Data Vis Dispatch, December 2: Hong Kong fire, the Amazon, and food

Welcome back to the 221st edition of Data Vis Dispatch! Every week, we’ll be publishing a collection of the best small and large data visualizations we find, especially from news organizations — to celebrate data journalism, data visualization, simple charts, elaborate maps, and their creators.

Recurring topics this week include the devastating fire in Hong Kong, problems in the Amazon region, and food for children and gourmets.

November has flown by, and we have already reached the end of the #30DayMapChallenge. The final themes were boundaries, black, raster, and makeover.

Kyle Walker: "The world's time zones visualized on a spinnable, interactive globe. Try out the code - it'll default to your current time zone and show you times around the world! Day 27: Boundaries," November 27 (LinkedIn)

Gontsa: "Day 28: Black; The Black Sea Grain Initiative — 32.9M tonnes, 1,004 voyages, 45 countries.A golden lifeline from Ukraine to the world, July 2022 – July 2023. Russia killed the deal. The sea is dark again," November 28 (<a href="https://mastodon.social/@gontsa/115629359127016928"><strong>Mastodon</strong></a>) — Gontsa: "Day 28: Black; The Black Sea Grain Initiative — 32.9M tonnes, 1,004 voyages, 45 countries.A golden lifeline from Ukraine to the world, July 2022 – July 2023. Russia killed the deal. The sea is dark again," November 28 (**Mastodon**)

Alexandre Médina: "#30daymapchallenge · Jour 30 · Relooking Europe · Europa · Ευρώπη · Європа; Zoomez pour découvrir les villes d'Europe dans leur langue [...]" [<em>Zoom in to discover the cities of Europe in your own language</em>], November 30 (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7400871933405347841/"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a>) — Alexandre Médina: "#30daymapchallenge · Jour 30 · Relooking Europe · Europa · Ευρώπη · Європа; Zoomez pour découvrir les villes d'Europe dans leur langue [...]" [*Zoom in to discover the cities of Europe in your own language*], November 30 (**LinkedIn**)

esri: <a href="https://storyscape-esriwhere.hub.arcgis.com/pages/2025-30-day-map-challenge?adusf=linkedin&aduc=esri&adut=504563ec-057f-4809-95fc-c090926ee322#daily-maps"><strong>Where Rivers Meet the Sea</strong></a>, November 29 — esri: **Where Rivers Meet the Sea**, November 29

People from all over the world flock to big cities. Where do they come from? And how far do they have to commute to access healthcare, nightlife, or food choices?

DIE ZEIT: <a href="https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2025-11/zugezogene-in-grossstaedten-geburtsort-einwohner-umzug"><strong>Wo kommen die Großstädter eigentlich her?</strong></a> [<em>Where do city residents actually come from?</em>], November 25 <span class="badge">find yourself</span> — DIE ZEIT: **Wo kommen die Großstädter eigentlich her?** [*Where do city residents actually come from?*], November 25 find yourself

The European Correspondent: "You’ve probably heard someone talk passionately about a '15-minute city' before. At its core, it's the idea that cities can be designed so that everything you need is no more than a 15-minute walk, bike ride or public transport trip away [...]," November 27 (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRjfp_VjzBa/?hl=fr"><strong>Instagram</strong></a>) — The European Correspondent: "You’ve probably heard someone talk passionately about a '15-minute city' before. At its core, it's the idea that cities can be designed so that everything you need is no more than a 15-minute walk, bike ride or public transport trip away [...]," November 27 (**Instagram**)

In the realm of transportation, individual roads were in the spotlight this week. Delays are common on the General Paz in Buenos Aires, and the Triple Cantilever Bridge in New York City was not designed to withstand the volume of traffic it carries.

