Concept in Definition ABC

There are very diverse natural disasters. Hurricanes cause destruction through the intensity of the wind. Earthquakes can devastate an area as a result of the internal movements of the Earth. The lava of the Volcanic eruptions destroys everything in its path. The 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 usually accompanied by victims and injured, as well as a whole series of undesirable consequences (destruction of the natural environment, power outages, 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 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 consequencesinflation, poverty, unemployment, economic crisis, etc.).

- War civil of Syria that began in 2011 has generated massive displacements of the population, refugee camps, problems in the border and, ultimately, a generalized seizure.

In the world of sports

In the language In sports journalism there is talk 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