An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is smart to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.

Fragile items (物品) like those made of glass are easily broken and should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. So when there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly, not on you.

There is a strong chance of short circuits and fire during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off power and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.

During an earthquake, lie under an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases (楼梯) at all times.

If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.

If trapped in ruins, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or the wall so rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is available. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match because you may burn yourself.

The Pacific island of Tonga was struck by a huge volcanic explosion on January 15, 2022. which was followed by a tsunami that flooded the regions of the Capital Nuku’slofa. Witnesses reported ash was falling over the Capital, and social media images showed that water flooding into a church and many residences. Local residents had to flee to higher ground when the tsunami warning was issued.

The capital of Tonga is around 65 kilometers north of the volcano. The volcano is the plumes of gas, smoke and ash stretched 20 kilometers into the sky, according to Tonga Geological Services.   According to the authorities in Suva, the 8-minute eruption was so powerful that it could be heard as “loud thunder sounds” more than 500 miles away. Storm surges have been predicted in New Zealand, which is more than 2 300 kilometres away from Tonga.

Internet and phone lines went down after the violent volcano eruption, leaving the 105,000 residents on the islands almost uncontactable. All communication to the outside world in Tonga is affected due to damage to the undersea cable. Digicel,a Jamaican phone company that partly owns the Tonga cable system, said that it might take 24 hours to restore the important communications link before it could provide an update on work. The company said it was working urgently with local authorities to resolve the damage, adding its demostic mobile phone towers were operating across the main island of Tongatapu

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said that the New Zealand government has made an initial sum of $340,000. available to provide assistance toTonga.An Australia   Air Force P8 Poseidon aircraft also reached Tonga on January 17. Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that China is closely watching the volcanic eruptions and the disasters, including tsunami and volcanic ash, in Tonga and stands ready to provide every possible support and assistance at Tonga’s request.

As most people know, in the last few years, sandstorms have swept across many cities and areas of North China, polluting the air and disturbing daily lives of human beings. People look dirty and suffer many kinds of illnesses, such as breath difficulty. The sandstorm is such a serious problem that it has not only weakened the industrial and agricultural development of our country but also caused a lot of trouble to the living conditions of the Chinese people.

Therefore, effective measures should be taken as soon as possible to stop its happening. So how should we deal with the frightening sandstorms?

Some experts offer practical advice as follows: For one thing, more money ought to be put into tree planting and forest protection in order to keep more water on the Earth. For another, government of all countries should make laws on environment protection. For example, banning the use of throw-away chopsticks and punishing illegal tree cutting. Scientists should also study and find ways to lower the grade of its destruction and to improve the environment. As for some schools, education about sandstorms should be spread properly and timely to make more and more people attach great importance to this problem.

How people look forward to sunny days with soft wind touching their faces now and forever! The golden days can come back so long as we try our best to protect the natural environment from today on. And the fact is that what I expect is not just a dream. There are some sweet fruits from the early efforts.