Rappler's latest stories on natural disaster
Japan rescuers battle to reach thousands trapped by floods
One emergency worker says the coronavirus might be dissuading people from volunteering to help with the rescue efforts
Japan issues fresh rain disaster warnings as toll hits 54
Local media report that some people were preferring to sleep in cars rather than risk coronavirus infection at shelters
More than a million hit by India monsoon floods
About 70% of Assam's World Heritage-listed Kaziranga National Park – home to two-thirds of the world's remaining one-horned rhinos – is submerged by the floods
Dozens killed as south China hit by floods and rainstorms
Floods and mudslides cause nearly 230,000 people to be relocated and destroy more than 1,300 houses
[OPINION] Preparing for typhoon season in the middle of a pandemic
'Disaster planning managers in the country should do their homework as early as now'
New Zealand PM unruffled as earthquake hits mid-interview
'Quite a decent shake here, if you see things moving behind me,' Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, smiling
'Super cyclone' Amphan batters Bangladesh, India
'The situation is more worrying than the coronavirus pandemic. We don't know how to handle it,' India's West Bengal state leader Mamata Banerjee says
Millions batten down as 'super cyclone' Amphan hits Bangladesh, India
Authorities scramble to evacuate more than 3 million people from low-lying areas, but the task is complicated by the need to prevent the spread of coronavirus
'Super cyclone' to slam India, Bangladesh
Along with 'very heavy rainfall,' the system is expected to result in a storm surge pushing the sea level several meters higher
[OPINION] Towards a Disaster Risk Reduction approach to virus response
'Response to disasters uses a cluster approach at different levels to address multifaceted issues. Why can't this tackle the pandemic?'
Record 50 million people displaced internally – monitors
'Internally displaced people are often highly vulnerable people living in crowded camps, emergency shelters, and informal settlements with little or no access to health care,' IDMC director Alexandra Bilak says in a statement
Tornadoes bring death, destruction in southern U.S.
Images show lines of smashed, roofless houses where tornadoes had blasted through, many homes just piles of rubble sitting atop foundations
Monster Pacific cyclone Harold batters Fiji
(UPDATED) Harold remains 'extremely dangerous' and residents in the island's south are advised to shelter in churches, schools, or other substantial buildings
[ANALYSIS] Tackling the disproportionate impact of disasters on women
'One report finds that women and children are 14 times more likely to die in a disaster compared to men, and prevailing traditional gender roles seem to be the culprit'
21 dead as torrential rain hits Brazil
The victims were electrocuted, buried in landslides, or drowned, emergency officials say
Tornadoes tear through Tennessee, 25 dead
News footage shows cars piled up, hangars destroyed, and what appears to be dozens of aircraft smashed into each other
Fast response: How Tokyo Olympics will cope if earthquake strikes
Earthquakes, typhoons, or terrorist attacks can strike anytime, and organizers want to be as prepared as possible
[OPINYON] Trahedya dahil sa isang terminong hindi nauunawaan ng lahat
Hindi namimili ang salitang 'trahedya,' at hindi rin dapat namimili ang salitang 'kaligtasan'
Huge sinkhole swallows bus, kills 6 in China
Several people disappear into the sinkhole as it spreads, including what appears to be a child
Magnitude 6.4 earthquake leaves 1 dead in Puerto Rico – media
(4th UPDATE) The earthquake's first reported victim, a 73-year-old resident of the southern city of Ponce, died after a wall fell in his home
Survival surfing: Indonesians riding the waves to beat tsunami trauma
For some who lost entire families and communities to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, surfing is a way to heal
Tornado hits 5 barangays in Marawi City – report
(UPDATED) The Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is conducting assessment in coordination with the city government
Tulunan officials seek help for earthquake victims
(UPDATED) Municipal officials have asked provincial officials and the national government for more tents, food packs, and trauma healing for earthquake victims
Japan allocates millions in aid for typhoon-hit regions
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his government will offer 710 million yen ($6.5 million) to help areas affected by the storm
Japan searches for survivors as Typhoon Hagibis death toll hits 56
Rescue work that is continuing into the night risks being hampered by additional rain falling in central and eastern Japan that officials warn could cause fresh flooding and landslides
