25
Haiti Earthquake (2010)


A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that has a depth of 8.1 miles rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010. Its epicenter was located just south west of Port-Au-Prince with 59 aftershocks ranging from 4.2 to 5.9 magnitudes in strength. The strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1770, it had led to over 200,000 deaths, 2 million homeless, and 3 million people in need of emergency aid. At least US $195 million have been given with another US $120 million pledges from different countries, along with a large number of aid workers to help with rescue operations.

http://list25.com/25-worst-natural-disasters-recorded/5/

24
Cyclone Nargis (2008)


The first cyclone in 2008 to hit the northern Indian Ocean, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar and devastated the Ayeyarwady Delta region along with its 37 townships for two days. Official figures showed that 84,500 people were killed with 53,800 missing. An equivalent of a category 3 or 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, it led to numerous storm surges and flooding

23
Pakistan Earthquake (2005)


The 2005 Pakistan earthquake, that registered 7.6 in the Richter scale, had its epicenter in Kashmir near the city of Muzaffarabad. It occurred on the morning of October 8, 2005 and the official death toll was 75,000 people with 106,000 people injured. The severity of the damage was attributed to the poor construction of the buildings. Over US $5.4 billion in aid arrived from all over the world to help with rescue and relief efforts.

22
Hurricane Katrina (2005)


The deadliest hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, it was ranked as the sixth strongest overall to hit the United States. It was also one of the costliest with estimated property damages of US $81 billion

21
Indian Ocean Earthquake (2004)


Also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, it was estimated to be a magnitude 9.15, and occurred on December 26, 2004. While the earthquake itself lasted for only 10 seconds, it caused a tsunami that killed 200,000 to 310,000 people along the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, and Thailand with one death even occurring at Port Elizabeth in South Africa, 8,000 miles away from the epicenter.

20
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano Eruption (1985)


Also famed as La Mesa de Herveo, this stratovolcano holds the distinction of causing the second largest volcano-related disaster of the 20th century. The volcano, which generally generates Plinian eruptions or swift-moving currents of hot gas and rock called pyroclastic flows, produced an enormous flow that buried and devastated the town of Armero in Tolima in November 13, 1985. What was tragically known as the “Armero tragedy” caused the death of 25,000 people

19
Tangshan Earthquake in China (1976)


The Great Tangshan earthquake struck China on July 28, 1976 causing the death of 240,000 people and injured 164,000 more. Regarded as the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century, it also rocked, both literally and politically, the seat of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. The very large 7.8 earthquake hit an area where it was totally unexpected causing the city of Tangshan to be obliterated. It was caused by the 25-mile long Tangshan Fault, which runs near the city

18
Hurricane Andrew (1993)


This hurricane was formed by a tropical wave that moved to the west coast of Africa on August 14, 1992. It became a major tropical depression by August 16, though its intensity was initially prevented by a wind shear. During the succeeding days, it developed into a destructive tropical cyclone, named Hurricane Andrew. Due to the massive destruction that caused 65 fatalities and US $26 billion in property damages, this became the 5th costliest hurricane in US history after hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Ike, with the name Andrew retired from the hurricane names list in the spring of 1993.

17
Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)


A 9.0 magnitude quake followed by tsunami waves hit the east coast of Japan in March 11, 2011. With a depth of 24.4 km, this was the largest earthquake to ever strike Japan in recorded history. Documented as the 7th largest earthquake in the world, it led to about 15 million dead or injured, and 2,814 people missing. It also affected 18 prefectures, with over 250,000 buildings damaged or destroyed and caused a near nuclear disaster when there was a partial meltdown in 3 reactors of the Fukushima nuclear plant, which is the 2nd largest nuclear disaster after Chernobyl

16
Aleppo Earthquake (1138)


The deadliest earthquake in history, it occurred in October 11, 1138 and was named after the city of Aleppo in Syria, now called Halab. Its death toll was approximated at 230,000 as the city was destroyed along with its surrounding areas.

15
Haiyuan Earthquake (1920)


Also known as the 1920 Gansu Earthquake, this is the 4th worst earthquake ever recorded next to the Antioch Earthquake in the year 526. With a death toll of 240,000, this quake occurred in December 16, 1920 with its epicenter in Haiyuan County, in the Ningxia Province of China

14
Antioch Earthquake (526)


The third worst earthquake disaster in the world happened in the year 526 and may have probably struck late in May between the 20th and 29th as there is no specific date on record. This major earthquake hit Syria and Antioch with a death toll between 250,000 to 300,000.

Epic thread..but op why are human names attatched to hurricanes,cyclones,tsunamis etc.

Can u throw more lights on that,if u can

13
Bhola Cyclone (1970)


Reaching wind speeds of 185 km/h, the Bhola Cyclone in Bangladesh led to over US $490 million in damages, destroying 85% of the homes in the region. It also fetched storm surges that wiped out entire villages, killing 45% of the population in Tazumuddin. Nearly 500,000 perished during the cyclone.

