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Natural disasters

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Natural disasters. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

The sun rises next to The Empire State Building through a cover of wildfire smoke on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says he’ll add cost to tariffs

Smoke from Canadian fires has enveloped a swathe of the US, raising questions about conditions for Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey.

3 hours ago

Strong quake off Mexican coast rattles Guatemala and El Salvador

5 hours ago

Accidents and disasters in China

Chinese rescuers race to reach residents trapped by landslide that has killed 8 people

17 Jul 2026 - 10:51PMvideocam

US confronts floods, heatwaves, smoky skies all at once amid aid cuts

An expert said the scale-back of federal resources has left the country ‘in a really difficult spot’.

17 Jul 2026 - 12:29PMvideocam

Water rises at the Guadalupe River in Sisterdale, Texas, on Thursday. Photo: EPA

Extreme weather

Texas floods kill 2, with more storms to come

Heavy rainfall in the region is reviving memories of the catastrophic deluge that killed more than 130 people a year ago.

17 Jul 2026 - 7:24AM

German wildfire spreads as unexploded bombs keep firefighters 1km away

Old munitions buried in the soil from an abandoned military training ground in Mueritz National Park have forced firefighters to stay away.

15 Jul 2026 - 7:47PMvideocam

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Editorial | As China invests in climate defence, private sector has role to play

The central government has allocated billions to climate resilience infrastructure, but the damage wrought by Typhoon Bavi shows more needs to be done.

15 Jul 2026 - 7:15AM

People drag a fallen tree to clear a road after heavy rain and strong winds brought by Typhoon Bavi in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on July 12. Photo: Reuters

Wildfires scorch historic forest near Paris as suspected arsonists arrested

Fire in Fontainebleau forest near Paris is among several wildfires in western Europe as summer temperatures soar.

14 Jul 2026 - 12:45PM

China's economic recovery

As Typhoon Bavi looms, has China’s investment in flood defences paid off?

Chinese authorities have ramped up spending on disaster prevention in recent years, but some worry local debt levels could hinder the campaign.

11 Jul 2026 - 2:00PM

11 dead, 19 missing as Spain wildfire roars through village

Authorities said many of the victims may be foreign tourists visiting Bedar, a small village in Los Gallardos district.

10 Jul 2026 - 7:08PMvideocam

Emergency personnel work during a wildfire in Almeria, Spain, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on Friday. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Quake-hit Venezuela faces looming health threats as survivors crowd shelters

Poor shelter conditions, lack of clean water and sanitation could leave many thousands vulnerable, PAHO says.

10 Jul 2026 - 12:56PM

A child sleeps inside a tent in a makeshift shelter in the aftermath of the June 24 earthquakes. Photo: Reuters

Accidents and disasters in China

China’s coastal tourist attractions urged to close as Super Typhoon Bavi looms

‘Catastrophic’ winds expected from strongest and most wide-ranging typhoon of this year’s flood season.

8 Jul 2026 - 11:23PMvideocam

Video | Hundreds evacuated as dam collapses in Guangxi region

The city of Nanning raised its emergency response to its highest level.

6 Jul 2026 - 9:53PM

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

6 Jul 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Hernan Gil, who survived for nearly eight days beneath the rubble. Photo: AFP

Venezuela leader vows ‘no social unrest’ as quakes toll passes 3,300

Delcy Rodriguez defends emergency response amid growing public anger and UN estimates of up to 50,000 missing.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:36AMvideocam

Rescuers search the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

Tens of thousands remain missing, but international rescue efforts have started winding down.

5 Jul 2026 - 4:58AMvideocam

Fallout from Venezuela’s quakes turns political, as Machado seeks return

Amid growing anger over the government’s disaster response, the exiled Nobel Peace laureate says the country needs ‘figures it can trust’.

4 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

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Venezuela’s leader defends quake response as thousands remain missing

In her first press conference since taking power after Maduro’s capture by the US, Rodriguez lashes critics.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:01PMvideocam

Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodriguez holds press conference on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

2 Jul 2026 - 10:30PM

China food security

China food-security risks worsen as extreme weather becomes more common

Heavy rains and growing drought risks may make it harder to feed China’s 1 billion-plus population.

2 Jul 2026 - 5:11PM

Photo: Shutterstock

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

2 Jul 2026 - 4:25PMvideocam

A child’s toy and debris in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: Reuters

Tsunami from Japan megaquake could destroy 2 million cars: survey

The government says the probability of a Nankai Trough megaquake occurring within the next 30 years stands at 60 to 90 per cent or higher.

2 Jul 2026 - 8:58AMvideocam

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

News of the rescue came as Venezuela’s death toll rose above 1,700 on Monday.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:16PM

Video | Man digs through Venezuela quake debris to search for family

Quake victims have accused authorities of being too slow in mobilising rescue efforts including sending heavy equipment to help search for more survivors.

1 Jul 2026 - 3:50PM

‘We are going to keep at it’: Venezuela quake victim vows to keep digging for family

From raid to relief: US military aids Venezuela after twin earthquakes

US deploys forces and drone assets to spearhead relief, marking a stunning shift for a relationship upended by a raid six months ago.

1 Jul 2026 - 10:50PMvideocam

A US Marines helicopter overflies a quake-hit area in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Photo: AFP

Accidents and disasters in China

China’s Politburo orders rapid-response overhaul in the face of extreme weather

Meeting urges steps to prevent disaster and ‘always put the safety of people’s lives first’.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:28PMvideocam

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

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