Latest fromNatural Disasters
Hurricane Earl
Thousands of residents and visitors have been ordered to evacuate an island on the North Carolina coast, as Hurricane Earl swings towards mainland USA.
Rescue boats pass many more than they collect
The rescue of thousands of flood victims in Pakistan can be a precarious business.
The unluckiest city in America
In New Orleans the healing has barely begun for some since Hurricane Katrina five years ago and, more recently, the great Gulf spill.
Storm that found a nation wanting
Five years on, Rupert Cornwell looks back on the hurricane and floods that shamed America
Authorities battle to save city from floodwaters
Authorities in Pakistan were battling yesterday to save a city in a flood-devastated southern province.
Train plunges into water after floods
Several carriages of a passenger train fell into water after floods knocked out a bridge in China.
Double jolts made tsunami fierce
The tsunami that struck Tonga and Samoa last year was the result of a rare geological event.
Early warning for global disasters
The world's leading climate scientists are gathering in the United States this week.
Big wet to become even wetter over next nine days
Waterlogged North Island areas won't get an immediate reprieve as forecasters warn of more "wet events".
Volcano collapse underlines threat of tsunami
A huge undersea volcano has dramatically reduced in size after partly collapsing more than 100 metres toward the ocean floor.
Flood-hit towns begin clean-up
As rising floodwaters threatened to wash away his home of four years all Peter Brake could do was wait, watch and hope for the best.
Homeowners forced to evacuate
Bay of Plenty flood levels are dropping, but 15 people have been evacuated from their Whakatane homes.
More rain to lash country
The eastern Bay of Plenty town of Opotiki remains isolated this morning.
Pakistan plea: 'We're dying of hunger'
Central Punjab, Pakistan's fertile agricultural belt, is now besieged by unprecedented floods.
Mt Hutt's year from Hell
It's been a tough year for Mt Hutt skifield, with three deaths, an avalanche and now 1200 skiers trapped overnight in bad weather.
Skiers freed as Mt Hutt road reopens
Many of the skiers enjoyed their night on Mt Hutt, including a quiz, hot food, and "spooning" - while at least two now have a coffee date.
High winds trap skiers on Mt Hutt
About 1200 skiers - including several hundred schoolchildren - remain trapped on Mt Hutt this morning after gales of over 200km/h closed the only road off the mountain.
Winds drop but skiers still stuck
Around 1200 mountaingoers are still trapped at Mt Hutt skifield, with conditions still too dangerous to leave.