October Current Events 2023: Disaster News
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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 October 2023.
- New Climate Discovery Shows September As The Hottest Month On Record
- Hailstorms Become More Severe Around Sydney, Australia
- Gaza Healthcare Collapses As Palestine Plunges Into Humanitarian Disaster
- Welsh Water Corporation Admits To Sewage Spillage
- Australia Takes Decisive Actions on Climate Change
- Flood Following Storm Babet May Spell Doom For Farmers In The UK
New Climate Discovery Shows September As The Hottest Month On Record
Photo Source: AP Photo/Eric Gay
Thursday, October 5, 2023 – According to the EU climate service, September saw the highest global temperatures ever measuring 1.75C, far surpassing the previous record. The temperature this month was 0.5C hotter than the previous record set in 2020 and 0.93C warmer than the average September temperature between 1991 and 2020.
Experts believe that the heat is being caused by both the El Niño weather event and the ongoing emissions of warming gases. A few scientists expressed their surprise at the magnitude of the rise; and that the magnitude of the warming places new pressure on politicians to act as they prepare for the COP28 climate summit at the end of November.
The September result does not violate the 2015 Paris Accord to keep temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius since the Paris target relates to decades, not months. However, it is undeniably a concerning trend. Scientists anticipate that this year will remain below the 1.5C limit, but 2023 is "on track" to be the warmest on record.
Source: BBC
Hailstorms Become More Severe Around Sydney, Australia
Photo Source: Getty Images
Thursday, October 12, 2023 – The University of New South Wales and the Bureau of Meteorology examined patterns between 1979 and 2021 and discovered that hail-prone circumstances have increased significantly over Australia's south-east and south-west. The research gives a clear picture of how climate continues to change in Australia.
Updrafts, moisture in the air, and cold enough temperatures up in the atmosphere combine to generate hailstones. Another critical factor is Wind shear which is defined as variations in horizontal wind direction or speed at various heights in the atmosphere.
The economic significance of these studies is enormous. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the expenses of the 1999 Sydney hailstorm would equal an estimated $8.85 billion in insured damages if it occurred in 2023, far outweighing the costs of the severe 2022 floods in south-east Queensland and New South Wales.
Source: The Guardian
Gaza Healthcare Collapses As Palestine Plunges Into Humanitarian Disaster
Photo Source: AP Photo/Abed Khaled
Friday, October 13, 2023 – Following the attack on Israel by Hamas militants, the Gaza Strip has seen a series of bombardments with bombs from Israel in a crisis that has grown to become a full-blown war. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an earlier report that “Gaza will be placed under a total blockade from food, water, fuel and electricity supply”.
As the crisis continues, Gaza is reportedly running out of fuel to power the generators that supply electricity to the only healthcare facilities left, and more than 50,000 pregnant women cannot access health services. The people of Gaza — about 1.1 million of them including women and children — have been instructed to move further south to avoid the Israeli bombardment against Hamas, and the blockade will not stop until Hamas releases the captured Israeli Hostages.
Since the beginning of the crisis over the past few days, 1,300 Israelis have died with Hamas holding about 150 hostages; retaliatory attacks from Israel have led to the death of 1,500 Palestinians, 338,000 people displaced, 19 healthcare facilities grounded 11 health workers killed, and 16 of them mortally wounded.
Source: BBC
Welsh Water Corporation Admits To Sewage Spillage
Photo Source: Getty Images
Thursday, October 19, 2023 – The data from 11 Welsh sewage plants revealed that ten of them spilled untreated waste before their specified overflow level was reached for at least a decade. Welsh Water subsequently has admitted to releasing untreated sewage near a rare dolphin habitat. An inquiry revealed that the water utility had been unlawfully releasing untreated wastewater at dozens of sewage treatment plants in many cases, for years at a time.
Water corporations in England and Wales were also discovered to often discharge sewage into rivers and seas. Last year, sewage was spilled more than 300,000 times in England due to storm overflows. Welsh Water stated that it has 40 to 50 wastewater treatment plants that are currently operating in violation of their permits, that decisions on improvements were made with customer bills in mind, and that the organization will address the issues after reviewing the analysis, which it did not dispute.
Source: The Guardian
Australia Takes Decisive Actions on Climate Change
Photo Source: Getty Images
Thursday, October 19, 2023 – The Australian government announced an ambitious plan to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, outlined a comprehensive roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2030. This bold move signifies a significant shift in Australia's climate policy, signifying their commitment to the global fight against climate change.
Source: The Guardian
Flood Following Storm Babet May Spell Doom For Farmers In The UK
Photo Source: AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 – As a result of climate breakdown, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events are increasing, leading to loss of human, animal, and plant life as well as food shortages and price increases. In a recent similar case, Storm Babet resulted in heavy rainfall that was followed by flash floods, which have rendered hundreds more destitute and caused the deaths of at least seven people.
After Storm Babet swept across the country, entire fields were flooded with water, destroying crops. According to the Environment Agency, approximately 1,250 buildings in England have been inundated, and approximately 30,000 properties require flood protection. It is anticipated that the consequences of floods will persist, and yellow warnings were issued in several regions of the country until Wednesday afternoon.
While talking about solutions, climate experts noted that the mitigation of floods and coastal erosion necessitates the active involvement of farmers and land managers. This involvement entails the implementation of strategies such as natural flood control. According to the most recent flood map, risk management authorities will collaborate with farmers and landowners to facilitate their adaptation efforts.
Source: The Guardian
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