Intense Tropical Cyclone Berguitta was a strong tropical cyclone which originated southwest of the Chagos Archipelago on 10 January 2018. It achieved its peak intensity on 15 January and degraded to a tropical storm by 17 January. It accelerated southwestwards over Mauritius and Réunion on 18 January and degenerated to a post-tropical cyclone the next day. Parts of Mauritius experienced a quarter of its average annual rainfall in three days, resulting in widespread floods. Economic losses in Mauritius were estimated at ₨ 2 billion (US$59 million). The southern part of Réunion was hard-hit by floods and landslides and several rainfall records were broken. Grand Coude experienced 1,862 mm (73.3 in) of rain in eight days, including 848 mm (33.4 in) in 24 hours. Flooding caused widespread damage to roads and agriculture. Nearly 100,000 customers were left without electricity, while water supplies were widely interrupted. Economic losses in Réunion were estimated at €41 million (US$48 million).

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Berguitta

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1894:

First Sino-Japanese War: After capturing the Chinese city of Port Arthur, the Japanese army began a massacre of the city's soldiers and civilians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_%28China%29

1959:

American disc jockey Alan Freed, who popularized the term rock and roll, was fired from WABC-AM for his role in the payola scandal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Freed

1974:

Bombs exploded in two pubs in central Birmingham, England, killing 21 people and leading to the imprisonment of six people who were later exonerated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_pub_bombings

2009:

An explosion in a coal mine in Heilongjiang, China, killed 108 miners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Heilongjiang_mine_explosion

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

well-boat: (nautical) a fishing vessel designed to carry live fish in a tank or well. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/well-boat

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

All men would then be necessarily equal, if they were without needs. It is the poverty connected with our species which subordinates one man to another. It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.   --Voltaire https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Voltaire