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Six people died and three others were missing after the "heaviest rain ever" triggered floods and landslides in south-west Japan.

The Japan meteorological agency warned residents in Kyushu - one of the country's four main islands - to stay alert for more landslides, a common hazard in mountainous areas after heavy rainfall.

However, the agency on Tuesday downgraded an earlier special warning for heavy rain covering more than 1.7 million people in northern parts of the island.

Japan has been hit by unusually heavy rain and powerful typhoons in recent years, raising fears about its vulnerability to the climate crisis.

"This is the heaviest rain ever experienced" in the region, said Satoshi Sugimoto, a meteorological agency official. "The situation is such that lives are in danger and their safety must be secured."

The chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said up to six people were thought to have died as a result of heavy rain that caused rivers to burst their banks and disrupted to bullet train services, as well as cutting off roads and water supplies.

Flood debris in Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu island. Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

The prime minister's office said a taskforce had been set up to coordinate a response.

"We have received reports that several rivers have flooded ... and that landslides have occurred in various parts of the country," Matsuno told reporters.

"The government is doing its best to get a complete picture of the damage and taking measures while putting people's lives first."

A 77-year-old woman was confirmed dead after she and her husband were found trapped inside their house, which had been engulfed in mud, in Fukuoka prefecture, local authorities said, adding that the husband had survived.

Three other Fukuoka residents died, including one whose car had been washed away by a flooded river.

The city of Kurume saw precipitation of 402.5mm in the 24 hours to 4pm on Monday - the highest ever recorded there - the meteorological agency said.

A mudslide in the city hit seven houses, burying 21 people. Six were able to escape, while workers extracted nine alive and were working to remove five others. A man in his 70s was later confirmed dead.

The body of another man was found next to rice fields near a flooded river, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and public broadcaster NHK.

"The rain and gusts of wind were very, very strong, and there was lightning," said Takashi Onizuka, a 62-year-old resident of a town near Kurume. "It was so horrible."

While Tokyo experienced blistering heat on Tuesday, other parts of the country bore the brunt of the annual rainy season.

Scientists say global heating is increasing the risk of heavy rain in Japan. The weather agency said it had already been raining for more than a week in parts of northern Kyushu.

Officials in the city of Asakura said they believed the rain had peaked, but warned there was still a risk of flooding.

"Water levels in rivers are rising so we are staying vigilant against the possibility of overflowing," said Takaaki Harano, a local official.

Landslides represent a serious risk in Japan, where many homes are built on flat land at the foot of hills and mountains.

In 2021, a landslide in the hot spring resort of Atami killed 27 people; and in 2018, floods and landslides killed more than 200 people in western Japan during the rainy season.
With Agence France-Presse

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'Heaviest rain ever' causes deadly floods and landslides in Japan

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Mud engulfs houses and cars as island of Kyushu bears brunt of annual rainy season that is worsening with climate change

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Days of heavy rain in the city of Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon, caused mudslides and flooding in hillside communities in Mbankolo district on the outskirts of the city.

The disaster occurred late on 08 October 2023. Cameroon Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT), Atanga Nji Paul, visited the affected area of 09 October. The minister confirmed that 30 people had lost their lives in the tragedy and more were feared missing. Rescue teams are currently searching for victims trapped underground. Around 50 people were reported injured. At least 30 homes are thought to have been destroyed. Relief items have been made available to for distribution to those affected.

Minister Atanga Nji Paul said the incident was caused by heavy rain and run-off which destroyed a water retention dam at Nkol Etam, which in turn triggered a torrent of mud and flood waters down the slopes in the area to settlements of Mbankolo district below.

A massive landslide struck in the Antenne Damas neighbourhood in the city of Yaoundé on 27 November 2022. At least 14 people lost their lives. The victims were gathered for a religious service near a soccer pitch at the base of a 20 metre high soil embankment, which then collapsed.

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Cameroon - 30 Dead After Floods and Mudslides in Mbankolo District, Yaoundé

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Days of heavy rain in the city of Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon, caused mudslides and flooding in hillside communities in Mbankolo district on the outskirts of the city. The disaster occurred late on 08 October 2023. Cameroon Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT), Atanga Nji Paul, visited the affected area of 09 October.

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Brazil – Rains and Floods Wreak Havoc in Santa Catarina as Emergency Declarations Escalate – FloodList

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Days of heavy rain and flooding in Santa Catarina, Brazil, have prompted dozens of municipalities to declare a state of emergency. At least 2 people have died in flooding and heavy rainfall that have affected the state since 03 October 2023. More heavy rain is forecast.

