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Earthquake – Japan:

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on March 16. A tsunami warning was issued but later lifted. Four people were killed, and more than 100 people were injured during the earthquake. Wednesday’s quake came days after the region observed the 11th anniversary of the deadly 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. The country’s Meteorological Agency warned the public that seismic activity might continue for a few days.

Landslide – Peru:

A landslide occurred on March 15 in Retamas, in Peru’s La Libertad region, destroying several homes and killing at least two people. According to Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI), the landslide was the result of heavy rains. The affected area is heavily impacted by mining, including informal mining, which may explain the environmental damage seen in satellite images.

Wildfires – Texas:

Multiple wildfires began burning on March 16 southwest of Eastland, Texas. The fires are known as the Eastland Complex and include the Walling, Wheat Field, Kidd and Oakmont Fires. As of March 20, the fires have burned more than 54,000 acres and are 30% contained. The fires’ fuels include tall grass and timber, and sustained winds are in the forecast. The town of Carbon in Eastland County lost nearly 90 homes, according to local officials. At least one person, an Eastland County Sheriff Deputy, has been killed. While the Eastland Complex is the largest of the active fires in the state, it is not the only one. The Texas Forest Service said on March 20 that 175 wildfires had burned nearly 95,000 acres across the state in the past week.

Please see our 2022 North American Wildfires Disaster Profile for information on wildfires across the continent and how to help.

Previous/Ongoing Disasters Flooding – Australia:

Cleanup efforts have begun in eastern Australia following intense flooding in early March that caused widespread destruction in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW). At least 20 people were killed during the flooding, and tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, more than 118,000 claims have been filed, totaling an estimated US$1.31 billion (AU$1.77 billion). NSW announced an inquiry to “investigate the causes of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from the catastrophic flood event.”

Please see our 2022 Australian Flooding Disaster Profile to learn more about this disaster and how to help.

Tornadoes – U.S. Midwest

Iowa –

A series of tornadoes hit several counties near Des Moines on March 5, killing seven people and causing injuries. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that the tornado that hit Madison County was an EF4, making it the strongest tornado to hit the state since 2013. The tornado was also the strongest to form so early in the U.S. so far north. Although warnings for Madison County had a 23-minute lead time, which is well above the national average of 10 minutes, there was a delay caused by a damaged fiber optic cable. A bipartisan effort in Congress is underway to resolve the issue. Arkansas –

At least five tornadoes touched down on March 6, with the NWS confirming there were four EF1 tornadoes and one EF2 tornado. Affected counties include Searcy, Stone, Arkansas, Lincoln and Pope. Some damage was reported to the Martin Township Fire Department, and two people were injured.

Tropical Cyclone – Mozambique:

Cyclone Gombe made landfall over the coastal area of central Nampula province on March 11. As of March 18, at least 448,800 people have been affected, 80 people have been injured, and 53 have been killed. Nearly 21,000 people have been displaced, and more than 46,000 homes have been damaged. Gombe also hit the southern region of Malawi, killing at least seven people and causing heavy damage in about 10 districts. The cyclone came as both countries attempted to recover from Tropical Storm Ana which struck in January.

Wildfires – South Korea: On Friday, March 4, a large wildfire started in a forest on a mountain in Uljin county, a seaside area in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The fire spread throughout the region, including north to the city of Samcheok in Gangwon Province. The fire in Uljin was extinguished on March 15, and the fires in Gangneung and Samcheok have also been contained. The fires burned nearly 60,000 acres (23,993 hectares), making them the worst wildfires since South Korea started keeping records in 1986.

Please see our South Korean Wildfires Disaster Profile for more information on this disaster.