Temperature Extremes
High temperature extreme:
Abada, Iran 122 degrees.

Low temperature extreme:
Vostok (Russia), Antarctica -100 degrees.

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Eruptions
Evacuees at the shelter near the Nicaraguan city of Leche Cuajo gathered their children and rushed from the schoolhouse where they had taken refuge from Cerro Negro Volcano when subterranean explosions and tremors warned of an impending eruption.

Cerro Negro, which is considered one of the most dangerous in Central America, ended four years of relative calm when lava and ash spewed from three new openings. The volcano is located about 45 miles northwest of the capital city of Managua.

Residents who live by Mount Cameroon’s volcanic Lake Nyos may be breathing toxic gases emitted from a submerged volcano that erupted earlier this year. Officials fear a repeat of the 1986 disaster when noxious fumes bubbled up from the depths of the lake and asphyxiated more than 1,800 inhabitants. Villagers are now being asked to temporarily move away from the lake as a precaution.

Texas Fish Kill
More than 20 million dead fish washed up on the banks of Texas’ Arroyo Colorado in one of the most deadly fish kills to strike the state in four years.

The dead fish were young Gulf menhaden, which normally remain in the arroyo until they are large enough to migrate downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. Experts speculated that the fish died due to lowered oxygen levels caused by algal bloom. Raccoons, birds and other native creatures were observed flocking to the banks of the arroyo to feast on the dead fish.

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Earthquakes
A strong earthquake struck northeast Iran’s Seman province, killing one person and causing extensive damage in the village of Momenabad.

Earth movements were also felt in Cyprus, metropolitan Tokyo, Taiwan, the Kuril Islands, Puerto Rico and parts of Southern California.

Summer Tornadoes
A rare Utah tornado touched down without warning in downtown Salt Lake City, killing at least one person and injuring hundreds of others.

The black, swirling cloud tore the roofs off buildings and uprooted trees.

Just east of New York City, small boats were capsized and trees uprooted when a rare tornado struck the city of Mattituck on Long Island.

Indonesian Pall
Authorities were forced to close kindergartens throughout Indonesia due to increased levels of dangerous ash contained in a cloud of smoke that has blanketed the country in recent weeks.

The presence of ash particles is especially dangerous for small children who are more susceptible to lung and respiratory infections. The choking haze is a result of slash-and-burn clearing practices of the country’s farmers who are preparing the land for planting.

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Killer Bee Attack
Sixty people attending a funeral in Mexico’s western state of Nayarit were attacked by a swarm of Africanized honeybees that suddenly emerged from a nest in the ground.

The mourners were at a burial service in the town of Puerta de Magos when the stinging attack began. The victims were treated at a local hospital while police chased off the bees using a mixture of insecticide, soap and water.

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New Drought Hazard
A black bear dragged a 14-year-old Boy Scout and his tent away from a scout camp in Wisconsin, inflicting severe bite wounds on the boy’s head and shoulders.

The boy’s father finally drove the animal off by throwing rocks and pieces of wood. Bears throughout the entire northeastern United States have been left hungry by ongoing drought conditions and have taken to raiding campgrounds and the gardens of private residences in search of food.

Tropical Storms
Tropical storm Rachael formed off the east coast of China, then lashed Japan's southernmost islands before veering into the Yellow Sea.

Hurricanes Dora and Eugene formed off Mexico's west coast and passed harmlessly over the open Pacific.

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Imported Predators
Six African lions that escaped their cages in Chile have adapted well to the semi-desert, highland environment in the north of the country and have killed approximately 600 llamas in recent months.

The lions escaped during February when the truck transporting them to neighboring Bolivia crashed on a highway. Following protests by local herdsmen, authorities now plan to send in big game hunters to capture the lions and secure them in specially built cages.

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Additional Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, U.S. Climate Analysis Center, U.S. Earthquake Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization.
Distributed by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.