Floods

Floods

Floods have been Man’s constant headache since the beginning of time. Wherever and whenever we may be, floods have never ceased to be either manna from heaven or to spell our demise in capital letters. In the past, floods have been said to be brought on by the hand of God to punish Man for their sins. In modern times, it becomes Man’s fault for bringing about Mother Nature’s fury. Floods do not take their pick at the locations to be stricken, but rather strike and damage by free will like turbulent, foaming waves in the sea.

        Scientific research has proven to us that floods are indeed the result of climate, geographical factors and of course, Man. In states such as Kelantan and Terengganu, floods are an annual occurrence, as frequent and normal to them as the Sarawakians and Sabahans have their annual harvest. But for the East Coast it is an unavoidable fate, for their location lies in the direct path of the monsoon rain. But for the West Coast, it is the humans that have to blamed. Concrete jungles and poor drainage lead to flash floods like the recent shocking Kajang flooding.

        Floods bring dire consequences upon us. In Thailand, thousand were killed in the massive floods. Properties were damaged beyond repair and millions were stranded. Livestock were practically swept away and disease reared its ugly head. The government lost millions in aiding the flood victims and is now facing an economic crisis.

        However, floods can also be manna from heaven. In ancient Egypt, the Egyptians used the annual flooding of the Nile to their advantage. The mud left by the receding waters were used for agricultural purposes, making them the agricultural centre of the ancient world. In modern times, the Mekong River’s flooding is also taken advantage of. Irrigation canals are built to water the paddy fields, and now Thailand is one of the biggest rice exporters in the world.