Tag - disasters

 
 

DISASTERS

WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 29, 2017
America had a near-record 15 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2017
In the year that President Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris accord and downplayed global warming as a security threat, the U.S. received a harsh reminder of the perils of the rise in the planet's temperature: a destructive rash of hurricanes, fires and floods.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 27, 2017
Philippines to investigate whether firms involved in deadly mall fire failed to meet safety standards
The Philippines said on Tuesday it would investigate whether safety regulations were ignored at an office where a fire killed 37 call center employees, and vowed to impose sanctions if firms had not met standards.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 26, 2017
Floods, fires and climate crisis in the Pacific
Runaway global warming is proving to be a tipping point for catastrophes.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2017
Plantings of 'tsunami trees' link Tohoku with Banda Aceh
A group of colorfully dressed girls performed an energetic traditional welcome dance when Japanese artist Takashi Murakami visited their elementary school in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia's Aceh province, for a tree-planting event Friday morning.
EDITORIALS
Dec 20, 2017
Injunction reflects hurdles nuclear power plants face
The high court decision should trigger more discussions on active volcanoes, which number more than 100 in Japan, and nuclear power plant sites.
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2017
Japan plans public-private info-sharing team to manage data during natural disasters
The Cabinet Office has plans to form a public-private team that will collect and digitize information on damage and relief operations during natural disasters for sharing with local officials, sources said Monday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 30, 2017
Stranded tourists depart Bali as volcanic ash cloud shifts
Airlines laid on extra flights to Bali on Thursday to allow some of the thousands of passengers stranded by the eruption of Mount Agung to fly out, as a switch in wind direction sent volcanic ash away from the holiday island's airport.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 27, 2017
Bali volcano forces mass evacuation as alert raised to highest level
Indonesia raised its warning for Bali's Mount Agung volcano to the highest alert level Monday, closed the island's airport and told residents around the mountain to evacuate immediately, warning of an "imminent" risk of a larger eruption.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 23, 2017
At New York conference, donors pledge over $2 billion to help hurricane-hit Caribbean nations recover
With thousands left homeless by recent hurricanes in Caribbean island farming and fishing communities, international donors have pledged more than $2 billion to support rebuilding efforts.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2017
Only 36% of toilets in public high schools are Western-style: lawmaker survey
Japan may be known as the world leader when it comes to high-tech toilets, but only 35.8 percent of those in prefectural high schools are Western-style.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2017
Government-linked events to win support on nuclear waste disposal sites tempted students with rewards
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan has admitted to offering students money and rewards in exchange for attending government events promoting public acceptance of hosting disposal sites for high-level radioactive nuclear waste.
EDITORIALS
Nov 5, 2017
Anticipating a major Nankai Trough quake
While improving seismic observation systems is important, it is more important to assume a large earthquake can hit at any time and place.
WORLD
Nov 3, 2017
Trump boosts disaster aid for Puerto Rico
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday agreed to expand the use of disaster aid to help rebuild Puerto Rico's power grid and other infrastructure wrecked by Hurricane Maria, the White House said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2017
FEMA chief says U.S. spending over $200 million a day on weather-related disasters, slams Whitefish contract
The U.S. is spending more than $200 million a day responding to recent hurricanes and wildfires, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told Congress Tuesday in testimony that also slammed the $300 million Whitefish contract in Puerto Rico.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 23, 2017
Toyota temporarily halts all domestic plants for safety due to typhoon
Toyota Motor Corp. temporarily suspended operations Monday at all of its domestic vehicle and auto parts plants due to Typhoon Lan. Some of the plants were set to resume operation later in the day.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 20, 2017
Hurricanes' unnatural toll
The world spends far more on post-disaster aid and reconstruction than it does on mitigation even though the latter would save many lives and is far more cost-effective.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 14, 2017
California wildfires rage as death toll hits record 35
Fire officials in Northern California reported further headway on Friday against the most lethal outbreak of wildfires in state history, as the death toll rose to 35 and teams with cadaver dogs combed charred ruins for human remains.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 13, 2017
Disasters make 14 million people homeless each year, U.N. says
About 14 million people are being made homeless on average each year as a result of sudden disasters such as floods and storms, new figures show.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 12, 2017
Sonoma and Napa vintners scramble to protect wine as fires sweep through area
The flames stopped 2 meters from tanks holding fermenting wine at Sonoma's Imagery Estate Winery, but the threat to the precious contents persisted.
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 10, 2017
Asia-Pacific region at higher risk from disasters, U.N. warns in report
Natural disasters could become more destructive in the Asia-Pacific region, where a person is already five times more likely to be affected than in other area of the world, the United Nations warned Tuesday, urging countries to invest in resilience plans.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals