An empty road leading into Shiroko, Suzuka, Japan as photographed on October 12, 2019, ahead of Typhoon Hagibis.
You have probably heard someone deny climate change by claiming it is a natural part of the world's cycle. While they are partly correct, it is happening rather too fast that it is not deemed as natural anymore.
Aside from the increasing world average temperature, we are witnessing stronger typhoons, more intense droughts, and more wildfires -- and there is no one else to blame but we, the humans who have taken Mother Nature for granted.
While we are so obsessed with the false illusion of economic growth, the other half of the world is either drowning from the torrent of rain or dying from thirst.
Here are the five most deadliest meteorological disasters this year.
1. Typhoon Lekima
In early August, strong winds with sustained speed of 116 mph (a Category 3 storm in Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) blasted China, forcing at least a million citizens to evacuate. Several provinces suffered from severe floods and major infrastructure damages, including a dam in the province of Zhejiang.
At least 44 people died. It is also the second most destructive storm in the country, after the 2013 typhoon Fitow.
2. Heatwave in Japan
It seems that Japan is a magnet of meteorological disasters this year. Aside from strong storms, the country also became a huge sauna as the temperature spiked above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). At least 80 people died from heatstroke at the beginning July, with 3,500 other who got hospitalized.
One of the victims is a kindergarten boy who lost consciousness on his way from a field trip.
Because of this, the government proposed that all schools will have air conditioning system starting next year before the summer. Summer holidays might also be extended, depending on the severity of the weather.
3. Typhoon Hagibis
Japan was still dealing with the aftermath of Typhoon Faxai when another strong typhoon wrecked havoc in their country. Known as Typhoon Hagibis, it has sustained the maximum speed of 160mph (a Category 4) and claimed at least 90 lives, who are mostly elderly. The sky has turned to purple too.
It has destroyed infrastructures amounting to $ 15 billions dollars, making it the second costliest typhoon in the Pacific region.
4. Heatwave in India
While the Pacific region drowned from the rain this year, India suffered from intense drought in June. For almost 30 days, central and northern India became a huge sauna, forcing its citizens to endure at temperature up to 49 degrees Celsius (149 degrees Fahrenheit). Around 90 people died from dehydration and heat-induced complications.
5. Cyclone Idai
If we are talking about climate change, the African region is probably the worst victim. This region suffers the most from the effect, and they lack the resources to deal with it.
This year was no different at all. Aside from the extended drought in Zimbabwe, the region was ravaged by a catastrophic flooding brought by Cyclone Idai and claimed at least 900 people. According to NASA, about 90 percent of Beira, Mozambique was destroyed.
At least a million people had no electricity for weeks. Cholera outbreak also occurred in Mozambique.
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