List of natural disasters by death toll


A natural disaster is a sudden event that causes widespread destruction, major collateral damage or loss of life, brought about by forces other than the acts of human beings. A natural disaster might be caused by earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruption, landslide, hurricanes etc. To be classified as a disaster, it will have profound environmental effect and/or human loss and frequently causes financial loss.

Ten deadliest natural disasters excluding epidemics and famines

Notes: The list does not include several volcanic eruptions with uncertain death tolls resulting from collateral effects, though these may have numbered in the millions; see List of volcanic eruptions by death toll.
This list takes into account only the highest estimated death toll for each disaster, and lists them accordingly
This list does not include [|Epidemics] and Famines.
This list names event considered as a single event within one year.
The list does not include the man-made 1938 Yellow River flood, caused entirely by a deliberate man-made act.
An alternative listing is given by Peter Hough in his 2008 book Global Security.
RankDeath toll EventLocationDate
1.4,000,0001931 China floodsChina
2.1887 Yellow River floodChina
3.1556 Shaanxi earthquakeChina
4.655,0001976 Tangshan earthquakeChina
5.≥1970 Bhola cycloneEast Pakistan
6.2010 Haiti earthquakeHaiti
7.≥526 Antioch earthquakeByzantine Empire
8.1881 Haiphong typhoonVietnam
9.273,4001920 Haiyuan earthquakeChina
10.Typhoon NinaChina

Ten deadliest natural disasters since 1900 excluding epidemics and famines

Note: This list does not include industrial or technological accidents, epidemics, famines or the 1938 Yellow River flood.
RankDeath toll Event*LocationDate
1.–4,000,0001931 China floodsChina
2.≥1970 Bhola cycloneEast Pakistan
3.2010 Haiti earthquakeHaiti
4.1920 Haiyuan earthquakeChina
5.–655,0001976 Tangshan earthquakeChina
6.Typhoon Nina—also contributed to Banqiao Dam failureChina
7.2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamiIndian Ocean
8.1935 Yangtze floodChina
9.1923 Great Kantō earthquakeJapan
10.1991 Bangladesh cycloneBangladesh

Deadliest natural disasters by year excluding epidemics and famines

YearDeath tollEventLocationTypeDate
200120,0852001 Gujarat earthquakeIndiaEarthquakeJanuary 26
20021,0302002 Indian heat waveIndiaHeat WaveMay
200370,0002003 European heat waveFrance, Portugal, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Luxemburg, IrelandHeat WaveJuly–August
2004227,8982004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamiIndonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, SomaliaEarthquake, TsunamiDecember 26
200587,3512005 Kashmir earthquakeIndia, PakistanEarthquakeOctober 8
20065,7822006 Yogyakarta earthquakeIndonesiaEarthquakeMay 26
200715,000Cyclone SidrBangladesh, IndiaTropical cycloneNovember 11–16
2008138,373Cyclone NargisMyanmarTropical cycloneApril 27 – 3 May
20091,1152009 Sumatra earthquakeIndonesiaEarthquakeSeptember 30
2010100,000-316,0002010 Haiti earthquakeHaitiEarthquakeJanuary 12
201115,8972011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunamiJapanEarthquake, TsunamiMarch 11
20121,901Typhoon BophaPhilippinesTropical cycloneDecember 4–5
20136,340Typhoon HaiyanPhilippines, Vietnam, ChinaTropical cycloneNovember 3–4
20142,6652014 Afghanistan floodsAfghanistanFloodApril 24–May 15
20158,9642015 Nepal earthquakeNepal, IndiaEarthquakeApril 25
20166762016 Ecuador earthquakeEcuadorEarthquakeApril 16
20173,059Hurricane MariaPuerto Rico, DominicaTropical cycloneSeptember 19–21
20184,3402018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunamiIndonesiaEarthquake, TsunamiSeptember 28
20191,303Cyclone IdaiMozambique, Zimbabwe, MalawiTropical cycloneMarch 4–7
20204532020 East Africa floodsRwanda, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, DjiboutiFloodApril–May

