Top 6 The Biggest Natural Disaster Ever

Natural disasters are sometimes unpredictable, yet we can learn from the biggest natural disaster ever. These cases are the deadliest where the death toll is high and some people suffer during the recovery phase for years. What are the cases in the list? Read the list here.

The Biggest Natural Disaster Ever in The World

1. The Central China Flood in 1931

The biggest natural disaster in the world is the flood in Central China or the Yangtze-Huai flood. It was in 1931 that more than 25 million people were affected. The exact death toll was unknown, but more than 500 thousand people died because of this massive flood. The causes were rainfall and snowmelt.

The impact of this biggest natural disaster ever was huge. People were drowning because of the massive flood and they did not have time to evacuate. The refugees also had to suffer from other illnesses, such as malaria and cholera. Besides losing their houses, they also experienced severe famine.

2. Shaanxi Earthquake in 1556

Shaanxi earthquake is traumatizing for China. It was on January 23, Huaxian was shaken by of 7.9 magnitude earthquake. The intensity kills more than 800 thousand people. The damage itself was more than 500 km away from the epicenter. It flattened more than 840 km² sq which caused landslides.

The seismic activity did not stop with only one big shock. There were countless earthquakes for another six months even though they were not as strong as the main shock. It traumatized many people to move to other areas because it was too dangerous. This disaster changed how China built its infrastructure.

3. Bhola Cyclone in Bangladesh in 1970

This cyclone, the worst ever, struck Bangladesh. The storm was so massive that and swept the whole coastal island. The fatalities were up to 400 thousand people. The area that got the worst effect was Tazumuddin where more than 167 thousand residents were killed because of this cyclone.

The biggest natural disaster ever had many factors that contributed to the disaster. The warnings were issued via radio, but people did not understand this system. Thus, the relief was very late and people suffered more after the disaster. They changed their political stance because it got international attention.

4. Tangshan Earthquake in China in 1976

Tangshan city in Beijing suffered from a big earthquake in 1976. It was on July 28, at 03.42 am when most people were sleeping. The earthquake caused collapse here and there, and many people could not save themselves because the quality of the brick was very poor. The shaking was about 23 seconds with a 7.5 magnitude.

Officials recorded that the fatalities reached 240 thousand people and more than 160 thousand people were injured. All the infrastructure in Tangshan city failed to work for months so that people could move to other areas as part of the relief effort. It was getting worse because China itself rejected international aid.

5. Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004

This is one of the biggest disasters in early 2000. The earthquake was 8.9 magnitude which brought a tsunami to Aceh in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, Srilanka, India, and even Somalia. The highest fatality was in Indonesia since the number is more than 200 thousand people. The tsunami swept the whole coast.

The disaster affected more than 2 million people in Northern and Western Aceh. The relief was coming from international aid, including UN agencies. After this disaster, Indonesia learned about the importance of early warning systems for vulnerable areas in the country. 

6. Krakatoa Volcano Eruption 1883

The Krakatoa volcano eruption is the most powerful eruption in the world This volcano lies in Indonesia with 6 indices. The explosion contained ash, rock, and pumice which is more deadly than the atomic bombs. The sound of the explosion was heard in other countries like Australia.

Because of the explosion, the volcano itself vanished. It brought a deadliest tsunami that more than 100 thousand people died because of the wave. Since the explosion was powerful, the climate average temperature decreased.

The biggest natural disaster ever teaches us how to be proactive in preparedness. One of them is using an SMS broadcaster for the early warning system. This device improves efficiency while transmitting the messages. Check out how it can fit the system and make the purchase here