African InundationsSome of the worst flooding in...

African Inundations

Some of the worst flooding in living memoryy continued across much of East Africa.

Relief supplies were sent into the worst-affected areas of southern Somalia, where as many as 2,000 people may have died. Three weeks of El Nino-produced rains are causing Somalia’s two main rivers to merge, creating an inland ocean of water. Many of those who have survived the floods did so by crowding onto small patches of dry land. Almost all of the livestock and crops in the area have been destroyed, and once the flood waters recede, it may take years of further relief efforts to prevent another Somalian famine.

Tropical Storms

Tropical cyclone Nute formed over the warming tropical waters of the Coral Sea. The storm produced winds of nearly 100 mph midway between New Caledonia and the Queensland coast of Australia.

Inferno’ End

The onset of the monsoon season across Indonesia and Malaysia has cleared virtually all of the smoke that has covered the region for past three months. Several days of regular rainfall also extinguished most of the remaining blazes on Borneo and Sumatra. The northeast monsoon is expected to bring further rains through February.

Dengue Epidemic

More than 18,000 people have been infected during a growing dengue epidemic in Venezuela this year, and 34 died from the disease. Officials link the outbreak to recent heavy rains and to the habit of many Venezuelans of leaving water containers out in the open, serving as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which carry dengue.

Earthquakes

A powerful magnitude 6.6 temblor on the Greek island of Zakinthos cracked walls and damaged ancient churches, but caused no injuries. It was followed by more than 100 aftershocks registering up to magnitude 5.8.movements were also felt in eastern Greece and western Turkey, eastern Romania, northern Tibet, Taiwan, northern Japan, southwestern Colombia, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula and along the California-Nevada border.

Two-headed Viper

The only living serpent to ever be discovered in the wild with two heads will soon be put on display at a zoo in southern Sri Lanka. The deadly Russell’s viper was found by students in the town of Tissamaharama and kept in a jam jar at a police station before zoo officials were alerted. Wildlife deputy director Nandana Atapattu said the snake has four eyes, two brains, two tongues and two noses, with two esophagi joining together to reach the stomach. He said it appears to prefer to use the right head for eating, although both heads function normally. “There have been snakes born deformed like this in the past, but they have not survived,” said Atapattu.

Additional Sources: U.S. Climate Analysis Center, U.S. Earthquake Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization.