Debunked: the far-right conspiracy theories fuelled by Texas floods
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Wildfires creating ‘fire clouds' that are further fanning blazes, officials warn
Two wildfires burning in the western United States – including one that has become a 'megafire' on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon – are so hot that they are spurring the formation of 'fire clouds' that can create their own erratic weather systems. In Arizona, the wind-whipped wildfire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge is 9% contained and has charred more than 164 square miles to become the largest fire now burning in the continental US and one of the top 10 largest in recorded Arizona history. Advertisement Another large fire in Monroe, Utah, has burned 75 square miles since July 13 and is 11% contained, officials said on Thursday. Evacuation orders were issued on Wednesday for several towns in the fire's path, and scorched power poles caused electricity to be shut off in other nearby communities in south-central Utah. Utah governor Spencer Cox declared an emergency on Thursday as wildfires grew around the state and planned to visit Monroe on Friday. A wildfire burning near Monroe, Utah (Hurricane Valley Fire District via AP) Towering convection clouds known as pyrocumulus clouds have been spotted over Arizona's blaze for seven consecutive days, fuelling the fire with dry, powerful winds, fire information officer Lisa Jennings said. Advertisement They form when air over the fire becomes superheated and rises in a large smoke column. The giant billowing clouds can be seen for hundreds of miles and can resemble an anvil. An even greater threat, fire-fuelled thunderstorm known as the pyrocumulonimbus cloud, sent rapid winds shooting in all directions this week as a smoke column formed from the Utah fire then collapsed on itself, fire team information officer Jess Clark said. 'If they get high enough, they can also create downdrafts, and that's something we really watch out for because that can quickly spread the fire and can be very dangerous for firefighters who are doing their work on the ground,' Ms Jennings said. The National Interagency Fire Centre said on Thursday that even with fewer square miles having burned so far this year than average, many parts of the country remain vulnerable to new starts and fast-moving flames. Advertisement
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Moment giant fireball blows manhole open in middle of busy NYC street
An explosion in the middle of a busy New York City street blew a manhole into the air as terrified onlookers scrambled. Shocking video captured the moment an enormous fireball erupted on Central Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn about 5.21pm on Thursday afternoon. It is understood both the manhole and at least one nearby car went up in flames after the explosion. Firefighters were already on the scene responding to reports of elevated carbon monoxide levels. Multiple cars were traveling through the intersection at the time of the explosion, and several others were parked nearby. Screams erupted as witnesses fled the area and car alarms began to sound outside the Deli & Grill corner store. Several crews worked to get the fire under control as terrified locals watched on and the flames threatened to engulf further cars. The blaze got dangerously close to corner stores and a building as crews worked to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported. It marked more travel chaos for New Yorkers after torrential downpours led to widespread flooding across the Northeast on Thursday. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed and vehicles traveling during rush hour were caught in the deluge. Photos and videos shared online showed cars along the Clearview Expressway in NYC submerged underwater as the rain started to fall. Another video from inside a city bus showed the rainwaters pouring into the vehicle. About 25 million Americans were under a state of emergency, with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declaring a statewide emergency. He also issued a flash flood watch for the entire state, home to nearly 10 million people. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul issued a similar alert covering some of the state's most densely populated counties, approximately 15 million New Yorkers. The warning included all five boroughs of New York City.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Utah governor declares state of emergency as wildfires rapidly spread across thousands of acres
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency as wildfires tear through thousands of acres, marking the state's most severe fire season in years. So far in 2025, Utah has recorded 693 wildfires, burning over 114,000 acres and devastating communities statewide, according to officials. The four largest active fires alone account for more than 100,000 acres burned, and suppression costs have surpassed $103 million across local, state and federal agencies. Cox, who has served in the position since 2021, signed Executive Order 2025-08 on Thursday, putting the emergency declaration into immediate effect for 30 days. The order mobilizes all available state resources to protect lives, homes, livestock, and drinking-water supplies. It also activates Utah 's emergency operations plan and authorizes the deployment of the Utah National Guard if needed. 'Heroic efforts are underway as firefighters and emergency personnel work around the clock to save homes and neighborhoods,' Cox said in a statement. 'We are mobilizing every tool at our disposal to support them and keep Utahns safe.' The largest of the devastating blazes is the Monroe Canyon Fire in Sevier County, which has scorched over 37,000 acres and is only 11 percent contained, according to the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The Monroe Canyon Fire has destroyed at least seven homes, as well as 12 power poles, causing widespread power outages across the state's south-central region. Cox is scheduled to travel to Richfield on Friday for a briefing on the fire and to meet with local officials and emergency responders. Continued critical fire conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds have complicated statewide firefighting operations, according to the governor's statement. The Beehive State has experienced 22 Red Flag Warning days this year - conditions marked by high winds, dry fuels, and low moisture levels. The extreme conditions follow record-low snowpack and precipitation, which extended an already dry period across the state. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 60 percent of the state is currently in severe or extreme drought, with the remainder in moderate drought. This year marks Utah's busiest wildfire season since 2020. Fires like the Forsyth Fire in Washington County and the Deer Creek Fire in San Juan County have already destroyed dozens of structures. In his statement, Cox also emphasized the human role in the wildfire crisis. His office reports that approximately 72 percent of Utah's wildfires in 2025 have been human-caused. 'Fire sense saves lives and property by reducing sparks from everyday activities and helping firefighters focus on blazes ignited by lightning,' Cox reminded the public. However, the governor stressed that public and firefighter safety remains the top priority - especially as the state faces longer-term risks from burn scars, debris flows, and post-fire flooding. Cox's emergency order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Utah Legislature. In addition to the blazes in Utah, over 90,000 acres are on fire in Arizona as part of the ongoing Dragon Bravo Fire. The Arizona Emergency Information Network reported only 4 percent containment as of Thursday evening. Now, wildfire smoke from Utah, as well as Arizona, has spread to Denver and much of Colorado, severely impacting air quality.
