20/08/2012

I. International

Indonesia - Earthquake (GDACS, USGS, BNPB)

• A 6.3M earthquake at a depth of 20km struck central Sulawesi in Indonesia on Aug 18, 09h41 UTC, 56 km SSE of the city of Palu. 3,000 people were exposed to "Very Strong" shaking
• The earthquake caused damage and victims in a number of villages in the districts Kulawi and Parigi Moutong. As of 09h00 UTC Aug 19, the toll was 4 dead, 7 seriously injured and 51 houses seriously damaged. The damage assessment was still under way at that time.
• The earthquake did not pose any Tsunami risk

China/ Vietnam - Tropical Storm KAI-TAK 12 (GDACS, Xinhua, Vietnam News Agency)

• In China, KAI-TAK affected southern Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi with heavy rainfall and strong winds, causing damage and flooding. Most heavily hit was Guangxi, were as of Aug 19, 09h17 UTC 2 people were killed, 2 were missing and 530,000 people were relocated. In Qinzhou, southern Guangxi, 3 villages were reported flooded in the Qinbei district. In Guangdong and Guangxi a total of 4,200 houses were destroyed and another 17,300 were damaged
• In Vietnam, KAI-TAK brought heavy rains and caused significant damage and victims in some of the northern provinces. As of Aug 19, the toll was 27 dead, 15 missing or injured, at least 6,000 houses damaged, 23,000 ha of cropland flooded. Most heavily hit was Yen Bai with 5 reported deaths and one missing. Flooding and deaths were also reported in the capital Ha Noi, and flooding and damage in the province of Quang Ninh where it made landfall. Landslides were reported in Phu THo, Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces
• According to AHA Center, on 18 August, the tropical storm was downgraded to tropical depression and centered in uppermost of Laos

Tropical Storm TEMBIN-12 (GDACS, PAGASA)

• TEMBIN-12 (called IGME in the Philippines) formed on Aug 19 off the eastern shores of Luzon, Philippines, intensified quickly and started moving north. At 00:00 UTC August 20 it was a Typhoon with a max. sustained wind speed of 138 km/h and its centre was located ca. 270 km east of the NE tip of Luzon. A red alert was issued on 20 Aug 2012
• In the next 24h it is forecast to continue moving north, strengthening further (possibly to Category 2 later today). In the Philippines, it is expected to enhance the SW Monsoon, bringing light to moderate rains over western Luzon; a Public Storm Warning Signal #1 (up to 60 km/h winds) was issued by PAGASA for Isabela and Cagayan

Sudan - Floods (Local Media)

• Heavy rains and floods in El Fasher in western Sudan on Aug 18 destroyed more than 2,000 houses, according to local media reports. The IDP camps in the city were severely hit with more than 300 homes collapsed in Zamzam, 150 in Abu Shouk and 100 in Abuja, resulting in more than 300 families displaced

DR Congo - Ebola outbreak (ECHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Media)

• On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health of DRC, notified the WHO of an outbreak of Ebola Haemorrhagic fever in the Isiro and Dungu Health Zones of Province Orientale in Eastern DRC, it is believed to have killed 9 persons
• A National Task Force convened by the Congolese Ministry of Health, is working with several partners : A joint MoH, WHO and MSF emergency response team are in the field to conduct a detailed epidemiological investigation and case management
• Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says the strain is not the same as the kind found recently in neighbouring Uganda, although it is still dangerous

 

II. Europe

Portugal (Azores) – Tropical Cyclone GORDON-12 (GDACS, NOAA, Local Media)

• Tropical Cyclone GORDON-12, formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug 15, made landfall early this morning (Aug 20) in the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, as a Hurricane of Category 1 (max. sust. wind speed of 120 km/h). A NOAA Hurricane Warning is in effect for the eastern Azores, as of 06 UTC, Aug 20. According to local media reports, the passage of GORDON did not have serious consequences on Santa Maria island
• In the next 24h, GORDON-12 is forecast to move NE, losing strength

Greece – Forest Fires (Local Media)

• A fire started in Chios on Aug 18 and spread rapidly to the southern parts of the island because of strong winds. As of early on Aug 20 it had burned close to 7,000 ha of forest and crops. A number of villages in the region of Karyes are threatened. 120 firefighters with 50 engines aided by Army personnel are operating on the site
• As of early Aug 20, fires were also active in the island of Andros, in Monopetro, Magnesia, in the island of Zakynthos and in Lakonia and Messinia in the southern Peloponnese

Spain – Forest Fires (Spanish CP)

• The fire in La Gomera in the Canary islands was still active and dangerous as of 19 Aug evening. Two other fires in continental Spain were also active and dangerous (level 2) in Castilla y Leon, one in Avila (started Aug 18) and one in Leon (started Aug 19)

Italy – Forest Fires (ANSA)

• A large fire was active in Marina di Grosseto in the western coast of Tuscany as of Aug 19 evening; 1,100 tourists in the region were evacuated, according to media reports

Meteoalarm Red and Orange Alerts

• High temperatures in the whole of Germany, NE Czech Republic and in Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Sardinia in Italy – Red Alert
• Heavy rain, strong winds and high waves in the Azores, Portugal – Red Alert
• High temperatures in central Spain, central France, the whole of Switzerland, most of continental Italy including Sicily, most of Austria, most of Hungary, most of Serbia, southern Croatia, western Slovakia, all of Slovenia – Orange Alert

Forest Fire risk in Europe

• Extreme or very high risk in the whole of Spain, central France, the whole of the Italian peninsula including Sardinia and Sicily, southern Slovenia, northern Bosnia Herzegovina, northern Serbia, southern Hungary, coastal Albania, coastal Greece, SE Bulgaria, western and SE Turkey, the whole of Cyprus, eastern Romania and southern Moldova

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