The destructive power of the elements: an overview of cataclysms

Cataclysms are natural disasters that can cause enormous destruction and loss of human life.

They can be caused by various natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, forest fires, etc.

In this article we will look at some of the most common disasters and their impact on people:

Types of events in June 2024:

1. Earthquakes: Occur as a result of shifting tectonic plates. Can lead to the destruction of buildings, infrastructure, landslides and tsunamis. They are one of the most destructive natural disasters. 2. Volcanic eruptions: The release of hot lava, ash and gases from a volcanic crater. They can lead to the destruction of nearby settlements, suffocation of people and animals, and air pollution. Supervolcanic eruptions can have global consequences. 3. Tsunami: Giant waves caused by underwater earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions. They can cause catastrophic destruction on the coast, killing people and destroying infrastructure. 4. Hurricanes: Powerful tropical cyclones with strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges. May cause destruction of buildings, coastal flooding, power outages and casualties. 5. Floods: Overflow of water bodies caused by heavy rainfall, melting snow, or failure of dams. Can lead to flooding of residential areas, infrastructure, agricultural land, as well as loss of life. 6. Forest fires: Uncontrolled burning of vegetation caused by natural or man-made factors. They can lead to the destruction of forests, the death of animals, air pollution, as well as a threat to human life and health.

Earthquakes:

June 3: A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.9 occurred in Japan, in Ishikawa Prefecture.
June 5: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 occurred in Angola, 89 km from Caconda.
June 6: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.9 occurred in Russia, in the southern Sea of Okhotsk.
June 6: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 occurred in Indonesia, in the southwest of the island of Sumbawa.
June 7: An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 occurred in Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea.
June 9: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred in the South Pacific, east of New Zealand.

Volcanic eruptions:

The fissure eruption of the Sundukur volcano in Iceland continues.
Since June 2, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has experienced increased seismic activity and ground deformation. The eruption began on June 3.
On June 3, the Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines began to erupt.
On June 3, the Concepción volcano in Nicaragua erupted.
On June 4, the Lewotobi volcano in Indonesia began to erupt again.
On June 7, the San Cristobal volcano in Nicaragua erupted.
On June 9, the Ebeko volcano erupted on Paramushir (Kuril Islands, Russia).

Fires:

Mexico is fighting 21 natural fires in the state of Veracruz.
In Yakutia, due to natural fires, a regional emergency regime was introduced.
In Brazil, the number of forest fires in the Pantanal wetlands has increased by 980% compared to 2023.

Winds:

On June 3, a strong tornado formed in Tongaat (South Africa).
On June 3, a tornado damaged many trees and a house in Alberta, Canada.
On June 5 in the USA, a tornado formed in Montgomery County (Maryland).
On June 5, south of Minsk, near the city of Fanipol (Belarus), two tornadoes formed.
On June 6, a tornado formed near the city of Ulanchab (Inner Mongolia, China).
On June 7-8, a storm raged in Ankara (Türkiye).
On June 8, there was a strong storm in Costa Rica.
On June 9, thunderstorms with large hail and a tornado passed through Austria and Hungary.

Floods:

In Germany, rescuers had to evacuate residents due to flooding in Bavaria.
On June 4, a flood occurred in the city of Bakhchisarai (Crimea).
On June 7, flooding occurred in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca.
On June 9, flooding occurred in the city of Atyrau (Kazakhstan).

Other events:

June 4: A train carrying hazardous chemicals crashed in the US state of Ohio.
June 4: A 30-story building collapsed in Iran.
June 5: Operation Dawn begins in Israel against the Hamas group.
June 6: The Nobel Prize in Medicine ceremony was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
June 8: Elections to the European Parliament took place in Great Britain.

Gleb Perov

Chief forecaster and ideologist of the weather forecast service Pogodnik. Co-author of scientific articles and specialized content for various online media.