High
Temperature Extreme
Giles,
Australia: 112 degrees Fahrenheit
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Low
Temperature Extreme
Angisoq,
Greenland: -77 degrees Fahrenheit
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Near
Extinction
The
population of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet has reached
such a low level that Chinese authorities feel that the species may
never return from the brink of extinction.
Scientists in
Beijing told reporters that they found only seven of the white flag dolphins
in the middle and lower reaches of the heavily polluted Yangtze River — too
few for the species to survive much longer. The number is two less than reported
last year and down from the 21 found in 1997. The scientists called on the
public and government agencies to increase protection efforts and curb pollution
and other human activities pushing the dolphin toward extinction.
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White
Death
At
least 18 people were killed and some 30 others remained missing following
a avalanche that crashed through the Austrian resort of Galtuer.
Officials believe
that the tragedy is the country’s worst snow disaster in memory. The worst
blizzards this century have paralyzed most of the Alps in recent weeks, with
many communities isolated due to the massive accumulations of snow. Avalanches
were occurring in some resorts at the rate of one every 90 seconds.
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Cyclone
Season
Tropical
cyclone Frank brought high winds and torrential rain as it cut a path directly
through the heart of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.
Three French
yachtsmen were missing for three days after their craft capsized in rough
waters generated by the storm. The crew’s life raft capsized eight times before
they were finally picked up by a French naval vessel. Frank later lost force
over the cooler waters of the Tasman Sea.
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Deadly
Sandstorms
Five
people were killed and 32 others injured when a series of devastating sandstorms
swept through northern Egypt.
Most of the fatalities
were caused by the numerous traffic accidents and fires blamed on the desert
winds. One person was killed and 20 others injured, including the Chinese
ambassador, when low visibility and high wind triggered a huge traffic pile-up
just north of Cairo. The wind also whipped up fires in three villages in a
province northeast of Cairo, destroying 70 homes.
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Eruptions
Smoke
and lava spewing from the Taal Volcano in the Philippines prompted
officials to establish evacuation centers and ban any visitors to the popular
tourist destination. Vulcanologists
say a new cone, 50 feet wide and 23 feet high, formed at the volcano’s crater
vent during the recent activity. The 1,015-foot volcano last erupted in 1977,
causing no injuries and minor damage.
Nearly 500 residents
from 11 villages near Mexico’s Volcan de Fuego were evacuated as the
volcano again spewed lava and ash. The country’s center for emergency services
was preparing a plan for the possible evacuation of the region’s entire population
around the 14,200-foot volcano.
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Earthquakes
One
person was killed and 20 others injured when a strong earthquake struck southern
Russia’s Dagestan province. The
magnitude 5.5 temblor destroyed several homes and left residents in the affected
area without gas or electricity.
Earth movements
were also felt in southern Turkey, Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island,
South Korea, northeastern Japan, southern and eastern Taiwan,
Guatemala’s southern coast, two points in northwestern Colombia
and in western Oregon.
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Camel
Attack
A
herd of hungry camels in the United Arab Emirates attacked a group
of picnickers who were on holiday in the northern part of the Gulf state.
A child was slightly
injured when eight of the animals appeared from behind a hill and converged
on their food, startling the group with loud and aggressive noises. Attempts
to drive the beasts away with sticks and stones failed, and the animals proceeded
to devour what had been the family’s feast. Wandering camels are a constant
problem for motorists in Gulf countries, although attacks on humans are rare.
They often stray into roads, causing an average of five fatal car crashes
every month in the region.
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Additional
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, U.S. Climate Analysis Center, U.S. Earthquake
Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization.
