An 5.6 earthquake struck in Zaqatala and Gakh in north-western Azerbaijan on 7 May 2012. Over 3,000 houses and public buildings were either destroyed or damaged. On 18 May, another earthquake with a 4.8 magnitude hit the region, causing more damage and destruction. More than 7,000 houses were either destroyed or damaged and more than 9,000 families had to be evacuated. (IFRC, 23 May 2012)
More than 702 households have been affected by flash flooding occurred on 2 May in Gode zone (Somali region). The flooding caused significant damage, with numerous livestock deaths and damage to planted crops and stored food reported in the affected areas. Elsewhere in Somali Region, flooding was also reported in parts of Korahe zone in late April. (OCHA, 21 May 2012)
Around 500 people were evacuated in Trojes in the region of El Paraíso, after floods caused damages to more than 100 houses. (Government, 21 May 2012)
More than 2,200 people have received relief supplies after floods occurred in the states of Bolívar, Sucre and Táchira. (Government, 8 May and 11 May 2012)
A severe drought is affecting more than 1,100 towns in northeastern Brazil, where short water supplies have devastated farm output, endangering the lives of local people and their livestock. 'Water wars' are observed in rural areas. (AFP, 13 May 2012)
Useful Links
A 5.7 Richter scale earthquake struck Rasht valley in the eastern part of Tajikistan on 13 May 2012. It affected three districts of Nurobod, Rasht and Tavildara (at least 33 villages), killing two and affecting more than 2,531 people. According to preliminary assessments, some 86 houses were destroyed and 276 damaged. Immediately after the earthquake, a rock fall occurred that has blocked and destroyed the highway. Due to the road blockage and problems with communication lines for a number of days, some 114 families were completely cut off. (IFRC, 22 May 2012)
The central and eastern parts of Georgia were severely affected by rains on 12 and 13 May 2012. Multiple landslides followed the heavy rains, and at least five people were killed in the capital city of Tbilisi. Over 3,200 families have been affected and out of them 1,400 have had their property badly damaged. Mudslide and water flooded houses, agricultural lands, roads, bridges, drainage channels, water pipes and disrupted communication networks. (IFRC, 16 May 2012)
Since early May 2012 hailstorms have struck across the central province of Hunan, affecting 3,42 million people. In Gansu province, at least 40 were killed and more than 29,000 were evacuated after a violent hailstorm and torrential rain swept through Min county. (AFP, 13 May 2012)
On 5 May 2012, a landslide near Machhapuchhre mountain in Kaski district triggered a catastrophic flash flood in the Seti river, sweeping settlements and breaching the river banks downstream. As of 10 May, 26 bodies have been recovered and 51 people are reported missing. 20 houses, two temples, and a community building have been completely swept away by the flooding and two water supply systems were damaged. (OCHA, 10 May 2012)
Useful Links
In 2011/2012, Kyrgyzstan experienced a harsh winter with unusually low temperatures, heavy snowfall and high precipitation, which exceeded the annual average by 2-2.5 times. Melting snow and heavy rains caused mudflows and flash floods across the country. Food stocks, home properties, livelihoods and infrastructure were heavily damaged.
A series of mudflows occurred on the territory of Naryn, Osh, Jalalabad and Batken regions including remote districts throughout April. The most destructive flash floods hit Osh, Batken and Jalalbad between 23-29 Apr 2012, affecting more than 9,400 people. (IFRC, 04 May 2012)
Since 20 Apr 2012, the Islands of Comoros have been battered by torrential rains, which caused heavy floods, landslides and rockslides. Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli islands are significantly affected with water supply, electricity and telecommunications services cut off as well as the market functionality disrupted. Four people were killed and an estimated 150 injured; over 57,000 people are affected. Around 10,000 people are displaced in temporary shelters and hosted by relatives. (UN Country Team, 12 May 2012)
Appeals & Funding
Useful Links
At least 11,150 people were displaced and almost 3,000 houses were damaged by floods in several provinces in the north and northeast of the country (Government, 25 Apr 2012).
Two people were killed and more than 4,500 houses damaged as hailstorms and whirlwinds struck the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang on 20 Apr 2012. Subsidiary crop areas were also destroyed (Government, 23 Apr 2012).
Useful Links
Heavy rains occurred in Sange, Territoire d'Uvira in South Kivu, killing one person and destroying crop fields, more than 3,000 houses and 8 schools (OCHA, 23 Ar 2012).
On 12 Apr 2012, heavy rains in Musanze Northern Province, and Nyabihu and Rubavu districts in Western Province of Rwanda have led to flooding causing extensive damage to houses and property. According to the Rwanda Red Cross and government local authorities, an estimated 2,200 households, or 11,000 people, have been affected. 348 houses were destroyed, 446 were damaged or are still flooded. (IFRC, 1 May 2012)
At least 13,654 families have been affected by floods after heavy rains caused river overflows in the Chaco region (Government, 21 Apr 2012).
According to the assessment conducted by the Russian Red Cross, 957 families (2,406 people) are considered to be affected by the floods in the Volgograd region of Russia. Emergency situation status was announced in the Elansky, Rudnyansky and Kamylzhensky districts. (IFRC, 26 Apr 2012)
In Mordovia, 1,128 houses are flooded due to high water level in the rivers Alatyr, Seitma and Moksha (Government, 23 Apr 2012).
Heavy rains since early April 2012 have caused flash floods across the country, killing 42 people and displacing over 20,000. Almost 60,000 people are at risk of displacement since they reside in areas that are historically either flood or landslide prone. Excessive rainfall is expected to continue into May 2012. (IFRC, 8 May 2012)