Lists of natural disasters by cause

Deadliest earthquakes

RankDeath toll EventLocationDate
1.1556 Shaanxi earthquakeMing dynasty
2.2010 Haiti earthquakeHaiti
3.–655,0001976 Tangshan earthquakeChina
4.2734001920 Haiyuan earthquakeNingxia, Republic of China
5.250000–300,000526 Antioch earthquakeByzantine Empire
6.260000115 Antioch earthquakeRoman Empire
7.2300001138 Aleppo earthquakeZengid dynasty
8.2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeIndonesia
9.2000001303 Hongdong earthquakeMongol Empire
9.200000856 Damghan earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
9.2000001780 Tabriz earthquakeIran
12.150000893 Ardabil earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
13.1428071923 Great Kantō earthquakeJapan
14.130000533 Aleppo earthquakeByzantine Empire
15.1230001908 Messina earthquakeItaly
16.1100001948 Ashgabat earthquakeTurkmen SSR, Soviet Union
17.1000001290 Chihli earthquakeMongol Empire
18.875872008 Sichuan earthquakeChina
19.2005 Kashmir earthquakePakistan
20.800001721 Tabriz earthquakeIran
20.80000458 Antioch earthquakeByzantine Empire
20.800001667 Shamakhi earthquakeSafavid dynasty
20.800001854 Great Nankaidō earthquakeJapan
20.800001169 Aleppo earthquakeZengid dynasty
25.770001727 Tabriz earthquakeIran
26.730001718 Gansu earthquakeQing Empire
27.700001970 Ancash earthquakePeru
27.700001033 Ramala earthquakeFatimid Caliphate
27.70000847 Damascus earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
27.700001868 Ecuador earthquakesEcuador –
31.60000587 Antioch earthquakeByzantine Empire
31.600001101 Khorasan earthquakeGreat Seljuq Empire
31.600001268 Cilicia earthquakeArmenian Kingdom of Cilicia
31.600001693 Sicily earthquakeKingdom of Sicily
31.600001935 Quetta earthquakeBritish India
36.50000844 Damascus earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
36.500001042 Tabriz earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
36.500001783 Calabrian earthquakesKingdom of Naples
36.500001990 Manjil–Rudbar earthquakeIran
40.40000–50,0001755 Lisbon earthquakePortugal
41.45000850 Iran earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
41.45000856 Corinth earthquakeByzantine Empire
41.45000856 Tunisia earthquakeAbbasid Caliphate
44.425711668 Shandong earthquakeQing Empire
45.409001927 Gulang earthquakeGansu, China
46.40000342 Antioch earthquakeRoman Empire
46.40000662 Damghan earthquakeUmayyad Caliphate
46.400001455 Naples earthquakeCrown of Aragon
46.400001754 Cairo earthquakeOttoman Empire
46.400001755 Tabriz earthquakeIran
46.400001797 Riobamba earthquakeSpanish Empire

Deadliest famines

Note: Some of these famines may have been caused or partially caused by humans.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.15,000,000–43,000,000Great Chinese FamineChina–1961
2.25,000,000Chinese Famine of 1907China
3.9,000,000–13,000,000Northern Chinese Famine of 1876–1879China–1879
4.11,000,000Chalisa famineIndia–1784
4.11,000,000Doji bara famine or Skull famineIndia–1793
6.10,000,000Bengal famine of 1770, incl. Bihar & OrissaBritish India–1773
7.7,500,000Great European FamineEurope –1317
8.7,400,000Deccan famine of 1630–32Mughal Empire now india–1632
9.5,000,000–8,000,000Soviet famine of 1932–1933 Soviet Union–1933
10.5,500,000Indian Great Famine of 1876–78British India–1878
11.5,000,000Chinese Famine of 1936China
11.5,000,000Russian famine of 1921Russia, Ukraine–1922
13.3,000,000Chinese famine of 1928–1930China–1930
14.2,000,000–3,000,000Chinese famine of 1942–43China–1943
15.2,400,000Japanese famineJapanese Java–1945
16.2,000,000Russian famine of 1601–1603Russia –1603
16.2,000,000Deccan famine of 1702–1704India–1704
16.2,000,000Upper Doab famine of 1860–61British India–1861
16.2,000,000Indian FamineBritish India–1902
16.2,000,000Persian famine of 1917–1919Persia–1918
16.2,000,000Famine during the Biafran WarNigeria–1970
22.1,500,000–3,000,000Bengal famine of 1943British India–1944
23.1,500,000Rajputana famine of 1869British India–1870
23.1,500,000Persian famine of 1870–1872Persia–1872
25.1,300,000–1,500,000French FamineFrance–1694
26.1,000,000–1,500,000Great Irish FamineIreland–1849
26.1,000,000–1,500,000Soviet famine of 1946–47Soviet Union–1947
28.1,000,000Orissa famine of 1866British India