La Nación: <a href="https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/esta-menos-mal-o-mas-mal-pero-bien-nunca-la-general-paz-ya-no-tiene-horario-pico-esta-siempre-nid02122025/"><strong>Puede estar menos mal, pero bien, nunca</strong></a> [<em>Chart title: Average daily traffic (ADT) by sections on the Gral. Paz</em>], November 25 — La Nación: **Puede estar menos mal, pero bien, nunca** [*Chart title: Average daily traffic (ADT) by sections on the Gral. Paz*], November 25

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/26/nyregion/brooklyn-queens-expressway-new-york-highway.html"><strong>A Highway Is Crumbling. New York Can’t Agree on How to Fix It</strong></a>, November 26 — The New York Times: **A Highway Is Crumbling. New York Can’t Agree on How to Fix It**, November 26

Le Monde: <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2025/11/30/pourquoi-le-train-est-toujours-plus-cher-que-l-avion_6655422_4355770.html"><strong>Pourquoi le train est toujours plus cher que l’avion</strong></a> [<em>Chart description: This table shows the average minimum prices for train and air travel on the six busiest European air routes</em>], November 30 — Le Monde: **Pourquoi le train est toujours plus cher que l’avion** [*Chart description: This table shows the average minimum prices for train and air travel on the six busiest European air routes*], November 30

On November 26, a major fire broke out in a Hong Kong apartment complex, killing many people. Visual explainers show how it happened, what factors fueled the fire, and who was affected.

CNN: <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/hong-kong-tai-po-apartment-fire-11-27-25-intl-hnk"><strong>As it happened: Rescuers pull survivor from Hong Kong blaze as death toll rises to 65</strong></a>, November 27 — CNN: **As it happened: Rescuers pull survivor from Hong Kong blaze as death toll rises to 65**, November 27

The Straits Times: Hong Kong fire: What we know so far, November 28

DIE ZEIT: <a href="https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2025-11/grossbrand-hongkong-hochhaus-feuer-ausweitung"><strong>Warum das Feuer in Hongkong nicht aufzuhalten war</strong></a> [<em>Why the fire in Hong Kong could not be stopped</em>], November 27 — DIE ZEIT: **Warum das Feuer in Hongkong nicht aufzuhalten war** [*Why the fire in Hong Kong could not be stopped*], November 27

Reuters: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/HONGKONG-FIRE/SPREAD/mopabqnzqva/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement"><strong>How the deadly Hong Kong inferno spread</strong></a>, November 28 — Reuters: **How the deadly Hong Kong inferno spread**, November 28

South China Morning Post: <a href="https://multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/news/hong-kong/article/3334304/taipo_wangfuk_fire/index.html"><strong>Tai Po inferno: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades</strong></a>, November 30 — South China Morning Post: **Tai Po inferno: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades**, November 30

In the Amazon, fires are a problem too. Indigenous women are at the forefront of firefighting, but this also exposes them to the risk of acute respiratory infections. That's not all the negative news from the Amazon, with critical minerals being illegally transported away.

Gênero e Número: <a href="https://www.generonumero.media/mulheres-indigenas-e-queimadas/"><strong>O que arde e o que resiste: mulheres indígenas entre o fogo e a floresta</strong></a> [<em>Chart title: Cases of acute respiratory infections among indigenous people</em>], November 28 — Gênero e Número: **O que arde e o que resiste: mulheres indígenas entre o fogo e a floresta** [*Chart title: Cases of acute respiratory infections among indigenous people*], November 28

Amazon Underworld: <a href="https://amazonunderworld.org/el-comercio-de-minerales-criticos-la-ruta-ilegal-que-conecta-la-amazonia-con-china/"><strong>The trade in critical minerals: the illegal route connecting the Amazon to China</strong></a> [<em>The trade in critical minerals: the illegal route connecting the Amazon to China</em>], November — Amazon Underworld: **The trade in critical minerals: the illegal route connecting the Amazon to China** [*The trade in critical minerals: the illegal route connecting the Amazon to China*], November

As climate change leads more Americans to rely on insurers of last resort, another type of safety net in Europe is also under pressure: public pensions. In many countries, pension promises are overwhelmingly unfunded.

