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Niger
School Fire Kills 26 Children
Twenty-six schoolchildren aged five to six are dead after a fire destroyed a school in southern Niger. The school in the city of Maradi was constructed of straw and wood, cheap and highly flammable materials the government of Niger used to quickly respond to a shortage of school facilities throughout the country. Fires in the structures are reportedly common but rarely cause death or serious injury, however this is the second school fire with a high number of casualties this year after 20 died in another fire in the capital of Niamey back in April.
This map depicts Niger and its southern region of Maradi, where a schoolhouse fire killed 26 children on Monday. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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India
Deadly Rainfall in Tamil Nadu
At least 12 people have died due to heavy rainfall and severe flooding in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as of Wednesday. The rainfall started on Sunday due to a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal and has been the heaviest rainfall since the 2015 floods in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. At least 11 teams of the Natural Disaster Response Force and seven teams of the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed to aid in rescue operations. A 'red alert' is in place in Chennai and 19 other surrounding districts as the the India Meteorological Department predicts very heavy rainfall to continue until at least Thursday.
This map depicts the distribution of heavy rainfall in Chennai and surrounding districts. Click on the map to learn more.
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India
Toxic Foam Widespread on River
On Wednesday, a layer of foam laden with toxic chemicals from industrial pollution upstream developed on the river Yamuna in India. The 855 mile (1,376 kilometer) long river is considered to be one of the most polluted in the world; however, it is also one of the holiest in India for practicing Hindus. Despite the chemical froth, hundreds of Hindu devotees were seen standing knee-deep in the river to engage in ritual bathing, with the number expected to increase as many celebrate Chhath Puja in the coming days. This comes only days after extremely poor air quality index readings were reported in and around New Delhi, highlighting India's ongoing struggle to reduce environmental degradation and maintain quality of life while also encouraging economic growth.
This map depicts the route of the river Yamuna, one of India's most polluted rivers, as well as surrounding cities located on its watershed. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: The forced relocation of thousands of Indigenous Peoples from the American Southeast to western regions in the United States on a 5,045 mile (8,120 km) passage is known as what?
A: Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation and collective suffering of over 100,000 Indigenous People from the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole nations among others, from the southeastern United States during the 1830s. When gold was found on Cherokee land in Georgia in 1828, Congress, with the support of President Andrew Jackson, passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, effecting their removal to designated tracts of land west of the Mississippi. It's estimated that around 15,000 people died on the passage west. By the end of the decade, few natives remained anywhere in the southeastern United States.
Source
(Artwork by Johnnie Diacon)
Don't forget to register for Geography 2050: Towards a More Equitable Future, starting Monday November 15th!
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Q: Glaciers require very specific climatic conditions for their survival. Which continent is the only continent where glaciers are nonexistent?
Stay tuned for the answer to today's question in tomorrow's DailyGeo.
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