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Myanmar - 15,000 Evacuate Floods in Bago, Mon and Yangon

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Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes after record heavy rain caused flooding in southern Myanmar. The hardest hit area is Bago Township in the Bago Region. Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported heavy rain in the town from 06 October 2023, including a record October high of 200 mm in 24 hours on 08 October 2023.

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Dozens of emergency personnel are search through wreckage left by raging flash floods near Guatemala City, Guatemala after a river broke its banks early on 25 September 2023.

Heavy rain fell in the area overnight, 24 to 25 September, causing the El Naranjo river to break its banks, flooding areas of the Dios Es Fiel settlement in Zone 7 of Guatemala City.

The torrent destroyed 6 homes. Preliminary reports suggested at least 19 people were missing. Several families have evacuated the areas and moved to emergency accommodation.

The President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, expressed his deep concern and solidarity with the affected families.

"Preliminarily there are deaths, missing people and damage to homes," he said.

Several teams of firefighters and personnel from the country's disaster agency CONRED (Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres), assisted by sniffer dogs, started Search and Rescue operations in the early hours of 25 September.

Later on 25 September authorities confirmed the bodies of 6 victims had been found.

Heavy rain has taken its toll in other areas of the country in recent days. On 22 September, five workers who were digging trenches for a pipeline died after heavy rain caused part of the building site to collapse in the San Cristóbal neighbourhood, San Pedro Yepocapa in Chimaltenango Department.

CONRED reported on 25 September that at least 32 people people have lost their lives in over 800 rain-related incidents during the current rainy season.

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Guatemala - 19 Feared Missing After Flash Floods in Guatemala City

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Dozens of emergency personnel are search through wreckage left by raging flash floods near Guatemala City, Guatemala after a river broke its banks early on 25 September 2023. Heavy rain fell in the area overnight, 24 to 25 September, causing the El Naranjo river to break its banks, flooding areas of the Dios Es Fiel settlement in Zone 7 of Guatemala City.

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https://floodlist.com/asia/hong-kong-floods-september-2023

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Record rains in Japan have led to significant flooding, causing the loss of at least three lives and over 2,000 homes damaged, according to authorities.

The persistent rainfall, attributed to the remnants of tropical storm Yun-yeung, has been impacting the central and eastern parts of Japan since 08 September 2023.

In 24 hours to 08 September, Mobara City in Chiba Prefecture recorded 391.5 mm of rain, beating the previous record high of 272.0 mm set in October 2013. In the same period Kamogawa (Chiba) recorded 355 mm, Otaki (Chiba) 352 mm and Kashima in Ibaraki Prefecture 272 mm. Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture recorded 131.5 mm of rain in 3 hours on 08 September.

Authorities reported 1,204 houses have been flooded or damaged in the cities of Iwaki and Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture. Over 700 homes have been flooded in Ibaraki Prefecture and 225 in Chiba Prefecture. Around 40 people have been displaced and moved to emergency accommodation in Mobara, Chiba Prefecture.

Two people died when they were swept away by floodwaters in separate incidents in Kitaibaraki and Hitachiota in Ibaraki Prefecture. Another fatality was reported in Otaki in Chiba. One person was reported missing in floods in Hitachi City in Ibaraki Prefecture.

The ongoing downpours have also resulted in more than 200 landslides.

Local transportation has been severely impacted, with damage to roads and railway operations. Some rail services were suspended in Chiba Prefecture.

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Japan - Floods Impact Chiba, Fukushima and Ibaraki After Record Rain

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Record rains in Japan have led to significant flooding, causing the loss of at least three lives and over 2,000 homes damaged, according to authorities. The persistent rainfall, attributed to the remnants of tropical storm Yun-yeung, has been impacting the central and eastern parts of Japan since 08 September 2023.

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A slow-moving storm brought torrential rainfall and strong winds to parts of Spain from 02 September 2023. Emergency crews have responded to thousands of incidents across the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha and around the capital, Madrid.

As of 04 September, authorities had report numerous evacuations, high-water rescues, missing persons and fatalities.

In a 24-hour period to 03 September, the storm, referred to as "Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos," or DANA, by Spanish authorities, dumped 217.7 mm of rain in Alcanar and 243.4 mm of rain in Mas de Barberans, both located in Catalonia. The total seen in Mas de Barberans is the highest in 23 years.

