The following is a list of some of the worst natural
calamities to strike the world since 1900. The list is by definition
arguable. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, cyclones,
hurricanes and other storms are all clearly natural phenomena.
But the picture is less clear for disasters like floods and famine.
What some people may consider a natural disaster, others may consider
more of a political act (for instance, some of the world's deadliest
floods and famines were caused, at least in part, by policy decisions
taken by hostile, indifferent or negligent regimes).
For our purposes, we have included floods and famines as well as flu
pandemics on the assumption that disasters that are not man-made are, by
definition, natural.
This list is also limited to disasters since 1900 — an arbitrary
cut-off to be sure — but one made to reflect so-called "modern-day"
disasters only.
The death tolls from disasters in the long-distant past are, at best,
rough estimates. But there can be no doubt that our pre-1900 ancestors
endured some appalling calamaties such as the bubonic plague ("The Black
Death") that spread through Europe beginning in 1348 and wiped out an
estimated one-third of humanity, or about 25 million people.
From
quick-striking monster typhoons to slow-onset drought, natural
disasters impacted the lives of millions of people around the world in
2013. Here are five of the worst.
The 13-foot storm surge and up to 235-mph wind gusts largely wiped out coastal cities and destroyed much of the region’s infrastructure, such as roads, water and sanitation systems, and telecommunications lines.
“When you look at the mountains, they look bare and stripped of all vegetation,” Aaron Aspi, a World Vision communications officer, told ABC Radio on November 11 from northern Cebu.
Within one month of the storm, World Vision had reached almost 150,000 people with emergency food, shelter, medical attention, and other assistance. It is preparing long-term efforts to help people in as many as 80,000 households in the disaster-prone country get back on their feet.
Heavy rains and more than 150-mph winds brought widespread devastation. But fewer than 50 people died in the mid-October storm. Governments and aid organizations credited improved disaster preparedness and the early evacuation of about 1 million of the most vulnerable residents along the coast.
As Phailin approached, World Vision staff had provided megaphones, life jackets, flashlights, and ropes to community leaders, enabling them to warn residents and organize quickly. In the aftermath, the organization distributed emergency food and other supplies to families in Brahmapur, in Odisha state.
World Vision staff provided families in the Xochistlahuaca and Santa Catarina River communities in Guerrero with food, blankets, and tarps. In the long term, we will provide clean water, sanitation kits, and construction materials to help families rebuild their homes.
We will also operate Child-Friendly Spaces, where children have a safe place to learn, play, and receive counseling.
World Vision provided affected families with food and basic household supplies in the days after the quake.
The week before, as many as 10 tornadoes touched down in North Texas, killing six.
In response to the dual disasters, World Vision provided more than 15,000 affected people with emergency food kits, hygiene kits, cleanup kits, and blankets. Its mobile Teacher Resource Center supplied 156 teachers to serve 2,300 students at four schools in devastated Oklahoma neighborhoods.
As part of a long-term recovery commitment, World Vision is partnering with local churches and organizations to help families rebuild their homes.
Typhoon Haiyan – Philippines
Considered one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall, Typhoon Haiyan tore through the central Philippines November 8, killing nearly 6,000 people and displacing more than 3.6 million.The 13-foot storm surge and up to 235-mph wind gusts largely wiped out coastal cities and destroyed much of the region’s infrastructure, such as roads, water and sanitation systems, and telecommunications lines.
“When you look at the mountains, they look bare and stripped of all vegetation,” Aaron Aspi, a World Vision communications officer, told ABC Radio on November 11 from northern Cebu.
Within one month of the storm, World Vision had reached almost 150,000 people with emergency food, shelter, medical attention, and other assistance. It is preparing long-term efforts to help people in as many as 80,000 households in the disaster-prone country get back on their feet.
Typhoon Phailin – India
The strongest cyclone to hit India in 14 years, Typhoon Phailin affected the livelihoods of more than 13 million people in the country’s northeast.Heavy rains and more than 150-mph winds brought widespread devastation. But fewer than 50 people died in the mid-October storm. Governments and aid organizations credited improved disaster preparedness and the early evacuation of about 1 million of the most vulnerable residents along the coast.
As Phailin approached, World Vision staff had provided megaphones, life jackets, flashlights, and ropes to community leaders, enabling them to warn residents and organize quickly. In the aftermath, the organization distributed emergency food and other supplies to families in Brahmapur, in Odisha state.
Hurricanes Manuel and Ingrid – Mexico
Two separate storms overwhelmed western Mexico with rain in September, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. More than 200,000 people were affected in Guerrero state alone. In Acapulco, five feet of mud overtook vehicles and destroyed homes.World Vision staff provided families in the Xochistlahuaca and Santa Catarina River communities in Guerrero with food, blankets, and tarps. In the long term, we will provide clean water, sanitation kits, and construction materials to help families rebuild their homes.
We will also operate Child-Friendly Spaces, where children have a safe place to learn, play, and receive counseling.
Earthquake – Central Visayas, Philippines
Just three weeks before Typhoon Haiyan hit Central Visayas, a magnitude-7.2 earthquake rocked the same region, killing 222 people, displacing 350,000, and damaging or destroying about 73,000 buildings. Thousands of displaced or homeless quake survivors still had not found adequate shelter before Haiyan blew through.World Vision provided affected families with food and basic household supplies in the days after the quake.
