Disaster Is Closer Than We Think

The morning after the typhoon, Kamakura was under a clear blue sky. Yet the news showed that flooding had occurred nearby, while landslides elsewhere in Kanagawa had caused even more serious damage. Walking around my neighborhood, I found that the water had already disappeared, leaving little more than the smell of mud behind. It was another reminder that natural disasters are never someone else’s problem.

Yesterday’s typhoon caused flooding in Kamakura, and there have been various reports about the damage since this morning.

Elsewhere in Kanagawa Prefecture, landslides occurred, and rescue operations are reportedly still underway.

Although there were no landslides in Kamakura itself, we still need to remain alert for the next few days.

This morning, the typhoon had passed, leaving a clear blue sky.

I went out for a walk and looked around the neighborhood. The floodwater had completely receded, and all that remained was the smell of mud.

Even so, seeing reports of considerable damage elsewhere made me feel deeply sorry for those affected.

The humidity was high in the morning, probably because of all the water evaporating from the ground, but by early afternoon, a gentle, dry breeze had begun to blow.

Once again, I am reminded of just how frightening natural disasters can be.

Disaster is always closer than we think.

None of us can simply assume, “It won’t happen to me.”

Disaster is never as far away as we would like to believe.

 

・・・

flooding — 浸水、冠水。大雨などで水が土地や道路にあふれること。

landslide — 崖崩れ、土砂崩れ。

rescue operations — 救助活動、救出作業。

remain alert — 引き続き警戒する。alert は「注意を怠らない」という意味。

recede — 水などが引く、後退する。The floodwater had receded. で「冠水した水が引いた」。

those affected — 被害を受けた人々。災害報道などでよく使われる表現。

someone else’s problem — 他人事。「自分には関係のない問題」というニュアンス。

It won’t happen to me. — 「自分だけは大丈夫」「自分には起こらない」という感覚を自然に表す表現。

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