Act of God refers to an unforeseen event that cannot be controlled by humans and the devastation caused by it surpasses human capability of mitigation. A natural calamity like an earthquake tsunami is often called an Act of God due to the suddenness of the event and the unpredictability of the destruction it is capable of causing. It is often evoked as force majeure by insurance companies in settling their insurance claims.
The term is popular in a legal context and is used as a defense to avoid liability for injury and, in some cases, to excuse the non-performance of a contract. The term seems misleading in a scientific context, as science is reluctant to let go of any phenomenon without properly dissecting it and analyzing the causes behind it. While it is time and again evoked in various contexts, the term is itself undergoing a change in its connotations.
Despite the misleading connotation, often, the extent of devastation caused by certain natural events makes people wonder about the reason and categorising it as an act of God gives them the justification behind the untold suffering. The following five accidents are categorised as Acts of God due to the ravages they accompany with itself and the failure at the time to provide with proper scientific cause for the event.
The Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755
A devastating series of tremors struck Lisbon, the largest and also the capital city of Portugal, on November 1, 1755. The tragedy struck on All Saint’s Day when most of the people were attending the mass. It is estimated to kill around 60,000 people alone in Lisbon. As if the ravages of the earthquake were not enough, it was followed by a tsunami. The 20 feet high waves that washed the port city of Lisbon were responsible for creating catastrophe in the land.
The destruction was followed by a series of fires, aggravating the misery of the people and animals alike. The gargantuan earthquake etched European history and remains one of the most dreaded events categorized as an act of God.
The Tunguska Event of 1908
Early in the morning at about 7:13 a.m., in 1908, a massive explosion occurred over the Tunguska River in Siberia. The explosion was so great that it flattened 2,000 square km of pine forests. To everyone’s surprise, no impact crater was ever found. In fact, the gigantic explosion set in motion seismic waves in parts of Siberia. The cause of the explosion back in 1908 remained a mystery for the longest time, encouraging people to term it as an act of God. It was only in 1927 that when first scientific exploration found evidence of asteroid destruction. The explosion was probably caused by the aerial collision of an asteroid or a comet with atoms and molecules of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Kobe Earthquake of 1995
On January 17, 1995, a major earthquake affected Kobe, Japan, killing more than 6,000 people. It rendered more than 45,000 people homeless in the aftermath of the event. The quake had a magnitude of 6.9 and resulted in damage worth more than $100 billion. Due to the unpredictability of the event and the large-scale destruction that it caused, along with the lack of significant seismological awareness, the event was perceived as an Act of God.
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
On December 26, 2004, at 7:59 a.m., the Indian subcontinent witnessed a devastating tsunami. The scale of destruction was unprecedented. It was supposedly triggered by an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 that struck off the coast of Sumatra, one of the largest Indonesian islands. The aftermath of the earthquake was terrible as it was followed by a series of immense ocean waves affecting even far away coasts of East Africa.
The tsunami is known to have caused one of the largest natural disasters in recorded history, and an estimated 225,000 people were killed across the countries situated in the Indian Ocean, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand. The enormity of loss in terms of lives and property made some describe this tsunami as an act of God. The event also marked significant environmental damage as sea water entered farmlands and fishing grounds on the coast, as well as the interiors, which took years to recover.
The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake struck the Japanese coast. It triggered a massive tsunami, which not only affected the coastal areas but led to widespread destruction in the entire Honshu, the main island territory of Japan. The intermixing of the ocean water resulted in the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Recently, on August 24, 2023, Japan began releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean and has faced criticism from a number of countries, especially China. The process of releasing water is scheduled to take around 30 years to complete.
The evolution of the term
Earlier tornados, hurricanes, floods, and droughts were also boxed into the same category. However with the advancement in scientific technology and significant improvement in meteorological sciences, these events have been predictable to a major extent. Tracking of the wind pressure and erratic monsoon wind patterns enables meteorologists to predict beforehand the onset and formation of devastating cyclones. The earlier warnings and accurate prediction help in the mitigation of the devastation as evacuation and other mitigating measures can be planned strategically based on them.
The success of the Odisha Government in India in tackling the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Fani on May 3, 2019, is a case in point. It earned praise from the World Bank Group for minimizing considerably the loss of lives since the super-cyclone of 1999 in Odisha. This shows that the term Act of God is evolving with time as what has been strictly declared as an Act of God previously is no longer perceived as so with the advancement of science and the cultivation of scientific spirit among people.
FAQ
1. What is the definition of an “Act of God”?
An “Act of God” is a term used to describe a natural disaster or event that is beyond human control and causes significant destruction. It is often used in a legal context to avoid liability or excuse non-performance of a contract.
2. Why are certain events considered “Acts of God”?
Certain events were categorized as Acts of God due to their devastating scale, unpredictability, and the lack of scientific explanation for their occurrence at the time.
3. How have scientific advancements changed the perception of “Acts of God”?
With advancements in meteorology and other scientific fields, many natural disasters can now be predicted and their impacts mitigated. This has led to a shift in perception, and the term “Act of God” is less frequently used to describe these events.
4. What are some of the long-term consequences of these events?
The events like earthquake and tsunamis caused widespread destruction, loss of life, and economic devastation. In some cases, they also led to long-term environmental impacts and social upheaval.
5. How has the improvement in meteorological sciences helped in mitigating the effect of devastating cyclone?
Tracking of the wind pressure and erratic monsoon wind patterns enables meteorologists to predict beforehand the onset and formation of devastating cyclones. The earlier warnings and accurate prediction help in the mitigation of the devastation as evacuation and other mitigating measures can be planned strategically based on them. The success of the Odisha Government in India in tackling the devastation wreaked by Cyclone Fani on May 3, 2019, is a case in point.
