Two earthquakes measuring 6.3 and 6.4 struck 11 minutes apart northeast of Tabriz and southwest of Ahar, Iran on Saturday 11th August. This was followed by hundreds of smaller aftershocks which made the search and rescue operation difficult.
250 people have now been confirmed dead and over 2000 injured. The deaths were reported in rural villages of which four have been completely destroyed and others have suffered extensive structural damage. According to officials thousands of buildings have been damaged across the 110 villages affected, leaving the population homeless or too frightened to sleep in their homes.
Although it is believed that everyone is now accounted for in towns and cities, the death toll could rise in villages which are remote and inaccessible. Hospitals are also struggling to cope with the injured requiring medical attention.
Relief work is already underway with Russia and Turkey offering assistance. Victims have been provided with food, blankets and temporary shelters. The reconstruction of villages is said to start immediately before the winter season.
By Saajeda Bandali
250 killed, thousands injured as earthquakes strike Iran
Recent Flooding Disasters Around The World
Tanzania
20 people have been killed and hundreds left homeless in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by floods that occurred on the 20th December 2011. The floods were caused by the heaviest rainfall the country has witnessed since 1961. Dar es Salaam is the main economic city of Tanzania; the floods bought the city to a standstill. Rain is predicted to continue over the next few days, leading to warnings being given out to the population living in the valleys of the city. According to witnesses and reports, several homes and bridges have been destroyed or damaged and main roads have been flooded making them impassable.
Philippines Floods
Flash Flooding in the Philippines has left almost 1000 dead with many still missing.
The rains from Typhoon Washi caused rivers to burst their banks in the night which led to the devastation.
The areas worst hit were Iligan and Cagayan de Oro where entire villages were washed away. In total, over 10,000 homes have been damaged.
Oxfam have an appeal to help the victims:
Earthquakes Strike Christchurch, New Zealand
A series of Earthquakes have struck in Christchurch, New Zealand leaving power outages and damage.
The city, which was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier in the year killing 182 people suffered a series of earthquakes ranging from a magnitude of 5 to 6.
With many people still trying to come to terms with the September 2010 Earthquake as well as the one February 2011, some people are seriously considering leaving the area.
40 killed in Van as another earthquake strikes Turkey
A magnitude 5.7 struck the city of Van in eastern Turkey on 9th November. The earthquake struck just a few weeks after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the same region, killing at least 600 people, injuring over 1600, leaving over 50,000 homeless and destroying over 2000 buildings.
Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Strikes Turkey
Eastern Turkey has been struck by a magnitude 7.2 Earthquake which has left almost 300 people killed and many more injured.
The city of Ercis was one of the worst hit areas with many buildings collapsing.
Although some survivors have been pulled from the devastation, it is feared the death toll could rise.
The earthquake had a depth of 20 km and an epicentre located just 16 km north east of the City of Van. This was followed by hundreds of smaller after shocks, causing further panic.
Flash Flooding in Spain
Spain has been hit by flash flooding after experiencing heavy rains with some fatalities including a British couple who were swept away whilst at a market in Costa Blanca.
Flooding in Bangkok,Thailand
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok and surrounding areas have been severely affected by flooding.
Heavy monsoon rains over the past 2-3 months have led to over 12 million people being affected in what is being described by many as some of the worst flooding the area has seen in decades.
Over 300 people have been killed by the flooding and many are blaming the newly appointed Prime minister and her Government that not enough has been done to protect areas. It is estimated that damage could already be in the region of $2 Billion.
Wildfires in Texas affect more than 1500 homes
The Wild Fires in Texas have continued to rage due to high winds and continued dry conditions.
In Bastrop County, a 16 mile wide fire destroyed more than 800 homes and left two people dead. Around 4000 people had to be evacuated from the area as around 34,000 acres were burned by the ravaging fires.
Thankfully firefighters are starting to get control of the fire due to lighter winds.
More than 170 fires have broken out this week in the state of Texas due to a massive drought and recent high winds.
20 dead, 50 missing as Typhoon Talas strikes Japan
20 people have been killed and at least 50 are missing after Typhoon Talas struck western Japan on Saturday 3rd September. The powerful typhoon had winds of up to 108 km per hour (68 miles per hour) when it made landfall on Shikoku and central Honshu Island, forcing the evacuation of over 460,000 people in western and central Japan.