Bex Labs

How Long the News Cares

When a disaster strikes, the news rushes in. Then it moves on, often while the disaster is still going. This page measures how fast that happens, for every major disaster of the past year.

Updated 7 Oct 2026, 21:36 UTC. It updates itself every day.

The short version

2 days

The median time it took for news coverage of a disaster to fall to half of its peak.

25 of 30

Floods, storms, fires and droughts where coverage had halved before the disaster itself was over. They lasted a median of 8.5 days. Their coverage halved in 3 days.

11 times

How much more coverage a disaster in Europe got at its peak than one in Africa. That is 424 against 39 extra articles a day, in English-language news.

Based on 59 disasters with an Orange or Red alert from GDACS, the UN and EU disaster alert system, and English-language news from GDELT from 9 Sep 2025 to 6 Oct 2026. 4 of them were barely covered at all. How this is measured.

By region

How loud the news got and how fast it faded, by where the disaster happened. Regions with fewer than three disasters are left out.

Region	Disasters	Extra articles a day at the peak (median)	Days until coverage halved (median)	Barely covered
Europe	6	424	3	0
Asia	38	294	2	1
Americas	8	285	3	0
Africa	6	39	1	3

The news here is in English, so places where English is widely used get more coverage to begin with. Read the gap between regions with that in mind.

Every disaster, newest first

Each chart shows the number of news articles a day about that kind of disaster in that country. The dashed line is the normal level before the disaster. The dark bar is the peak, measured on a three-day average. Hover over a bar to see the day and the count.

Tropical cyclone Simon, Mexico
Red alert, still going

7 Oct 2026. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 185 km/h)

Too recent to measure.

GDACS report
Tropical cyclone One, India
Orange alert

22 Sep 2026 to 24 Sep 2026. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 83 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
3 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 51 extra articles a day on 23 Sep. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Polo, Mexico
Red alert

21 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026. Tropical Depression (maximum wind speed of 287 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 7 days.

Disaster lasted
10 days

Coverage halved
7 days

Peak: 427 extra articles a day on 24 Sep. GDACS report
Volcano in Indonesia
Orange alert

4 Sep 2026

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 333 extra articles a day on 7 Sep. GDACS report
Earthquake in China
Orange alert

28 Aug 2026. Magnitude 5M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 1,254 extra articles a day on 27 Aug. GDACS report
Flood in Nepal
Red alert

26 Aug 2026 to 1 Sep 2026

Coverage fell by half in 5 days.

Disaster lasted
7 days

Coverage halved
5 days

Peak: 3,814 extra articles a day on 28 Aug. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Saudel, Japan and China
Orange alert

18 Aug 2026 to 3 Sep 2026. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 213 km/h)

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Earthquake in Indonesia
Red alert

14 Aug 2026. Magnitude 7.7M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 653 extra articles a day on 16 Aug. GDACS report
Wildfire in Belgium
Orange alert

14 Aug 2026 to 17 Aug 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 6356 ha

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Disaster lasted
4 days

Coverage halved
1 day

Peak: 171 extra articles a day on 17 Aug. GDACS report
Earthquake in Colombia
Red alert

10 Aug 2026. Magnitude 7.4M, Depth:110.285km

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 1,120 extra articles a day on 11 Aug. GDACS report
Wildfire in Spain
Orange alert

10 Aug 2026 to 17 Aug 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 19294 ha

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Flood in India
Orange alert

9 Aug 2026 to 3 Oct 2026

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
56 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 1,732 extra articles a day on 28 Aug. GDACS report
Earthquake in Philippines
Orange alert

5 Aug 2026. Magnitude 6.3M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 32 extra articles a day on 6 Aug. GDACS report
Wildfire in Serbia
Orange alert

5 Aug 2026 to 25 Aug 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 18310 ha

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
21 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 68 extra articles a day on 6 Aug. GDACS report
Wildfire in Greece
Orange alert

30 Jul 2026 to 5 Aug 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 1568 ha

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
7 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 436 extra articles a day on 2 Aug. GDACS report
Earthquake in China
Orange alert

