24 Jul

Greece: Deadly Wildfire

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Greece
Deadly Wildfire 
At least 50 people were killed and more than 150 were injured as huge fires burned down homes and forests in towns near Greece’s capital, Athens. This is the worst wildfire incident in Greece since August 2007, which killed dozens of people. The fire broke out in the village of Mati late Monday afternoon and grew quickly with powerful winds. Greece has declared a state of emergency, and as of Tuesday morning the fire is not yet fully contained; several countries have offered to aid. At least three villages have been evacuated – residents and vacationers have fled to nearby beaches in Rafina. The number of people unaccounted for remains unclear, and the death toll is expected to rise. This map depicts the locations of the major wildfires around Athens. Click on the map to expand.

Graphic Source: Graphic News
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Laos
Dam Disaster
Several deaths have been reported and hundreds of other people are missing after the collapse of a hydropower dam which was under construction in southeastern Laos. Thousands were forced to flee as the flash flood began on Monday night, many did not make it out in time. Seven villages – home to over 6,000 people – are now under water. The dam, which was part of a $1.2 billion project meant to begin commercial operations in 2019, would have outsourced 90% of its generated power to Thailand.This map depicts the location of the collapsed dam in Laos. Click on the map to expand.

Graphic Source: AFP
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France
Tour de France Resumes
A protest by farmers on Tuesday’s Stage 16 of the Tour de France caused the race to come to a grinding halt.  Pepper spray aimed at farmers by police officers wound up in the cyclists’ eyes and resulted in a 15-minute pause about 18 miles into the race. It is not uncommon for farmers to stage protests during the Tour de France to grab the attention of government officials.  Stage 16 is the longest stage of the Tour de France, measuring approximately 135 miles with a steep 12-mile climb, and arguably one of the most challenging.  It is the only stage in the race whose route extends into Spain. This live map depicts the route and elevation of Stage 16 of the Tour de France. Click on the map to explore.

Graphic Source:  Cycling Stage

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: What country is Lake Maracaibo, the place that receives the highest concentration of lightning, located in?

A: Venezuela
Due to its unique topography and wind patterns, thunderclouds form constantly above Lake Maracaibo and create intense lightning. The lake receives an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute for up to 10 hours at a time.

Source

Today’s Question

 

Q:  What is the latitude of the snowiest city on Earth?

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