PERMATA POSTS KIND - In the last month of 2021, various natural disasters hit parts of the world.Malaysia experienced severe flooding, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Rai, and the US was hit by a powerful tornado.
In addition, the world also mourns the loss of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and South African hero, Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The following is a summary of the international kaleidoscope for December 2021.
1. US Tornado
Tornadoes and severe weather hit several US states, most notably Kentucky, in early December.
In Kentucky, more than 80 people are reported to have died in the powerful tornado that hit the state.
Most of the victims were in the city of Mayfield, Kentucky, where a wax factory filled with employees working on holiday demands collapsed during a storm.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, this time the tornado was the most destructive in the history of tornado events in the state.
In addition, the tornado that hit the State of Kentucky also destroyed the Danville-Boyle County airport.
The airport was badly damaged in which three hangars and several planes were destroyed.
US President Joe Biden had visited the location of the tornado in the State of Kentucky.
He also promised to increase federal aid and seek to comfort survivors of the American tornado that claimed many lives.
"The scope and scale of this devastation is almost beyond belief," the 79-year-old president said after visiting the cities of Mayfield and Dawson Springs.
Biden said the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of emergency relief over the next 30 days and will continue to do whatever is necessary, for as long as necessary.
In addition to Kentucky, this disaster also destroyed a nursing home in the State of Missouri.
2. Malaysia Floods, Typhoon Rai Philippines
Natural disasters also hit Indonesia's neighbor in Southeast Asia in mid-November.
Two natural disasters that had a severe impact were Typhoon Rai in the Philippines and flash floods in Malaysia.
The two natural disasters forced thousands of people to evacuate and even caused hundreds of deaths.
Flash floods inundating Malaysia resulted in more than 30,000 people being evacuated from their homes on December 19.
The flash flood that occurred in Malaysia this time was called the worst in recent years.
The disaster was triggered by heavy rains that have hit the “Neighbor Country” since December 17, which caused many rivers to overflow.
The flooding in Malaysia inundated many urban areas, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, and cut off major roads.
As of Christmas Day, 46 people were reported to have died as a result of Malaysia's flash floods.
Selangor - Malaysia's most populous and wealthiest state, which surrounds the capital Kuala Lumpur - has been one of the worst-affected areas.
Many in Shah Alam, the capital of the flood-hit state, were trapped at home without food for days, before being evacuated by boat in a rescue operation.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Typhoon Rai in the Philippines has reached 405 people as of Friday (12/31/2021). Typhoon Rai is the 15th and deadliest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Most of the victims died from drowning, falling trees, and being swept away by landslides.
The cyclone affected nearly 4.5 million people, including about 500,000 who are now in evacuation centres.
On December 16, Typhoon Rai was categorized as a category 5 typhoon, leaving a trail of tremendous destruction in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu and Surigao del Norte.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and South African hero, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, died on December 26 at the age of 90.
Tutu was awarded the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle against apartheid.
In the 1980s, Tutu tirelessly traveled abroad and at home to fight apartheid in South Africa.
In the late 1990s, Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In recent years, he has been undergoing treatment at the hospital to treat his illness.
South Africa on 27 December began a week of mourning over the death of Desmond Tutu.
His funeral will be held on New Year's Day at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town's former parish.
St George's Bells will ring for 10 minutes from noon every day through Friday (12/31/2021).
The cathedral has asked those who heard the voice to pause in their daily work and pray for Tutu.
In the 1980s, Tutu tirelessly traveled abroad and at home to fight apartheid in South Africa.
Even when many fighters were imprisoned at the time, such as Nelson Mandela, Tutu became the face of the anti-apartheid movement abroad.
10 years later, the white government that implemented apartheid in South Africa collapsed and Tutu headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Tutu is considered by many blacks and whites alike to be the "conscience" of the South African nation.
He is also dubbed the nation's moral compass and has always been outspoken in defending social justice. In fact, he was willing to sacrifice himself.
