Top 10 Natural Environmental Disasters

Global Epidemics

Global epidemics always lead to disaster. Natural global epidemics storm across the globe leaving in their wake a path of destructive death and despair. Such natural global epidemics include the plague, the Spanish flu and most recently HIV/AIDS. Global epidemics typically kill countless people at virtually the same time.

Arsenic Crisis in Bangladesh

Nearly 57 million Bangladesh people were infected with arsenicosis from drinking ground water that contained arsenic levels above the 0.05 mg/L legal arsenic toxicity limit. To date, nearly 90 million people are still drinking the contaminated water and it is believe that nearly the same number of people continue to suffer from arsenic poisoning.

2004 Asian Tsunami & Earthquake

An oceanic earthquake that measured 9.3 on the Richter scale erupted in the Indian Ocean causing ocean waves that rose over 30 meters high. It is believed that approximately 310,000 people in various regions of Asia were killed and perished during this disaster. Other areas such as Alaska and Sweden were also hit.

Hurricane Mitch

A category 5 hurricane, Mitch blasted the coast of Central America with winds that soared up to 290 kilometers per hour. Many of the 18,000 deaths were the result of floods that came from the heavy rains that Mitch dumped. It is estimated that Hurricane Mitch caused 5 billion dollars in damage.

The 1999 Turkish Earthquakes: Izmit

In August 1999, major earthquakes it Izmit, Turkey, killing more than 16,500 people and leaving thousands more homeless. In November, another 3,000 people were injured and 450 killed when another earthquake hit. Further damage was caused when the earthquake cause a refinery to burn 700,000 tons of oil.

The 1953 Dutch Flood Disaster

This deadly flood disaster caused 1,835 deaths, wiping out 10% of some villages. In addition to human deaths over 47,000 pigs and cows drowned. Some 72,000 people also had to be evacuated. Storms which caused changes in the water level created dike breaks in over 60 locations.

The 1998 Brazil Roraima Wildfires

These out of control wildfires were responsible for droughts that swept across Roraima. The Yanomami Indians, some of the most primitive Indians, were nearly brought to extinction. It is believe that it was due to farmers burning the forest to create fertile land.

Mount Pinatubo Volcanic Eruption: Philippines

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo had been dormant for 500 years and then suddenly produced the most violent and largest eruption in the 20th century. Thanks to adequate warnings, many lives were saved when 200,000 were evacuated.

The 1925 Ellington, Missouri Tornado

This violent force of nature created winds that raged at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. In 1925, this F5 tornado killed 671 people as it swept across the states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and left 2,027 injured.

Beijing & Queensland Dust Storms

Raging dust storms in 1998 and 2002 wreaked havoc with cancelled flights, people missing and construction workers killed.

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