Tornadoes – United States
A massive tornado, packing 200-mph winds, raked a 12-mile path through the Oklahoma City area May 20, destroying homes and severely damaging two elementary schools. The twister killed 24 people, ABC News reported.The week before, as many as 10 tornadoes touched down in North Texas, killing six.
In response to the dual disasters, World Vision provided more than 15,000 affected people with emergency food kits, hygiene kits, cleanup kits, and blankets. Its mobile Teacher Resource Center supplied 156 teachers to serve 2,300 students at four schools in devastated Oklahoma neighborhoods.
As part of a long-term recovery commitment, World Vision is partnering with local churches and organizations to help families rebuild their homes.
Other disasters
Other large-scale natural disasters World Vision responded to in 2013 include:- Solomon Islands earthquake and tsunami (February)
- Sichuan, China, earthquake (April)
- Southern Africa drought(May-present)
- Uttarakhand, India, floods (June)
- Colorado, U.S., floods (September)
- Southern Asia floods (October)
- West Africa drought (ongoing)
Earthquakes and tsunamis
Jan. 12, 2010. More than 230,000 people were killed when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti.
May 12, 2008. About 70,000 people were killed and 18,000 people were
reported missing after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan, China.
Oct. 8, 2005. At least 80,000 people were killed and three million
left homeless after a quake struck the mountaineous Kashmir district in
Pakistan.
Dec. 26, 2004. A magnitude 9.0 quake struck off the coast of Sumatra,
triggering tsunamis that swept through the coastal regions of a dozen
countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The death toll has been estimated
at between 225,000 and 275,000.
Dec. 26, 2003. An earthquake devastated the ancient city of Bam, in central Iran, leaving between 31,000 and 43,000 people dead.
July 28, 1976. The 20th century's most devastating quake (magnitude
7.8) hit the sleeping city of Tangshan in northeast China. The official
death toll was 242,000. Unofficial estimates put the number as high as
655,000.
Oct. 5, 1948 - More than 110,000 were killed when a 7.3 quake rolled through the area around Ashgebat in Turkmenistan.
May 22, 1927. A magnitude 7.9 quake near Xining, China, killed 200,000
Sept. 1, 1923. A third of Tokyo and most of Yokohama were levelled
when a magnitude 8.3 earthquake shook Japan. About 143,000 were killed
as fires ravaged much of Tokyo.
Dec. 16, 1920. China was also the site for the world's
third-deadliest quake of the 20th century. An estimated 200,000 died
when a magnitude 8.6 temblor hit Gansu, triggering massive landslides.
Dec. 28, 1908. Southern Italy was ravaged by a 7.2 magnitude quake
that triggered a tsunami that hit the Messina-Reggio-Calabria area,
killing 123,000.
Volcanic eruptions
July 15, 1991. Mt. Pinatubo on Luzon Island in the Philippines
erupted, blanketing 750 square kilometres with volcanic ash. More than
800 died.
Nov. 13-14, 1985. At least 25,000 are killed near Armero, Colombia,
when the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted, triggering mudslides.
May 8, 1902. Mt. Pelee erupted on the Caribbean island of Martinique,
destroying the capital city of St. Pierre. Up to 40,000 were killed.
The day before, a volcano had killed 1,600 people on the nearby island
of St. Vincent and five months later Mt. Santa Maria erupted in
Guatemala, killing another 6,000.
(Two of the most famous eruptions took place before 1900. In 1883,
two-thirds of the Indonesian island of Krakatoa was destroyed when a
volcano erupted. A resulting series of tsunamis killed more than 36,000.
In 79 CE, Mt. Vesuvius erupted in southern Italy, destroying the
ancient Roman city of Pompeii and two other communities. Thousands
died.)
Hurricanes, cyclones and floods
July-August 2010. Floods triggered by heavier-than-normal monsoon rains hit northwest Pakistan.
By the time the waters began to recede in late August, more than
160,000 square kilometres of land — about one-fifth of the country — was
under water. More than 1,700 people were killed and 17.2 million people
have been affected.
May 3, 2008. Cyclone Nargis, swept along by winds that exceeded 190
kmh and waves six metres high struck the Burmese peninsula and may have
left as many as 100,000 dead, according to U.S. estimates.
Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 1998. Hurricane Mitch was the deadliest hurricane to
hit the Americas. It killed 11,000 in Honduras and Nicaragua and left
2.5 million homeless.
Aug. 5, 1975. At least 85,000 were killed along the Yangtze River in
China when more than 60 dams failed following a series of storms,
causing widespread flooding and famine. This disaster was kept secret by
the Chinese government for 20 years.
August 1971. An estimated 100,000 died when heavy rains led to severe flooding around Hanoi in what was then North Vietnam.
Nov. 13, 1970. The Bhola cyclone in the Ganges delta killed an
estimated 500,000 in Bangladesh. Some put the complete death toll as
high as one million.
June, 1938. Nationalist Chinese soldiers, under the direction of
Chiang Kai-Shek, blew up dikes around the Yellow River to stop Japanese
troops from advancing. More than half a million people died in the
resulting flood.
May-August 1931. Massive flooding of China's Yellow and Yangtze
rivers led to almost four million deaths from drowning, disease and
starvation. The flooding of the Yangtze also killed an estimated 100,000
in 1911 and 140,000 in 1935.
