2020 isn’t off to the best start with several unfortunate happenings in a short span of one month. From natural disasters to the recent Wuhan virus pandemic, we can only pray for the rest of 2020 to be better.
Wuhan Virus
The Wuhan Virus (2019-nCov) is part of the same family as SARS. In 2003, the SARS pandemic spread to 30 countries, had more than 8,000 cases and over 800 deaths.
The National Health Commission reported a total of more than 4,000 cases in China with more than 100 deaths from the virus being reported as well.
As of 28 Jan 2020, there have been a total of 7 confirmed cases in Singapore.
We urge everyone to take care of personal hygiene during this period. Please be socially responsible and visit a doctor immediately should you feel unwell. Make sure to wash your hands frequently and use a surgical mask if you are sneezing or coughing.
Turkey Earthquake
While most of the attention is on the Wuhan virus right now, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Sivrice, Turkey on Friday, 24th Jan 2020. According to a CNN article, at least 36 people have died from the disaster and more than 1,607 have been hospitalized.
The earthquake was also reportedly felt in several other countries which included Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
Storm Gloria
In Spain, the Balearic Islands was greeted by torrential rain and heavy winds of 100km/h. Storm Gloria has left at least 13 dead according to BBC.
Seawater has also caused major damage to beaches around Barcelona and Valencia as well.
Taal Volcano
On 12th January, the Taal volcano started spewing ash that eventually went on to generate a tall column of ash that had frequent volcanic lightning activity as well.
This resulted in houses and fields blanketed with layers of volcanic ash.
The alert level status for the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines has been lowered to level 3 as of 26th January, which meant that residents could return to their homes. However, the residents must be prepared for an evacuation should there be an increased threat of eruption.
Australia Bushfires
On the 2nd of January, Victoria declared a state of disaster while New South Wales declared a state of emergency. Although the bushfires are an annually occurring event, the severity of the damage seems to be huge this particular summer.
The bushfires have nearly eliminated half a billion of animals since Sept 2019, with at least 25000 koalas dead. According to WWF, the bushfires have also taken away 33 lives and over 2,700 homes.
You can still donate to the WWF ‘s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund here.
Flash floods in Indonesia
While Australia battles with fire, Indonesia battles with water. Overnight torrential rain on New Year’s Eve has left the city of Jakarta flooded. By 4th Jan, the death toll had risen to 60. Some died of drowning or hypothermia, while a 16-year-old boy was reportedly electrocuted by a power line.
What will the rest of 2020 bring?
As the saying goes ‘A good beginning is half the battle won’. While 2020 may not be off to a great start, positively speaking, we are only a month into 2020.
Right now, the challenge for the world is to contain the spread of the Wuhan virus. Let’s win the battle by practising good personal hygiene habits and be socially responsible. Stay safe everyone.
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