April 2008

Natural disasters in June 2005 
 

The information summarized has been culled from press reports and is indicative only. For official information, including final statistics, readers are advised to contact the National Meteorological Service of the country in question.

Storms and floods
Afghanistan, Australia, Bulgaria, China, El Salvador, Nigeria, Philippines, United Kingdom, USA 

Afghanistan

The River Kabul damaged and swept away property in the Peshawar Valley and Kunar province. This was the first time in 40 years that the water level of the River Kabul had risen to such dangerous levels.  

Australia

More than 3 000 people were evacuated from their homes as torrential rain flooded communities along Australia’s east coast. Two people drowned. 

Bulgaria

One person died when the Struma river flooded its banks near the town of Pernik in western Bulgaria. The Iskar river near Sofia also overflowed, forcing families to evacuate. Four children drowned in the Skut river.

China

A bus and its passengers were swept away by floodwaters in southern China.  

El Salvador

At least 29 people died and several reported missing after a rainstorm swelled rivers and triggered mudslides in many parts of the country.  

Nigeria

Three persons drowned in the Oshodi area of Lagos after two days of non-stop heavy rain. Flooding in many parts of the city destroyed homes and offices.  

Philippines

A heavy downpour caused flash floods. 

United Kingdom

Flash floods in the north and hot temperatures in the south.  

Heatwave
Bangladesh, France, Italy, Pakistan 

Bangladesh

43°C in Chuadanga, 42.8°C in Rajshahi and 39.5°C in Iswardi upazila.

France

Europe suffered a heatwave on the first day of summer. Farmers were warned of a historic drought as mid-June temperatures topped records in northern France. Near Paris, a temperature of 35.7°C was recorded. 

Italy

In many cities, the frail and the elderly were advised to stay in the shade. In the north, heat-related casualties were double the normal level. Crops were at risk from low river levels. 

Pakistan

A heatwave killed about 175 people in eight days. The Punjab was worst hit with about 120 people dead. Many cases of heatstroke and dehydration were reported. 

Drought
Australia, China, Ethiopia, Spain, Portugal, Morocco 

Australia

Drinking-water in cities and towns across Australia dried up. Worst hit was the farming town of Goulburn. 

China

Over 300 million people were without potable water.

Er itrea

Five years of severe drought have caused widespread poverty and food insecurity.

Spain, Portugal, Morocco

The worst droughts since the 1940s. Forest fires, threatened livelihoods and economic havoc.

Mudslide
Guatemala

Torrential rain forced thousands of tonnes of mud and rocks down a hill above the town of San Antonio Senahu, north-east of the capital, killing at least 23 people

Tornadoes
USA

Nearly two-dozen homes were wrecked with an estimated damage of $3.6 million in St. Paul, Minnesota. Severe storms that included tornadoes overturned mobile homes, downed trees and toppled power lines in Louisana and Mississippi. 

Typhoon
Philippines

Typhoon Dante brought heavy rains that caused floods in Metro Manila and many other areas. 

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