The Icelandic town of GrindavĂk and the nearby Blue Lagoon have been evacuated following a volcanic eruption, the 11th since 2021 on the Reykjanes peninsula. The eruption began with an “earthquake swarm” and quickly spread, with lava reaching through defense walls near GrindavĂk. The town, largely uninhabited since a November 2023 eruption, was evacuated except for a few residents. The Blue Lagoon also evacuated successfully. The Icelandic Meteorological Office warns the fissure may continue to expand southward. Ava Sinclair 01/04/2025 6:30 pm
Nine Palestine Red Crescent medics and Civil Defence workers disappeared on March 23 in Rafah, Gaza, after Israeli forces attacked them. Despite a week of Israeli obstruction, international teams eventually accessed the area, finding evidence of direct attacks on the humanitarian workers. One medic remains missing. The medics, including three ambulance officers and five first responder volunteers, were killed while attempting to aid injured individuals. The PRCS lost contact with their teams, who were dispatched to assist during daylight hours. Noah Prescott 01/04/2025 6:30 pm
Finland plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel mines and increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2029, President Alexander Stubb announced. This decision follows a thorough assessment and aligns with Finland’s commitment to responsible mine use. The move comes amid heightened tensions due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, with neighboring countries like Poland and the Baltic states also exiting the treaty. Stubb emphasized Finland’s role in enhancing European defense and recently discussed Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump. Noah Prescott 01/04/2025 3:00 pm
Eromanga, Queensland, typically arid, is now flooded due to monsoon-like weather, receiving two years’ worth of rain in days. This has led to evacuations, a missing person, and significant livestock losses. The flooding, worse than 1974, is fueled by record-high ocean temperatures, intensifying the water cycle. The floodwaters are expected to travel 600 km to fill Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in South Australia, creating a significant event for the lake. Noah Prescott 01/04/2025 3:00 pm
A volcanic eruption began on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, near GrindavĂk, following hundreds of earthquakes. The fissure, initially 700 meters wide, continues to grow. GrindavĂk and the Blue Lagoon spa were evacuated, with roads closed but flights unaffected. A new crack has opened, and officials urge remaining residents to leave. Most of GrindavĂk’s 4,000 residents were evacuated in late 2023 due to previous eruptions. The magma tunnel is 11 km long, and gas pollution is expected to move northeast towards the capital. Ava Sinclair 01/04/2025 3:00 pm
A gas pipeline explosion near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, caused a massive fire in Puchong, Selangor. Several homes caught fire, trapping some individuals, with rescue operations ongoing. Victims are being taken to a relief center, and some suffered burns. The fire originated from a Petronas-owned pipeline, not a gas station. The pipeline has been shut off, and responders are managing the blaze. Social media footage showed a towering fireball and thick smoke. Ava Sinclair 01/04/2025 3:00 pm
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in central Myanmar has caused widespread devastation, with the death toll officially over 2,000 and potentially much higher. In Sagaing, bodies are piling up, emitting foul odors, and burial space is scarce. Access to Myanmar is restricted, complicating information flow. Residents like Aye Moe report that rescue efforts are self-reliant, with hospitals overwhelmed by both patients and corpses. The US Geological Survey warns deaths could exceed 10,000. The situation is dire, with limited resources for burial and cremation. Penelope Kingsley 01/04/2025 3:00 pm
The Chinese military announced large-scale drills around Taiwan, involving navy, air, ground, and rocket forces, as a warning against Taiwan’s independence. China views Taiwan as its territory, while Taiwan favors its de facto independence. Taiwan tracked 19 Chinese navy vessels and the Shandong aircraft carrier entering its identification zone. Taiwan’s Defense Minister criticized China’s actions as destabilizing. China’s Coast Guard also conducted a patrol. The drills target Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te for his pro-independence stance. Penelope Kingsley 01/04/2025 11:30 am
Israel bombed Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, killing three and wounding seven, threatening a ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israel claims it targeted a Hezbollah member aiding Hamas, but provided no evidence. Lebanon’s President Aoun condemned the attack, calling it a “dangerous warning.” The ceasefire, brokered by France and the U.S., ended a yearlong conflict, requiring Israeli troop withdrawal and Hezbollah’s retreat beyond the Litani River. Both sides accuse each other of violations, with Israel delaying troop withdrawal and occupying southern hilltops. Penelope Kingsley 01/04/2025 11:30 am
Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, suffered severe devastation from a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, killing around 2,000 people and crippling infrastructure. The quake struck shortly after junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s military display, disrupting his planned summit trip. The city, designed as a fortress by former generals, now lacks electricity, water, and internet, forcing officials to work outdoors. Satellite images reveal collapsed hospitals and damaged government buildings, including the presidential palace. Residents face shortages of essentials like food, water, and medicine, while fearing aftershocks. Penelope Kingsley 01/04/2025 11:30 am
