MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Ecuador’s rainy season: 21,089 affected as regional emergency remains in force across eight provinces]]> Since the start of the year, Ecuador has registered 1,146 weather-related adverse events linked to rainfall across all 24 provinces Ecuador’s rainy season has left 21,089 people affected since January 1, 2026, with three deaths and 14 injured, according to the latest assessment by the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR).

]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:27:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay approves offshore 3D seismic survey for oil exploration, sets marine safeguards]]> The clearance comes amid criticism from environmental and coastal groups that have pursued legal challenges and street protests against seismic surveying Uruguay’s Environment Ministry on Friday granted operational authorization for a 3D seismic survey in its jurisdictional waters, in an offshore block operated by Chevron, with a specialized vessel already in position and work planned through the end of April.

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:29:00 GMT <![CDATA[Heavy rains leave at least 28 dead and dozens missing in Brazil’s Minas Gerais]]> Authorities said the disaster combined intense rainfall over a short period with soils already saturated by earlier precipitation Heavy rains and landslides in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 28 people and left more than 40 missing, with the worst impact reported in the state of Minas Gerais, according to local authorities and rescue teams.

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:37:00 GMT <![CDATA[Colombia brings 12 Mexican Mennonites to trial over deforestation]]> The case unfolds amid local tensions over land use and environmental impacts, with Indigenous communities — including the Sikuani — urging the state to safeguard territorial rights Colombia’s prosecutor’s office is taking 12 Mexican Mennonites to trial over alleged deforestation of more than 100 hectares in rural Puerto Gaitán, Meta province, tied to agricultural land development carried out between 2016 and 2021.

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:05:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina clears US oceanographic cruise in the South Atlantic as debate grows over “dual-use” data]]> The authorization has triggered criticism in Argentine political and defence circles focused on the potential dual-use value of certain outputs Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) recorded that it had “no objections,” within its remit, to a United States request for a marine scientific research cruise by the R/V Roger Revelle inside Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone between March 5 and March 30, 2026. In the same document, the council asked for “all basic data” plus “preliminary and final reports” to be submitted to Argentine authorities prior to any publication of results.

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:12:00 GMT <![CDATA[6.1-magnitude quake hits Chile’s Coquimbo region; authorities rule out tsunami risk]]> The shaking was felt across a broad swath of the country and in parts of neighbouring Argentina near the Andes A magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck northern Chile on Thursday morning, with the epicentre in the Coquimbo region. Chile’s National Seismological Center (CSN) said the event occurred at 10:34:30 local time, locating it 13 km west of Punitaqui at preliminary coordinates of latitude -30.781 and longitude -71.613, with an estimated depth of 54 km.

]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:34:00 GMT <![CDATA[January ranks as fifth warmest globally despite severe cold spells, Copernicus says]]> In the Southern Hemisphere, Copernicus linked unusual heat to escalating wildfire activity in late January, pointing to major blazes that intensified in Australia, Chile and Patagonia Last month was the world’s fifth-warmest January on record, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported, even as sharp cold spells hit large parts of the Northern Hemisphere in the second half of the month. Global mean surface air temperature reached 12.95°C, 0.51°C above the 1991–2020 January average and 1.47°C above the estimated 1850–1900 “pre-industrial” baseline used for climate comparisons.

]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:06:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentine scientists film rare “giant phantom jelly” measuring about 11 meters in the South Atlantic]]> Researchers estimated the specimen’s total length at roughly 11 meters, a scale described in outreach terms as comparable to a school bus An Argentine-led deep-sea expedition has recorded rare footage of Stygiomedusa gigantea—the so-called giant phantom jellyfish—in waters off Argentina, offering an unusual look at a species seldom observed alive in its natural environment. The animal was filmed at around 250 meters depth by the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during the “Vida en los extremos” campaign aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor (too), involving scientists from CONICET and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:14:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina probes alleged pollution and abuse claims at key Antarctic outpost]]> The document refers to “repeated breaches of current environmental regulations” and “systematic mistreatment” of crew members during the 2025 Antarctic Campaign An internal complaint alleging prohibited environmental practices and mistreatment of personnel triggered an investigation at Petrel Antarctic Base, a key enclave in Argentina's logistical deployment in Antarctica. The investigation is being conducted by the Antarctic Joint Command (COCOANTAR), led by Maximiliano Mangiaterra.

]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2026 03:44:00 GMT <![CDATA[Extratropical cyclone strengthens off southern Brazil, raising flood and wind risks in Santa Catarina]]> Civil Defense said the system is expected to form near Brazil’s Southeast and bring heavier rain back to Santa Catarina’s coastal strip An extratropical cyclone forecast to develop offshore in the South Atlantic is already driving growing instability across Santa Catarina, with officials warning that conditions could worsen between Monday, Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb. 4. The alerts were issued by Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina and reported by Agência Brasil.

]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:29:00 GMT