October 2021 Current Events: Disaster News

Updated October 31, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

World News | Science & Technology News | US News

The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the US news events you need to know so far for October 2021:

  1. Nor’easter Hits East Coast
  2. Floods Devastate Areas as Natural Disasters Continue
  3. Floods, Volcanic Explosions, and Snowstorms Galore
  4. World Disaster Continue to Cause Mayhem

Nor’easter Hits East Coast

October Nor'easter

Photo Source: mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX

On Monday, October 25, New York and New Jersey both issued states of emergency ahead of the season’s first nor’easter. Severe wind and rain are the main culprits. Governors of both areas are urging citizens to stay inside due to the inclement weather.[1] On Wednesday, October 27, thousands of East Coasters were left without power as high winds from the nor’easter threatened more outages. Many areas have also been flooded by the heavy rains. Eastern states are urging people to stay inside and away from windows as winds are reaching as high as 85 mph. Some areas saw up to five inches of rain.[2] On Friday, October 29, American Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights due to severe weather and low staffing across the country. Over 460 flights were cancelled and nearly 300 were delayed.[3]
Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3]CNN

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Floods Devastate Areas as Natural Disasters Continue

Nepal Floods

Photo Source: AP Photo/Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi

On Monday, October 18, heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, sparking major flooding in India. The area of Kerala was hit the hardest, with at least 26 people dying. The death toll will most likely rise as the number of missing people continues to increase. Houses and businesses have washed away, stranding many people in the area. Officials have stated that military helicopters are being used to fly in supplies and provide rescue.[1] By Wednesday, October 20, the death toll from the floods reached over 100. Parts of Nepal have also been affected by the floods and landslides. Schools have been closed and many religious and tourist attractions have been suspended.[2]
Source: [1]BBC [2]BBC

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Floods, Volcanic Explosions, and Snowstorms Galore

Bali Earthquake

Photo Source: AP Photo/Andi Husein

On Monday, October 11, severe flooding in China’s Shanxi province affected 1.76 million people. The area has faced torrential rain for the last week, causing houses to collapse and many landslides. Continuing torrential rain has hampered rescue efforts. More than 17,000 homes have been destroyed and multiple fatalities have been reported.[1] On Monday, October 11, more lava spewed from the La Palma volcano, causing a cement factory to light on fire. Over 2,500 people were pushed into lockdown. Most of the danger was due to the smoke and gas being released from the fire. This is the volcano’s 23rd consecutive day of activity.[2] On Monday, October 11, California announced that Huntington Beach will be able to reopen after the oil spill that occurred last week. After performing tests, officials were unable to detect any more chemicals.[3] On Wednesday, October 13, California shut down the iconic Highway 101 and Amtrak services in Santa Barbara due to the Alisal Fire. The Alisal Fire is 13,400 acres long and has only been aggravated by aggressive winds. Evacuations have been ordered as firefighters attempt to contain parts of the fire.[4] On Friday, October 15, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit Bali, damaging homes and leaving people in rubble. At least 3 people died after the strike. As landslides have been triggered, rescue efforts have continued.[5]
Source: [1]BBC [2]CNN [3]CNN [4]CNN [5]CNN

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Fires and Hurricanes Continue to Ravage Areas

California Wildfires

Photo Source: AP Photo/Ethan Swope

On Monday, October 4, officials stated that 3,000 barrels of oil spilled on a part of the Southern California coast after a pipeline breach occurred five miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. The spill is currently threatening wildlife, as officials see birds and fish wash ashore.[1] On Monday, October 4, the lava from Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma thickened after explosions caused part of a crater to collapse the night before. The lava seems to be following a similar path as previous explosions, sparing untouched areas. Some emergency calls have been made due to air quality, but officials do not believe they will have to perform any more evacuations for the time being.[2] On Monday, October 4, Shaheen, the tropical cyclone, battered Oman and Iran. At least ten people were killed during the storm, and many roads and electrical facilities were damaged. Winds were between 73 and 95 mph. After Shaheen hit land, it was downgraded to a tropical storm.[3]
Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3]BBC

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