12
New Zealand Earthquake (2011)


Also known as the Christchurch earthquake, this magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on February 22, 2011 severely damaged New Zealand’s second-largest city. It also killed 185 people, 238 were reported missing, and164 patients were treated for injuries. One of the nation’s deadliest peacetime disasters, this caused significant damage to Christchurch and the central Canterbury region with an estimated US $16 billion worth of damages incurred, though it was of lesser strength than the 7.1 magnitude quake that hit Canterbury six earlier in September 4, 2010.

EHMIR:
Epic thread..but op why are human names attatched to hurricanes,cyclones,tsunamis etc.

Can u throw more lights on that,if u can

Hurricanes are given names according to a formal system that is managed by the World Meteorological Organization

10
East Africa Drought (2011)


The worst drought in 60 years, the Horn of Africa experienced a severe drought since mid-July of 2011 with an estimated 12.4 million people in need of food. It resulted in a food crisis across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, threatened the livelihood of more than 9.5 million people, and caused widespread death and famine

9
North Korean Famine (1994)


Recognized as the “Arduous March”, this famine that devastated North Korea from 1994 to 1998 had an estimated death toll of between 240,000 and 3,500,000 caused by starvation and hunger-related illnesses. Out of its 24 million people, 5 million are malnourished including 800,000 children with 80,000 on the brink of starvation. Everyone felt the impact of the famine, but those who are further from the capital suffered greater. Food assistance was given by the United States, Japan, South Korea, China and other European Union countries, which continued until 2002 when the North Korean government requested to stop the deliveries of these food supplies.

8
European Heat Wave (2003)


Europe is not too used to scorching hot summers so when the 2003 European heat wave struck, it resulted in a health crisis in several countries as well as a drought which led to crop shortage, especially in Ukraine where 75% of wheat crops were lost. The hottest since 1540, at least 14,802 casualties recorded in France alone with victims coming from old people in nursing homes, or single family homes with no air-conditioning systems. The extreme temperatures also dried up most of Europe, which resulted in forest fires and counterintuitively, even flooding

7
Yangtze River Floods (1931)


When torrential rains hit southern China in August 1931, it caused the Yangtze River to flood killing nearly 3.7 million people. This was considered the worst natural disaster of the 20th century.

6
Mozambique Flood (2000)


Occurring between the months of February and March in 2000 the catastrophic flooding was caused by torrential rainfall that lasted for 5 weeks. It made many people homeless as it affected 1,400 sq km of arable land, killing 800 people and 20,000 cattle.

5
North American Smallpox Epidemic (1775)


While the Revolutionary War was reshaping society and politics along the eastern seaboard, the Great Smallpox Epidemic was ravaging the entire North American continent from 1775 to 1782. Caused by a contagious virus known as “Variola major,” the initial signs of smallpox came 12 days later after exposure, where early symptoms included backache, fever, headache, vomiting, and general malaise. While there have been devastating outbreaks of smallpox from the time of early Spanish exploration, none were as fully documented as the early conflicts of the American Revolution from 1775 to 1776

4
The Great White Plague (1600's)


This tuberculosis epidemic in Europe during the 17th century lasted for nearly 200 years. It was the leading cause of death in 1650 and very likely propagated due to poor sanitary conditions.

3
Gujarat Earthquake (2001)


This earthquake happened on India’s 51st Republic Day celebration in January 26, 2001. The quake, which had a magnitude between 7.6 and 7.7, lasted for over 2 minutes with the epicenter about 9 km south-southwest of the Chobari village. It resulted in a death toll of 20,000 people, injured 167,000 and destroyed 400,000 homes. It also caused major shock waves that spread 700 km where 21 districts were affected and left 600,000 people homeless

2
The Black Death (1348)


An epidemic that swept through Europe from 1348 to 1351, it killed an estimated 25 to 60% of Europe’s population, though some estimates were higher which would mean somewhere between 75 million to 200 million people. Also known as “the Great Mortality” or “the Pestilence,” it was the second plague pandemic of the Middle Ages, next only to the Justinian plague in the 6th century.

1
Spanish Influenza (1918)


The first wave of the Spanish flu, which is one of the several types of influenza viruses, might have begun in March 1918 and began to spread throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. A contagious illness, it was responsible for the death of 20 million to 40 million people, though other estimates range from 40 million to 100 million people

RoyalBlak007:
1
Spanish Influenza (1918)


The first wave of the Spanish flu, which is one of the several types of influenza viruses, might have begun in March 1918 and began to spread throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. A contagious illness, it was responsible for the death of 20 million to 40 million people, though other estimates range from 40 million to 100 million people

Your grading is bad and poor
How can the Black death be behind the Spanish flu?
The black death is the worst epidemic of all history