Disasters

Ukraine: Chernobly to Open to Tourists

Date: November 30th, 2011 |

The name Chernobyl calls to mind the worst nuclear disaster in history, but in December managers at the nuclear power station hope to start a new chapter for the “Chernobyl Dead Zone.” Managers have announced that they hope to open the site to tourists in December following a ministerial review of safety rules. According to [read more]

Thailand: Heavy Flooding to Last Four to Six Weeks

Date: October 27th, 2011 |

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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that flooding will last another four to six weeks, warning people in Bangkok to be prepared and describing the situation as “extremely serious.” She said it is highly likely that all of Bangkok will flood. Bangkok’s Don Muang domestic airport has already been shut down until at least Nov. 1, [read more]

Indonesia: “Child of Krakatoa” Ready to Erupt

Date: October 8th, 2011 |

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Tourists and fishermen have been warned to stay away from the “Child of Krakatoa,” a volcano created by the same tectonic forces that led to the 1883 Krakatoa, one of history’s great cataclysms that killed tens of thousands of people. “Child” is currently smoking, and daily volcanic tremors have soared from 200 to 7,200. The [read more]

Haiti: U.S. State Department Revises Travel Warning

Date: August 11th, 2011 |

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The U.S. State Department no longer advises against all travel to Haiti, but the department says that travelers should carefully consider the situation before embarking for the island. The new travel warning cites an outbreak of cholera, crime and inadequate infrastructure as its chief concerns, replacing the travel warning from January that cited election violence. [read more]

Indonesia: Mount Lokon Erupts

Date: July 25th, 2011 |

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Sulawesi’s Mount Lokon ended years of dormancy with a major eruption July 17. The blast sent ash and smoke thousands of feet into the air, panicking many of the surrounding villagers who had returned to the mountainside after warnings of a possible large eruption. Airlines with flights traveling within 10 miles of the peak were [read more]

Ireland: Dublin hit with Worst Flooding in Decades

Date: October 27th, 2011 |

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After more than a month’s worth of rain fell in one day Oct. 24, the worst flooding in decades hit Dublin, causing public transportation and other services to grind to a halt and killing at least two people. Dublin City Council implemented its major emergency plan. The city’s largest shopping center was evacuated and damage [read more]

Turkey: Earthquake causes Damage and Death

Date: October 27th, 2011 |

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The death toll following the deadly earthquake in eastern Turkey rose past 400 as rescuers continued to search for survivors amid rubble and debris. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey Oct. 23, injuring more than 1,300 people and causing immense damage in the province of Van. The country is especially vulnerable to large earthquakes [read more]

Guatemala: Four Earthquakes in Two Hours

Date: September 21st, 2011 |

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Four earthquakes struck within the span of two hours Sept. 19, resulting in at least one death amid reports of three missing people. The largest quake measured 5.8 in magnitude, and all four were centered in an area about 30 miles southeast of Guatemala City, the nation’s capital. The most damage was seen in Cuilapa, [read more]

Japan: Some Evacuation Advisories Lifted

Date: August 11th, 2011 |

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The Japanese government has lifted evacuation advisories in some areas more than 12 miles (20 km) from the troubled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. This allows thousands of people to return home after months of displacement. A 12 mile “no-go” zone will remain in place, however, as the government is still working to resolve the radiation [read more]

Japan: State Department updates Fukushima Risks

Date: July 25th, 2011 |

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The U.S. State Department updated its travel alert reconfirming that the health and safety risks to areas outside a 50-mile radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are low and do not pose significant risks to travelers. The State Department continues to advise citizens against traveling to areas within the radius out of “an [read more]

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