From Indian landslide to California wildfire: extreme weather of today

Extreme weather events continue to wreak havoc in many regions of the world on Wednesday. Here is a quick look:

Rescuers search through mud and debris as deaths rise to 151 in landslides in southern India

Hundreds of rescue workers searched through mud and debris on Wednesday from multiple landslides that have killed at least 151 people in southern India, police said.

The multiple landslides occurred after torrential rains triggered torrents of mud and water that swept through tea estates and villages.

Another 186 people were injured by the landslides that hit hilly areas in Kerala State's Wayanad district early on Tuesday, flattening houses, uprooting trees and destroying bridges, said police officer Aijaz, who uses one name.

More than a dozen bodies were found overnight, Aijaz said, as over 300 rescuers worked to pull out people stuck under mud and debris, but their efforts were hampered by blocked roads and unstable terrain.

Firefighters make progress against massive blaze in California, USA, ahead of warming weather

Fire crews worked on Tuesday to hold on to the progress made against the largest blaze in California this year, ahead of warming temperatures forecast for later this week.

Authorities said containment was at 14 percent and lifted evacuation orders in some communities of Butte County, where the Park Fire started last week before spreading to a neighboring county and scorching an area bigger than Los Angeles. The massive fire continues to burn through rugged, inaccessible terrain with dense vegetation, threatening to spread to two other counties.

"That's going to be a continued challenge for us moving forward over the next couple of days," said Mark Brunton, an operations section chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

Cooler weather has helped firefighters stop the blaze's path near some communities like Forest Ranch, where some people began returning to unscathed homes on Tuesday.

The Park Fire, now the fifth largest in the state's recorded history, was one of more than 100 large active wildfires burning in the U.S. on Tuesday. It has scorched nearly 600 square miles (1,551 square kilometers), according to CAL FIRE. In comparison, the city of Los Angeles covers about 470 square miles (1,217 square kilometers).

Some blazes were sparked by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the western U.S. endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions.

The Park Fire started last Wednesday after authorities say a man pushed a burning car down a ravine in Chico City. It has destroyed nearly 200 structures and is threatening thousands more. The suspect, Ronnie Dean Stout II, was charged with arson on Monday. 

Recent rains in the DPRK flooded thousands of houses and vast farmland, state media says

Recent heavy rains in the northwestern regions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) flooded thousands of houses and a vast extent of farmland and left many residents homeless and living in makeshift tents, the country's state media reported on Wednesday.

The DPRK earlier said more than 5,000 people stranded in Sinuiju City and Uiju Town were rescued by airlifts and other evacuation work after Saturday's rains caused a river on the Chinese border to swell. But it hadn't mentioned any specific damage or said if there were any casualties.

The DPRK is prone to flooding from heavy summer rains because of poor drainage, deforestation and dilapidated infrastructure.

The official Korean Central News Agency said on Wednesday that about 4,100 houses, 3,000 hectares (about 7,410 acres) of agricultural fields and numerous public buildings, roads and railways in Sinuiju and Uiju were flooded.

It said about 150 people in nearby Jagang Province had also been isolated due to a separate river flooding there, but they were all evacuated to safety by military helicopters.

Five highways closed amid cold, snow, rain and wind in New Zealand's South Island

A number of state highways across the South Island were closed due to snow but had reopened by Wednesday afternoon, according to the New Zealand Transport Agency.

However, an orange heavy snow warning and road snowfall warnings remain in place in certain areas on the island.

Weather forecasts show that active fronts are moving northward. Eastern North Island has been advised to be cautious.

(Cover: Rescuers try to reach affected people after landslides hit hillside villages in Wayanad district, Kerala state, India, July 30, 2024. /CFP)

(With inputs from agencies)