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Nature's fury can be devastating, leaving communities in a state of utter
helplessness. From earthquakes to landslides, typhoons, and tornadoes, natural
disasters can wreak havoc without warning. In my country, a tidal wave recently
hit a coastal community that is always subjected to cyclones and heavy rain.
Despite a warning from the meteorological department, people on the coast failed
to heed the warning. When the cyclone hit at midnight, the community was
ill-prepared, and many lost their lives as a result.
The ferocity of the cyclone whipped up waves several meters high, carrying huts
and dwellings on the coast like pieces of wood. The non-stop rain and floods
buried people in slush and water. The devastation left thousands of trees
uprooted, and many huts, human bodies, animal carcasses, and huge trees floated
in the flood that followed. The morning revealed a bleak and haunting scene,
leaving many people dazed and dumbfounded after losing everything they held
dear.
In the aftermath of the disaster, voluntary organizations rallied to bury the
dead and help the survivors. However, finding clothing and shelter for them was
a significant challenge, and only the intervention of sympathetic nations could
provide food, medical aid, and temporary housing. The rescue work undertaken by
the military and the Red Cross units was difficult, but rehabilitation slowly
began to take place.
This natural disaster was a catastrophic event that will never be forgotten. If
the media, particularly the radio, had given a serious and timely warning, much
of the misery could have been avoided. Ignoring warnings from forecasters is a
perilous path, and it's vital that we take all warnings seriously. Being
forewarned is being forearmed, and we must never forget the catastrophic
consequences of ignoring natural disaster warnings. |
