Ashgrove, Australia

An 85-year-old woman has had a lucky escape after her 16-room house partially collapsed and "slid down the hill" in Brisbane's north-west.

Tradie Reef Urquhart had been working across the road when he heard a "bang".

It's believed Josephine Curties's heritage-listed home came off its stumps due to the saturated grounds on Thursday morning, prompting emergency services to be called to the scene.

Mr Urquhart said the 85-year-old was trying to get out the front door, but it was blocked with debris.

Ms Curties was carried out by one of the tradies and only had a "few cuts," Mr Urquhart said.

Brisbane City Council has sent a structural engineer to investigate.

https://amp.abc.net.au/article/104747500

MANHATTAN, NYC, New York

7:55:36 PM EST Wed -
Underground electrical transformer fire at E 38th St & 5th Ave · Murray Hill, Manhattan

https://citizen.com/-OERPQOJTjr3MTpWz_3_

PRATT, West Virginia

A portion of MacCorkle Ave SE has been closed in Pratt on Wed due to a rockslide.

Officials say the rock and hill slide happened at Beechwood Run Rd.

Traffic is being re-routed at MacCorkle Ave SE & Center St.

Crews do not expect the roadway to reopen until after 6 p.m. Wednesday.

https://www.wsaz.com/2024/12/18/rockslide-closes-maccorkle-avenue-se/?outputType=amp

Rimouski, QC - Canada

An explosion caused a violent fire that destroyed the former Sainte-Agnès Nord presbytery located on Saint-Germain Street East, Thursday around 4 a.m.

In all, 50 firefighters from the City of Rimouski and the MRC Rimouski-Neigette fought the flames.

Upon their arrival, the embrace was widespread on all floors. The building is a total loss.

Several callers contacted 911 following the explosion. The cause is unknown. The members of the search for fire causes are on site to investigate the scene.

https://journallesoir.ca/2024/12/19/explosion-lex-presbytere-sainte-agnes-nord-detruit/

Local emergency regimes have been declared in Sochi in the affected areas after record rainfall caused 13 landslides and damage to 8 road sections.

The most critical situation is in Bestuzhevka and Semyonovka, where transportation is interrupted. Gas and energy infrastructures have been disrupted.

Kenya suffered a widespread power outage on Wednesday that affected most of the country, with electricity supply restored about 6 hours later.

The cause of the outage in East Africa's largest economy, which was first reported at 1:28 a.m. local time (1028 GMT), has yet to be determined, Kenya Power said in a post on social media platform X.

As of 7:35 a.m. local time (0435 GMT), power had been restored in the areas where it had gone off, the company said.

The outage also affected neighbouring Tanzania, the observatory added in a post on X.

The blackout has significantly reduced internet connectivity across the country, said Netblocks, a global observatory that monitors internet access.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/major-power-outage-hits-kenya-affects-internet-access-2024-12-18/

MOUNT PLEASANT, Pennsylvania

Westmoreland Co Public Safety reported people in the Harmon House & Amber House along S Church St had to leave the homes about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday due to a gas leak.

Mt. Pleasant fire Chief Paul Harenchar said the 90 residents of Harmon House were relocated to nearby Frick Hospital while Amber House residents were moved to the facility’s lobby. It was unclear how many residents were moved in Amber House.

Harenchar said they were given the all-clear to start letting residents back into their homes about 9:45 p.m.

Columbia Gas crews were on scene within 20 minutes of the reported leak.

No injuries were reported.

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/residents-of-mt-pleasant-personal-care-homes-evacuated-due-to-gas-leak-wednesday-evening/

UNCERTAIN, Texas

The USGS website is confirming a 3.3 earthquake Thursday morning in the Uncertain, Texas area.

The KTBS 3 newsroom began receiving several calls and texts about 6:15 a.m., mostly from the Mooringsport, Oil City, and Blanchard areas. 

The quake lasted several seconds depending on the location.

2 KTBS 3 technical directors even felt the jolt in the upstairs production room during the live broadcast. Max Honig and Zoe Hendrix said they've never felt anything like it before.

There's no word at this time on any damage or injuries.

https://www.ktbs.com/news/confirmed-earthquake-rattles-part-of-the-arklatex/article_a18f3ff4-be04-11ef-ad1c-433a8689cb0c.html