Weekly Summary of Natural Disasters (Outside of China)

(Minghui.org)

Sandstorm in Sao Paulo, Brazil

News media have reported that at least three sandstorms have hit Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais since late September. One sandstorm was traveling at a speed of 100 kilometers (or 62 miles) per hour. At least six people lost their lives.

Earthquake in Pakistan

At 3 a.m. on October 7, Harnai in Balochistan Province in Pakistan was hit with a magnitude 5.9 earthquake. At least one coal mine and dozens of buildings collapsed. The earthquake also resulted in 23 deaths and over 200 people were injured. The numbers of those injured have continued to rise in recent days.

It was reported that, since Harnai is in a mountainous area, the earthquake and mountain slides damaged many roads, which made rescue efforts very difficult.

Earthquake in Japan

At 10:41 p.m. on October 7, Chiba (a prefecture east of Tokyo) had a magnitude 6.1 earthquake. It also impacted Tokyo, where trams were derailed or stopped, water pipes ruptured, and fires broke out.

Citing information from Japan Meteorological Agency, NHK reported that the earthquake logged 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in Saitama Prefecture and 23 wards in Tokyo. This earthquake was the first large earthquake in the region since a magnitude 9 earthquake struck in 2011.