December 2022 Current Events: Disaster News

Updated December 30, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

World News | US News | Science & Technology 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 Disaster news events you need to know so far for December 2022.

  1. Scientists Reveal Rising Fetal Distress Due To Climate Change
  2. Coal Mine Plans To Crush UK Climate Goals
  3. Landslide And Mud Leaves 21 Campers Dead
  4. Cold Winter Blizzard Kills More Than 60 People In The United States

Scientists Reveal Rising Fetal Distress Due To Climate Change

Pregnant people

Photo Source: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Thursday, December 8, 2022 – According to one study, the fetuses of women working in fields in the Gambia showed concerning increases in heart rates and decreases in blood flow to the placenta as temperatures rose.

Hundreds of millions of people, including mothers, are expected to be exposed to extreme heat worldwide, even if global temperatures remain below the internationally agreed-upon limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The study may help to understand why expecting moms suffer from heat stress. Two possible explanations are sweat, which causes dehydration, and diverting blood and oxygen from the placenta to the mother's skin to cool the body.

The researchers also discovered that increasing a measure of heat stress by 1 degree Celsius increased the risk of fetal distress by 17%. Even after accounting for the rise in the woman's temperature and heart rate, it increased by 12%, indicating that other factors were affecting the fetus.

Source: The Guardian 

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Coal Mine Plans To Crush UK Climate Goals

Coal UK

Photo Source: AP Images/Scott Heppell

 

Friday, December 9, 2022 – The government of the United Kingdom approved its first coal mining operation in the last 30 years, a project which critics have dubbed “disastrous” to the UK climate change targets. Initially approved by the in October 2020 and backed by 40 conservative MPs, the coal mining operation is targeted at manufacturing steel, not electricity generation.

The UK especially needed the coal mine as they could not depend on Russia to import coal since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This made experts warn that the development would prevent the UK from meeting its goal of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by 2035 by 78%. 

According to the UK Climate Change Committee (UKCCC), If the UK does not drop the use of coal by 2035, it will result in the need for expensive capture and disposal methods of the emitted gases.

Sources: BBC

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Landslide And Mud Leaves 21 Campers Dead In Malaysia

IMAGE

Photo Source: AP Images

Saturday, December 17, 2022 – Malaysian Authorities reported a wide crash and collapse of land close to a camping ground. The landslide covered about 3 acres and moved about 100 feet to reach the campsite.

According to the casualties reported by the local authorities, 2 people were found smothered together under the debris among the 21 confirmed dead. 12 other people are suspected of dying as authorities dig through the mud.

The rubble is 26 feet deep, and more than 400 rescuers and tracking dogs will work through the night to discover a dozen persons who are still missing.

Experts involved in the disaster told reporters that the landowners did not authorize the campsite. In addition to that, the country announced the closure of all campsites for a week to carry out a proper inspection of the sites.

Source: The Guardian

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Cold Winter Blizzard Kills More Than 60 People In The United States

Winter Weather New York

Photo Source: Twitter page of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul via AP

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 – The City of Buffalo in New York records a death toll of 28 due to deadly winter storms across the city. This makes it a total of 62 people who have died across the United States in weather-related disasters this winter.

The blizzard also led to the cancellation of flights to and from New York, which has led to delayed transport of people traveling for the holidays. Across the city, the military police have been mobilized to help manage traffic and get people back to normal daily lives. 

According to official reports, up to 20,000 people also suffered the loss of power during the storm, which improved after the storm settled. 

President Biden has pledged emergency support for the State of New York to help local efforts combat the incident.

Source: BBC 

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