Himalaya and Other Mountainous Regions
Himalayan GLOF Risk and Disaster Governance
The Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) threat in Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul-Spiti) remains a serious, ongoing incidence.
The local administration continues to prioritize non-weather actions, including day-to-day satellite monitoring of the expanding glacial lake and the implementation of an Early Warning System (EWS).
This proactive, science-based response contrasts sharply with the earlier failures of the 2025 monsoon, which turned heavy rain into a catastrophic disaster due to unscientific construction and disregard for geological stability in states like Uttarakhand.
Indonesia (West Sumatra)
Mount Marapi erupted again on November 12, sending ash 400 meters high; alert level II remains, with warnings to avoid the crater—echoing frequent activity in this volcanic chain.
Philippines (Cordillera / Sierra Madre)
Super Typhoon Uwan’s remnants caused damage to medical facilities in the mountainous Cordillera region, with the Department of Health reporting impacts today; the Sierra Madre range is credited with weakening typhoon forces but faces erosion risks.
USA (Sierra Nevada)
An incoming major storm threatens flooding in Southern California while bringing heavy snow to elevations around 8,000 feet near Tahoe and Mono County, starting tonight—potentially easing fire risks but raising avalanche concerns.
Major Disasters in Other Areas
Asia (Excluding Himalayas)
Philippines
Remnants of Super Typhoon Uwan (formerly “UwanPH”) continue bringing rain and gusts to Batanes and Babuyanes Islands, with a low-pressure area weakening but still posing flood risks; nationwide flood-control audits under President Marcos have exposed anomalies in 9,855 projects, leading to 4 criminal filings and ₱6.3 billion in asset freezes.
Africa
Heavy rainfall triggers flooding in parts of Uganda and Kenya, with surpluses along the Gulf of Guinea coasts worsening erosion; southern regions see drought persistence, per the latest hazards summary.
Americas
Caribbean (Jamaica)
Post-Hurricane Melissa recovery uses India’s donated Bhishm Cube for mobile medical aid in affected areas like Westmoreland; Indian Air Force teams trained local experts on deployment.
DRR & CCA Conferences, Workshops, Reports, Concerns and Incidences
COP30 Summit Focus
The 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, continues to drive the global discourse on climate disasters.
Today’s focus is on the Global Stocktake (GST), where countries are pressured to review their progress and strengthen their National Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce the risk of future climate catastrophes.
COP30 Cryosphere Warning
The State of the Cryosphere Report, released at COP30, continues to be cited as a core warning: the world is set to overshoot the 1.5 oC warming limit, which will lock in catastrophic, irreversible damage (like sea-level rise and GLOFs) unless rapid, high-ambition zero-carbon pathways are adopted immediately.
Financing Loss & Damage
Discussions at COP30 are centered on operationalizing the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), a critical mechanism for transferring funds from developed nations to highly vulnerable regions like coastal and low-lying parts of the Indian subcontinent.
India’s Climate Risk Ranking
The release of the Germanwatch Climate Risk Index 2026 this week confirmed a major policy incidence: India ranks ninth among the most affected countries globally by extreme weather events since 1995. This ranking is a powerful tool used at COP30 to demand global funding for Loss and Damage (L&D), emphasising that India is continuously impacted by severe and recurring climate-fueled disasters.
The Germanwatch report underscores the global economic toll, revealing that the cost of extreme weather events since 1995 has exceeded $4.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted), placing a massive strain on global economies and development efforts.
Climate Migration
The structural disaster of climate-driven migration from the upper Himalayas and the farming plains of Nepal and Bihar continues to be highlighted at COP30. Experts argue that the inability of regional governments to adequately adapt to accelerating glacial melt and erratic rainfall is leading to unmanaged internal and cross-border displacement, placing an undue burden on receiving cities in India.
Ongoing Health Threat
The night temperatures in the plains of Northwest and adjoining Central India remain 4-7° C below normal in parts of East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, and South Punjab, posing a persistent health risk to homeless and vulnerable populations during the early winter.
Air Pollution and Health
Reports continue to highlight that fossil fuel-driven air pollution claimed 1.72 million lives in India in 2022, a catastrophic human-made disaster that is intrinsically linked to the energy sources driving climate change.
Historical Disasters on This Day (October 21)
1862 – American Civil War
The Battle of Fredericksburg disaster was set in motion.
The massive Union Army of the Potomac, under General Ambrose Burnside, began moving to cross the Rappahannock River in an attempt to reach the Confederate capital, Richmond, an ill-fated action that led to a massive and demoralizing defeat the following month.
1901 – Caister lifeboat disaster
Caister lifeboat disaster off England’s coast, where nine crew drowned battling gales to aid a shipwreck—symbolizing maritime valor amid brutal North Sea storms. These events remind us: disasters are not just natural but woven from foresight’s absence.
1907 – D’Entrecasteaux Islands Earthquake
A major earthquake (M8.2) struck the D’Entrecasteaux Islands, causing widespread tsunamis and damage in Papua New Guinea.
1909 – Cherry Mine Disaster
Cherry Mine Disaster in Illinois, USA, claimed 259 lives—mostly young miners—in a coal mine fire ignited by hay bales. Trapped 300 feet underground, workers endured smoke and flooding for days; heroic rescues saved 21, but the rest suffocated.
It spurred US mining safety laws, including mandatory ventilation and escape routes, as chronicled in contemporary reports of “agonized cries” echoing from shafts.
2015 – Paris Attacks
A series of coordinated terrorist attacks involving mass shootings and suicide bombings occurred in Paris, France, killing 130 people and injuring hundreds more.
1950 – Korean War: Battle of Unsan
The American and South Korean forces began their withdrawal from Unsan after facing a massive, unexpected counter-attack from the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army.
1970 – Bhola Cyclone Aftermath
The search and rescue operations for the deadliest tropical cyclone in history (which struck on November 12) continued in the Ganges River Delta (Bangladesh), confirming the catastrophic death toll of 300,000 to 500,000 people.
1985 – Armero tragedy in Colombia
Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted on this day at 9:13 PM, melting its ice cap and unleashing lahars—volcanic mudflows—that buried the town of Armero under 50 meters of debris.
Over 23,000 perished in minutes, despite scientists’ six-month warnings of lahar risks; a 1985 BBC documentary “La Catástrofe de Armero” captured the chaos, with survivors describing a “black river” swallowing homes. It exposed governmental inaction, leading to global volcanic monitoring reforms.
November 13 has etched itself into the annals of calamity with a litany of tempests, infernos, and seismic shocks that have repeatedly tested human fortitude across centuries.
Stay vigilant; history whispers warnings.
यह हमारा एक छोटा सा प्रयास हैं, आपको हर दिन आपदा से जुड़ी नवीनतम जानकारियाँ प्रदान करने का –
विशेष रूप से वह आपदायें जो हिमालय व अन्य पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों में घटित हों.
हमारा यह प्रयास आपको कैसा लगा और कैसे हम इसे बेहतर व उपयोगी बना सकते हैं ?
हमेशा की तरह आपके सुझावों का हमें इंतजार रहेगा.
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