Other areas of the country also saw significant rainfall totals during the same period, according to figures provided by the State Meteorological Agency AEMET, including:

San José del Valle, Cádiz: 172.2 mm

San Rafael, Segovia: 147.8 mm

Estación de Tortosa (Roquetes), Tarragona: 117.2 mm

Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid: 104.9 mm

Cebreros, Ávila: 96.0 mm

Toledo, Toledo: 91.8 mm

La Pobla de Benifassà-Fredes, Castelló/Castellón: 83.2 mm

Catalonia

Civil Protection in Catalonia responded to 288 incidents related to heavy rain, floods and strong winds on 03 September, mostly in Alcanar, Santa Barbara, Amposta and L'Ametlla de Mar. Thousands were affected by power outages.

Inhabitants of Alcanar in Tarragona Province, were told to stay in their homes and move to upper floors after severe flooding swept through areas of the municipality. The same area suffered severe flooding in September 2021.

Two people were rescued from a flooded house in L'Aldea, also in Tarragona Province, situated close to the mouth of the Ebro River.

Valencia

Parts of nearby Castellón Province in Valencia Region also experienced severe flooding. In Vinaròs, firefighters rescued one person from a flooded houses and several others trapped in their vehicles.

Firefighters also rescued around 15 people from vehicles trapped in flood water in Valencia Province. Emergency authorities in the region also reported around 30 severe weather-related incidents in Alicante Province.

Andalusia

Emergency services in the Andalusia Region said areas of Cádiz and Seville Provinces were hardest hit. Firefighters carried out 60 interventions as a result of heavy rain in Seville province, including in the city of Seviile and other municipalities including Dos Hermanas, Alcalá del Río, Alcalá de Guadaíra, La Rinconada, Utrera, Gelves and Coria del Río.

112 Andalusia has responded to around 70 incidents in the province of Cádiz in particular in San José del Valle and Chipiona. roads were blocked and some homes flooded.

Community of Madrid

Firefighters and emergency workers were searching for 2 people reported missing after a vehicle fell into the Alberche river in Aldea del Fresno around 40km west of the city of Madrid late on 03 September 2023.

The vehicle was carrying a family of 4 people at the time. Two of the passengers managed to escape the vehicle and were later taken to hospital for treatment. Local media have since reported one of those missing has since been located clinging to a tree for safety. The search for the remaining missing person is continuing.

Two bridges have been damaged or destroyed in the area, further complicating the situation and leaving residents of Aldea del Fresno isolated. The nearby towns of Navalcarnero and El Álamo have also experienced severe flooding.

Around 6 people had to evacuate their homes in Móstoles after the Guadarrama river broke its banks. The evacuees were moved to emergency accommodation at a nearby school.

Across the region of Madrid, firefighters have reported 1,491 incidents related to the severe weather. Roads have been closed and train and subway services interrupted. The mayor of the city requested inhabitants remain indoors on 03 September and sports events were cancelled.

Castilla-La Mancha

Areas of Toledo Province have experienced severe flooding since heavy rainfall on 03 September. Numerous train services have been interrupted.

In the last few hours local media reported two fatalities in the province. One person died after a vehicle was swept away by floods in Bargas. Another fatality was exported in Casarrubios del Monte but no further details were available.

Among the hardest hit areas in the Castile-La Mancha Region is the municipality of Buenache de Alarcon in the province of Cuenca.

First responders resuscitated a person who was trapped in a flooded house. Flooding has damaged water and power infrastructure, along with roads homes and vehicles and wide areas of farmland.

During a visit to assess the damage, the Mayor of Buenache de Alarcón, Raquel Hortelano said "We are cleaning the streets of the mud and there are shops and houses flooded with mud and we cannot keep up."

The mayor will request the declaration of a natural disaster to help the municipality in its recovery.

Flood damage in Buenache de Alarcón, Spain, September 2023. Photo: Ayuntamiento Buenache de Alarcón

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Spain - Widespread Flooding After Storm Dumps Over 240mm of Rain in 24 Hours

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A slow-moving storm brought torrential rainfall and strong winds to parts of Spain from 02 September 2023. Emergency crews have responded to thousands of incidents across the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha and around the capital, Madrid. As of 04 September, authorities had report numerous evacuations, high-water rescues, missing persons and fatalities.

