distress signal

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Fireboat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in the Gulf of Mexico, April 21, 2010. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter document the fire, searches for survivors of the 126 person crew. BP spill

Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Five Years Later

High-oblique view of the extra-tropical unnamed cyclone that merged with Hurricane Earl is featured in this image taken by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station (Sept. 2010).

Is the Number of Hurricanes Increasing?

tornado, digitally altered image. (storm; wind; clouds; natural disaster)

The Great Molasses Flood and 6 Other Strange Disasters

In this aerial photo, structures are damaged and destroyed October 15, 2005 in Balakot, Pakistan. It is estimated that 90% of the city of Balakot was leveled by the earthquake. The death toll in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005 is believed to be 38,000 with at least 1,300 more dead in Indian Kashmir. SEE CONTENT NOTES.

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An Air Force search and rescue team in an HH-60 G Pave Hawk helicopter surveys the damage as it flies over Sendai, Japan, March 14, 2011. Japan 2011

Five Years Later: The Great Sendai Earthquake

Discover

World Data Locator Map: Australia

Is Australia an Island?

Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden

7 Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World

Indian hijras participate in a religious procession in Gandhinagar, India, some 30 kilometers from Ahmedabad, on March 22, 2017. Hijra is a term used in South Asia which refers to transgender individuals who are born male. (gender identity, gender expression)

6 Cultures That Recognize More than Two Genders

Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro

Why Is Christmas in December?

Panama Canal infographic

Timeline and Map of the Panama Canal

Monitor. Varanus salvadorii is a monitor lizard found in New Guinea can grows to 2.7 metres (9 ft.) aka Tree crocodile, Crocodile monitor, Salvadori's monitor, artellia, reptile

7 of the World’s Most Dangerous Lizards and Turtles

Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics

10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

distress signal: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Modified link of Web site: Queensland Government - Maritime Safety Queensland - Distress signals, flares and emergency beacons.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 20, 2024
	Add new Web site: Queensland Government - Maritime Safety Queensland - Distress signals, flares and emergency beacons.	Thinley Kalsang Bhutia	May 30, 2017
	In the discussion of Mayday, changed "from the French" to "pronounced like the French."	Amy Tikkanen	Jun 29, 2012
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998