News Watch
Afghanistan mosque bombings
On Oct. 3 in Kabul, Afghanistan, a mosque holding prayers for Taliban officials was bombed. Three people were killed, and multiple injuries were reported. The Islamist militant group Daesh (ISIL) was blamed for the attack.
Italy anti-vaccine protests
A protest in Rome against a law requiring evidence of being vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering most buildings turned violent on Oct. 9, resulting in injuries to 38 police officers. Rioters broke into the headquarters of the workers’ union CGIL, which supports the law.
Sudan coup
Sudan’s military dissolved the country’s civilian government in a coup and arrested multiple elected leaders on Oct. 25 after months of infighting and protests.
Pakistan quake
An earthquake measuring 5.9 in magnitude occurred in Balochistan Province, Pakistan, on Oct. 6, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 150. Many of the buildings and homes in the region, most made from mud bricks, collapsed, leaving thousands of people homeless.
Damascus bus bomb
Two bombs attached to a military transport bus exploded in Damascus, Syria, on Oct. 20, killing 14 people. It was the deadliest attack in the city since 2017. No group claimed responsibility for the bomb, but Daesh (ISIL) is suspected.
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel).
Deadly Himalayan floods
Flooding and landslides in late October killed at least 180 people in Nepal and the Indian states of Kerala and Uttarakhand, sweeping away houses, roadways and bridges. Dozens of people were still missing at press time.
Earthquake in Crete
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake occurred off the east coast of the Greek island of Crete on Oct. 12. It was felt as far away as Turkey. Aftershocks measuring over 4 in magnitude followed. Multiple homes were destroyed, and landslides were reported, but there were no reports of deaths or major injuries.
Ethiopia civil war
Ethiopian and allied troops began an offensive into the Tigray region of Ethiopia in early October, attacking Tigrayan rebel positions in an ongoing civil war and causing what a Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) spokesperson described as “staggering casualties.”
Acapulco quake
An earthquake measuring 7 in magnitude occurred near the city of Acapulco in western Mexico on Sept. 7, killing two people. Aftershocks measuring as high as 5.2 followed. Significant shaking was felt in Mexico City, 230 miles away.
La Palma volcano
The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma, Canary Islands, began erupting on Sept. 19 and continued to at press time. Flowing lava destroyed hundreds of residences and other buildings, including a school. Seven villages downhill from erupting vents were evacuated, about 7,000 people in total.
COVID-19 update
At press time, active COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 192 countries and territories, with more than 235 million confirmed cases and, resulting from those, more than 4.8 million deaths.
Earthquake in Crete
South of the city of Heraklion, a magnitude-6 earthquake occurred near the center of the island of Crete, Greece, on Sept. 27, killing one person and injuring nine. The quake destroyed or damaged multiple buildings across the region, though most infrastructure remained intact.
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel).
Myanmar fighting
Nearly the entire town of Thantlang, with more than 8,000 people, was abandoned in Chin State, western Myanmar, in late September as militia groups and the Myanmar military fought in the area. Artillery strikes from the military destroyed houses and set portions of the town on fire.
Haiti earthquake
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake occurred on the Tiburon Peninsula in southwest Haiti on Aug. 14, killing more than 2,000 people, injuring more than 12,000 and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The quake was felt in Port-au-Prince, more than 90 miles away.
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel).
COVID-19 update
At press time, active COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 192 countries and territories, with more than 219.2 million cases and, resulting from those, more than 4.6 million deaths.
Europe forest fires
Deadly and destructive wildfires occurred throughout Europe and Asia Minor in July and August.