Displaying items by tag: hurricanes

The map of disasters is immense, according to agencies tracking changes in climate and disaster events. In south Asia 45 million people have been adversely affected by floods and mudslides, with 16 million children and their families needing life-saving support. Pray for emergency aid to reach areas cut off by the floods and against the spread of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, amongst communities living in temporary shelters. On the African continent, 500 lives were lost in Sierra Leone and many are still missing after mudslides.  Hurricane Harvey caused flooding and devastation on the Gulf Coast, and Florida has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Irma moves in its direction. According to reports, 95% of the island of Barbuda in the Caribbean has been ‘apocalyptically’ destroyed, and its prime minister blames this on climate change. He criticised world leaders who deny global warming. See also

On 8 June Cape Town, South Africa suffered its worst storm in thirty years. 10,000 people were evacuated, and the military helped to battle multiple blazes which destroyed dozens of homes and damaged a hospital and school. Twenty suburbs were damaged by spreading fires, and whole towns were evacuated. On 14 June severe storms brought down trees and power lines and dumped heavy rain, hail and tornadoes on America’s plains. These violent storms are now spreading across the Midwest, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. The Chicago area has had flooding and power lines down. In Bangladesh over twelve inches of rain have fallen between 12 and 15 June, triggering deadly mudslides that have killed 147 so far. The north Indian province of Mizoram (predominantly Christian) has suffered the worst floods in living memory, with much damage and many deaths. June marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and forecasters predict tropical systems forming in southwest Gulf of Mexico from 19 July. See: