Kate Thompson

In February 2004, Wellington and the Manawatu region were affected with the worst flooding in recorded history. Then in July of the same year, the eastern Bay of Plenty region was hit even harder. They were subjected to severe flooding and they then had to cope with a consistent attack of earthquakes that lasted for a number of days, adding insult to injury.

In comparison to the natural disasters happening around the world, the New Zealand floods and earthquakes appear insignificant. Although there were two women who died in the Bay of Plenty region, the Bangladesh floods claimed the lives of at least 628 people and 1,627 died in South Asia in 2004, according to the English newspaper the Independent. The devastation that covered nearly two thirds of Bangladesh in water left Bangladeshis desperate for food and shelter.

This is not to say that people in the Bay of Plenty didn’t also suffer from the harsh blow of rain and earthquakes that was inflicted upon them. Around 2000 people were forced from their homes and had to receive emergency accommodation after they were evacuated. The situation in South Asia, however, far outstripped our own again in this department. There were literally millions of South Asians who had their homes destroyed, were exposed to water born disease (such as diarrhoea) and were quite simply living in poverty.

Just like in New Zealand, transport paths in Bangladesh were closed because of the sheer extent of flooding that occurred. The worst was in the capital, Dhaka where sewage systems collapsed and boats became the dominant form of transport.

It is in these moments of comparison that we can truly appreciate just how well off we really are in New Zealand when it comes to enduring the extremities of the elements.

LEARN MORE

The Bay of Plenty Council information on Tsunamis and flooding
Flooding in Bangladesh