For years, a popular part of many cruises in southeast Alaska has been sailing up Tracy Arm, a long, narrow fjord marked by steep mountains, glittering waterfalls and calving glaciers. But this season, major cruise lines are skipping it. A massive landslide last summer generated a tsunami and pushed a wave high up the opposite mountain wall. Several companies opting out have cited safety concerns with the still-hazardous slopes. Scientists are working to understand not only what caused the slope to collapse, but to understand what other hazards might exist in the fjord. Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are among the companies replacing visits to Tracy Arm with trips to another nearby fjord.
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The Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority says widespread flooding, landslides and lightning strikes triggered by heavy rain and storms across the country have left 77 people dead and 137 injured over the past 10 days. More rain has been forecast for the coming days throughout Afghanistan, and the authority has warned the public to stay away from river banks and areas prone to flooding. So far this year, dozens of people have died due to extreme weather in Afghanistan, an impoverished country that is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events.