These are the calamities the world faced in 2020

Apart from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the world faced several calamities and challenges this year.

In the Philippines, these were what we went through:

On Jan. 12, Luzon residents were shook by the eruption of the Taal Volcano.

The volcano had a phreatic eruption and spewed thick smoke and ash, which scattered all over Batangas and in nearby areas. After more than a month, Calabarzon was placed in a state of calamity, and almost half a million people were affected.

Typhoons

On May 14, Typhoon Ambo became the first typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2020. It made landfall in Eastern Samar, where 5 were later reported dead.

On Oct. 30, Super Typhoon Rolly devastated Catanduanes and other parts of Bicol Region. With over 20 reported dead, Rolly was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines.

Considered the deadliest cyclone this year, Typhoon Ulysses hit the country on Nov. 11. It caused heavy flooding in Cagayan, Isabela, and some parts of Metro Manila, with 67 reported dead.

Earthquakes

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake jolted Masbate on Aug. 18, resulting in 2 deaths and 170 injured. 

Massive environmental disasters were also felt in other parts of the world this year.

In January, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Eastern Turkey, where 41 died and thousands lost their homes.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, 66 died in the worst flood experienced in the country in 3 years.

In February, 41 died in 2 successive avalanches in eastern Van province in Turkey.

In March, 2 tornados hit Tennessee while many were asleep. Twenty-five were later reported dead and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

Salt Lake City, Utah, meanwhile, was hit by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake.

This month also marked the end of the bush fires in New South Wales, Australia, which started in 2019. A total of 478 were reported dead from the fire and smoke, and 13 million hectares were affected.

In April, the southern states in America were hit by tornados, including Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. This was followed by strong thunderstorms which resulted in 13 deaths. 

There was also a fire at the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, which raised the radiation levels at the Chernobyl nuclear site.

Cyclone Amphan hit Bangladesh in May. It was considered the strongest typhoon in the region in the past decade, where 88 people died and millions were evacuated.

In June, China experienced one of its worst floods. Yangtze River rose and the Three Gorges Dam, the biggest in the world, was feared to collapse.

In August, Hurricane Laura crossed the Dominican Republic before making landfall in Louisiana and Texas in America. A total of 77 died. 

In September, Hurricane Sally made landfall on the US Gulf Coast and caused devastation in Florida and Alabama. 8 were reported dead.

In October, 117 died during the magnitude 7 earthquake in Izmir, Turkey, and Samos, Greece.

In November, Hurricane Eta hit Central America, where over 150 died.

This year also saw the most destructive typhoon in the Atlantic.

In December, the cold wave was experienced in Anhui, China, heavy snow storm in Aragon, Spain, widespread flooding in the United Kingdom, and earthquake in Croatia. – RC, GMA News