Destructive Earthquake? Massive landslides? Horrible Tornado? If you imagine them, it sounds terrible. Nature is considered a blessing; however, sometimes it can turn into a disaster. Ever experienced one or heard about its devasting impact on the world? In today’s blog, we’ll review the worst natural disasters in history, which caused casualties and badly damaged infrastructure.
Let’s explore some terrible disasters that tragically took many innocent lives!
1. The Great Blizzard of 1888
Let’s imagine you are stuck inside for days due to the snow piled up on your windows. This scenario definitely can cause panic or anxiety within us, isn’t it? But you know, this already happened in reality. When everything came to a halt, no movement had occurred, and even the transportation was stopped. Yes, the Great Blizzard of 1888 caused this terrible situation. This storm is also known as the Great Blizzard of ‘88 or the Great White Hurricane. It was the most severe blizzard in American history. It particularly hit the eastern United States and eastern Canada. Almost 400 people died due to the freezing temperatures, which also caused damage worth $25 million.
Besides this, many stories about such events are featured in natural disaster documentaries, which demonstrate their severity and impact.
2. Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
Just imagine: you come back after celebrating the festival, and the next morning, you’re hit by the worst natural disaster. The same happened on December 26th, 2004 at 7:59 a.m., when an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 hit the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Then, after seven hours, a tsunami struck the Indian Ocean and killed 225,000 people. It not only caused damage to the Indian Ocean, but it also affected other countries such as Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
3. Yellow River Flood
The Yellow River in China is also known as the “River of Sorrow.” It has seen many floods, but the 1887 River Flood was considered one of the worst and most devastating events in China’s history. Heavy rain and the snow-melt caused the river to overflow. Unfortunately, it caused millions of deaths and left countless people homeless.
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4. Hurricane Katrina
The tropical cyclone struck the southeastern United States in August 2005. It was one of the most horrible and massive storms, with the highest wind speed of 280 km/h. Many major areas were affected by this disaster, such as New Orleans, Florida, Mississippi, and many more. In addition, it caused 1,833 major fatalities and a loss of $125 billion.
5. Mount Saint Helens Eruption 1980
We have often seen red volcano lava in movies or cartoons, which show terrifying scenes with a lot of destruction. But such incidents had already occurred in the past and might continue to happen in some parts of the world. Yes, we’re talking about the Mount Saint Helens volcanic eruption. This eruption was so powerful that it blew off from the top of the mountain, and even this explosion was heard hundreds of miles away; thus, this horrifying volcano killed 57 people and thousands of animals.
Concluding Worst Natural Disasters in History
Natural disasters are incredibly powerful and can change lives instantly. That’s true; we can’t control or predict such events, but the worst natural disasters in history can be studied and lessons can be positively learned to reduce the destruction in the future. Furthermore, if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, you should always stay updated about the weather and also keep a secure backup place to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
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