What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, October 12, 2026

Some disasters make headlines; others do not. Here at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), we monitor the status of disasters worldwide and compile a list of the ones we’re tracking weekly.  

Here’s what we’re watching for the week of Oct. 12, 2026.  

New or Emerging Disasters 

Earthquake – Panama: Two powerful earthquakes struck Panama on Friday, Oct. 9. One measured 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale and the other measured 6.6. A third 6.1-magnitude earthquake occurred on Monday.

Fortunately, no deaths were reported, but at least 27 people were injured, and 450 homes were damaged, along with hundreds of schools. Panama’s strict building codes may have helped limit casualties.

Hurricane Isaias – United States: Hurricane Isaias rapidly intensified to a Category 3 storm in the Gulf before making landfall as a Category 2 storm near Destin, Florida, the evening of Oct. 9. At least five people have died.  

The hurricane produced wind speeds of 105 mph, with gusts up to 117 mph, ripping roofs from buildings and downing trees. Nearly 1 million people lost power, and more than 53 tornado warnings were issued.  

Isaias was the first named Atlantic hurricane of 2026, breaking the 121-year record for the latest named hurricane in a typical season.

Tornado – Sicily: A rare, powerful tornado struck western Sicily on Oct. 9, hitting Marsala and nearby towns. The tornado overturned vehicles, destroyed a home, and severely damaged a school and other buildings. Dozens of people were injured.  

The storm has been classified as a rare “medicane,” a Mediterranean storm that produces hurricane-like conditions.    

Hurricane Simon and Storm Rachel – Mexico, California: Hurricane Simon and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel caused at least five deaths and widespread damage across Mexico and the southwestern United States last week. Simon weakened to a Category 1 hurricane while moving offshore along Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing dangerous winds, flooding and landslide risks near Puerto Vallarta.  

Rachel’s remnants triggered deadly flooding and landslides in Baja California and flash flooding in Southern California and Las Vegas. At least 32 people were rescued by helicopter, and several others were reported missing.  

Previous/Ongoing Disasters 

Flooding – Nepal: On Sunday, Oct. 12, a flash flood inundated a village in Nepal’s Gorkha district. At least five people remain missing after the floodwaters swept away five bridges and 200 houses. About 95 people required rescue.  

Many families have been forced to flee their homes and face uncertainty over the availability of shelter and essential supplies. The flood was caused by an avalanche of rock and ice, similar to the catastrophic flood near the Tibetan border in August that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, with 5,000 people still missing.

Heavy Rain – Chile: Santiago has recorded nearly three inches of rain in the first seven days of this month, making it the rainiest October for the area in 76 years. Several additional inches of rain fell last week, and mudslides swept away cars.

Flash floods trapped several people in their homes, who were later air-lifted to safety. Firefighters rescued nearly 1,000 people. Meteorologists warn that this year’s very strong El Niño will continue to bring unusually wet weather to the region.

Complex Humanitarian Emergencies – The Sahel (Niger)

Many places worldwide are experiencing conflict, climate change, drought, famine, economic challenges and other conditions which, when combined, create complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs). CDP spotlights one CHE each week to spread awareness and develop a philanthropic response.  

Niger faces a protracted humanitarian crisis driven by armed conflict, displacement, food insecurity and recurrent climate shocks. Insecurity restricts access to farmland and markets, climate extremes damage livelihoods and poverty limits households’ ability to recover.

Key facts:

• Conflict in Tillabéri and Diffa is disrupting agricultural production, trade and livelihoods. Declining household food stocks and price increases further constrain food access. 
• UNICEF projects that approximately 2.2 million children under five will experience acute malnutrition in 2026.  
• Humanitarian overviews report approximately 548,000 internally displaced people and more than 436,000 refugees in Niger.  
• Civilians face attacks, intimidation, restricted movement and loss of homes and livelihoods. Displacement increases risks of gender-based violence, exploitation, child labor and interrupted education. 
• Host communities face growing demand for water, healthcare, shelter and education. 
• Floods in 2025 affected at least 585,859 people and destroyed 60,388 homes. 
• Climate shocks compound conflict-related vulnerability. Farmers may be unable to reach their fields, floods damage homes and infrastructure, and drought reduces pasture and water availability. 

Sustained humanitarian funding, safe access to affected communities, integrated food security and protection services, and climate resilience measures are essential to prevent further deterioration. 

What We’re Reading

• Catastrophic wildfire loop created after colonisation left parts of Australia more at risk from bushfires, study finds – The Guardian
• Almost all Gaza residents need shelter as EL Niño threatens flooding, UN agency says – Reuters (Paywall)
• Hunger grips a rural community hit by Trump’s cuts – NBC News 

A moment of hope…Australia’s High Court rejected MACH Energy’s appeal to expand the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales, upholding a landmark legal challenge in support of cutting emissions. The proposed expansion would have kept the mine in service for at least 22 more years and doubled its output, but courts found that planners had failed to consider the downstream climate impacts of burning coal when approving the project in 2022.  

The ruling establishes an important legal precedent requiring the climate consequences of fossil fuel projects to be considered in approval decisions, marking a significant victory for climate justice and community-led environmental action.