April 2014 Current Events: Disasters & Science News
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Here are the key events in Science and Disasters news for the month of April 2014.
Coding Error Causes Internet Security Scare (April 10): A coding error is discovered in OpenSSL, encryption software that makes transactions between a computer and a remote secure, making users vulnerable to having their usernames, passwords, and personal information stolen. Millions of banks, Internet commerce companies, email services, government sites, and social media sites rely on OpenSSL to conduct secure transactions. The coding error, dubbed "Heartbleed," was made in 2012. Computer security experts encourage computer users to change their passwords.
South Korean Ferry Sinks Leaving Hundreds Missing (April 16): A ferry carrying 459 people, mostly students from Danwon High School, sinks off the southern coast of South Korea. When the ship begins sinking, the ship's captain, Lee Jun-seok, is not at the helm. Instead, the third mate is steering the ship. Lee is taken into custody. There are 146 confirmed deaths with more than 150 people still missing.
Deadliest Mount Everest Avalanche Ever Kills Several (April 18): At least 16 Sherpa guides die in an avalanche on Mount Everest. The Sherpa guides are fixing ropes for climbers at an elevation of 19,000 feet when the avalanche hits. It is the deadliest avalanche ever recorded on Mount Everest.
Tornadoes Strike the Southeast, Killing Dozens (April 27-29): Tornadoes touch down throughout the Southeast, killing at least 29 people. A single half-mile wide tornado appears to be responsible for much of the damage in Arkansas where 16 of the 29 casualties happen. The tornado is the largest of several that strikes across central and southern states. High winds, heavy rain, and hail cause damage to Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska. Tornadoes also touch down in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, causing severe damage and loss of life. Threats of tornadoes reach as far as Georgia and North Carolina.
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