28 Jul 2026. Magnitude 5.7M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 1,269 extra articles a day on 27 Aug. GDACS report
Earthquake in Japan
Orange alert

28 Jul 2026. Magnitude 6.8M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 925 extra articles a day on 29 Jul. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Dolphin, Japan and China
Orange alert

27 Jul 2026 to 9 Aug 2026. Hurricane/Typhoon > 74 mph (maximum wind speed of 269 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
14 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 426 extra articles a day on 9 Aug. GDACS report
Flood in China
Red alert

25 Jul 2026 to 27 Sep 2026

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Noul, China and Philippines
Orange alert

23 Jul 2026 to 26 Jul 2026. Hurricane/Typhoon > 74 mph (maximum wind speed of 157 km/h)

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Wildfire in France
Red alert

22 Jul 2026 to 1 Aug 2026. Red impact for forestfire in 47910 ha

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Wildfire in Tunisia
Orange alert

21 Jul 2026 to 29 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 11824 ha

Barely covered. The news never rose much above its normal level.

Peak: 13 extra articles a day on 24 Jul. GDACS report
Earthquake in Peru
Orange alert

19 Jul 2026. Magnitude 5.5M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 62 extra articles a day on 20 Jul. GDACS report
Wildfire in Spain
Orange alert

18 Jul 2026 to 30 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 31628 ha

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Volcano in Philippines
Orange alert

16 Jul 2026

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 67 extra articles a day on 4 Aug. GDACS report
Wildfire in France
Orange alert

12 Jul 2026 to 14 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 2280 ha

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Wildfire in Spain
Orange alert

9 Jul 2026 to 11 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 6725 ha

Coverage fell by half in 4 days.

Disaster lasted
3 days

Coverage halved
4 days

Peak: 1,139 extra articles a day on 28 Jul. GDACS report
Wildfire in France
Orange alert

4 Jul 2026 to 8 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 6576 ha

Coverage fell by half in 7 days.

Disaster lasted
5 days

Coverage halved
7 days

Peak: 1,263 extra articles a day on 26 Jul. GDACS report
Wildfire in Portugal
Orange alert

2 Jul 2026 to 8 Jul 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 19670 ha

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
7 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 412 extra articles a day on 25 Jul. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Maysak, China and Laos
Orange alert

1 Jul 2026 to 4 Jul 2026. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 93 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
4 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 378 extra articles a day on 10 Jul. GDACS report
Earthquake in Philippines
Orange alert

26 Jun 2026. Magnitude 6.5M, Depth:42km

Not measured: it came soon after a similar disaster in the same place.

GDACS report
Earthquake in Venezuela
Red alert

24 Jun 2026. Magnitude 7.5M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 4 days.

Peak: 2,439 extra articles a day on 26 Jun. GDACS report
Earthquake in China
Orange alert

16 Jun 2026. Magnitude 6.3M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 279 extra articles a day on 26 Jun. GDACS report
Earthquake in Indonesia
Orange alert

16 Jun 2026. Magnitude 6.7M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 58 extra articles a day on 17 Jun. GDACS report
Earthquake in Philippines
Orange alert

7 Jun 2026. Magnitude 7.8M, Depth:55.193km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 698 extra articles a day on 9 Jun. GDACS report
Flood in China
Orange alert

6 Jun 2026 to 14 Jul 2026

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
39 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 84 extra articles a day on 18 Jun. GDACS report
Earthquake in China
Orange alert

18 May 2026. Magnitude 5.1M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 89 extra articles a day on 8 Jun. GDACS report
Volcano in Indonesia
Orange alert

8 May 2026

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 332 extra articles a day on 9 May. GDACS report
Earthquake in Japan
Orange alert

20 Apr 2026. Magnitude 7.4M, Depth:35km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 280 extra articles a day on 21 Apr. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Sinlaku, Guam
Red alert