Reuters: How a US home insurance fix is becoming a problem, November 25

The Economist: <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/12/01/european-pensions-are-in-dire-need-of-reform"><strong>European pensions are in dire need of reform</strong></a>, December 1 — The Economist: **European pensions are in dire need of reform**, December 1

Food and charts are for everyone: from kids who want to learn about how everyday foods power our bodies to gourmets who want to know how far away the next Michelin star restaurant is.

Chartography: <a href="https://www.chartography.net/p/maps-for-kids-is-here"><strong>Maps For Kids is here!</strong></a>, November 25 — Chartography: **Maps For Kids is here!**, November 25

El Diario Sur: <a href="https://www.diariosur.es/culturas/gastronomia/restaurantes-estrella-pueblos-diminutos-clientes-vecinos-20251127125614-ntrc.html"><strong>Restaurantes con estrella en pueblos diminutos: cuando tienes más clientes que vecinos</strong></a><strong> </strong>[<em>Chart description: Distance to a Michelin star</em>], November 27 — El Diario Sur: **Restaurantes con estrella en pueblos diminutos: cuando tienes más clientes que vecinos** [*Chart description: Distance to a Michelin star*], November 27

Let's take a look at the process of documentation. The Visual Agency put together a visual representation of the topography of a talk, and journalists from around the world were asked how they use AI in their work.

The Visual Agency: <a href="https://thevisualagency.com/tva-blog-articles/topography-of-a-talk-between-vibe-coding-and-parametric-design/"><strong>Topography of a Talk: between Vibe-Coding and Parametric Design</strong></a>, November 27 — The Visual Agency: **Topography of a Talk: between Vibe-Coding and Parametric Design**, November 27

The Reuters Institute: <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ai-adoption-uk-journalists-and-their-newsrooms-surveying-applications-approaches-and-attitudes?utm_source=Reuters+Institute+for+the+Study+of+Journalism&utm_campaign=beab9335be-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_27_04_43&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-beab9335be-481607224"><strong>AI adoption by UK journalists and their newsrooms: surveying applications, approaches, and attitudes</strong></a>, November 27 — The Reuters Institute: **AI adoption by UK journalists and their newsrooms: surveying applications, approaches, and attitudes**, November 27

We conclude this Dispatch with entertainment: books are getting shorter and shorter. And if you're into riddles and charts, you'll love the Data Riddle Calendar that starts with December.

Works in Progress: <a href="https://worksinprogress.co/issue/the-logical-triumph-of-english/"><strong>The triumph of logical English</strong></a>, November 26 — Works in Progress: **The triumph of logical English**, November 26

Datacitron: "[1/24] And here's the first one! As suggested last year. Give your answer as the alt text of an image answering this post so people can keep guessing!" December 1 (Bluesky)

What else we found interesting

The New York Times: Goodbye, Price Tags. Hello, Dynamic Pricing, November 28

Peter Grundy: "Ozempic - A welcome return to editorial infographic, this time for You Magazine," November 29 (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergrundy/recent-activity/all/"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a>) — Peter Grundy: "Ozempic - A welcome return to editorial infographic, this time for You Magazine," November 29 (**LinkedIn**)

ABC: <a href="https://www.abc.es/tecnologia/super-mario-anos-mickey-mouse-videojuegos-20251127131854-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F"><strong>Super Mario: los 40 años del Mickey Mouse de los videojuegos</strong></a> [<em>Super Mario: 40 years of the Mickey Mouse of video games</em>], November 27 — ABC: **Super Mario: los 40 años del Mickey Mouse de los videojuegos** [*Super Mario: 40 years of the Mickey Mouse of video games*], November 27

Applications are open for…

A cartographic design intern at Esri Creative Lab
A graphics reporter (deleted data project) at The Guardian

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Data Vis Dispatch, December 2: Hong Kong fire, the Amazon, and food

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