Summary of Climate Disasters on the Planet: December 4-10, 2024

20 December 2024
Comments

Storm Darragh

Starting December 6, the powerful storm Darragh swept through several European countries.

The disaster claimed the lives of three people.


United Kingdom

In Wales and Southwest England, approximately 3 million people received emergency flood warnings on their phones. This marked the largest use of the country's alert system to date. The storm brought heavy rains and powerful winds, with speeds reaching up to 150 km/h (93 mph) in some areas.

For several regions, a rare, red-level weather warning was declared.

Hundreds of thousands of homes across the country were left without electricity, requiring the deployment of over 1,000 specialists to restore power.

Storm Darragh in the United Kingdom, powerful storm in the UK, Storm Darragh in Europe

Damaged solar panels after Storm Darragh, United Kingdom

At London’s Heathrow Airport and other airports, hundreds of flights were canceled or rerouted.

In South Wales, Western England, and Northern Ireland, fallen trees and debris caused train delays, cancellations, and speed restrictions to 80 km/h (50 mph).


Ireland

In Ireland, powerful winds reaching 141 km/h (87 mph) caused extensive damage to power grids, leaving nearly 450,000 people without electricity. The destruction was so severe that assistance from technical specialists in France was required to restore power. The company Enedis sent 60 engineers to Ireland.

As of December 10, about 15,000 homes, farms, and businesses were still without electricity.

According to the telecommunications company Eir, the storm caused widespread Internet, cell phone and television outages nationwide.

County Antrim was among the hardest-hit areas, where damage forced the temporary shutdown of the EP Ballylumford power station.

Storm Darragh in Ireland, powerful storm in Ireland, severe wind in Ireland, Storm Darragh in Europe

Severe winds disable the EP Ballylumford power station, Ireland

The storm also severely damaged the country’s logistics system. With 90% of goods entering Ireland via ferry routes, infrastructure damage at the port of Holyhead and the cancellation of ferry services between Ireland and Wales caused massive queues of trucks on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Restoring transport connections took approximately four days, leading to supply chain disruptions and financial losses.


France

In France, Darragh disrupted train services along the entire northwestern coast, particularly in the Normandy region.

For safety reasons, the Tancarville Suspension Bridge over the Seine River Valley and the Normandy Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, were closed.

In the Seine Maritime department, a 120-meter (394 ft) long barge ran aground off the beach at Sotteville-sur-Mer after being swept across the English Channel from the UK by the storm winds. In Fécamp, wind speeds reached 144 km/h (89 mph).

The storm left 50,000 people across the country without electricity.

In Paris, strong winds forced organizers to move the opening ceremony of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral from outdoors to an indoor venue.

The storm also brought heavy snowfall of 40 cm (15.7 in) to the Pyrenees. The Col du Pourtalet pass was closed due to treacherous road conditions.

Storm Darragh in France, snow in the Pyrenees, snowfall in France

Due to heavy snowstorms in the Pyrenees, the Col du Pourtalet pass was closed, France


Spain

In Spain, the storm brought heavy snowfall, rain, and winds with gusts reaching up to 130 km/h (81 mph). Snow caused severe traffic disruptions on 70 roads, including four major highways.

In the Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mountains, where snow reached up to 40 cm (15.7 in), rescue teams freed seven people from snowbound vehicles. Civil Guard members had to ski to reach those trapped.

Snowfall in Spain, snowstorm in Spain

Rescuers ski to blocked vehicles to evacuate people, Huesca Province, Spain

The storm also disrupted rail services and port operations.

A sharp drop in temperature accompanied the storm across most of the country. In the Cantabrian Mountains, at the Picos de Europa range, temperatures plummeted to -8.8 °C (16.2 °F). On December 9, the southern region of the country recorded even lower temperatures, with -9.5 °C (15.1 °F) registered in the Sierra Nevada National Park in Granada.


Italy

On December 8, daily life in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy was disrupted by heavy rains, snowstorms, and strong winds. Up to 70 cm (27.6 in) of snow fell in the Apennine Mountains. The weight of the snow caused trees to fall, damaging power lines.