9 Apr 2026 to 19 Apr 2026. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 287 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
11 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 189 extra articles a day on 14 Apr. GDACS report
Flood in Afghanistan
Orange alert

25 Mar 2026 to 14 Apr 2026

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
21 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 80 extra articles a day on 28 Mar. GDACS report
Volcano in Philippines
Orange alert

15 Mar 2026

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 29 extra articles a day on 23 Mar. GDACS report
Flood in Ethiopia
Orange alert

9 Mar 2026 to 11 Mar 2026

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Disaster lasted
3 days

Coverage halved
1 day

Peak: 65 extra articles a day on 13 Mar. GDACS report
Earthquake in Bangladesh
Orange alert

27 Feb 2026. Magnitude 5.3M, Depth:9.751km

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 22 extra articles a day on 26 Feb. GDACS report
Flood in DR Congo
Orange alert

11 Feb 2026 to 5 Mar 2026

Barely covered. The news never rose much above its normal level.

Peak: 8 extra articles a day on 12 Feb. GDACS report
Flood in Brazil
Orange alert

3 Feb 2026 to 31 Mar 2026

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
57 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 64 extra articles a day on 25 Feb. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Fytia, Madagascar
Red alert

29 Jan 2026 to 18 Feb 2026. Remnant Low (maximum wind speed of 179 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Disaster lasted
21 days

Coverage halved
1 day

Peak: 100 extra articles a day on 12 Feb. GDACS report
Wildfire in Chile
Orange alert

17 Jan 2026 to 25 Jan 2026. Orange impact for forestfire in 27577 ha

Coverage fell by half in 4 days.

Disaster lasted
9 days

Coverage halved
4 days

Peak: 143 extra articles a day on 19 Jan. GDACS report
Flood in Mozambique
Orange alert

22 Dec 2025 to 26 Jan 2026

Coverage fell by half in 4 days.

Disaster lasted
36 days

Coverage halved
4 days

Peak: 65 extra articles a day on 17 Jan. GDACS report
Flood in Malaysia and Thailand
Orange alert

12 Dec 2025

Barely covered. The news never rose much above its normal level.

Peak: 10 extra articles a day on 9 Dec. GDACS report
Flood in Sri Lanka
Orange alert

28 Nov 2025 to 5 Dec 2025

Coverage fell by half in 5 days.

Disaster lasted
8 days

Coverage halved
5 days

Peak: 463 extra articles a day on 1 Dec. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka and India
Orange alert

27 Nov 2025 to 29 Nov 2025. Tropical Depression (maximum wind speed of 65 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 5 days.

Disaster lasted
3 days

Coverage halved
5 days

Peak: 866 extra articles a day on 30 Nov. GDACS report
Drought in Argentina and Uruguay
Orange alert

21 Nov 2025 to 20 Apr 2026. Medium impact for agricultural drought in 104014 km2

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
151 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 44 extra articles a day on 25 Nov. GDACS report
Earthquake in Bangladesh
Orange alert

21 Nov 2025. Magnitude 5.4M, Depth:27km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 194 extra articles a day on 22 Nov. GDACS report
Volcano in Indonesia
Red alert

19 Nov 2025

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 79 extra articles a day on 20 Nov. GDACS report
Flood in Indonesia
Red alert

17 Nov 2025 to 3 Jan 2026

Coverage fell by half in 7 days.

Disaster lasted
48 days

Coverage halved
7 days

Peak: 364 extra articles a day on 2 Dec. GDACS report
Flood in Thailand
Orange alert

17 Nov 2025 to 1 Dec 2025

Coverage fell by half in 4 days.

Disaster lasted
15 days

Coverage halved
4 days

Peak: 307 extra articles a day on 2 Dec. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Fung, Philippines and China and Japan
Red alert

4 Nov 2025 to 13 Nov 2025. Tropical Depression (maximum wind speed of 213 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
10 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 790 extra articles a day on 10 Nov. GDACS report
Earthquake in Afghanistan
Red alert

2 Nov 2025. Magnitude 6.3M, Depth:28km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 267 extra articles a day on 4 Nov. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Kalmaegi, Cambodia and Philippines and Laos
Red alert

1 Nov 2025 to 6 Nov 2025. Hurricane/Typhoon > 74 mph (maximum wind speed of 213 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
6 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 607 extra articles a day on 10 Nov. GDACS report
Flood in Cuba
Orange alert

28 Oct 2025 to 30 Oct 2025

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
3 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 1,391 extra articles a day on 28 Oct. GDACS report
Earthquake in Türkiye
Orange alert

27 Oct 2025. Magnitude 6M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Peak: 40 extra articles a day on 28 Oct. GDACS report
Tropical cyclone Montha, India
Orange alert

26 Oct 2025 to 29 Oct 2025. Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 83 km/h)

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Disaster lasted
4 days

Coverage halved
3 days

Peak: 339 extra articles a day on 28 Oct. GDACS report
Volcano in Indonesia
Orange alert

14 Oct 2025

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 30 extra articles a day on 11 Oct. GDACS report
Earthquake in Ethiopia
Orange alert

11 Oct 2025. Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:10km

Barely covered. The news never rose much above its normal level.

Peak: 7 extra articles a day on 12 Oct. GDACS report
Earthquake in Philippines
Orange alert

10 Oct 2025. Magnitude 7.4M, Depth:58.087km

Coverage fell by half in 1 day.

Peak: 455 extra articles a day on 11 Oct. GDACS report
Earthquake in China
Orange alert

9 Oct 2025. Magnitude 5.5M, Depth:10km

Coverage fell by half in 3 days.

Peak: 74 extra articles a day on 10 Oct. GDACS report
Flood in Nepal
Orange alert

3 Oct 2025 to 6 Oct 2025

Coverage fell by half in 2 days.

Disaster lasted
4 days

Coverage halved
2 days

Peak: 200 extra articles a day on 6 Oct. GDACS report

Download all of this as JSON.

How Long the News Cares

The short version

By region

Every disaster, newest first

Tropical cyclone Simon, Mexico

Tropical cyclone One, India

Tropical cyclone Polo, Mexico

Volcano in Indonesia

Earthquake in China

Flood in Nepal

Tropical cyclone Saudel, Japan and China

Earthquake in Indonesia

Wildfire in Belgium

Earthquake in Colombia

Wildfire in Spain

Flood in India

Earthquake in Philippines

Wildfire in Serbia

Wildfire in Greece

Earthquake in China

Earthquake in Japan

Tropical cyclone Dolphin, Japan and China

Flood in China

Tropical cyclone Noul, China and Philippines

Wildfire in France

Wildfire in Tunisia

Earthquake in Peru

Wildfire in Spain

Volcano in Philippines

Wildfire in France

Wildfire in Spain

Wildfire in France

Wildfire in Portugal

Tropical cyclone Maysak, China and Laos

Earthquake in Philippines

Earthquake in Venezuela

Earthquake in China

Earthquake in Indonesia

Earthquake in Philippines

Flood in China

Earthquake in China

Volcano in Indonesia

Earthquake in Japan

Tropical cyclone Sinlaku, Guam

Flood in Afghanistan

Volcano in Philippines

Flood in Ethiopia

Earthquake in Bangladesh

Flood in DR Congo

Flood in Brazil

Tropical cyclone Fytia, Madagascar

Wildfire in Chile

Flood in Mozambique

Flood in Malaysia and Thailand

Flood in Sri Lanka

Tropical cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka and India

Drought in Argentina and Uruguay

Earthquake in Bangladesh

Volcano in Indonesia

Flood in Indonesia

Flood in Thailand

Tropical cyclone Fung, Philippines and China and Japan

Earthquake in Afghanistan

Tropical cyclone Kalmaegi, Cambodia and Philippines and Laos

Flood in Cuba

Earthquake in Türkiye

Tropical cyclone Montha, India

Volcano in Indonesia

Earthquake in Ethiopia

Earthquake in Philippines

Earthquake in China

Flood in Nepal