Latest news with #mudslides
NHK
11 hours ago
- General
- NHK
Japan's Emperor and Empress visit 2014 Hiroshima mudslide disaster site
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have visited an area in the city of Hiroshima that was devastated by a rain-triggered disaster 11 years ago. Localized downpours in August 2014 caused mudslides and landslides at a total of 166 locations in the city. Currents of mud and debris struck residential communities at the foot of the hills, resulting in 77 fatalities, including those who died later due to related causes. The couple visited the Yagi district in Asaminami Ward on Friday. The area suffered great losses of life from the disaster. Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the district as reigning emperor and empress in 2014, four months after the catastrophe. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were briefed by land ministry officials on the sand-control dam built at the site where houses had been swept away. The couple bowed in the direction of where 23 lives were lost. They went on to visit the Hiroshima City Torrential Rain Disaster Memorial Center, which exhibits the testimonies of survivors and documents rebuilding efforts based on the lessons learned from the disaster. The center was built in 2023. The Empress asked the director of the facility, who is a survivor himself, if his house had been completely destroyed. The Emperor asked how the survivors' accounts were collected. The couple also met with people who were affected by the disaster. The Emperor offered encouraging words to a survivor who lost his mother and his house in a mudslide.
Al Jazeera
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Hurricane Erick slams into Mexico's coast as Category 3 storm
Hurricane Erick has made landfall in Mexico's western state of Oaxaca, bringing with it the risk of 'life-threatening flooding and mudslides', the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) says. The powerful storm reached the coast of Mexico early on Thursday with its centre 30km (20 miles) east of Punta Maldonado, according to the NHC. In its latest bulletin, the NHC reported that Erick's maximum sustained winds as it hit the coast were 205 kilometres per hour (125 miles per hour), meaning it was downgraded from a Category 4 to a Category 3 hurricane. Erick, which is travelling to the northwest at a rate of 15km/h (9mph), is expected to move inland over southern Mexico throughout Thursday before weakening and dissipating by early Friday. Forecasters predicted it would unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge. A hurricane warning is in place for the entire coast between Acapulco and Puerto Angel. The NHC warned that Erick could unleash up to 40cm (16 inches) of rain on Oaxaca and Guerrero, which could lead to 'life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain'. The Mexican states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco could also be hit by up to 15cm (6 inches) of rainfall, the Miami-based centre added. Meanwhile, Mexico's national water commission, Conagua, said waves in coastal areas were up to 10 metres (33ft) high. Mexican authorities have scrambled to prepare residents and tourists before Erick's arrival. In a video message on Wednesday night, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to stay at home or move to shelters if they were in low-lying areas. About 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca to house those who have to leave their homes. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said schools in her state would stay closed and fishing and tourism operators had been told to make their boats storm-ready. Residents in the Guerrero resort of Acapulco were among those steeling themselves for Erick's landfall. The city of almost one million people was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, which killed at least 52 people and destroyed many homes and businesses. Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach in the 2023 hurricane. On Wednesday, he oversaw workers as they stored tables and chairs in preparation for the new storm. 'Authorities' warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we've already been through,' he said. Elsewhere in the city, Veronica Gomez, a 40-year-old shipping company worker, suggested Acapulco was much better prepared this time. 'Now it's not going to catch us by surprise,' she said.
Forbes
a day ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Category 4 Hurricane Erick Close To Landfall With A Familiar Story
Satellite image of Hurricane Erick on the morning of June 19, 2025. Hurricane Erick is expected to make landfall later this morning. In fact, by the time I finish writing this piece, the eye may have breached the Mexican coastline. At the time of writing around 7 am EDT, the hurricane was rated as a powerful Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. It was moving towards the region of Acapulco and Puerto Angel at 9 mph Here is the latest information about this major hurricane and expected impacts. Hurricane Erick on the verge of landfall on June 19, 2025. Hurricane Watches and Warnings are up along the Mexican coast. During the early morning hours of June 19, 2025, the National Hurricane Center wrote, 'On the forecast track, the center of Erick is expected to make landfall in the western portion of the Mexican state of Oaxaca or the eastern portion of the Mexican state of Guerrero within the next few hours, and then continue inland over southern Mexico later today.' Though the storm is expected to weaken after landfall, impacts will be felt well inland. Those impacts will include up to a foot or more of rainfall in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero and significant totals in surrounding regions. Dangerous flooding and mudslides, particularly within steep terrain, are likely. Additionally, extreme winds typical of a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) will impact the coasts and regions inland. NHC cautioned, "Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater." To the right of the eye, life-threatening storm surge will produce coastal flooding, large waves, swells, and rip currents. Expected rainfall from Hurricane Erick. Yesterday morning I warned, 'The forecast ultimately puts Erick at Category 2 level, but I would not rule out slightly higher intensity.' As expected, Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified, which means it gained at least 35 mph of sustained wind speed in less than 24 hours. This is a familiar story with landfalling hurricanes. Meteorologists Chris Dolce, Jon Erdman, and Johnathan Beiles wrote, 'Erick rapidly intensified from a 40 mph tropical storm Tuesday morning to Cat 4 intensity at midnight Thursday morning.' According to The Weather Channel experts, 'Erick may be the first known Cat 4 E. Pacific hurricane to landfall in Mexico prior to October in records dating to the late 1950s.' Because of the physical properties of water, stronger hurricanes are typically not expected until later in the season. However, the sea surface temperatures, wind shear patterns, and moisture have been optimal for Erick's intensification. Studies continue to link warmer ocean temperatures or marine heatwaves to recent rapid intensification. Rapid intensification is problematic because it shortens the window for preparation of such powerful storms. Sea surface temperature anomalies near the Mexican coast are warmer than normal.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Hurricane Erick Forms Off Mexico's Pacific Coast and Threatens to Bring Flooding and Mudslides
Hurricane Erick formed Wednesday in the Pacific Ocean on a forecast track to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge, and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, the US National Hurricane Center said. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lighter amounts in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states, the Miami-based center said in an advisory. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Erick was located about 160 miles (257 kilometers) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (121 kph). It was moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph). Erick is expected to be at or near major hurricane status as it approaches the Mexican coast on Thursday. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of 111–129 mph (180–210 kph).
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Climate
- BreakingNews.ie
Hurricane Erick forms off Mexican coast, threatening flooding and mudslides
Hurricane Erick has formed in the Pacific Ocean on a forecast track to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, the US National Hurricane Centre said. Up to 20 inches of rain could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lighter amounts in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the Miami-based centre said in an advisory. Advertisement The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Erick was located about 160 miles south-southeast of Puerto Angel and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It is moving north west at approximately 7mph. Erick is expected to be at or near major hurricane status as it approaches the Mexican coast on Thursday. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of 111-129 mph. Advertisement
