International
More hurricanes and more powerful and faster threaten the Atlantic this 2024
With one day left before the official start of a new season of expert hurricanes in the United States and authorities asked the population this Friday to be prepared for the increasingly powerful and frequent cyclones, which hit vulnerable areas of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico with special virulence.
The National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, has predicted for this year in the Atlantic an active and above-average season, with between 17 and 25 named storms and 8 to 13 hurricanes, of them between 4 and 7 of the higher category.
However, and as the director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Michael Brennan, said this Friday at a press conference, there is no need for a major hurricane to generate devastating impacts and gave as an example the floods caused by the rains that carry the cyclones, which in the last ten years have been “the deadliest danger.”
“They have been responsible for more than half of the deaths” and it is almost unrelated to the strength of a cyclone, Brennan stressed. “It doesn’t matter the category, or if it’s a tropical storm or depression. What matters is how much it rains and how heavy the rains are in a certain location,” he said.
The director said that other water-related hazards, such as hurricane tide or hangover currents, are responsible for between 85 and 90% of the deaths left by each storm or hurricane that hits the United States.
Cyclones are not only more powerful and intensify faster, but also, as recent studies reveal, this “rapid intensification occurs more and more frequently the closer they get to the ground,” said today the chief scientist of the organization The Nature Conservancy, Katharine Hayhoe.
During a teleconference, the expert stressed that at present, cyclones carry “much more water vapor” than 50 or 100 years ago, and also their weakening process, even when they are already on land and far from their source of power (the hot waters of the ocean), is slower and therefore impact more.
Hayhoe said that to measure the degree of disaster that a hurricane or storm can generate, it is necessary to take into account the latent danger as well as the level of exposure, that is, the number of structures and people that can be left at the mercy of the cyclones.
And a third element is vulnerability, which has to do with how prepared and resistant the populations are, a component that is reflected with the different impacts that in 2016 caused the powerful Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, where it unleashed an outbreak of cholera, and in the Carolinas, states of the United States.
The deputy director of the organization’s Caribbean program, Shenique Albury-Smith, recalled this Friday that Hurricane Dorian of 2019, which reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (the maximum), has been the most powerful that has impacted the Bahamas, where 70 people died and generated losses of more than 3.4 billion dollars.
“People lost houses, cars, boats, businesses; assets that took them a lifetime to build and that were basically lost in a day, in a few hours,” said Albury-Smith, who also highlighted the psychological impacts that that hurricane unleashed on the affected populations.
“Hurricanes provide a very strong footprint of how human activity, specifically greenhouse gas emissions, are overloading our extreme climates, making them much more dangerous in a world that is getting hot,” Hayhoe said.
The scientist was questioned about the recent law signed by the governor of Florida, Republican Ron DeSantis, which eliminates most of the references to the climate crisis from state legislation and even ceases to be one of the priorities of the Government’s agenda.
“I can say that I don’t believe in gravity, but the truth is that if I jump from the precipice I will fall,” said the expert.
He added that not reacting to the information provided by science is an option. “But it is an option that increases our vulnerability instead of reducing it,” he stressed.
International
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to an assessment released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.
The organization said the projections are based on available population data and damage assessments, and include up to two million people living in Caracas, the country’s capital.
The estimates highlight the potentially massive humanitarian impact of the disaster, the IOM warned.
Entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, following the powerful twin earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on Wednesday.
The national death toll has risen to 920, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble in coastal regions and other affected areas.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told AFP on Friday that more than 50,000 people were reported missing.
The IOM also revealed that it worked with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence laboratory on an initial satellite mapping analysis, which showed that 31.5% of buildings in the town of Catia La Mar had suffered damage.
Authorities and international rescue teams continue operations as Venezuela faces one of its largest humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
International
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed his condolences to the people of Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and highlighted the ongoing coordination between UN humanitarian teams and interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Speaking during the UN’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by the loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” Dujarric stated.
Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to official figures, the disaster has left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured.
Dujarric noted that preliminary reports indicate significant damage across several states, including the capital, Caracas. Numerous casualties have been reported, while other individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures or are still missing.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and essential services have been disrupted,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations confirmed that its humanitarian team remains in close contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other relevant authorities as emergency operations continue.
To support relief efforts, the UN has established a coordination center in Caracas and is assisting local authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Guterres also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and offers of assistance from countries around the world that responded following news of the disaster, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian emergency.
International
OAS Secretary General Pledges Regional Assistance Following Venezuela Quake Disaster
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, said on Thursday that the “hemispheric community” stands ready to provide “full support” to Venezuela and its people following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country overnight, leaving at least 164 people dead and nearly 1,000 injured.
Speaking at the conclusion of the OAS General Assembly, Ramdin expressed solidarity not only with Venezuela but also with Colombia, Curaçao and Aruba, where the tremors were also felt.
“Above all, our thoughts are with these peoples,” he said during his remarks.
Ramdin noted that while many details about the disaster are still emerging, countries across the hemisphere are prepared to assist Venezuela as it responds to the crisis.
“Much remains unknown at this stage, but the hemispheric community will be ready to support the people of Venezuela during this very difficult time,” he stated, reiterating the organization’s commitment to helping those affected.
According to updated information released by the Venezuelan government, the powerful earthquakes have been followed by at least 30 aftershocks. Authorities have also reported extensive structural damage, including numerous building collapses in La Guaira, the area considered hardest hit by the disaster.
Rescue efforts are currently focused on La Guaira, where emergency teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble as officials assess the full extent of the damage.
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
OAS Secretary General Pledges Regional Assistance Following Venezuela Quake Disaster
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