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At least 11 people have lost their lives after catastrophic flooding brought by storms in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Greece

In Greece, the wave of severe weather, dubbed Storm Daniel, began on 05 September, 2023. By the afternoon of the same day, the storm had dumped 645 mm of rain in Zagora in Magnesia, Thessaly. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said this was the highest daily rainfall total ever recorded in Greece.

According to Meteo Greece, more rain fell in the area, resulting in a total of 754 mm by 20:45 on 05 September. The previous daily rainfall record of 644.7 mm was recorded in Paliki Kefalonia during Mediterranean Cyclone Janus in September 2020.

The torrential rain resulted in severe flooding in multiple locations in Central Greece, in particular the Magnesia, Sporades and Evia regional units.

Two people died in floods in the city of Volos in the Magnesia Region. One person was reported missing after being his vehicle was swept away by floods. Two other people previously reported missing were found safe.

Turkey

In Turkey, flash floods struck northern districts of Istanbul on 05 September. Authorities reported widespread damage to buildings and roads and at least 2 fatalities.

Meanwhile in Kırklareli Province in northwestern Turkey, flash floods swept through areas near the of Iğneada of the Demirköy district. Twelve people were reported stranded by the floods. Emergency teams carried out extensive search and rescue operations. As of 05 September, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported 6 people were rescued, but the bodies of two of the victims were found with 4 people still missing. By 06 September, AFAD reported 2 further fatalities.

📍Kırklareli

İğneada beldesinde meydana gelen selin ardından ilgili tüm kurumlarımızın, sivil toplum kuruluşlarımızın ve ekiplerimizin çalışması aralıksız devam ediyor.

Tüm imkanlarımızla sahadayız... pic.twitter.com/0SsgpEfKAy

- AFAD (@AFADBaskanlik) September 6, 2023

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, a storm caused floods on the country's southern Black Sea coast, in particular in the resort town of Tsarevo in Burgas Province, where authorities declared a state of emergency. Multiple rivers in the area burst their banks and several bridges were destroyed, causing serious traffic problems.

As of 06 September, 3 people had died in the floods and police were still searching for two people reported missing.

Tourism Minister Zaritsa Dinkova said about 4,000 people were affected by the disaster. Local hotels were housing more than 400 people who have been left stranded by the floods.

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Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria - 11 Dead After Record Rainfall Triggers Catastrophic Floods

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At least 11 people have lost their lives after catastrophic flooding brought by storms in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. In Greece, the wave of severe weather, dubbed Storm Daniel, began on 05 September, 2023. By the afternoon of the same day, the storm had dumped 645 mm of rain in Zagora in Magnesia, Thessaly.

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Libya - 5,300 Lives Lost in Derna Floods, Thousands Still Missing

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The death toll from massive floods that swept the city of Derna in eastern Libya rose to 5,300 people, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of the Interior of the government appointed by the House of Representatives.

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Heavy rainfall led to severe flooding across southern Ghana, particularly in the Western, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions, from June 21, 2023, resulting in widespread damage and at least 8 fatalities.
The downpour began on June 21, affecting parts of Greater Accra, Western, and Ashanti Regions of Ghana. In Greater Accra, roads were blocked, causing severe traffic disruptions. Parts of Ga South Municipality were cut-off, and areas of Ga East Municipal District were also particularly badly affected.

In the Western Region, approximately 50 homes in Ahanta West Municipal District were damaged due to the flooding on June 21. In the following days, the Bonsa River in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal District overflowed, causing severe hardship for residents. Food, material possessions, and homes were damaged or destroyed, according to officials. Tragically, on June 24, three young people lost their lives while trying to cross the flooding Subri River in Daboase in the Wassa East District of the region.

The Ashanti Region also suffered from heavy rainfall. Between June 21 and 22, four people died in flooding incidents in Atafoa, Sepaase, and Tafo. One of the victims died while attempting to recover the body of his brother who was swept away by floods in Atafoa. The heavy rain continued in the region, making conditions particularly treacherous near rivers. A government official tragically lost his life while trying to cross a flooded river in Kumasi on June 24.

Earlier in the month, local officials in the Volta Region of Ghana reported that around 3 000 people were displaced in Keta Municipal District due to flooding that began around June 12, 2023.

