Eight Worst Natural Disasters in History
A list of the world’s worst natural calamities – from earthquakes to pandemics, from floods to tsunamis. Nature’s fury is unleashed upon man …
It is an unfortunate observation that natural calamities can occur at anytime, whether they are nature’s revenge against us, the consequence of our sins or just pure coincidence – we will never know. Here are some of the worst natural disasters this world has had to witness.
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Smallpox Pandemic
Smallpox was a global pandemic and one of the worst natural disasters in the history of mankind. Smallpox originated in the human societies in about 10,000 BC. Caused by an Orthopoxvirus ‘Variola virus’ the disease targets the blood vessels and is characterized by raised fluid-filled blisters appearing all over the body. Smallpox killed approximately 400,000 people in the 18th Century and is responsible for the deaths of nearly 300-500 million deaths in the 20th Century alone. As the horrible nature of the pandemic grew, World Health Organization (WHO) began successful vaccination programs all over the world and the disease was officially eradicated in December 1979. Famous figures who contracted the disease include Ramses V, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I of England, Queen of Scots, Emperors Kangxi and Shunzhi and Maharaja Ranjit Singh of India.
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Spanish Influenza
Also known as the 1918 flu pandemic, the Spanish Influenza spread globally in a sudden and rapid pace. It affected more than 1,000,000,000 people, almost half of the world’s population at that time and killing approximately a 100 million. The flu was caused by very severe and destructive ‘Influenza A-strain viruses’ which kill via a cytokine storm (an overreaction in immune system causing the system to ravage the body). It originated first near the United States and quickly spread to European countries, receiving great publicity when it entered into Spain. It is assumed that WWI helped promulgate the spread of the disease. The pandemic lasted from March 1918 to June 1920.
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1931 China Floods
The 1931 China floods refer to a series of floods which occurred during the Nanjing Decade between June to November of 1931. The floods are regarded as the deadliest natural disaster of all time (excluding pandemics) responsible for more than 2 million to 4 million deaths in a few months and excessive loss and damage of property. All the major rivers, the Yellow River, Huai River and the Yangtze River flooded, drowning millions and rendering endless lists of towns and villages completely in ruins. The floods however gave great importance to the establishment of dams along the rivers to address the issue.
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Post Commenttarun@gmail.com
On May 7, 2010 at 12:34 am
IT SUCKS!!!!!!!
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On January 17, 2011 at 4:31 pm
this is a f*ckin haaaaaacck! this doesnt give anyy informationn!