Snowfall in Italy, snowstorm in Italy, heavy snow in Italy

Aftermath of a severe snowstorm in the Apennine Mountains, Italy

Thousands of people across the region were left without electricity. Heavy rainfall caused rivers to rise to dangerous levels. Residents, fearful of past floods, monitored the situation anxiously.

In San Lazzaro in Bologna, local authorities ordered evacuations from ground-floors of homes on several streets as the Idice River surged.

Ring roads in the Parma and Reggio Emilia regions were closed in both directions. In Modena, several underpasses were flooded, and schools in parts of Reggio Emilia and Modena were closed. 

Coastal areas experienced strong storm surges. In the municipality of Cesenatico, the Venetian Gates were closed to protect the resort area from the storm.


Volcanoes

Campi Flegrei

Due to the increased activity of the Campi Flegrei supervolcano in recent years, experts at Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology are closely monitoring seismic events, ground uplift, and other signs of rising magmatic activity.

On December 6, a swarm of earthquakes occurred in the Campi Flegrei supervolcano area.

Over 11 hours, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology recorded 26 seismic events, with magnitudes reaching up to 3.4.

Campi Flegrei supervolcano, earthquakes at Campi Flegrei, supervolcano in Italy

Swarm of 26 earthquakes recorded near the Campi Flegrei supervolcano, Italy

As shown in the graph, seismic activity in the Campi Flegrei area is experiencing exponential growth, with the peak number of earthquakes recorded in 2024.

Campi Flegrei Italy, earthquakes near the Phlegraean Fields

Graph of seismic activity in the Campi Flegrei supervolcano area, Italy
Source
: https://www.ov.ingv.it/

Furthermore, recent studies reveal that surface deformation data collected from 2007 to 2023 point to activity from magma sources at varying depths. Notably, a shallower magma source has been steadily expanding and rising. Over this period, it ascended by 2 km (1.24 mi), from a depth of 5.9 km (3.66 mi) to 3.9 km (2.42 mi). Now, only less than 4 km (2.48 mi) separate the magma from the surface.

Increased activity of the Campi Flegrei volcano, magma rising beneath the Campi Flegrei supervolcano

Diagram of changes in the magmatic system of the Campi Flegrei volcano (2007-2023)
Source
: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01665-4


Kanlaon Volcano

On December 9, at 3:03 PM local time, a powerful explosive eruption occurred at the Kanlaon Volcano in the Philippines.

An ash column rose to a height of 6.7 km (4.16 mi). In the active zone, an extremely hazardous phenomenon was also recorded—destructive flows of scorching gas, ash, and rock debris, known as dense pyroclastic flows. These flows can travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour, overcome complex terrain, and obliterate everything in their path. Due to their unpredictability, it is life-threatening to remain within a 6 km (3.73 mi) radius of the volcano.

Kanlaon Volcano, Kanlaon eruption Philippines

Ash-covered settlement near the Kanlaon Volcano, Philippines

Authorities urgently evacuated 87,000 residents from nearby areas.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level to 3, indicating that a hazardous eruption is possible within the next few weeks.


Dukono Volcano

On December 7, at 6:15 AM local time, Indonesia’s Dukono Volcano released an ash column reaching up to 6 km (3.73 mi) in height.

Eruption of Dukono Volcano, Dukono Volcano in Indonesia, volcanic eruption in Indonesia

The highest ash plume recorded from Dukono Volcano, Indonesia

This eruption was one of the most powerful recorded at Dukono in recent years. Typically, ash plumes from Dukono's eruptions do not reach such heights, usually ranging between 1.5 to 3.7 km (0.93 to 2.3 mi).

The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center of Indonesia (PVMBG), advised residents to avoid the exclusion zone within a 3 km (1.86 mi) radius.


Home Reef Submarine Volcano

On December 7, satellites detected a new eruption from the submarine Home Reef Volcano in Tonga. Satellite images revealed a significant thermal anomaly, indicating fresh lava flows on the northern and western slopes of the volcano. The eruption produced an ash plume extending over 8 km (4.97 mi).

Home Reef Submarine Volcano, Home Reef eruption, submarine volcano in Tonga

Eruption of the Home Reef submarine volcano in Tonga captured in satellite images


Kīlauea Volcano

Over the past week, in Hawaii, beneath Kīlauea Volcano and in the upper East Rift Zone approximately 400 earthquakes were recorded—twice as many as last week. Ground deformation around Kīlauea’s peak is steadily increasing, indicating magma inflow and a growing probability of an eruption.

