There are very diverse natural disasters. Hurricanes cause destruction through the intensity of the wind. Earthquakes can devastate an area as a consequence of the internal movements of the Earth. Lava from volcanic eruptions destroys everything in its path. Torrential rains cause floods and all kinds of consequences in the affected territories. All of these catastrophes are considered cataclysms.
In this sense, a cataclysm is any situation that generates destruction and desolation and that is normally accompanied by victims and injuries, as well as a whole series of undesirable consequences (destruction of the natural environment, power cuts, landslides, etc.).
When catastrophe affects the entire planet
Some natural phenomena are devastating, but at first glance and immediately they do not seem so. This is what happens with the problem of the ozone layer, a phenomenon of nature caused by human action that can be considered a true planetary cataclysm.
The concept of cataclysm does not refer exclusively to natural disasters and their destructive capacity
It can also refer to serious situations in which the whole of society is in a dramatic situation. Some examples of social cataclysm are the following:
- The crisis of 1929 had its origin in the fall of the New York stock market and triggered an initial panic situation and in the following years the entire planet suffered its consequences (inflation, poverty, unemployment, economic crisis, etc.).
- The Syrian civil war that began in 2011 has generated massive displacement of the population, refugee camps, problems at the border and, ultimately, a generalized upheaval.
In the world of sports
In the language of sports journalism, we speak of cataclysm when a team or an athlete has suffered a defeat that has repercussions on society as a whole. This is what happened with the so-called "Maracanazo" in the 1950 Soccer World Cup in Brazil.
In the final of the championship that was held at the Maracanã stadium, the teams of Brazil and Uruguay faced each other. The Brazilians were the favorites but the Uruguayans were the winners. The football defeat was interpreted as a true national cataclysm.
Photos: Fotolia - sveta / msyoko
