Catastrophic floods, fires, tornadoes in early May 2024
In April 2024, 300 tornadoes were recorded across the United States, which is the second highest number on record. Tropical Storm Hidaya hits East Africa. The death toll from persistent flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rains in southern Brazil has risen to 39. Forest fires in Chile have killed 51 people.
Fires uncharacteristic for this time of year are raging in South America
The fires in Colombia this month are unusual for a country where people are more accustomed to heavy rain and landslides than fires and ash. They have been linked to high temperatures and drought, exacerbated by the climate phenomenon known as El Niño. In Brazil, fires have destroyed large swaths of rainforest in recent years. Chile has declared two days of national mourning for those killed in the devastating forest fires that engulfed the Valparaiso region. Already 112 people have become victims of the disaster.