January 27 - Tropical Cyclone “Eloise” near Beira with fatalities
Namibia
January 11 - Heavy Rain causing flash floods in Windhoek
Nigeria
January 19 - Lassa fever in Nigeria
Norway
January 4 - Landslide
Pakistan
January 14 - Avalanches in Pakistani and Indian Kashmir killed dozens
Papua New Guinea
January 1 - Landslide engulfed Papua New Guinea Village
Peru
January 12 - New variant of COVID-19 detected in Lima
January 15 - Worst dengue epidemic since 2017
Spain
January 9 - Worst snowstorm since 1971
January 11 - Mad Cow disease reported in Spain
January 28 - Huge wind storm “Hortense” hits Mallorca (winds up to 105 mph
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
January 3 - Soufriere Volcano activity
Syria
January 19 - Heavy rains turn into lakes
Ukraine
January 21 - Blaze guts home for elderly
United Kingdom
January 6 - Crawley gas leak
January 21 - Storm Christoph causes historic flooding
United States of America
January 6 - Trump Supporters stormed US Capitol
January 7 - Powerful rare winter storm in Florida leaving thousands without power
January 26 - Tornado in Fultondale, Alabama causes significant damage
January 27 - Strong winter storm with floods and blizzard in California
January 17 - Rabies alert in Fairmount Heights, Maryland
February 2021 was a short month, but it definitely was not devoid of disasters affecting millions worldwide. The following disasters were recorded (by area) impacting thousands throughout the globe:
Afghanistan
The central Daykundi province had an avalanche that killed 31 and damaged many homes and killed many animals.
Australia
After the many fires in Australia in 2020, it was hit in February 2021 by the heaviest rainfall in 30 years brining widespread flooding. Thousands of homes lost power.
Perth bushfires caused evacuations and destroyed homes.
Victoria drenched when a month’s worth of rain fell in 12 hours.
Bolivia
The government reported that rain and flooding affected 700 families in an indigenous community
Brazil
Record flooding in northwestern Brazil affected more than 100,000 people
Central Africa
The Central African Republic experienced the return of Monkeypox
Central Europe
Storm Ciara with near-hurricane winds battered Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Chili
Record rainfall, hail, and severe storms
Colombia
Flooding and landslides killed eight people after heavy days-long rain.
Cook Islands
Dengue outbreak declared
East Africa
Local farmers were left helpless when swarms of locusts destroyed 170,000 acres of crops
Europe
A Saharan dust plume moved over Europe
Fiji
Tropical Cyclone “Ana” left one person dead and five missing
Greece
Historic snowstorm left three dead
Guinea
Ebola cases emerged, and Guinea started a vaccine campaign
Guatemala
Pacava volcano alert level raised to yellow due to increased explosive activity
Guinea
Ebola outbreak
India
Rock and ice avalanche hit Uttarakhand hit with a loss of more than 150 people
Ireland
Reykjanes peninsula hit by intense earthquakes
Indonesia
South Sumatra province experienced heavy rainfall, flooding thousands of homes.
Ten students killed when many students hit by flash floods while they were trekking along a river.
Jakarta under 2.7 m of water due to extreme monsoon rains
Iran
Heavy rain spurred widespread flooding in the Lorestan province where rivers overflowed damaging roads, bridges, cutting off numerous villages.
Israel
Oil spill after heavy storms and unusually high waves was the worst environmental disaster in decades
Italy
Etna Volcano eruption
Japan
Mt. Shindake experienced pyroclastic flows, ash, and smoke after a massive volcano eruption. Ash and smoke spewed 2,300 feet, and flow reached 3,000 on the southwest of the crater.
A very severe snowstorm was the strongest in years
Libya
First snow in 15 years also affecting parts of northern Africa and the Middle East.
Snow disrupted life in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel
Mozambique
Tropical Cyclone “Guambe” intensified over the Mozambique Channel
New Zealand
Steam explosions at White Island followed increase in volcano Treme levels
Oceania
Shallow 7.7 earthquake hit southeast of the Loyalty Islands and put New Caledonia on a tsunami watch
Pacific
Tropical Cyclone affecting Vanuatu and New Caledonia reaching Category 2
Paraguay
Severe flooding and landslides killed at least ten people
Peru
Heavy rain brought flooding and damaged hundreds of homes.
Philippines
A strong shallow 6.0 earthquake hit Mindanao
Widespread flooding and disruption sends more than 59,000 people fleeing
Rawanda
Thirteen people lost their lives due to floods and landslides. The country has seen dozens of deaths due to heavy rains.
Russia
Record snow and major winter storm hit Moscow
South Africa
The massive Brakpan Fire engulfed nine stores, hotel, and flat
Heavy rains lasted weeks, killing more than 30 people
South Sudan
Famine, fighting, and floods caused a crises in South Sudan
Sudan
State of emergency declared over soaring food prices
Sweden
Salmonella outbreak sickens 12 people
Tanzania
Unexplained deaths caused fears of Lake Victoria fish
The United Kingdom
Several warnings were issued as Storm Dennis approached and killed at least three people.
Extreme freeze causing mass disruption of services
Scotland reported H5N1 avian influenza in a flock of game birds
Turkey
Two deadly avalanches in the eastern Van province took the lives of 41 people\
Flash floods resulted from more than a month’s worth of rain in just six hours, causing destructive flash flooding in Izmer.
Tanzania
Heavy rain and flooding took 40 lives and caused food shortages.
Uganda and Kenya
Swarms of deadly desert locust ravaged the land accelerated by climate change. It affected many by causing food shortages.