References:

¹ Ghana - Deadly Floods Strike in Southern Regions - FloodList - June 25, 2023

² Ghana floods - DG ECHO - June 26, 2023
Featured image credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat-10, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers. Acquired at 15:00 UTC on June 21, 2023

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Deadly floods ravage southern Ghana, claiming at least 8 lives

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Heavy rainfall led to severe flooding across southern Ghana, particularly in the Western, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions, from June 21, 2023, resulting in widespread damage and at least 8...

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Sentinel 1a and 1b acquisitions, by date of interest (IWS mode)

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CEOS Visualization Environment (COVE) Portal

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The CEOS Visualization Environment (COVE) is a suite of tools for analyzing satellite sensor coverage for more than 100 Earth-observing satellites. The suite includes:

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Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem | Europe’s eyes on Earth

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Welcome to the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, an open ecosystem that provides free instant access to a wide range of data and services from the Copernicus Sentinel missions and more on our planet’s land, oceans and atmosphere.

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The Copernicus Browser makes it possible to browse and download full resolution images from all Copernicus missions. You simply go to your area of interest, select your desired time range and collection(s), and inspect the resulting data in the Browser.

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End of mission of the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite

The European Space Agency and the European Commission announce the end of the mission for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite and regret the inconvenience caused to the Copernicus Services, Copernicus Participating States, and the many users worldwide affected by the lack of Sentinel-1B data.

Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, the very detailed investigations related to the satellite power system's affected unit have been completed. The conclusions drawn by the Anomaly Review Board resulted in the impossibility to recover the 28V regulated bus of the C-SAR Antenna Power Supply unit (CAPS), which provides power to the radar electronics. The capability of Sentinel-1B to support the mission is therefore considered lost.

A summary report of the description of the anomaly, of the investigations and the recovery attempts, as well as the parallel Sentinel-1 mission level actions and way forward is available here.

Copernicus Sentinel-1A remains fully operational. Strong efforts have been deployed to launch Sentinel-1C as early as possible, the current plans target a launch in the second quarter of 2023. The successful VEGA-C maiden flight on 13 July 2022 marks a major milestone towards the launch of Sentinel-1C.

The Sentinel-1B satellite remains under control, all systems except the power affected unit, which prevents the radar from being switched on, continue to function nominally. Regular orbit control manoeuvres are routinely performed. The preparation of the Sentinel-1B disposal phase has started. It requires detailed analyses in the domains of satellite engineering, mission analysis and flight operations. This preparatory phase is planned to last until the end March 2023, indicatively. The execution of the Sentinel-1B disposal cannot take place in parallel to the Sentinel-1A operations and to the Sentinel-1C related activities (launch preparation, launch execution and Commissioning). The start of the Sentinel-1B disposal is therefore planned to take place after the Sentinel-1C In-Orbit Commissioning Review (IOCR), indicatively during the third quarter of 2023. The de-orbiting activities will last several months (current estimate in the order of 9 months).

The de-orbiting of Sentinel-1B is an example of ESA's and EU's commitments to clean and responsible space. It will be performed according to the safety and clean space environment requirements in place for ESA projects at the time of design of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B (re-entry in the atmosphere within maximum 25 years).

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End of mission of the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite - Sentinel Online

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End of mission of the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite The European Space Agency and the European Commission announce the end of the mission for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite and regret the inconvenience caused to the Copernicus Services, Copernicus Participating States, and the many users worldwide affected by the lack of Sentinel-1B data.

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Santa Catarina,

oct 9-10 to 14, 2023

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Derna Libya, Wadi Derna basin

Dam failure

September 10

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Timeline

First Heavy Rainfall - 7th September 2023

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Kurume City, Japan; July 10, 2023

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Zagora, Greece

Started 5 Sept 2023 after heavy rains

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Zagora, Greece

Sept 5, 2023

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Alcanar, Spain

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October 6-8, 2023, with river at record high on October 9, 2023

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Yaounde, Cameroon 08 October 2023

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Yaounde, Cameroon Flooded on 08 October 2023

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7 pm on 7 September, Sha Tau Kok in the North District recorded more than 70 millimeters (2.8 in) rainfall.

Between 11:00 p.m. of 7 September and 12:00 a.m., of 8 September, the HKO headquarters recorded 158.1 millimeters (6.22 in) mm of rainfall within one hour, the highest hourly rainfall rate ever in Hong Kong since records began in 1884.

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Bago, Myanmar

October 6-8, 2023,

with river at record high on October 9, 2023