Tibet earthquake, Indonesia’s wildfire haze, Kenya’s Ebola travel rules

Magnitude 7 earthquake kills 16 in Tibet, authorities report

A magnitude 7 earthquake killed at least 16 people in Tibet on 22 October, according to Chinese state media. BBC and DW accounts put injuries at 65, including 11 serious cases, while local media report more than 12,400 relocations as rescue crews face blocked roads and damaged infrastructure.

Typhoon Champi leaves one dead and 527 injured in Taiwan

Typhoon Champi has killed one person and injured 527 in Taiwan, the fire department says. Taiwan’s Transport Ministry reports 259 flight cancellations on 24 October, down from almost 1,000 on 23 October, while United Daily News, cited by DW, reports electricity restored to 80% of affected households.

Indonesia’s fires expose millions to haze and close schools

Indonesia’s wildfires have exposed millions to toxic haze and closed schools, the BBC reports. The Guardian reported on 22 October that students across Kalimantan and Sumatra demanded government accountability and clashed with police during protests over the fires and haze.

Northern Ireland’s grid operator reconnects about 12,500 storm-hit homes

NIE Networks says all approximately 12,500 storm-hit households in Northern Ireland had regained electricity by 26 October. SSEN said on 27 October that about 5,700 homes in northern Scotland still awaited reconnection. School closures continued, while NorthLink Ferries warned passengers of possible disruption until 29 October.

Storm Austen left hundreds of UK homes without power on 24 October

Hundreds of UK homes remained without electricity after Storm Austen on the morning of 24 October. Enedis said about 59,000 French homes remained disconnected at midday on 25 October, while Freiburg-Breisgau’s main hospital in Germany said a blackout had forced it to accept emergency cases only.

At least five die in eastern Spain floods as rescuers save 500

At least five people have died in eastern Spain’s floods, the Guardian reported on 23 October, raising the toll from four reported by DW on 20 October. The Guardian also reports 500 rescues and says conditions are improving, with local disruption expected to continue.

Updated

Kenya confirms ninth Ebola case

Kenya’s nine confirmed Ebola cases belonged to one cluster. Uganda has since banned non-essential travel to and from Congo and requires all entrants to complete locator forms; its separate 21-day quarantine order applies to returning Ugandan citizens.

US disease control agency confirms third measles death of 2026

The US disease control agency confirmed its third measles death of 2026. The Guardian reports 4,588 cases through 23 October, 178 more that week, amid at least 43 outbreaks. Pennsylvania counts five measles-associated deaths and is reviewing a sixth, while federal officials work on a standard death definition.

Nigeria confirms imported Ebola case

Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade on 20 October. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said on 23 October that analysis found the virus closely related to Kenya’s first case, without establishing a transmission route. Investigators are examining possible connections and reconstructing the patient’s movements.

Alberta hospitals activate emergency plans after Wainwright base fire

Alberta hospitals activated emergency plans after the Wainwright fire strained local care and ambulance services. A military commander said on 22 October that a live-grenade exercise sparked the blaze and its location prevented direct firefighting. Al Jazeera’s 23 October account reports four deaths and 39 injuries, with 27 people requiring hospitalisation.