Tropical StormsNorthern New Zealand reeled under the...

Tropical Storms

Northern New Zealand reeled under the second tropical cyclone to strike in as many weeks. Cyclone Drena felled trees, set boats adrift and brought down power lines. Ornithologists said that hundreds of gannet chicks were swept away when the storm roared through the Cook Strait, swamping their nests.

Tropical Cyclone Evan took a similar path southwestward from New Caledonia, but dissipated before threatening New Zealand.

Earthquakes

Nearly every building in the Mexican town of Arteaga was damaged or destroyed when a magnitude 7.1 temblor rocked the Pacific Coast state of Michoacan. Many neighboring communities suffered damage,and the quake was strong enough to cause tall buildings to sway in Mexico City. There were minor injuries but no deaths.

Earth movements were also felt in the eastern Mediterranean, southern Albania, southern Croatia, northern and central parts of Japan and Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Down the Food Chain

Giant eagles in Australia’s out-back have become a menance along the highways now that a deadly virus has killed off the hordes of rabbits tht the birds used to feed on. The rabbit calicivirus, released last October, has cut the rabbit numbers as much as 95%, sending the eagles to the highways looking for roadkill. Motorists report terrifying tales of having their windshields smashed and steel roofs torn off in collisions with eagles trying to flee from their meals as vehicles approached. One van from Broken Hill hit an eagle that crashed straight through the window. The driver fled as the bird tore the cab apart looking for a way out.

Eruptions

Monsterrat’s troublesome Soufriere Hills Volcano spewed clouds of ash over the abandoned capital of Plymouth and spilled hot rocks into the sea. Volcanologists say the lava dome continues to grow, and a major collapse could occur at any time.

Mt. Merapi Volcano in central Java sent fresh streams of lava down its flanks and shot plumes of ash and steam high above the mountain. Authorities warned nearby residents to be on high alert should the activity increase.

Trunk Aided

Chinese surgeons spent 17 hours reconnecting an amorous Indian elephant with his trunk after it was severed during an encounter with a female. The New China News Agency reported that Babu, a 14- year- old pachyderm in the Zhengzhou city zoo in the central province of Henan, became separated for a large portion of his trunk while “playing” with a female companion across a fence. Veterinary surgeons rallied help from top limb transplant specialists across the country for the operation. “Tears ran down Babu’s face during the operation as his female friend tried to comfort and console her sick companion,” the news agency said. Babus is now said to be on the mend and is being hand-fed to give his trunk a rest.

Additional Sources: U.S. Climate Analysis Center, U.S. Earthquake Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization.