Dominican Republic: Tropical Storm Melissa Batters, Causing Damage and Disruptions 2

Tropical Storm Melissa swept through the Dominican Republic, toppling trees, traffic lights, and triggering small landslides. Authorities closed schools and government offices across several provinces as the storm disrupted water systems and threatened severe flooding. Melissa is expected to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane this weekend as it lashes the Caribbean with heavy rain and destructive winds.

Indonesia: Mt. Lewotobi Erupts, Triggers Highest Alert and Spews Ash High Into Sky

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, erupted late Tuesday, October 15, and again early Wednesday, spewing ash up to 10 kilometers into the sky. Indonesia’s volcanology agency raised the alert to its highest level after detecting deep tremors that signaled possible explosive activity.

US: Severe Weather Warning for Houston Area With Hail, High Winds, Tornado Risk

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Houston area until evening of Monday, May 5. It brought hail, damaging winds, flooding, and possible tornadoes.

US: Sunset Fire Ignites In Hollywood Hills, Triggering Mandatory Evacuation Orders

A brush fire, dubbed the Sunset Fire, broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, January 8, triggering mandatory evacuation orders.

Philippines: Thunderstorms Hit, Bringing Intense Rainfall To Central Regions

The regions of Visayas, Bicol, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa may experience cloudy skies with scattered rains as isolated thunderstorms hit. According to reports, heavy rainfall of 100 to 200 mm was expected in Northern Samar on Monday.

3 years after quake-tsunami

3 years after quake-tsunami

SENDAI, Japan - Photos show Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 14, 2011 (L), three days after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and on March 3, 2014 (R).

Railroad soon after quake, now

Railroad soon after quake, now

TOKYO, Japan - Photos show part of JR Senseki Line rail track in the city of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 6, 2011 (top), shortly after the area was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the same location on March 4, 2012 (bottom). Services on the line have been partly resumed.

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A train car is lifted by crane in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan, on Dec. 8, 2011, to be loaded onto a trailer. East Japan Railway Co. began work the same day to recover a four-car train, which has been stranded there for nearly nine months since the March earthquake and tsunami, which heavily damaged the rail track and other facilities of the JR Senseki Line connecting Sendai with Ishinomaki.

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Japan are engaged in recovery work at Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011. Around 40 U.S. soldiers from Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces began removing rubble at the station. The U.S. forces and the SDF will also work on the recovery of neighboring Rikuzenono Station. Both stations were damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Japan are engaged in recovery work at Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011. Around 40 U.S. soldiers from Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces began removing rubble at the station. The U.S. forces and the SDF will also work on the recovery of neighboring Rikuzenono Station. Both stations were damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Inside of tsunami-hit train

Inside of tsunami-hit train

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Photo taken March 18, 2011, shows the inside of a train on the JR Senseki Line, which was derailed and tilted by the March 11 massive earthquake-triggered tsunami, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture.

Man stands on platform of JR Senseki Line's former station

Man stands on platform of JR Senseki Line's former station

Masanobu Sakamoto, a resident of Higashimatsuhima, Miyagi Prefecture, stands on the platform of the former Nobiru Station of the quake-hit JR Senseki Line linking Sendai and Ishinomaki on May 30, 2015. It now takes 30 minutes for Sakamoto to walk to the new Nobiru Station built on higher ground from his house. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Japan are engaged in recovery work at Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011. Around 40 U.S. soldiers from Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces began removing rubble at the station. The U.S. forces and the SDF will also work on the recovery of neighboring Rikuzenono Station. Both stations were damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (Kyodo)

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

U.S. soldiers engage in recovery work in Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Japan are engaged in recovery work at Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011. Around 40 U.S. soldiers from Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces began removing rubble at the station. The U.S. forces and the SDF will also work on the recovery of neighboring Rikuzenono Station. Both stations were damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (Kyodo)

Railroad soon after quake, now

Railroad soon after quake, now

TOKYO, Japan - Photos show part of JR Senseki Line rail track in the city of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 6, 2011 (top), shortly after the area was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the same location on March 4, 2012 (bottom). Services on the line have been partly resumed. (Kyodo)

Inside of tsunami-hit train

Inside of tsunami-hit train

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Photo taken March 18, 2011, shows the inside of a train on the JR Senseki Line, which was derailed and tilted by the March 11 massive earthquake-triggered tsunami, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Walking on a rail track

Walking on a rail track

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A woman carrying a bag of clothing, which she retrieved from her tsunami-hit home, walks on a rail track, past a derailed train on the JR Senseki Line on March 18, 2011, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A train car is lifted by crane in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan, on Dec. 8, 2011, to be loaded onto a trailer. East Japan Railway Co. began work the same day to recover a four-car train, which has been stranded there for nearly nine months since the March earthquake and tsunami, which heavily damaged the rail track and other facilities of the JR Senseki Line connecting Sendai with Ishinomaki. (Kyodo)