Environmental disasters across globe in September 2021

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) – A range of environmental disasters hit the world in September, including heavy rains and floods in Spain and Pakistan, a deadly hurricane in the US, volcanic eruptions in Italy, Spain and Japan, a tropical storm in Thailand, and landslides in Nepal.

Below is a timeline compiled by Anadolu Agency:

Sept. 1:

- Nearly 1 million people were left without power in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida tore through the southeastern US state.

Sept. 2:

- As parts of Spain recovered from storm-induced flash floods, other areas of the country, including the Balearic Islands, faced another bout of severe weather.

- At least 40 people reportedly died in New York and New Jersey after remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through the northeast US.

Sept. 3:

- At least 10 people died after torrential monsoon rains triggered landslides in a mountainous district in Nepal.

- Death toll in New York and New Jersey rose to 48 as Hurricane Ida’s remnants caused record-breaking rainfall and mass flooding.

Sept. 4:

- The Democratic Republic of Congo announced it would seek compensation from the owners of an Angolan diamond mine that polluted drinking water, killing at least 12 people and leaving thousands ill.

- At least four people died after flash floods damaged hundreds of houses in Mexico.

Sept. 8:

- Heavy rains displaced some 270 people in Karusandara and Kanyengeya in Uganda’s western Kasese district.

Sept. 9:

- Death toll in the US state of Louisiana from Hurricane Ida climbed to 26.

Sept. 10:

- Flooding along rivers in northern Colombia affected over 50,000 people, mostly in the La Mojana region. Swathes of farming land were also damaged and thousands of livestock had to be relocated.

Sept. 12:

- At least 20 people were killed as torrential rains lashed parts of northwestern Pakistan.

Sept. 13:

- Heavy rains and flooding killed five people, injured over 50, and displaced nearly 70,000 in several parts of Guinea.

- A devastating forest fire in southern Spain claimed one life and forced 2,600 people to flee from their homes.

Sept. 14:

- Severe flooding in Nigeria’s capital Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory killed four people and damaged houses.

Sept. 15:

- More than 2,500 houses were damaged as heavy rains hit several parts of Indonesia, causing rivers to overflow and leading to floods and landslides.

Sept. 17:

- Mt. Otake erupted on an island in southwestern Japan, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to 3 on a scale of 5.

Sept. 19:

- Thousands of residents were evacuated after the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma erupted.

Sept. 20:

- At least 10 people died, 1,300 were evacuated, and some 1.2 million people were affected as days of heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow in India’s West Bengal state.

Sept. 21:

- Mt. Etna, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupted, spewing lava and a giant cloud of ash.

Sept. 24:

- Some 400 homes and 200 hectares (494 acres) of land were destroyed as the volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma continued.

Sept. 27:

- Tropical storm Dianmu caused heavy rainfall and floods in several provinces of Thailand.

Sept. 30:

- A small tornado hit Germany’s northern port city of Kiel, injuring seven people and damaging properties.

- The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted, spewing thick plumes of ash and creating fire fountains up to 100 feet (30 meters) high in the Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s summit.