#climatecrisis

🔥🇦🇷 Argentina | Wildfire Reaches National Route in Patagonia

In Chubut Province, Patagonia, a major wildfire continues to spread and has reached National Route 40 on the stretch between Epuyén and El Hoyo.

🚧 Due to the advancing flames, traffic on the highway is under threat, with possible restrictions or temporary closures. Firefighting and emergency services are operating under difficult conditions, working to contain the fire front and prevent further spread.

🌡️ The situation is being worsened by hot weather, very dry air, and gusty winds, increasing the risk of rapid fire growth. Authorities urge residents and drivers to remain cautious and follow official updates.

📍 Epuyén — El Hoyo, Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina

New comic! “Move” is one of a series of climate comics that bring art and science together to explore the big questions about the climate crisis. More to read & download at https://www.comicartfestival.com/constrain-climate-comics The other artists involved are – award-winning comic creator Darryl Cunningham and comic creator, academic and illustrator Sayra Begum. CONSTRAIN is a 4-year programme…

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UK Government must legislate to: - Tax jet fuel - Increase other taxes & duties on planes with few passengers - Require fuel for outbound flights to be bought in the UK to avoid tax evasion and curb carbon emissions - Require private jets to carbon offset From Jan‘22-Oct‘23, private jets of 200 of the world's richest people emitted the same amount of carbon as almost 40,000 Britons. In 2022 alone they made 27793 flights - just 0.5% of the 5.3m private flights that year, while public airlines formed only 7% of UK emissions. Right now jet fuel isn’t taxed at all but we think it could raise billions in tax income to improve people’s lives. We think this data show the disproportionate impact of the privileged few. We believe the government need to act to bring an end to this.

Deadline: 10 September 2025

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British citizens (living anywhere in the world)

A WORD OF CAUTION FROM @wendellpcg HE WENT THROUGH KATRINA WITH HIS FAMILY AND SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON #ALTADENA 🙏🏾💔 “AFTER 50 YEARS OF PAYING INSURANCE PREMIUMS, WE RECEIVED ONLY $400”. - #TeamDL

Rescue teams in Taiwan’s eastern Hualien County are battling through thick grey sludge and collapsing terrain as they search for 11 people still unaccounted for following Super Typhoon Ragasa. The disaster was triggered when a mountain barrier lake burst, sending a deluge of muddy water into the town of Guangfu. At least 14 people have been confirmed dead so far as recovery efforts continue in the muck.

When Storms and Mountains Collide

Typhoon Ragasa unleashed heavy rainfall across Taiwan, straining natural and manmade barriers alike. Early this week, the heavy rain overwhelmed a mountain lake above Guangfu, causing its natural dam to give way. That collapse unleashed a wall of water mixed with earth, flooding homes, burying roads, and saturating fields in mud.

This barrier lake itself was formed earlier this year, when landslides blocked a tributary of the Matai’an Creek, creating a dammed reservoir of water behind it. Prior rainfall and typhoon activity made the structure vulnerable.

Some of the released water was enormous in scale: authorities estimate that about 60 million tonnes of water burst free from an original volume of 91 million tonnes—equivalent to filling tens of thousands of Olympic swimming pools.

The Struggle in the Muck

Though floodwaters have mostly receded, the havoc remains visible. Thick grey mud blankets large swathes of Guangfu, slowing access and making rescue work arduous. Workers, at times wading through mud up to their waists, are cutting roof holes and entering homes to look for survivors or remains.

Many casualties were elderly residents who could not reach higher floors in time. Some died on first floors when mud and water rushed in.

One tragic case involves Huang Ju-hsing, 88, who remains trapped on his second floor because the lower floors and stairs were buried. His wife, 78, miraculously escaped by climbing over debris downstairs.

Authorities face a difficult decision about how to deal with the now-shrunken barrier lake. Though explosive demolition was considered, officials have rejected that option for fear it could trigger more landslides and worsen the danger.

Numbers in Flux, Communities in Peril

The official death toll now stands at 14, revised downward from 17 after duplicated reports were reconciled.

Meanwhile, the number of people listed as missing has been reduced—from an earlier high above 150 to 33, and now to 11 still missing. Some have been located or confirmed elsewhere, but rescue efforts continue in several locations.

Geographically, Hualien is mountainous, remote, and sparsely populated—conditions that complicate rescue. It’s a region known for natural beauty but also vulnerability to landslides and flooding.

Why This Disaster Was So Severe

A combination of factors converged:

Heavy rainfall overloads natural systems — the typhoon’s intensity overwhelmed drainage and soil absorption.

Barrier lake instability — the dam was already stressed by earlier storms and landslides.

Remote terrain & access issues — roads and rescue routes were damaged or buried in mud.

Delayed or insufficient warning — many victims may not have had time or means to move to safe areas.

Aging population & mobility challenges — older residents often found themselves unable to climb or evacuate quickly.

Climate scientists and disaster analysts point out that such compound disasters—typhoons triggering landslides and lake bursts—are becoming more frequent as extreme weather intensifies.

What Rescue Teams Face Now

Access & extraction: reaching buried homes, unstable slopes, and voids under debris

Search & recovery: identifying remains and locating survivors in collapsed structures

Mud & debris clearance: moving earth, fallen trees, and residual water

Road & bridge repair: restoring routes to allow relief supply movement

Safety of crews: working amid unstable landslide zones, risk of further collapses

Local authorities have ruled out using explosives to break the lake barrier because of the risk to surrounding slopes and lives.

Broader Implications

This tragedy underlines key lessons for disaster planning:

Monitoring of barrier lakes: even natural dams must be observed and assessed after major weather events

Early warning systems: communicating quickly to remote communities can save lives

Infrastructure resilience: roads, bridges, and evacuation paths must withstand flood and landslide stress

Population vulnerability: special plans for older or immobile residents in hazard zones

Climate adaptation: systems built for past norms may be inadequate for the intensifying storms ahead

Rescuers in Hualien continue pressing ahead, wading in mud and rubble, calling names, and cutting through roofs. Every moment is precious. For survivors, the path to recovery will be long—physically, emotionally, and socially. But amid destruction, the efforts of rescuers, emergency teams, and community volunteers are a testament to resolve in the face of nature’s fury.