Natural disaster

Heavy flooding in Brazil’s south creates havoc for residents

Southern Brazil is facing the worst climate disaster in its history. Unprecedented floods have engulfed major Rio Grande do Sul cities, including the capital, Porto Alegre, where 135,000 people have been pushed from their homes, and there is still little end in sight.

Helicopter dropping water on wildfire

2017 was the costliest US natural disaster year on record

Economics
Mexico City

When disaster hits home: The Mexico City quake one month on

Environment
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

Environment
Haitian author Dimitry Elias Léger.

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

Books
Calbuco erupting

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

Environment

Chile’s Calbuco volcano erupted without warning this week — and it’s expected to keep erupting at least once more. The powerful volcano’s eruption has produced stunning photos, like these from the nearby town of Puerto Montt.

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

Environment

The skies of southern Chile lit up with fire and ash as the Villarrica volcano erupted early Tuesday. The eruption forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 people from the region. Photos of the event offer a startling look at this active volcano.

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

Development

Typhoon Haiyan caused more damage than the Haiti earthquake or the Indonesian tsunami, displacing 4.1 million people and killing more than 6,300 people in the Philippines. Now a year later, there’s still plenty of work to do for the government and international aid agencies.

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

Environment

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.

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.