Top 10 Worst Natural Disasters

Throughout history there have been many natural disasters that have wreaked havoc. They are the sources of some of histories greatest tragedies, however, they may also serve as a lesson to us all. Every time humanity witnesses a horrific disaster, we learn how to better prepare for the next time. That is why it is important for us to never forget some of the worst that humanity has suffered through, and grown from.

1. The Floods of China – 1931

The floods followed a two year drought and were not actually a single event but a series of floods that took place between July and November of 1931. While the death toll is not exact, it is estimated to range anywhere from 400,000 all the way up to 4,000,000, although most evidence points towards the higher. On top of this death toll, the floods also left millions homeless. The Yellow river, an area considered to be the heart of China’s civilization, flooded during this period and left around 80 million homeless.

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2. Yelow River Flood – 1887

Before the 1931 floods of China, the Yellow River flooded, this time however only the Yellow River flooded as it is prone to do giving its geographical surroundings. The land largely around the river is mostly flat and very near the river’s elevation. The death tolls of this flood were estimated to range anywhere from 900,000 up to 2,000,000. However this death toll is based only on the flood itself, the waters covered over 50,000 square miles of land and ruined crops, causing millions more to starve.

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3. Shaanxi Earthquake – 1556

The Shaanxi Earthquake, the most devastating earthquake in recorded human history, took place January 25th, 1556 and affected over 97 provinces in China. This massive earthquake was a magnitude 8.0 and claimed roughly 830,000 lives. On top of the initial earthquake, aftershocks followed for another half a year. Most of the deaths took place in the Loess caves, a large collection of naturally formed clay caves atop a plateau that housed millions, when they collapsed and killed many of the inhabitants.

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