Forest fires in Chile, floods in California, drought in Spain: extreme weather conditions take toll on the world
- Experts say the prospect of increasingly powerful tropical storms indicates the need for a new category to describe their intensity
- Some scientists say the study of Caribbean sea sponges is making them believe the world may have warmed more than what was originally believed
Firefighters try to extinguish fire in Vina Del Mar, Chile. Photo: XinhuaCamila Lange, who is seven-months-pregnant, on Monday sat with her husband and dog in what used to be their home in Vina del Mar, Chile. Hundreds of homes in the central coastal area of the South American nation have been destroyed in fires that have killed at least 123 people.
Weather and climate extremes - wildfire, drought and flooding – are taking a toll around the world. Here’s some of what’s happening now.
Chile’s forest fires
In Chile, firefighters are battling huge forest fires stoked by hot and dry conditions. The fires are burning with the highest intensity around the city of Vina del Mar, where a famous botanical garden founded in 1931 was destroyed by flames. Several neighbourhoods on the eastern edge of the popular beach resort of 300,000 people were devoured by flames and smoke, trapping some people in their homes.
Storms in the US state of California
In California, the second of back-to-back moisture-packed atmospheric rivers is taking aim at Southern California, unleashing mudslides, flooding roadways and knocking out power to about 1.4 million people in the Los Angeles area. Up to 9 inches (23cm) of rain had already fallen by Monday, with more expected, according to the National Weather Service.
In Northern California, the storm inundated streets and brought down trees and electrical lines Sunday across the San Francisco Bay Area, where winds topped 60mph (96kph) in places.
Spain’s record drought
In Spain, people have been struggling to find drinking water as the country tries to cope with a record drought. Officials in the northeast region of Catalonia declared a drought emergency last week, with reservoirs that serve 6 million people, including the population of Barcelona, at under 16 per cent of their capacity, a historic low.
Other climate news
Meanwhile, some scientists say that studying Caribbean sea sponges, which can live hundreds of years, is leading them to theorise that the world may have warmed more than generally thought since pre-Industrial times.
Finally, does the prospect of increasingly powerful tropical storms mean we need a new category to describe their intensity? Some experts say we do and are proposing a Category 6 for hurricanes that exceed 192mph (309kph).