Deadliest impact events

Note: Although there have been no scientifically verified cases of astronomical objects resulting in human fatalities, there have been several reported occurrences throughout human history. Consequently, the casualty figures for all events listed are considered unofficial.
RankDeath toll LocationDateNotes
1.10,000+Qingyang, Gansu, China14901490 Ch'ing-yang event
2."Tens"Changshou District, Chongqing, China163910 homes destroyed
3.10+China616 CEa large meteorite fell onto the rebel Lu Ming-Yueh's camp, destroying a wall-attacking tower
4.2Malacca ship, Indian Ocean16482 sailors killed on board a ship
4.2Podkamennaya Tunguska River, Siberia, Russian Empire1908Tunguska event
6.1Cremona, Lombardy, Italy1511a monk and several animals were killed by stones weighing up to 50 kg
6.1Milan, Lombardy, Italy1633 or 1664a monk died after being struck on the thigh by a meteorite
6.1Gascony, France1790a farmer was reportedly struck and killed by a meteorite
6.1Oriang, Malwate, India1825
6.1Chin-kuei Shan, China1874a cottage was crushed by a meteorite, killing a child
6.1Newtown, Indiana, United States *1879a man was killed in bed by a meteorite *later revealed to be a hoax
6.1Dun-le-Poëlier, France1879a farmer was killed by a meteorite
6.1Zvezvan, Yugoslavia1929a meteorite hit a bridal party

Deadliest limnic eruptions

Note: Only 2 cases in recorded history.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.1,744Lake Nyos disasterCameroonAugust 21, 1986
2.37Lake Monoun disasterCameroonAugust 15, 1984

Deadliest wildfires / bushfires

RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.1,200–2,500Peshtigo FireWisconsin, United States
2.1,200Kursha-2 FireSoviet Union
3.453Cloquet FireMinnesota, United States
4.418+Great Hinckley FireMinnesota, United States
5.282Thumb FireMichigan, United States
6.2401997 Indonesian forest firesSumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia
7.223Matheson FireOntario, Canada
8.191Black Dragon FireChina and Soviet Union
9.173Black Saturday bushfiresAustralia
10.160–300Miramichi FireCanada
11.1022018 Attica wildfiresGreece
12.87Great Fire of 1910Montana and Idaho, United States
13.85Camp FireCalifornia, United States
14.842007 Greek forest firesGreece
15.821949 Landes forest fireFrance
16.75Ash Wednesday bushfiresAustralia
17.73–200Great Porcupine FireCanada
18.71Black Friday bushfiresAustralia
19.662017 Portugal wildfiresPortugal
20.65+Yacolt BurnWashington and Oregon, United States
21.621967 Tasmanian firesAustralia
22.601926 Victorian bushfiresAustralia
23.571991 Indonesian forest firesIndonesia
24.561992 Nepal wildfiresNepal
25.542010 Russian wildfiresRussia

Ten deadliest avalanches / landslides

RankDeath toll EventLocationDate
1.1000001786 Dadu River landslide dam; triggered by the 1786 Kangding-Luding earthquakeChina
1.1000001920 Haiyuan landslides; triggered by the 1920 Haiyuan earthquakeChina
3.220001970 Huascarán avalanche; triggered by the 1970 Ancash earthquakePeru
4.–30,000Vargas tragedyVenezuela1999
4.White Friday avalanchesItaly
6.–28,000Khait landslideTajikistan
7.4000–6,0001941 Huaraz avalanchePeru
7.40001962 Huascarán avalanchePeru
9.34661310 Western Hubei landslideChina
10.34291933 Diexi landslidesChina

Ten deadliest blizzards

RankDeath toll EventLocationDate
1.40001972 Iran blizzardIran
2.3000Carolean Death MarchNorway
3.9262008 Afghanistan blizzardAfghanistan
4.400Great Blizzard of 1888United States
5.353Great Appalachian Storm of 1950United States
6.3181993 Storm of the CenturyUnited States
7.286December 1960 nor'easterUnited States
8.250Great Lakes Storm of 1913United States and Canada
9.235Schoolhouse BlizzardUnited States
10.201North American blizzard of 1966United States

Ten deadliest floods

Note: Some of these floods and landslides may be partially caused by humans – for example, by failure of dams, levees, seawalls or retaining walls.
This list does not include the man-made 1938 Yellow River flood caused entirely by a deliberate man-made act.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.400,000–4,000,0001931 China floodsChina1931
2.900,000–2,000,0001887 Yellow River floodChina1887
3.230,0001975 Banqiao Dam failureChina1975
4.145,0001935 Yangtze river floodChina1935
5.>100,000St. Felix's Flood, storm surgeHoly Roman Empire1530
6.100,000Hanoi and Red River Delta floodNorth Vietnam1971
7.up to 100,000 1911 Yangtze River floodChina1911
8.50,000–80,000St. Lucia's flood, storm surgeHoly Roman Empire1287
9.60,000North Sea flood, storm surgeHoly Roman Empire1212
10.36,000St. Marcellus flood, storm surgeHoly Roman Empire1219

