Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are the negative impacts of the natural elements such as fire, water, lightning, soil, magma and ice. They may also be the result of natural hazards, for instance an earthquake causing a tsunami.

Storm

Storm is any disturbed state of any kind of atmosphere in any geographical element. For example there are sandstorms in the desert, thunderstorms in the sky and snowstorms during winter. A more popular type is the tropical Cyclonic Storm known as a Cyclone in the Indian Ocean, Hurricane in the Atlantic and a Typhoon in the Pacific.

Tornado

A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and the cloud that created it. Having an average spped of 40 miles per hour, sometimes they can go over 300 mph and destroying everything it touches.

Tsunami

Caused by volcanic eruptions or earthquakes tsunamis are waves when a body of water such as the ocean is rapidly displaced. The most recent tsunami in 2004 caused by an earthquake off the island of Sumatra killed almost 230, 000 people including thousands of Sri Lankans.   

Earthquake

It is the result of the sudden release of the energy of the earth’s crust or surface causing varying tremors sending shockwaves. Recorded by a Seismometer, earthquakes are measured by a Richter Scale. Known as the most destructive disaster it causes tsunamis, landslides, avalanches and floods. 

Flood

A flood is an overflow of water from rivers and lakes which covers land, soil and causes destruction. Floods are frequent in tropical countries such as Sri Lanka where heavy rains can easily exceed the water capacity of a river or a lake.

Landslide

Due to the heavy pollution landslides have become a huge threat to mankind. This is when the soil gives away near ledges and mountain slopes causing the rocks and boulders to fall to the bottom uprooting trees and destroying everything in its path.

Volcanic eruption

When a volcano erupts it fumes out heavy smoke, debris, ash and the lethal magma or lava which is practically indestructible. Although Sri Lanka is immune from this disaster countries like Japan and the US are plagued with volcanoes.  

Avalanche

An avalanche is an abrupt and rapid flow of snow, often mixed with air, water and boulders down a mountainside.

Drought

A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Due to the lack of water the crops reduce, the livestocks die and the entire atmosphere withers and becomes extremely hot. 

Wildfire

It is an uncontrollable fire spreading through forests and wildlands caused by lightning, drought or volcanic eruptions.

Blizzard

Isolated to the cold regions, these are severe snow storms with very low temperature, strong winds and hail.