Natural tragedies are catastrophic events that can shock the world with widespread and devastating impacts. In history, several natural tragedies have become turning points that have shaken global society. One example is the Aceh earthquake and tsunami on December 26 2004. This earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale devastated the Aceh region and killed more than 230,000 people in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the eruption of Mount Krakatoa in 1883 is also included in the list of the most famous natural tragedies. This eruption generated a tsunami that resulted in more than 36,000 deaths and changed the global climate for several years. The impact of this eruption caused volcanic ash to spread across the world, resulting in gray skies and a reduction in global temperatures. Another natural disaster that had a big impact was Hurricane Katrina which hit New Orleans, United States, in 2005. This storm damaged the levee system and caused massive flooding, killing around 1,800 people. After this disaster, many policy changes related to disaster management and infrastructure were made to reduce future risks. The Haiti earthquake in 2010 was a tragedy that shook the world with the deaths of more than 230,000 people and tens of thousands injured. Infrastructure in Haiti was destroyed, and international assistance was essential for reconstruction. The drumbeat of disaster risk is increasing, even after the disaster, Haiti still faces problems related to poverty and vulnerable infrastructure. Apart from that, climate change also brings natural disasters that become more frequent, such as forest fires and heat waves. The bushfires in Australia in 2019-2020 caused significant ecosystem loss, and more than 30 people lost their lives. The darkness of fire smoke blanketed cities, affecting air quality thousands of kilometers away. In Japan, an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 rocked the country, killing more than 18,000 people and causing the nuclear crisis at Fukushima. This incident reminded the world of the risk of natural disasters, especially in earthquake-prone zones in the Pacific. Most of these natural tragedies demonstrate the importance of disaster preparedness and mitigation. The use of modern technology such as early warning systems can help reduce loss of life. Education is also key in preparing society to face the worst possibility of future disasters. Current trends show that with the pressure of climate change, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is likely to increase. The international community needs to work together more closely to share knowledge and solutions to reduce the impact of natural tragedies that can shake the world.
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