natural disaster

A dog on a street destroyed after flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rains

Colombia mudslides kill at least 200 after rivers burst their banks

Some 5 inches of rain fell Friday night, causing rivers to overflow and sending major mudslides that destroyed parts of southern Colombia and killed as many as 200 people, with many more injured or still missing.

Colombia mudslides kill at least 200 after rivers burst their banks
Haitian author Dimitry Elias Léger.

His topic: A president, the first lady, her lover — and an earthquake

His topic: A president, the first lady, her lover — and an earthquake
Calbuco erupting

Five stunning photos that capture the destructive power and stunning beauty of the Calbuco volcano

Five stunning photos that capture the destructive power and stunning beauty of the Calbuco volcano
Ash and lava spew from the Villarrica volcano, as seen from Pucon town in the south of Santiago.

Fire and lava light up the skies of southern Chile after volcano Villarrica erupts

Fire and lava light up the skies of southern Chile after volcano Villarrica erupts
One year after Typhoon Haiyan, about 5,000 people still live in evacuation centers or tents like this one in Sandy Beach, near Tacloban.

A year later, communities are still suffering from Typhoon Haiyan

A year later, communities are still suffering from Typhoon Haiyan
Punjabi flood victims are evacuated by boat from their flooded house following heavy rain in Jhang, Pakistan, on September 10, 2014.

Pakistanis rush to relief efforts after devastating floods in Punjab

Severe flooding has killed more than 240 in Pakistan and forced thousands more from their homes. With the Pakistani government wrapped in its own political drama, ordinary citizens have taken a central role in relief efforts and documenting the tragedy.

Pakistanis rush to relief efforts after devastating floods in Punjab
Delma Yerro, 53, and her granddaughter Heavenly at their sari-sari store in Tacloban, Philippines.

After Haiyan, Filipinos try to rebuild a cherished local link in the retail chain

In the Philippines, sari-sari stores serve as neighborhood anchors —a combination of convenience store and stand-up pub. Now, nearly two months after the typhoon, Filipinos are trying to revive these small, but important shops.

After Haiyan, Filipinos try to rebuild a cherished local link in the retail chain
mangroves

Saved by the Mangroves? A Philippine town dodges Haiyan's storm surge

What’s a bunch of trees worth? Well, if they save your town from the storm surge of a huge typhoon, you might say they’re invaluable. That’s what happened to the community of General MacArthur, in the Philippines, and its fate holds a lesson for coastal communities around the world.

Saved by the Mangroves? A Philippine town dodges Haiyan's storm surge
Palau

Typhoon Haiyan forces an entire island community to relocate

Residents of the tiny island of Kayangel are trying to cope with a new life after Typhoon Haiyan, which killed thousands in the Philippines, leveled their small community.

Typhoon Haiyan forces an entire island community to relocate
The Vergara family is rebuilding a home on the site of the one devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, using lumber and corrugated tin gathered from the wreckage.

This simple story shows what it means for survivors to rebuild their lives after Typhoon Haiyan

The Vergera family had 10 people before the storm. Now, there are three. They live on one meal a day amidst the debris, barricaded from thieves at night. But leaving is out of the question, at least for now.

This simple story shows what it means for survivors to rebuild their lives after Typhoon Haiyan

Thinking about posting a selfie? Try an #unselfie

Have you ever posted a selfie? You know — the self-shot self-portraits that are popular on social media sites? If you haven't, perhaps now's the time — though maybe you should consider an #unselfie.

Thinking about posting a selfie? Try an #unselfie
US Navy aid distribution in the Philippines

Philippine President Aquino vows to take care of his people, but many are skeptical

For many Filipinos, Philippine President Benigno Aquino's visit to the typhoon-stricken city of Tacloban seems too little, too late. And the challenges to rebuilding the main staples of the economy - rice and fish - are daunting.

Philippine President Aquino vows to take care of his people, but many are skeptical
Typhoon Haiyan

'I've never walked through an area with so many bodies'

One week after Typhoon Haiyan, or Typhoon Yolanda is it is known locally, ravaged the central Philippines, the scope of the tragedy is still hard to grasp. One reporter describes the situation today in Tacloban.

'I've never walked through an area with so many bodies'
palau

In Palau, a glancing blow from Typhoon Haiyan prompts a glance toward climate change

Before slamming into the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan blew across the northern part of the Pacific island nation of Palau, wreaking havoc and elevating concerns about climate change.

In Palau, a glancing blow from Typhoon Haiyan prompts a glance toward climate change
Filipinos waiting to be airlifted

It's another complicated and tough day in the Philippines

Aid workers and military support from across the globe are pouring into the Philippines, including the USS George Washington and its naval group. But relief efforts are still stymied by bottlenecks at the few damaged airports and ports in the hardest-hit areas and the poor roads and other infrastructure in the country.

It's another complicated and tough day in the Philippines