Like Pharaoh’s people and those before them, they rejected our revelations and, consequently, God punished them for their sins. God is strict in enforcing retribution.
كَدَأبِ ءالِ فِرعَونَ وَالَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم كَذَّبوا بِـٔايٰتِنا فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنوبِهِم وَاللَّهُ شَديدُ العِقابِ
kadaabi Aali Fir’awna wallazeena min qablihim; kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa fa akhazahumul laahu bizunoo bihim; wallaahu shadeedul ‘iqaab