United States of America
St. Clair River rose to record levels due to ice jam pushes which triggered devastating floods in Michigan
Damaging mudslides in California resulted from major winter storms
An E-coli outbreak sickened man, including one death in Washington
Avalanches caused 15 death considered the deadliest week of avalanches in over a century
Ice accumulation from mid-Mississippi Valley to Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
North America experienced extreme cold knocking out electricity. Heating prices surge as infrastructure failed to deliver
An unprecedented winter storm hit Texas, leaving more than 3.8 million homes without power.
Zimbabwe
The northern regions experienced flooding, damaging roads, bridges, and nearly 200 homes.
The following disasters were recorded (by area) impacting thousands throughout the globe during March 2021:
Algeria
Flash floods leave 7 dead and 3 missing in Chlef
Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes off Algeria
Argentina
Wildfires ravage Patagonia leaving 250 homes destroyed and 15 people missing
Australia
Tropical cyclone developed near the coast of Queensland, Australia
Flood evacuations issued in NSW those in Sydney warned to stay indoors
Worst floods since 1971 in New South Wales
Bangladesh
Massive fire leaves 45,000 refugees without shelter
Brazil
Yellow fever kills monkeys in Sana Catarina with two human cases.
Colombia
Persistent heavy rain leaves 7 people dead in Colombia.
Severe weather leaves 45 people dead with more than 2,000 homes damaged in Colombia
Democratic Republic of Congo
Deadly floods swept through Kinshasa and Brazzaville in Congo
East Asia
Mongolia and Northern China hit by worst sandstorm in a decade with six dead
Sandstorm from Mongolia affects many parts of Japan
Equador
Explosive eruption at Sangay volcano with ash up to 12.5 km
Europe
Equine herpes outbreak
Guatemala
Strong explosions at Pacaya volcano
Guinea
Ebola outbreak grows to 17 cases
Iceland
Sudden increase in seismic tremor southwest of Keilir at Reykjanes Peninsula
Magma chamber continues to expand with more than 35,000 earthquakes on Reykjanes Peninsula
Eruption near Fagradalsfjall on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula
High level of volcano gases close to the eruption sit at Fagradalsfjall
Ireland
Mysterious dolphin and whale strandings reaching record highs
Indonesia
Major eruption at Sinaburg volcano produced large pyroclastic flows with ash up to 12.2 km
Italy
Etna Volcano strong activity observed
Japan
Powerful M 7.2 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan with tsunami warnings issued
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia health officials report two additional MERS cases in Riyadh
Malaysia
Severe floods hit Malacca
Two human rabies fatalities in Sarawak
Mongolia
Massive sandstorm forms over Mongolia, hits Beijing and is the worst in a decade
New Caledonia
Severe Tropical Cyclone “Niran” headed toward New Caledonia
New Zealand
Very strong earthquake M7.2 hits off the east coast of the North Island
Powerful earthquakes hit the Kermadec Islands – Tsunami warning
Nicaragua
San Cristobal volcano erupts with heavy ash blanketing the city of Chinandega
Niger
Deadly attack against displaced population in Western Niger
Nigeria
25 additional Lassa fever cases with one death
Norway
Salmonella outbreak with 10 people hospitalized
Oceania
Extensive damage in New Caledonia from Tropical Cyclone “Niran”
Palestine
Vaccines urgently needed as Palestine struggles under surge of COVID-19
Paraguay
Dengue cases continue to increase
Peru
Persistent heavy rains trigger flooding and landslides affecting more than 3000 homes
Philippines
Taal volcano alert status raised to Level 2
Russia
H5N8 avian influenza mutation
Somalia
Urgent funding needed to aid 2.7 m people
Salmonella outbreak sickens 12
Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak over with iceberg lettuce as the suspected source
Severe water shortages leave 70 percent of families without safe drinking water
Spain
Q fever confirmed in Biological Mechanical Treatment plant in Bilbao
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Change in seismic activity associated with the eruption of La Soufriere volcano
Sweden
Salmonella outbreak sickens 12 with iceberg lettuce suspected
Syria
Thousands of foreigners unlawfully held in JE Syria
Taiwan
Typhoid reported in as first domestic case of 2021
First imported chikungunya case of the year
Ukraine
First human dirofilariasis case reported in Ukraine this year
United Kingdom
Brazil COVID-19 variant cases report in the UK
United States of America
Maryland reports death in multistate Listeria outbreak
Evacuations as heavy rains cause flooding and dam breach in Maui, Hawaii
U.K. COVID-19 variant detected at most wastewater treatment plants in Houston
Tornado hits South U.S. causing damage in the Southeast
Powerful snow storm with high winds in Western US
Major severe weather outbreak across lower Mississippi Valley into Alabama
Negative polarity sparks G1-Minor geomagnetic storm and auroras in the lower 48
3.1 earthquake 44 miles northeast of Hilo, Hawaii
Legionnaires’ Disease cluster in northern New Jersey
Very bright fireball over Pennsylvania
West Africa
Health ministers join fight against Ebola
Yemen
COVID-19 second wave overwhelms medical facilities with a quarter of casualities children.
20 die after human traffickers force migrants into sea en route to Yemen
At no other time in history have agri-food systems faced more hazards such as extreme weather, locust swarms, megafires, and emerging biological threats than during the Pandemic 2020. This has devastated livelihoods, inflicted negative economic consequences on national levels, that could potentially endure for generations.
According to FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), disasters happen three times more often today than in the 1970s and 1980s.
Agriculture has absorbed 63 percent of the impact, compared to tourism, commerce, and industry.
Make a plan to prepare yourself for ANY future disasters. Live your best life while also being prepared for the worst by partnering with R72.
