Temperature
Extremes
High
temperature extreme:
Mecca, Saudi Arabia 110 degrees.
Low temperature extreme:
Vostok (Russia), Antarctica -82 degrees.
(top)
Flood
of Reptiles
Crocodiles
and snakes crawled into neighborhoods and streets in the flood-ravaged
city of Villahermosa on Mexico’s Gulf Coast, looking for
places to rest and sun themselves.
Witnesses reported that the crocodiles have even occasionally blocked
traffic. The reptiles have been forced out of their usual habitats
by the severe flooding and mudslides that struck vast areas of southeastern
Mexico last month, killing at least 381 people. Local environmental
officials have warned residents to call authorities rather than
try to move the crocodiles, which are three to eight feet in length.
Tropical
Cyclones
At
least 82 people were killed and thousands of others left homeless
in the wake of tropical cyclone 04B, which battered India’s
east coast before dissipating over land.
Minimal
hurricane Irene drenched much of the Florida peninsula before
unleashing more flooding across already hurricane-weary North
Carolina. The storm later lost force over the Northern Atlantic.
Tropical storm Eve made landfall along the Vietnamese coast
near the port of Da Nang, packing maximum winds of 52 mph.
Islands
of the northeastern Caribbean were buffeted by high winds
and heavy rains as hurricane Jose skirted the region.
Hurricane
Spill
Beaches
in parts of South Florida were closed after state authorities
issued a health advisory following the rupture of a main sewer pipe
that spilled eight million gallons of sewage into the Indian River
after being overloaded by hurricane Irene’s heavy rains.
All beaches in the counties of Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin
were closed due to the health hazard. The pipe broke at a waste
water treatment plant about 115 miles north of Miami, near the Atlantic
Ocean, and spread quickly to the coastline.
Elephant
Mine Victims
A
20-year-old Thai logging elephant, Motabol, had to have its
left foot amputated after it stepped on a land mine while running
from a swarm of hornets.
The accident was the fourth elephant land mine injury within two
months. In August, the plight of a 38-year-old logging female, Motola,
who also had to have her foot amputated, received worldwide attention.
She was fitted with a prosthesis and the animal doctors are hopeful
that she will walk again. All of the accidents occurred near the
border of Thailand and Burma where there has been a long history
of conflict.
Earthquakes
A
magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck California's Mojave Desert,
derailing an Amtrak train, cracking highways and awakening hundreds
of thousands of people. The quake caused a long, visible rupture
across the desert floor along a fault line previously throught to
be inactive.
Earth movements were also felt in southern Arizona, the Alaskan
Panhandle, northern and eastern Japan, Taiwan,
the northern Philippines and northwestern Turkey.
Eruptions
Ecuador’s
resort community of Banos became a ghost town after tens of thousands
residents and tourists fled under the threat of a volcanic eruption.
The evacuation occurred after the nearby Tungurahua Volcano spewed
lava and ash, threatening a major eruption. Geologists said such
an eruption could engulf Banos at its base within 10 minutes. Activity
within the 16,457-foot volcano later subsided, but Hugo Yepez, director
of Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute, said, “. . . that’s not good
news because energy continues to accumulate below, and that could
indicate a violent explosion.”
Sicily’s Mount Etna erupted again with thick streams of lava
oozing down its slopes and a plume of smoke that soared high above
the Mediterranean island. Experts said the renewed activity did
not present any immediate risk, but they were ready to evacuate
residents in nearby towns if necessary.
Canine Mystery
Hero
A
frantically barking small dog awakened 25 people in China’s
southwestern Jiangsu province, saving them from an impending flood
caused by a rupture in a huge underground water pipe.
The
Beijing Morning reported that one of the potential victims woke
up in the predawn hours when the dog, which had somehow gotten into
his home, began tugging his quilt off the bed toward the door. The
man opened the door as flood water gushed into the house. He was
able to pick up his pregnant wife and carry her to safety while
the little dog ran to awaken other neighbors just before their home
was leveled by the force of the water. Once the flood subsided,
the dog could not be found.
