Torrential Rain and Floods New York New Jersey, Powerful 6.3 Earthquake Afghanistan, Storm Benjamin

Описание: On October 30, a severe storm struck the northeastern United States, including the states of New York, New Jersey, and neighboring regions. Rain fell in sheets, and gusty winds intensified the destructive consequences.

The city of New York was hit especially hard: the rain poured down suddenly. In some areas, up to one inch of precipitation fell in an hour, while in Central Park, one and eighty-three hundredths inches fell during the day, setting a record for this date in the past one hundred years.

The city’s drainage system could not cope: streets, basements, and subway stations were flooded.

On November 3, around one o’clock in the morning local time, a powerful earthquake struck the Tashkurgan Gorge area in Afghanistan, registering a magnitude of 6.3. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), its epicenter was located near Khulam in Samangan Province, and the focus lay at a depth of approximately 17 miles.

The tremors were felt across the provinces of Balkh, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Kunduz, Jawzjan, Badakhshan, Faryab, as well as in the country’s capital, Kabul.

The National Disaster Management Authority reported that the earthquake resulted in 24 fatalities, and more than 800 people were injured, with 25 of them in critical condition. However, due to the lack of internet access in the remote affected areas, it is extremely difficult to determine the exact number of casualties.
Starting on October 23, storm Benjamin swept across Europe, bringing hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, and severe flooding. An orange level of danger was declared in seven countries — Switzerland, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal.

The storm paralyzed transportation across the continent — roads, railways, ferries, and air travel were all affected. Within 24 hours, major airlines canceled more than 260 flights, and over 870 were delayed. Thousands of passengers were stranded in airports across London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, and Frankfurt.