California: State of emergency declared over Methane gas leak

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on 6 January, following a gas leak that sent huge clouds of methane into the skies. The gas leak in Los Angeles has been sickening nearby residents for more than two months. Footage handed out by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) showed infra-red footage of the gas leak. Jan 8, 2016

El Nino: Cars stranded on flooded San Diego streets

Flash flood warnings remained in effect in the San Diego area on 6 January as an El Niño-strengthened storm brought widespread rain to drought-stricken California. Several abandoned cars were seen almost entirely submerged at a flooded intersection, as heavy rains flooded parts of San Diego County. Jan 7, 2016

Guatemala: Fuego volcano spews ash and lava

Guatemalas Fuego volcano belched black ash high into the sky on 3 January, as an eruption that began last week intensified, but authorities have not ordered the evacuation of nearby villages. Jan 5, 2016

Bolivia: Video shows surprise storm tear in to houses

Residents in the Bolivian city of El Alto, a chaotic sprawl high in the Andes, were surprised when heavy winds hit the city on 29 December. Local media reported that 90 houses were partially destroyed in three neighbourhoods of District Eight, due to the gale force winds. Dec 31, 2015

Storm Frank: Twelve rescued from flooded bus in Dumfries

A lorry driver and his passenger were among those rescued from their vehicles as the River Nith in Dumfries in Scotland burst its banks on 30 December, after heavy rain and gales from Storm Frank battered northern parts of the UK. Separately, 12 people were rescued from a bus that became trapped in floodwaters in nearby Ayrshire, both in southwest Scotland. Dec 31, 2015