Indonesia quake death toll rises to 30 – gov't
Among the confirmed dead are 3 young children, with many people killed by falling debris in and around quake-struck Ambon City
Indonesia earthquake death toll lowered to 19 – disaster agency
National disaster mitigation agency spokesman Agus Wibowo says the death toll has been lowered after officials realized some of the deceased has been double-counted
Japan on landslide alert as heavy rains lash south
The Japan Meteorological Agency warns that life-threatening landslides are possible
Floods, blackouts after Thai storm, but tourist islands spared
The storm tacks away from the key tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, where large numbers of travelers hunker down for 24 hours in heavy rains
Thousands evacuated as Guatemala volcano erupts, then stops
Many of those evacuated say they fear a repeat of the deadly June eruption
Firefighters battle blazes on 2 fronts in California, 44 dead
Most of the fatalities have been reported from the town of Paradise, population 26,000, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains about 80 miles north of Sacramento
Japan economy shrinks in Q3 as natural disasters hit
Gross domestic product for the July-September period has contracted 0.3% from the previous quarter, reversing growth of 0.8% in the April-June period
Why Philippines and Indonesia are prone to natural hazards
Just like Indonesia, the Philippines has a big earthquake looming in its future. This raises an important question: what makes the Philippines and Indonesia prone to natural hazards?
Trump questions climate change during hurricane damage tour
President Donald Trump, a longtime climate change skeptic, says he does believe the climate is shifting, but argues that any worsening may not be permanent
Hurricane Michael death toll hits 17
Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, warns that he expects the toll to rise
Disease fears as more bodies found in Indonesia disaster
There are fears that vast numbers of decomposing bodies could still be buried beneath Petobo and Balaroa – two areas virtually wiped off the map
Last-ditch search for survivors as Indonesia disaster toll tops 1,500
After days of delays, international aid has finally started to arrive in the disaster zone, where the UN says almost 200,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance
Indonesia earthquake: Kids traumatized as rescuers race against clock
(UPDATED) According to Save the Children, many youngsters are sleeping on the streets among ruins in Palu, and authorities urgently need to identify and reunite them with their relatives
Typhoon Trami pounds Japan, dozens injured
(UPDATED) At least of 65 people are reported to have sustained injuries
Typhoon Trami injures 45, direct hit on Japan mainland expected
(2nd UPDATE) Typhoon Trami injures at least 5 and forces 600 people to evacuation centers as it pummels through Okinawa, Japan
In Itogon, sister volunteers to dig beneath the soil to look for brother
Benylyn Gumuwang still believes her brother Harvey will come home alive, even if officials or other miners say he is most likely gone
Florence death toll jumps to 31 as flooding wreaks havoc
'This is an epic storm that is still continuing. This is a monumental disaster for our state,' says North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Perfect storms: hurricanes and typhoons
Here are some facts about monster storms and what to expect as climate change supercharges our weather
Evacuations start as Typhoon Ompong bears down on Philippines
Authorities say some 10 million people in the Philippines are in the storm's path
Hurricane Florence closes in on U.S. east coast
(UPDATED) Florence has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm but the National Hurricane Center stresses it remains 'a life-threatening situation' due to the risks of storm surge around coastal areas
Residents told to 'get out now' as Florence takes aim at Carolinas
(UPDATED) 'This is not a storm that people need to ride out. This is a storm that is historic, maybe once in a lifetime,' says North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
DSWD prepares P829 million in aid for Typhoon Mangkhut
Some P872 million in standby funds are also available
Japan toll rises to 35 after powerful quake
(4th UPDATE) Around 5 people are still unaccounted for in the small northern countryside town of Atsuma
Japan's Kansai airport to reopen partially on September 7
The Kansai International Airport was battered by Typhoon Jebi, which made landfall Tuesday, September 4 as the strongest storm to hit Japan since 1993
Japan quake, landslides leave at least 8 dead
(UPDATED) Around 3 million homes have lost power after the quake damaged a major thermal plant supplying the region
