Global Extreme Weather: Deadly Floods and Powerful Storms Strike Worldwide
Extreme weather events hit Istanbul, Rhodes, Santiago, Mexico, and California within two days, causing deadly floods, powerful hurricanes, and severe infrastructure damage.
Global Extreme Weather Strikes Multiple Continents
In less than two days, extreme weather has battered several regions thousands of kilometers apart, ranging from Istanbul and Rhodes to Santiago, Mexico, and California. Heavy rains turned streets into rivers, swept away vehicles, paralyzed public transport, and left tens of thousands without electricity. Simultaneously, a powerful hurricane strengthened off the coast of Mexico, while another storm caused severe flooding and damage in southern California.
In Istanbul, the death toll from the floods rose to four. Heavy rain flooded homes, businesses, roads, and underpasses, sweeping away vehicles and leading to more than 1,270 flooding incidents and 15 landslides. Schools in the city were closed, residents were urged to avoid non-essential travel, and dozens of flights were diverted or canceled.
Floods Devastate Rhodes and Santiago
Rhodes in Greece also suffered casualties from the floods. A 62-year-old man died after his car was swept ashore, and several other vehicles were dragged away by currents. More than 200 mm of rain fell on the island within a few hours, flooding roads and causing rivers to overflow.
Thousands of kilometers away in Santiago, Chile, a red alert was declared after a severe storm brought heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms to the capital region. Streets and underpasses were flooded, public transport was disrupted, and at the peak of the event, tens of thousands of customers were cut off from electricity. Water also penetrated buildings and parking lots, causing severe infrastructure damage in several areas, alongside a rare tornado that knocked down dozens of trees and damaged homes.
Pacific Storms and Warnings in East Africa
On the west coast of Mexico, Hurricane Simon peaked at Category 4 with winds of about 240 km/h. Although it later weakened, it continued to bring heavy rains, flooding, and landslide risks, resulting in at least one fatality. Simultaneously, Tropical Storm Rachel affected Baja California and southern California, where high waves breached coastal residential areas, flooded streets and homes, and destroyed parts of the wooden boardwalk in Long Beach.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the Horn of Africa, where alerts were issued for abnormal rain and flooding in northern and central Somalia as well as southeastern Ethiopia. Somalia has already recorded dangerous rises in river levels and water breaches through embankment gaps, turning flooding fears into a stark reality.
