Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are extreme events caused by natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tropical cyclones, landslides, droughts, and volcanic eruptions, that result in significant harm to human populations, property, and economies. The severity of a disaster depends on the hazard itself and the vulnerability of affected communities, including factors such as infrastructure, preparedness, and social and economic conditions. Human activities, land use choices, and climate change can influence the frequency, intensity, and impact of these events.

Image: Devastation in northern Nepal from the August 26, 2026 disaster
‘No doubt’ of climate change role in deadly China-Nepal flood: scientistsScienceNews

‘No doubt’ of climate change role in deadly China-Nepal flood: scientists

Kathmandu, Nepal | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Climate change was a core factor in last month's deadly glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border that killed…
SourceSourceSeptember 17, 2026 Full article
Image: map Nepal floods
Nepal-China floods disaster: Latest developmentsNews

Nepal-China floods disaster: Latest developments

Kathmandu, Nepal | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Updated @ 17 September 2026 - 12:25 CET Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite images show the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli river system near…
SourceSourceSeptember 17, 2026 Full article
Image: Satellite Image Nepal’s Rasuwa District
Glacial collapse caused seismic activity, ‘catastrophic’ Nepal floods: USGSNews

Glacial collapse caused seismic activity, ‘catastrophic’ Nepal floods: USGS

Kathmandu, Nepal / Beijing, China | AFP | Muser NewsDesk A glacial collapse caused seismic activity and "catastrophic" downstream impacts in Nepal and Tibet, the US Geological…
SourceSourceAugust 27, 2026 Full article
3D globe graphic (s. climate, flood, water)
Massive flood near Tibet border kills at least 95 in NepalNews

Massive flood near Tibet border kills at least 95 in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal | AFP At least 95 people were killed in Nepal on Wednesday after a massive flood tore through the border region with Tibet, a…
SourceSourceAugust 26, 2026 Full article
Infographic with a map showing the High Fens nature reserve in Belgium, on the border with Germany, showing active fires since August 14, 2026
Belgium fire makes ‘limited’ spread overnight, more help on wayNews

Belgium fire makes ‘limited’ spread overnight, more help on way

Robertville, Belgium | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Air reinforcements were headed to Belgium Monday to help combat the country's worst wildfire in a century, which made…
SourceSourceAugust 17, 2026 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, research, scientists. emission targets, floods, environment)
Indonesia quake toll jumps to 20 killedNews

Indonesia quake toll jumps to 20 killed

Maumere, Indonesia | AFP A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off Flores island in east Indonesia Saturday killed at least 20 people, an emergency official told…
SourceSourceAugust 15, 2026 Full article
Image: Median Fire Weather Index (FWI) anomaly map (Europe, 13-19 Aug. 2026)
Latest developments: Europe battles wildfiresNews

Latest developments: Europe battles wildfires

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Countries across Europe were battling a wave of new wildfires Friday as blistering temperatures and tinder-dry landscapes made for…
SourceSourceAugust 14, 2026 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, research, scientists. emission targets, floods, environment)
Colombia president says earthquake death toll hits 265News

Colombia president says earthquake death toll hits 265

Bogotá, Colombia | AFP Colombia's president declared an economic emergency Wednesday and vowed the country would rebuild after a massive earthquake that he said had now…
SourceSourceAugust 13, 2026 Full article
Image: Binary world illustration
Economic losses from natural disasters fall to $100 bn in first half of 2026: Swiss ReNews

Economic losses from natural disasters fall to $100 bn in first half of 2026: Swiss Re

Zurich, Switzerland | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Credit: Swiss Re Economic losses from natural catastrophes worldwide are estimated to have reached $100 billion in the first…
SourceSourceAugust 11, 2026 Full article
Image: a man riding a bike through a flooded street (s. India, monsoon)
India monsoon floods, landslides kill more than 100 since July: officialsNews

India monsoon floods, landslides kill more than 100 since July: officials

New Delhi, India | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains have killed more than 100 people across India since July, official…
SourceSourceAugust 5, 2026 Full article
Image: fog in Toronto, Canada
Canada faces one of its most intense fire seasonsNews

Canada faces one of its most intense fire seasons

Montreal, Canada | AFP | Muser NewsDesk With nearly 1,000 active fires and an area as large as Belgium already burned, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney…
SourceSourceJuly 20, 2026 Full article
Satellite Image: Catastrophic Flooding in Texas Hill Country
Climate model suggests warmer Gulf waters limited rainfall during deadly Texas floodsScience

