CAN 2020 STOP ALREADY? From the most deadly virus ever notable to humanity to forest fires and locust swarms, it’s like 2020 is that the year that our ancestors warned USA regarding. Brace yourselves for a few of the most important natural, human & man-made disasters that have happened just 5 months into 2020.
1. The Australian Bushfire 2019-20
Started in December 2019, the Australian bush fires showed no symptoms of slowing down or stopping. While maximum countries were celebrating New Year’s, Australia turned into facing one in every of its largest natural failures and numerous states referred to as for emergency in January.
As per a document published inside the Medical Journey of Australia, the Australian bushfire burned a predicted 18.6 million hectares, destroyed over 5,900 buildings, and killed at least 34 people, even as over 400 people had been killed because of the residual smoke inhalation.
2. Devastating Floods In Indonesia
On January 1, 2020, devastating floods destroyed Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and some neighboring areas. Over 4 lakh human beings have been compelled to flee from their homes.
The floods have been accompanied through heavy rains lashing the metropolis causing similar damage as rivers overflowed and those have been submerged in waters that had been 5ft in depth. Several locals have been victims of drowning or landslides, at the same time as others died of electric shocks or landslides.
3. The Dreaded Coronavirus
While the first outbreak was identified in December 2019 in the now infamous Wuhan, no one realized the significant global and economic impact it would have. On January 11, China recorded its first COVID-19 death and on March 11, 2020, the WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic.
As of April 2nd, the global coronavirus cases surpassed one million. Today, most countries are gingerly stepping out of lockdown and trying to resume life. However, 5 months into 2020, there is still no vaccine or medication for Coronavirus
4. Volcano Eruption In The Philippines
The Taal Volcano is the second most active volcano in the Philippines and it started rumbling on January 12th in Luzon, followed by an eruption and ash dust over 100 km away. It had last erupted 43 years back.
The Volcano left big ash clouds which prompted mass evacuations of over 300,000 people. On Feb 13th, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported a total of 2,484 volcano-tectonic earthquakes within the place of the volcano, 176 of which were felt. The Philippines is still reeling from the volcano eruption with a number of countries sending in domestic aid.
5. Earthquakes In Turkey, The Caribbean, China, Iran, Russia, Philippines & India
There have been such a lot of earthquakes in 2020 that if I sat to categorize each as a natural disaster the listing could be unnaturally long. So a long way there have been 45 earthquakes characterized over 6 magnitudes.
Jamaica and Russia had been the worst hit with earthquakes over magnitude 7. The earthquake in Turkey claimed 41 lives.
6. Locust Swarms In East Africa & Parts Of India & Asia
Millions of wilderness locusts have swarmed 5 states in India, namely Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh and the movies are quite scary. First detected in East Africa and then Pakistan, the lethal locusts do not affect humans however they do cause damage to crops.
This could be one of the worst pest attacks in over 2 decades (26 years). There’s a global locust swarm in existence proper now and India may want to suffer from a brutal wave in the coming months. To provide you with perspective, Desert Locusts are considered to be the most devastating migratory pests globally and a 1 sq km swarm in 1 day can eat as much food as 35,000 people. Not only do these insects breed rapidly but as many as 150 million locusts can exist in just 1 square kilometer. They feed on any kind of vegetation like crops, fodder, and pasture and can destroy crops in seconds.
The sudden increase in locusts has been credited to climate change. The increase in temperature has made it more habitable to the breeding and swarming of locusts. Unusually heavy rains and increased temperatures from 2019 may most likely be the cause of this attack.
7. Cyclone Amphan In India & Bangladesh
Cyclone Amphan created havoc in West Bengal and Odisha in May, leaving at the back of trails of destruction. The meteorological branch termed the cyclone to be an “extremely intense cyclonic storm” that made landfall in both the states with considerable rains,
gust home windows and lightning, destroying the entirety that came in its way, leaving chilling visuals all around. The remarkable cyclone reportedly killed 12 people in Bengal, while power supply and get in touch with networks also took a success in states
8. Forest Fires In Uttarakhand, India
Uttarakhand has been burning for 4 days now with over 46 bush fires. So far only 2 deaths were reported, however, the fire is still nowhere under control.
9. Floods In Assam, India
Due to the heavy rains in many parts of Assam, the flood situation has gotten out of hand and over 30,000 people in five out of 33 districts are affected.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a complete of 128 villages in eight sales circles of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Darrang, and Goalpara districts have been affected.
Crops and domestic animals have also been affected by this.
10. Snow In Antarctica Turns Green
When you think of Antarctica, your mind normally conjures up photos of an otherworldly space, with enormous glaciers of white, tethering penguins and lazy seals. However, components of the frozen continent are turning green, all way to weather exchange and huge algal blooms.
According to new research published within the journal Nature Communications, warming temperatures and melting snow inside the continent are helping within the formation of algal blooms (rapid increase or accumulation inside the populace of algae), which might be expanding at a high rate, thereby turning many areas ‘green’. In fact, the phenomenon is becoming so prolific in a few places that it is even visible from space.
Well, we are going to start our 6th month soon so let’s hope the half-year mark works better for us and things start getting healthier and happier.