A month of heightened extreme weather events in August and September 2026 resulted in catastrophic damage across multiple regions, with the onset of El Niño amplifying global risks. Among the most severe incidents were a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, a glacial collapse in Nepal triggering deadly floods, and volcanic eruptions disrupting air travel in Indonesia. Together, these disasters caused at least 2,200 deaths and displaced tens of thousands, with preliminary economic losses exceeding $10 billion in Colombia alone.
The earthquake in western Colombia on August 10, 2026, struck the country’s coffee-growing regions, leaving 289 confirmed fatalities, 4,187 injuries and 143 missing. Preliminary estimates placed direct economic losses at $9.57 billion, with widespread structural damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure. Authorities warned of ongoing aftershocks and advised residents to avoid unsafe structures.
In Nepal, a glacial collapse on August 26 triggered a catastrophic avalanche and flash flood in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, killing over 900 people and leaving nearly 4,500 missing. The disaster, described as one of the worst in recent years, swept away homes, roads and hydropower facilities, with rescue operations ongoing into early September. Authorities reported at least 800 foreign nationals among the missing, including tourists and military personnel.
Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on September 4, causing a 25-hour continuous eruption that grounded flights across Java and Sumatra. Authorities suspended operations at multiple airports, including Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, disrupting Southeast Asia’s second-busiest travel corridor.
Elsewhere, Hurricane Lowell threatened Hawaii’s Kauai and Niihau islands with damaging winds and rip currents, while wildfires raged in the U.S. and Canada, with Canadian authorities warning of elevated fire danger in most provinces. Typhoon Saudel in southeast China prompted mass evacuations in Fujian and Jiangxi, affecting over 728,000 people, and the Philippines endured persistent monsoon flooding, with authorities warning of flash flood risks.
The combined impact of these events underscores the growing vulnerability of vulnerable regions to climate-driven extreme weather, with El Niño conditions exacerbating precipitation patterns and seismic activity.