Climate model suggests warmer Gulf waters limited rainfall during deadly Texas floods

Researchers examined how Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperatures and wet soils influenced the extreme storms of 4 July 2025 Summary: Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures…
SourceSourceJune 25, 2026 Full article
Image: Smoke from the Eaton Fire rises over Los Angeles, viewed from Koreatown in January 2025, wildfire
Wildfires caused huge losses in 2025 despite one of the lowest burn areas on recordClimate

Wildfires caused huge losses in 2025 despite one of the lowest burn areas on record

A review of global wildfire activity found severe human and economic losses in 2025 despite relatively low global burned area Summary: More than 90 people…
SourceSourceJune 1, 2026 Full article
Image: A line of silhouetted people walking along a waterfront at sunset with reflections on the water
Climate change weakens social ties that save lives during disastersClimate

Climate change weakens social ties that save lives during disasters

Climate change is increasingly affecting how people interact, participate in community life and maintain the support networks that shape resilience during crises, with researchers warning…
SourceSourceMay 20, 2026 Full article
Image: a view of a city through a rain covered window
Death toll reaches 22 in China rains, 20 more missingNews

Death toll reaches 22 in China rains, 20 more missing

Beijing, China | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The death toll from heavy rains across central and southern China since the weekend has risen to 22, state…
SourceSourceMay 20, 2026 Full article
Image: brown owl on brown grass during daytime
One third of animal habitats could face multiple climate extremes by 2085Science

One third of animal habitats could face multiple climate extremes by 2085

Projected exposure to heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and floods shows rising overlap across ecosystems, increasing risks for terrestrial biodiversity by late century Summary: Exposure to heatwaves,…
SourceSourceApril 27, 2026 Full article
Image: a democracy burning neon sign
Extreme weather a growing threat to elections, democracy: reportNews

Extreme weather a growing threat to elections, democracy: report

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Floods, fires and extreme weather increasingly pose a threat to democracy, with at least 94 elections and referendums in…
SourceSourceApril 22, 2026 Full article
Image: Polar bear at sunset on ice
Climate Science Digest: March 24, 2026Science

Climate Science Digest: March 24, 2026

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press roundup (March 24, 2026), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In brief:…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskMarch 24, 2026 Full article
Satellite Image: Tagus River, Portugal (s. floods)
Climate change fuelled deadly rainstorms in Iberia, Morocco: scientistsScience

Climate change fuelled deadly rainstorms in Iberia, Morocco: scientists

AFP | WWA | Muser NewsDesk Human-driven climate change intensified torrential downpours that killed dozens and forced thousands of people from their homes across Spain,…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskFebruary 26, 2026 Full article
The business concept of the glass world on a laptop (s. climate, aid, science, news,globe,US energy)
Rescuers search for missing after deluge kills 30 in BrazilNews

Rescuers search for missing after deluge kills 30 in Brazil

Juiz De Fora, Brazil | AFP Three firemen pulled a man's body from the mud amidst the rubble of houses swept away in a landslide in…
SourceSourceFebruary 25, 2026 Full article
Image: Floods in Southeast Aceh Regency caused by heavy rainfall ( 23 November 2025, Sumatra, Indonesia)
Indonesia floods force deforestation debate after deadly disasterNews

Indonesia floods force deforestation debate after deadly disaster

Permit revocations after the disaster Ongoing risks during the rainy season Indonesia floods have reignited a national debate over deforestation after extreme rainfall and landslides…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskFebruary 19, 2026 Full article
Image: Flooded Street with Partially Submerged Boats (s. Germany)
Flood traffic chaos could overwhelm 75 hospitals across GermanyClimate

Flood traffic chaos could overwhelm 75 hospitals across Germany

Flooding can also impede access to hospitals that are not directly affected by high water levels. This has been demonstrated by simulations carried out across…
SourceSourceFebruary 19, 2026 Full article
Satellite Image: Floods Valencia, Spain
Climate change turbocharged Spain’s Valencia floods: studyFactsNews

Climate change turbocharged Spain’s Valencia floods: study

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Human-driven climate change intensified rainfall that triggered the Spain's deadliest natural disaster in a generation when flash floods hit…
SourceSourceFebruary 17, 2026 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, research, scientists. emission targets, floods, environment)
Indonesia landslide kills eight, more than 80 missingNews

Indonesia landslide kills eight, more than 80 missing

Cisarua, Indonesia | AFP A landslide killed at least eight people and left more than 80 missing on Indonesia's main island of Java on Saturday, a…
SourceSourceJanuary 24, 2026 Full article