Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Vehicles are stranded near a flooded road in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in the eastern Japan prefecture.

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Water gushes from a manhole in the city of Chiba near Tokyo on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in Chiba Prefecture.

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

A pedestrian is pictured on a flooded road in the city of Chiba near Tokyo on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in Chiba Prefecture.

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

A pedestrian is pictured on a flooded road in the city of Chiba near Tokyo on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in Chiba Prefecture.

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

A pedestrian is pictured on a flooded road in the city of Chiba near Tokyo on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in Chiba Prefecture.

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

Torrential rain pounds eastern Japan

A pedestrian is pictured on a flooded road in the city of Chiba near Tokyo on Aug. 13, 2026, after torrential rain pounded eastern Japan, prompting the weather agency to issue a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in over 10 cities in Chiba Prefecture.

Spain: Niebla Wildfire in Huelva Spans 8,000 Hectares, Forces Evacuations 2

The Niebla wildfire broke out in Huelva, Spain, on Thursday afternoon, August 6. The blaze has affected an area of more than 8,000 hectares — though officials note not all of it has burned — and forced approximately 467 people to evacuate.

Spain: Wildfire Near Navas de San Antonio Shuts Down Segovia Motorways 2

A wildfire broke out Saturday, August 8, near Navas de San Antonio, Segovia, reportedly after a vehicle caught fire along the AP-6 motorway, temporarily closing both the AP-6 and N-6 roads and prompting a level 1 severity response.

Spain: Niebla Wildfire in Huelva Spans 8,000 Hectares, Forces Evacuations

The Niebla wildfire broke out in Huelva, Spain, on Thursday afternoon, August 6. The blaze has affected an area of more than 8,000 hectares — though officials note not all of it has burned — and forced approximately 467 people to evacuate.

China: Powerful Storm Brings Heavy Rain, Fierce Winds to Chengdu, Sichuan

A powerful storm swept through a busy commercial area of Chengdu, Sichuan during the morning rush hour on August 5, bringing torrential rain and level-9 winds that reduced visibility and sent water rushing along the roads. Authorities linked the severe convective weather to high temperatures and the urban heat island effect.

Japan: Aftermath of Massive M7.1 Kumamoto Earthquake 3

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region of Japan on Tuesday, July 28, registering a level 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, leaving 36 dead as of Saturday, August 1. An explosion was reported at the AEON Mall Kumamoto shortly after the quake, a chimney also collapsed at a paper factory, and more than 1,500 homes were reported destroyed or damaged across the affected areas.

Japan: Aftermath of Massive M7.1 Kumamoto Earthquake 2

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region of Japan on Tuesday, July 28, registering a level 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, leaving 36 dead as of Saturday, August 1. An explosion was reported at the AEON Mall Kumamoto shortly after the quake, a chimney also collapsed at a paper factory, and more than 1,500 homes were reported destroyed or damaged across the affected areas.

Japan: Aftermath of Massive M7.1 Kumamoto Earthquake

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region of Japan on Tuesday, July 28, registering a level 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, leaving 36 dead as of Saturday, August 1. An explosion was reported at the AEON Mall Kumamoto shortly after the quake, a chimney also collapsed at a paper factory, and more than 1,500 homes were reported destroyed or damaged across the affected areas.

Japan: Severe Storm Batters Tokyo With Torrential Rain and Hail 5

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning for several areas of Tokyo around 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, warning residents of possible flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Japan: Severe Storm Batters Tokyo With Torrential Rain and Hail 4

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning for several areas of Tokyo around 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, warning residents of possible flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Japan: Severe Storm Batters Tokyo With Torrential Rain and Hail 2

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning for several areas of Tokyo around 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, warning residents of possible flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Japan: Severe Storm Batters Tokyo With Torrential Rain and Hail 3

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning for several areas of Tokyo around 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, warning residents of possible flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Japan: Severe Storm Batters Tokyo With Torrential Rain and Hail

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning for several areas of Tokyo around 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, warning residents of possible flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Nikkei index tumbles

Nikkei index tumbles

A financial monitor in Tokyo on July 28, 2026, shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shedding over 2,500 points from the previous day to end at a level more than 10,000 points below the record closing high marked in June.

Nikkei index tumbles

Nikkei index tumbles

A financial monitor in Tokyo on July 28, 2026, shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shedding over 2,500 points from the previous day to end at a level more than 10,000 points below the record closing high marked in June.