Earthquake at Kīlauea Volcano, Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii

Increased seismic activity near Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii

The rapid rise in volcanic activity in recent years is a growing concern, and 2024 has continued this alarming trend.

The number of earthquakes in areas surrounding volcanoes and supervolcanoes is increasing.

Some volcanoes are experiencing eruptions of a type previously uncharacteristic for them.

The composition of ejected lava increasingly reflects magma sourced from deeper mantle layers, suggesting intensified magmatic processes beneath the Earth’s surface.

Particularly troubling is the rising number of eruptions occurring without clear precursors. These abrupt events can leave little to no time for pre-planned evacuation efforts, rendering them potentially ineffective in ensuring public safety.


Earthquakes

United States

On December 5, at 10:44 AM local time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck California, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi), with its epicenter near the town of Petrolia. The hypocenter was located within the Mendocino Fault Zone, where three tectonic plates converge.

A tsunami warning covered 800 km (497 mi) of coastline, from San Francisco to southern Oregon, prompting evacuations. The BART railway company halted trains passing through the Transbay Tube. The warning was canceled 90 minutes later.

Approximately 19,000 people in Humboldt County were left without power.

The main shock was followed by aftershocks, the first of which were of very strong magnitudes 6.0 and 5.8, though they were later downgraded to 4.7 and 4.1, respectively.

Earthquake in California, earthquake in the USA, powerful earthquake in California

Powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks in California, USA

By the evening of December 5, at least 72 aftershocks with magnitudes of 2.5 or higher had been recorded. Many residents, fearing additional quakes, spent the day outdoors.

A series of significant earthquakes struck Alaska.

According to the USGS, the first earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3, occurred on December 8 at 10:57 AM local time. It struck in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 18 km (11.2 mi), with its epicenter located 107 km (66.5 mi) from Adak in the Aleutian Islands.

Earthquake in Alaska, earthquake in the USA, earthquake swarm in Alaska

Earthquake swarm in Alaska, USA

Over the next hour, at least six aftershocks with magnitudes up to 5.8 were recorded.

This aftershock activity was expected, but starting at around 3 PM, two additional earthquakes with magnitudes above 6 occurred within 20 minutes of each other.

By the morning of December 9, the Alaska Earthquake Center had recorded a significant number of aftershocks—approximately 90 seismic events.

This series of earthquakes in Alaska does not follow the typical pattern of a main shock followed by aftershocks; it is rather a swarm—a cluster of multiple earthquakes with similar and relatively high magnitudes.

On December 9, at 3:08 PM local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck Lyon County, Nevada, according to the USGS. The epicenter was located 24 km (14.9 mi) northeast of Yerington at a depth of 8.4 km (5.2 mi).

Tremors from the earthquake were felt as far west as San Francisco and Sacramento in California.

Within five hours of the main quake, 32 aftershocks with magnitudes up to 4.1 were recorded.


Russia

On December 8, at 9:24 PM local time, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 occurred near the Kuril Islands in Russia. It was located 86 km (53.4 mi) northwest of Matua Island at a depth of over 290 km (180 mi).

Strong earthquake in Russia, earthquake near the Kuril Islands, earthquake in Russia

Earthquake near the Kuril Islands, Russia

The world is changing, and we feel this more and more acutely. Natural disasters are becoming part of everyday life for a growing number of people. The progression of calamities suggests no reason to believe that they will stop by themselves. Many people realize what trouble we are about to face, but seeing no way out of the situation, they fall into despair and give up.

This is evident even in comments under climate-related videos, where people write that humanity deserves this and that nothing can be done to change it.

Although the situation appears hopeless, we still have a chance to change everything!

The world is vast, and there are many people who understand what is happening. Experts already know how to address the climate crisis. Humanity lacks only one thing— focusing on one goal: to preserve life on the planet and the life of every person.

Now is the time to set aside artificially created problems and conflicts and unite our efforts to survive the upcoming challenges.

Watch the video version of this article here:

Leave a comment
CREATIVE SOCIETY
Now each person can really do a lot!
The future depends on the personal choice of each individual!