Featured stories about Disaster
Stories about Disaster
20 July 2017
Dhaka Citizens Show Mayors Red Card for Failure to Control Mosquito-Born Diseases
"No, Mr. Mayor, nobody has called you to fix mosquito nets inside their homes. You were given the responsibility to kill mosquitoes so we don't require mosquito nets..."
19 July 2017
In Bangladesh, Fear Drives Headline-Making Spate of Snake Killings
"The mainstream media is spreading the news with enthusiasm. This is leading to more people being interested in killing these animals."
7 July 2017
Early Typhoon Brings Torrential Rains and Deadly Flooding to Japan
"It's become apparent there has been massive destruction."
29 June 2017
Fall Armyworms Are Ravaging Crops in Many African Countries
"They've finished eating the wild plants and are now going into the villages where there is more vegetation. They eat everything in their path. All plant life is at risk."
16 June 2017
Deadly Landslides in Bangladesh Disrupt Road Networks and Create Food and Fuel Crisis
"The landslide took scores of lives. But it does not end there. More lives will be lost...Do you get it? There is no more fuel available in petrol pumps..."
6 June 2017
A New Festival in Madhya Pradesh Revives a Lost Indigenous Culture
Thousands of people have gathered in Verwada village in Barwani district to celebrate the newest festival in Madhya Pradesh – the festival of Rani Kajal Mata, an ancient, indigenous deity.
28 May 2017
How Sri Lanka Is Coping With the Worst Flooding in a Decade
More than 100 were killed and over 400,000 people have been affected by a flooding and mudslide disaster. It's the country's worst flooding in a decade.
26 May 2017
In India, Medical Treatment and Justice Remain Elusive for One Survivor of Domestic Violence
“Her in-laws demanded 50,000 rupees. I couldn’t afford it. So her husband attacked her,” Rajvati's father said. Rajvati herself cannot speak because her larynx was left severed.
23 May 2017
Flooding Washes Up Jamaica’s Poor Planning and Environmental Practices
Changing weather patterns, poor planning and development, inadequate drainage, and careless waste disposal converge to create disaster zones in Jamaica after just three days of heavy rains.
6 May 2017
A Bus Crash Claims the Lives of Dozens of Children in Northern Tanzania
The East African nation has one of the highest rates of road fatalities on the continent.
3 May 2017
‘Crusading’ Philippine Environment Minister Shares Her Visits to Open Pit Mines on Facebook
"I clearly saw that the mine tailings had killed the economy of the entire area," wrote the environment secretary on her Facebook page.
2 May 2017
Indians Are Speaking Up About Depression to Do Away With the Social Stigma Surrounding It
"In my heart, I believe that the time is now right for the world to deal with depression a kinder way."
29 April 2017
“I'm Glad I'm From Tohoku” Trends on Twitter Following Japanese Politician's Cruel Words
A Japanese cabinet minister's insensitive remarks spurred a popular Twitter hashtag supporting Japan's northeastern Tohoku region, as well as the minister's resignation.
How Two Students in the US Turned Their Online Popularity Into Big Money for Famine Aid in Somalia
It began with a video of Liban Adam drinking a giant bowl of camel’s milk and ended in a one-month $80,000 fundraiser.
18 April 2017
A Collaborative Project Maps the World’s Vulnerable Communities Before Disaster Strikes
The Missing Maps project combines the work of volunteers contributing remotely, on-the-ground community leaders, and humanitarian organizations.
Sri Lanka's Tragic and Totally Avoidable Disaster
Years ago, officials planned to decommission the Meethotamulla garbage dump and convert it into a “beautiful place.” But it never happened and now locals find themselves confronting their worst fears.
3 April 2017
Taxi Drivers, Ordinary Citizens Offer Free Rides in Wake of St. Petersburg Attack
After an attack forced authorities to close down the St. Petersburg metro, the city's residents came through for each other in a big way.
Six Years On: How Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate Are Recovering From the Tsunami
The report includes statistics from Japan's Reconstruction Ministry as well as surveys of evacuees themselves to provide a local perspective on efforts to recover from the 2011 "triple disaster."
19 March 2017
Peruvians Find Strength in Surviving a Merciless March
Since early March, several cities in Peru have struggled with a seemingly endless wave of heavy rains, floods, landslides, road closures, and lately school closures.
16 March 2017
The Amazing, Endearing PSAs of the Belarusian Ministry of Emergencies
The Belarusian ministry in charge of managing disasters and national emergencies has produced a cartoon show. The series features animals in Looney-Toons-style misadventures, and teaches children how to stay safe.