Japan: Tokyo Storm Causes Water to Surge From Manholes 2

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Tokyo on Friday, July 24, amid unstable atmospheric conditions. A Level 4 warning was issued for Itabashi and Kita wards, with Level 3 warnings in several other wards, disrupting commutes and raising flood and river overflow risks. Several incidents were reported in the area of floodwater bursting violently from manholes like geysers.

Japan: Severe Thunderstorm Batters Tokyo With Flooding and River Overflow Risk

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Tokyo on Friday, July 24, amid unstable atmospheric conditions. A Level 4 warning was issued for Itabashi and Kita wards, with Level 3 warnings in several other wards, disrupting commutes and raising flood and river overflow risks.

Japan: Tokyo Storm Causes Water to Surge From Manholes

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Tokyo on Friday, July 24, amid unstable atmospheric conditions. A Level 4 warning was issued for Itabashi and Kita wards, with Level 3 warnings in several other wards, disrupting commutes and raising flood and river overflow risks. This video shows water gushing out from a manhole in Itabashi ward, Tokyo.

Spain: Wildfire Breaks Out in Burgohondo, Ávila Province 4

A wildfire broke out on Wednesday, July 22 in Burgohondo, Ávila province. The fire spread rapidly Wednesday and quickly reached Level 1 severity, with firefighting crews working intensively to contain its advance.

Spain: Wildfire Breaks Out in Burgohondo, Ávila Province 2

A wildfire broke out on Wednesday, July 22 in Burgohondo, Ávila province. The fire spread rapidly Wednesday and quickly reached Level 1 severity, with firefighting crews working intensively to contain its advance.

Spain: Wildfire Breaks Out in Burgohondo, Ávila Province 3

A wildfire broke out on Wednesday, July 22 in Burgohondo, Ávila province. The fire spread rapidly Wednesday and quickly reached Level 1 severity, with firefighting crews working intensively to contain its advance.

Spain: Wildfire Breaks Out in Burgohondo, Ávila Province

A wildfire broke out on Wednesday, July 22 in Burgohondo, Ávila province. The fire spread rapidly Wednesday and quickly reached Level 1 severity, with firefighting crews working intensively to contain its advance.

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

A monitor at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo shows the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Monitors at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo show the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Monitors at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo show the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Japan: Level 5 Alert Issued as Torrential Rains Trigger Flooding, Landslide in Kanto Region

Torrential rain pounded a wide swath of the Kanto region in eastern Japan on Friday, July 17, bringing record-breaking downpours to Gunma and southern Tochigi prefectures as well as heavy rain in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level "emergency safety" evacuation order for some areas. A landslide in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, collapsed a building and left three people unaccounted for.

Tokyo Gov. Koike in New York

Tokyo Gov. Koike in New York

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike (R) speaks during ECOSOC High-Level Segment at the U.N. headquarters in New York on July 16, 2026.

Canada: Aerial Footage Shows Toronto Skyline Shrouded in Wildfire Smoke

Toronto recorded the world's worst air quality among major cities on Wednesday, July 15, as smoke from over 100 Ontario wildfires turned the sky orange. An Orange-level air quality warning remained in effect.

US: Transfer Fire Near Lake Chelan Prompts Evacuation Orders 2

The Transfer Fire broke out near Lake Chelan, Washington, on Sunday, July 12, prompting a Level 3 "get out now" evacuation order that afternoon. Chelan County lowered the order to Level 2 around 6 p.m., and fire crews confirmed the blaze was fully extinguished by about 9 p.m. Some roads remained affected by heavy fire traffic. The cause is still under investigation.

US: Transfer Fire Near Lake Chelan Prompts Evacuation Orders

The Transfer Fire broke out near Lake Chelan, Washington, on Sunday, July 12, prompting a Level 3 "get out now" evacuation order that afternoon. Chelan County lowered the order to Level 2 around 6 p.m., and fire crews confirmed the blaze was fully extinguished by about 9 p.m. Some roads remained affected by heavy fire traffic. The cause is still under investigation.

