(Minghui.org) Portugal's weather service recently reported that the past month was the country’s hottest May in 92 years together with severe drought. In the Philippines, the Bulusan Volcano erupted, resulting in earthquakes and evacuation in its adjacent areas. Hailstorms devastated large areas of southwest France.
Drought in Portugal
Citing information from the Portuguese weather service (IPMA), Euronews reported on June 9 that the last month was the country’s “the hottest May on record in the country since 1931.”
In addition, the average rainfall thus far was under 9 millimeters, about 13% of its normal rainfall. As a result, 97% of the country is suffering “severe drought,” and 1.4% of the country experienced “extreme drought.”
Volcano in the Philippines
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), eruption of the Bulusan Volcano on June 5 produced a gray steam-rich smoke of at least 1 km above the summit and drifted. “PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level to 1 (on a scale of 0-5) and reminded the public not to enter the 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) nor the 2 km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the SE flank,” wrote the news.
“We still can’t say that it is over. It's still possible that this eruption could be followed by another one, that's why we need to be careful with the Bulusan volcano,” remarked the agency’s head Renato Solidum.
Emergency workers were deployed to clean ash-laden roads and guide drivers due to poor visibility. “Our river was once clear but now it is ash-colored,” said resident Antonio Habitan.
Moreover, Philippines volcanologists recorded 45 volcanic earthquakes, including two low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, during a 18-hour period on June 9 alone.
Hailstorms in France
Hailstorms devastated large areas of southwest France on June 4, destroying grape vines in the Gers and Landes departments. “It was apocalyptic, with hailstones the size of marbles, with no water. The storm traveled from the greater Bas Armagnac area up to Condom,” said Patrick Farbos, chairman of the Armagnac marketing bureau. He reported significant losses on vines, but also for maize and sunflowers.
“This hail corridor followed the entire Lando-Gers border and it is estimated that between 4 and 5,000 hectares of vines were affected, and several tens of thousands of hectares of crops were affected in the Gers,” added Bernard Malabirade, president of the departmental chamber of agriculture.
“It's an apocalyptic scene,” said winemaker Nelly Lacave, owner of 8.5 hectares of vines, “In the vineyards, there is nothing left, the roof of our agricultural building is a giant Swiss cheese and in the house, windows have burst. My father, who is almost 70 years old, has never seen that.”
About 5,000 households lost electricity. A woman in Rouen was swept away by a mudslide and drowned after being trapped under a car.
On the same day, record heat was recorded in Cap Corse with temperature rising to 37.4°C. This is one of the highest values recorded since the opening of the station in 1917.
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