Floods, quakes wipe out cities. Direct impact of climate change?

The world is experiencing the brunt of climate change, with natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, fires, storms, droughts, and extreme heat waves being reported frequently today.

2023 has seen unprecedented climate disasters globally. We are more than halfway through the year, and catastrophic floods and earthquakes have ravaged Libya, Greece, Brazil, and Morocco this month, causing irreparable damage to infrastructure and lives.

A large portion of the northern hemisphere experienced extraordinary heat in July, shattering previous records for temperature.

Libya floods

The catastrophic floods unleashed by storm Daniel in eastern Libya have killed more than 6000 people, with 10,000 still reported missing. It has been reported to be one of the most fatal environmental disasters in Libya’s modern history.

The city of Derna, with a population of over 1 lakh people, has suffered unimaginable losses in terms of infrastructure and lives, leaving thousands homeless.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, storm Daniel swept in from the Mediterranean over the weekend in Libya and resulted in a jaw-dropping 16 inches of rain in just 24 hours.

 This resulted in the collapse of two dams near the coastal city of Derna, sweeping away the entire city.

As per the health minister of eastern Libya, Othman Abduljaleel, hundreds of bodies are still believed to be trapped under the rubble or washed into the Mediterranean Sea.

Greece floods

Before causing devastation in Libya, storm Daniel hit Greece, claiming the lives of over 15 people and causing widespread damage to property, farms, and infrastructure.

Turkey and Bulgaria floods

Storm Daniel also battered Turkey and Bulgaria. At least seven people were killed as heavy rains triggered flash floods in northwest Turkey, state news agency Anadolu reported.

The local authorities said a further two people were killed and 31 injured in Istanbul’s northern Basaksehir and Kucukcekmece districts, where images showed cars floating in floodwaters.

Similarly, flooding was reported along the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria’s Burgas province, claiming four lives.

Brazil floods

At least 36 people were killed and 2300 people were left homeless after a tropical cyclone hit Brazil, washing away houses, trapping motorists in vehicles, and swamping streets in several cities.

More than 60 cities have been battered since Monday night by the storm, which has been Rio Grande do Sul state’s deadliest, Gov. Eduardo Leite said.

In Mucum, a city of about 50,000 residents, rescuers found 15 bodies in a single house.

Morocco earthquake

At least 3000 people were killed and more than 1,200 were injured after a deadly 6.8-magnitude quake hit Marrakesh and many towns in Morocco on September 8.

The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh.

The rescue operations are still underway, and the death toll is expected to rise further.

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