Japan: Powerful Typhoon Bavi Batters Okinawa Amid Storm Surge Warnings 2

Typhoon Bavi was battering Okinawa's Sakishima Islands early Saturday, July 11, with storm and high wave warnings issued across the prefecture as parts of the region entered the storm's violent wind zone. A Level 4 Urgent Warning for storm surges was in place for parts of the area, with up to 250 millimeters of rain expected as authorities warned of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

China: Deadly Tornado Forms Over Lake in Ezhou

A tornado formed over a lake in Ezhou, Hubei, on July 6, 2026, as a man filmed the dramatic scene. Dark clouds gathered before a rotating column of wind appeared over the water, and violent winds soon swept debris into the air. Winds reached levels 8 to 13 across 53 townships, with two townships hitting level 13, and the extreme weather caused 11 deaths. The man filming the storm later revealed injuries he sustained.

Belgium: Severe Storms Batter Brussels, Flooding Streets and Toppling Trees Overnight

Severe thunderstorms swept through Brussels overnight Saturday, June 27 into Sunday, June 28, prompting firefighters to respond to around 120 emergency calls by midday Sunday, as flooding submerged streets in Laeken and strong winds toppled trees across multiple neighborhoods including Anderlecht and Jette. Earlier Saturday evening, authorities had closed regional parks and the Sonian Forest and canceled the Couleur Café music festival due to orange-level storm warnings.

Venezuela: Powerful Quakes Level Buildings in La Guaira 2

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake and a magnitude 7.5 mainshock struck near Yumare, Venezuela, within seconds of each other on Wednesday, June 24, causing buildings to collapse in the capital Caracas and triggering a tsunami advisory that was later rescinded. La Guaira, a port city north of Caracas, was among the hardest-hit areas.

Spain: Wildfire in Congosto Remains at Highest Danger Level in León

A wildfire that broke out in the municipality of Congosto, León, on Wednesday, June 24, remained active at the highest danger level as of Thursday, with firefighting efforts hampered by difficult weather conditions and multiple fire fronts scattered across the area.

US: Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Erupts for 49th Time, Lava Fountains Reach 700 Feet

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted for the 49th time on Sunday, June 14, with lava fountains bursting from Halemaʻumaʻu crater at 9:36 a.m. local time. Fountains reached up to 700 feet high, while the volcanic plume climbed to 18,000 feet above sea level. Authorities warned residents of volcanic gas. Episode 49 ended after roughly seven and a half hours. All lava flows remained confined within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

China: Police Rescue Driver Trapped in Car amid Heavy Street Flooding

Heavy rain caused severe street flooding in Guiyang, Guizhou province, southwestern China, on June 8, 2026, leaving one driver trapped inside a vehicle surrounded by water. Traffic police arrived and opened the car door, safely helping the driver out. In some areas, floodwater reached chest level.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts as Authorities Issue Alert and Exclusion Zone 2

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Saturday, May 30, sending a 2,000-metre grey ash column drifting northeast, while authorities maintained a Level II Alert and a 3-kilometre exclusion zone around the crater.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts as Authorities Issue Alert and Exclusion Zone

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Saturday, May 30, sending a 2,000-metre grey ash column drifting northeast, while authorities maintained a Level II Alert and a 3-kilometre exclusion zone around the crater.

China Foreign Minister Wang at U.N. Security Council

China Foreign Minister Wang at U.N. Security Council

The U.N. Security Council, of which China is the rotating president for May, holds a high-level meeting chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on strengthening the international system at the U.N. headquarters in New York on May 26, 2026.

China Foreign Minister Wang at U.N. Security Council

China Foreign Minister Wang at U.N. Security Council

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) chairs a high-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council, of which China is the rotating president for May, on strengthening the international system at the U.N. headquarters in New York on May 26, 2026.

Key Japan bond yield hits 29-year high

Key Japan bond yield hits 29-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo on May 15, 2026, shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond rising to 2.730 percent, the highest level since May 1997.

Key bond yield hits 29-year high

Key bond yield hits 29-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo on the morning of May 15, 2026, shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.700 percent, the highest level since May 1997.

Key bond yield hits 29-year high

Key bond yield hits 29-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo on the morning of May 15, 2026, shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond hitting the highest level since May 1997.

Philippines: Lava Collapse Triggers Pyroclastic Flow at Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano in the Philippines generated a pyroclastic density current (PDC), locally known as "uson," along the Mi-isi Gully on Wednesday, May 13, with a volcanic plume rising to approximately 4,000 meters, as the volcano continued to show intensified magmatic unrest under Alert Level 3. Authorities reiterated that entry into the danger zone remained strictly prohibited, with residents advised to remain alert for possible evacuation.