Disaster

Turkey-Syria earthquake: How effective diplomacy can save lives during a disaster

Research has shown that ‘informal disaster diplomacy’ aimed at preventing or mitigating disaster impacts, such as those seen in previous earthquakes, tends to be more successful than cooperation after the event

In a first, Egypt's Sisi calls Syria's Assad after quake

While Egyptian state media noted the presidents' call was their first since Sisi assumed office in 2014, the two countries have maintained relations during Syria's 12-year war, unlike some other Arab countries who severed ties with Damascus

Turkey, Syria earthquake: Rescuers race to find survivors as death toll mounts

Hundreds of families are still buried beneath the rubble of thousands of buildings destroyed by the earthquake. According to Turkey's disaster management organisation, more than 24,400 rescue personnel are presently on the ground looking for survivors

Philippines floods force tens of thousands to flee homes

Eleven people were killed and 19 others were missing after a week's worth of heavy seasonal rain in the southern and eastern regions of the country

'Sticky problem for forecasters': Why hurricanes are becoming stronger and faster

Hurricane Ian is gaining power rapidly and has intensified to a Category 3 storm. As Earth’s climate warms, more storms are undergoing this kind of rapid intensification, sometimes stunning forecasters and giving residents little time to prepare

Is climate change to blame for Pakistan's flood fury?

The flooding in Pakistan has all the hallmarks of a catastrophe juiced by climate change, but several scientists believe that it’s too early to formally assign blame to global warming

Undersea volcanic eruption in Tonga causes massive oil spill 11,000 km away in Peru

At least three kilometres of Peru’s beaches have been dirtied by the oil spill when a ship loading oil into the La Pampilla refinery on the Pacific coast was rocked owing to the strong waves

Earth's 'vital signs' are deteriorating due to business-as-usual approach: Study

There has been an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters, including flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and cyclones all over the world.

A decade after Japan's 2011 earthquake, many still hope for 'recovery' from trauma

More than 30 trillion yen (US$ 280 billion) has been spent on reconstruction so far in Japan. But while the government has charged ahead with new buildings, it has invested less in helping people to rebuild their lives, for instance, by offering mental health services for trauma.

World's top 10 environment disasters caused $150 billion worth of damages : report

Earth's average surface temperature has gone up at least 1.1 degrees C on average compared to late 19th-century, with much of that warming occurring in the last half-century.