Global environmental disasters in August

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - The world witnessed several unexpected environmental developments and disasters in August, including deadly floods and landslides in Pakistan; a hailstorm in Spain, torrential rains in northern Nigeria and wildfires in Russia, France and the US.

Below is a timeline compiled by Anadolu Agency:

Aug. 1:

- A wildfire grows to become the US state of California's largest this year, killing two people.

- At least 14 people are killed and 12 went missing after floods triggered by torrential rains battered eastern Uganda.

- The death toll rises to 35 in Kentucky as massive flooding and rainfall are destroying wide swathes of the eastern region of the US state.

Aug. 2:

- At least 29 people are killed in Uganda from flooding caused by heavy downpours which caused rivers to burst their banks.

Aug. 9:

- More than 1,200 people are evacuated as a major fire engulfed more than 700 hectares (1,700 acres) of forest land in the Occitanie region in southern France.

- Two massive forest fires raging for two weeks cut off towns and thousands of residents in the province of Newfoundland, Canada as officials pray for rain and diminishing winds.

Aug. 10:

- At least nine people are killed and seven remain missing from record downpours in the last three days that flooded homes, roads and subway stations in Seoul, South Korea.

Aug. 11:

- France is reeling under the disastrous effects of wildfires with more than 60,000 hectares (148,263 acres) burned since the start of 2022 and 10,000 hectares destroyed this week.

Aug. 13:

- At least 77 Yemenis are killed by heavy rains and flooding between July 28 and Aug. 10 in the war-torn country, according to the UN.

Aug. 14:

- At least 50 people are killed in floods triggered by torrential rains in northern Nigeria.

Aug. 15:

- Flooding caused by fresh rain spells across Pakistan kill at least 16 people in the past 24 hours, besides washing away houses, roads, bridges and leaving thousands stranded.

Aug. 16:

- Flash floods triggered by heavy rains kill 75 people in Sudan and injured dozens since June, authorities announces.

Aug. 18:

- At least six people die and 20 are injured after sudden thunderstorms and torrential rains on the French island of Corsica.

- Smoke continues to blanket Moscow as wildfires rage in the neighboring region of Ryazan.

- Two people are killed by falling trees in Italy’s central Tuscany region as bad weather hit the north and center of the country causing extensive damage.

- A total of 31 people are killed in Algeria due to forest fires that break out in several provinces in the north African country.

Aug. 19:

- Flash floods that wreaked havoc in parts of northwestern China this week claim 18 lives, with 13 still missing.

Aug. 20:

- Raging flooding along with relentless rain kill another 33 people in Pakistan in the past two days, aside from inundating large swaths, washing away infrastructures and triggering landslides.

Aug. 21:

- At least five fishing boats with more than 70 fishermen in Bangladesh’s southern coastal district of Barguna are missing in a strong storm.

Aug. 22:

- A total of 13 people are killed and 21 injured in a single day in Yemen from lightning strikes.

Aug. 23:

- Another 39 people are killed in raging floods caused by torrential downpours in southern and northern Pakistan in the past 24 hours, pushing the toll to more than 700 since June.

Aug. 27:

- With the latest 45 fatalities in the past 24 hours, Pakistan approaches the grim milestone of 1,000 casualties in rain-related accidents, which is triggered by torrential rains and swirling floods across the country since June.

Aug. 29:

- With another 75 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, the toll from massive floods caused by unprecedented monsoon rains across Pakistan hits 1,138.

Aug. 31:

- The death toll from different rain and flood-related mishaps across Pakistan in the past 24 hours, rises to 1,162.

- A 20-month-old baby dies and dozens are injured after a violent hailstorm battered a town in Girona, Spain.