Earthwatch: A Diary of the Planet

Tornado Swarms

Another string of deadly tornadoes tore across several parts of the American Midwest from Colorado to Michigan. A mile-wide tornado in Cherokee County of eastern Oklahoma killed one person and injured six others. One truck driver was killed and five others were injured at a rest stop on Interstate 55 in central Illinois when their big rigs were overturned by high winds associated with the severe storms.

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Impending Eruption

Philippine disaster officials ordered evacuations near the Mayon Volcano in the eastern province of Albay after observing a glow at the crater’s edge and an increased output of sulfur dioxide. Vulcanologists issued the new warnings after increased activity from the 8,075-foot volcano, about 200 miles southeast of Manila. Residents have been advised not to venture into the area because the risk posed by landslides and volcanic debris. Mayon last erupted six years ago, claiming 70 lives and forcing the evacuation 50,000 residents.

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Too Few Weeds

Germans are so efficient at weeding their gardens that the nation’s free-flying bee population is rapidly declining, according to a leading expert. “Gardeners and farmers should leave at least a strip of weeds and wildflowers along the perimeter of their fields and properties to give bees a fighting chance in our increasingly pruned and pristine world,” said Werner Muehlen of the Westphalia-Lippe Agricultural Office. Bee populations have declined 23% over the past decade across Germany and wild honeybees are virtually extinct in Central Europe.

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Typhoon Season

Typhoon Maggie formed over the Philippine Sea and strengthened rapidly as it moved toward the coast of Asia. The storm was expected to threaten Taiwan or coastal China during the weekend with maximum winds of approximately 120 mph.

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Wildfires

Disaster officials in Florida have brought firefighters from as far away as Alaska to fight the blazes that have plagued parts of the Sunshine State. Volunteer firefighters from 30 other states have also joined in the battle to contain the blazes. Conditions have been worsened by an extended period of dry weather, while snakes are being driven into populated areas by the fires.

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Channel Tempest

One British sailor was airlifted to a hospital and more than 150 others were pulled from the sea after their yachts capsized in a sudden squall that hit the coast near Weymouth, England. A total of 77 yachts were participating in a championship regatta when the storm hit the southern English seacoast without warning.

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Additional Sources: U.S. National Earthquake Information Center and the United Nations World Meteorological Organization.