Environmental disasters in December 2020

ANKARA

The last month of 2020 saw a host of environmental disasters, including floods in Malaysia and Thailand, a volcanic eruption that displaced hundreds in Indonesia, landslides in Canada and Norway, and storms in Nigeria.

Here is a timeline compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Dec. 1:

- Volcanic activity in Indonesia’s East Java province forces at least 550 residents to leave their homes, according to the country's disaster agency.

- Cyclone Gati that makes landfall in late September dissipates but rains from the deadly storm continue to pound different towns in Somalia, according to the UN.

Dec. 3:

- Record-breaking rainfall hit Split, Croatia causing traffic chaos and flooding homes and businesses as 118.8 millimeters (4.6 inches) of rain is registered by the country’s meteorological department.

Dec. 4:

- Floods caused by heavy rains displace more than 3,000 residents in Malaysia, according to an official statement.

- The death toll from floods in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province climbs to five, the National Search and Rescue Agency says.

Dec. 5:

- A massive hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain and a drastic temperature drop hit Beirut and surrounding suburbs.

Dec. 7:

- The death toll from flooding in southern Thailand rises to 24, according to local media reports, citing authorities.

- At least 68 people have died from flooding in various parts of Nigeria in 2020, while no less than 129,000 are affected, local media reports.

- A major winter storm dumps more than 3 meters (9.8 feet) of snow in parts of Italy and Austria and more than 770 millimeters (30 inches) of rain in Barcis, Italy.

Dec. 9:

- At least 18 people die after heavy rains cause severe flooding in Mbanza-Ngungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

- Heavy rain-caused flooding continues to affect residents in several provinces of Iran with at least seven killed due to 160 millimeters (6 inches) of rain, equivalent to two months' worth of rain in the country, according to reports.

Dec. 10:

- Italy's historic city of Venice is left partly underwater after a flood defense system fails to work in time due to a mistaken weather forecast, according to local media.

Dec. 13:

- Ash flows reach 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) above sea level in Italy after the Etna volcano erupts.

Dec. 14:

- Severe storms bring torrential rains, floods to southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia.

Dec. 16:

- A massive landslide in Bute inlet in British Columbia, Canada triggers a wave of debris that destroys the forest while wiping out critical habitat for various animals.

Dec. 18:

- At least two people are killed due to a cyclone in Fiji where a nationwide curfew was declared ahead of Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

Dec. 26:

- At least eight mountaineers are confirmed dead and several others remain missing in the Alborz mountains north of the Iranian capital of Tehran after a heavy snowfall and blizzard.

Dec. 27:

- An avalanche in the southeastern province of Hakkari, Turkey martyrs two soldiers while they were working to clear snow from a road near a military base.

Dec. 29:

- Heavy snow and avalanches kill at least four children in Afghanistan’s central Daikundi province.

Dec. 30:

- A flood alert is issued in Zimbabwe ahead of Cyclone Chalane, which is expected to make landfall late Wednesday.

Dec. 31:

- At least 10 people are injured, 10 missing and 700 evacuated after a landslide hit Norway’s southeastern town of Ask in the Gjerdrum municipality.