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The Future of Mankind and Nature Urgent

Here’s what we’re watching for the week of Sept. 20, 2021.

New or emerging disasters

Volcanic Eruption – Spain: Scientists have been anticipating the eruption of La Cumbre Vieja on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, which had been experiencing a series of more than 4,000 small earthquakes over the past weeks. As authorities were evacuating residents with disabilities and functional needs on Sept. 19, jets of lava burst from the volcano’s mouth, accompanied by smoke and ash. Authorities continued to evacuate approximately 1,000 people from isolated homes in the path of lava flows as they continued to monitor further volcanic activity.

Earthquake – China: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the province of Sichuan on Sept. 16, sending rescuers rushing to the site of the shallow earthquake. At least three people died while another 146 were injured as more than 7,000 rescuers searched the rubble of damaged and destroyed buildings in an attempt to find those still buried.

Drought – Kenya: Officials have declared a national disaster as 2.1 million Kenyans are at risk of starvation, according to the National Drought Management Authority. The ongoing drought has been magnified by ethnic conflicts and an enormous swarm of locusts, leaving people in 23 counties in urgent need of supplemental food and nutrition aid in the next six months.

Flooding – Multiple Countries

Nigeria: Hours of heavy rain on Sept. 12 led to flooding on the outskirts of Abuja as water attempted to flow through blocked drainage channels. More than 150 houses were damaged, and at least four people died as water raced through the streets.

Pakistan: Monsoon rains in the north part of the country killed an additional 20 people after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides between Sept. 8 and 13. The total number of deaths in Pakistan has now reached 160 since the start of the monsoon season.

Malaysia: Flooding and landslides swept through the state of Sabah after hours of heavy rain on Sept. 15. At least three people died in a landslide, while approximately 70 more were displaced.

Guatemala: Heavy rains caused landslides and flooding in four departments, affecting 11,799 people and leaving at least two people Houses, bridges and roads were also damaged or destroyed by the waters and saturated ground.

WAtch the Climatic Disasters' videos from the Menu.