Ten deadliest heat waves

Note: Measuring the number of deaths caused by a heat wave requires complicated statistical analysis, since heat waves tend to cause large numbers of deaths among people weakened by other conditions. As a result, the number of deaths is only known with any accuracy for heat waves in the modern era in countries with developed healthcare systems.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.70,0002003 European heat waveEurope2003
2.56,0002010 Russian heat waveRussia2010
3.9,5001901 eastern United States heat waveUnited States1901
4.5,000–10,0001988 United States heat waveUnited States1988
5.3,4182006 European heat waveEurope2006
6.2,5411998 India heat waveIndia1998
7.2,5002015 Indian heat waveIndia2015
8.2,0002015 Pakistan heat wavePakistan2015
9.1,700–5,0001980 United States heat waveUnited States1980
10.1,7182010 Japanese heat waveJapan2010

Ten deadliest pandemics / epidemics

Death counts are historical totals unless indicated otherwise.
RankDeath toll EventLocationDate
1.1000000000TuberculosisWorldwide – . There were about 1 billion worldwide deaths from TB in the 19th and 20th centuries. At the turn of the 19th Century there were 7 million worldwide annual deaths from TB. Projected to the whole century, this would mean ca. 700 million tuberculosis deaths in the 19th Century, leaving 300 million deaths for the 20th Century. There were 5,000,000 worldwide deaths from TB per year in, respectively, 1939 and 1954. Death toll declined after the discovery of the BCG vaccine. In 2018 there were 1.5 million deaths from TB.
2.300000000 approx.SmallpoxWorldwide to eradication. Declared eradicated May 8, 1980. 300 million smallpox deaths between 1900 and eradication would mean that, out of 4,713,503,215 worldwide deaths between 1900 and 1995, 6.36% were from smallpox.
3.200000000MeaslesWorldwide
4.100000000 approx.Second plague pandemic including Black Death Worldwide–1820
5.80000000–250000000MalariaWorldwide –.
The World Health Report 1999 states that "during the first half of the 20th century, the world sustained around 2 million deaths from malaria each year," so for that period alone, there were a hundred million deaths. After that, mortality was halved by better treatment and eradication efforts, so approximately another 64 million deaths were due to Malaria.
6.50000000–100000000Spanish fluWorldwide–1920
7.40000000–100000000Plague of JustinianAsia, Europe, Africa–590
8.30000000AIDS pandemicWorldwide–present
9.12000000Third Pandemic of Bubonic PlagueWorldwide–1960
10.5000000Antonine PlagueRoman Empire–180

Ten deadliest tornadoes

RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.1,300The Daulatpur–Saturia tornadoManikganj, Bangladesh1989
2.695The Tri-State tornadoUnited States 1925
3.6811973 Dhaka tornadoBangladesh1973
4.6601969 East Pakistan tornadoEast Pakistan 1969
5.600The Valletta, Malta tornadoMalta1551 or 1556
6.500The Sicily TornadoesSicily, Two Sicilies 1851
6.500The Narail-Magura tornadoJessore, East Pakistan, Pakistan 1964
6.500The Madaripur-Shibchar tornadoBangladesh1977
9.400The Ivanovo-Yaroslavl tornadoSoviet Union 1984
10.317The Great Natchez tornadoUnited States 1840

Ten deadliest tropical cyclones

Note: Earlier versions of this list have included the so-called 'Bombay Cyclone of 1882' in tenth position, but this supposed event has been proven to be a hoax.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.≥500,0001970 Bhola cycloneEast Pakistan
2.1737 Calcutta cycloneIndia
2.1839 India CycloneIndia
4.229,000Super Typhoon Nina—contributed to Banqiao Dam failureChina
5.200,000Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876British Raj
6.150,000 1881 Haiphong TyphoonVietnam
7.138,8661991 Bangladesh cycloneBangladesh
8.138,373Cyclone NargisMyanmar
9.100,000July 1780 typhoonPhilippines
10.10,000–50,0001977 Andhra Pradesh cycloneIndia

Ten deadliest tsunamis

Note: A possible tsunami in 1782 that caused about 40,000 deaths in the Taiwan Strait area may have been of "meteorological" origin.
RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.2004 Indian Ocean tsunamiIndian Ocean
2.1230001908 Messina earthquakeItaly
3.36417–120,0001883 eruption of KrakatoaIndonesia
4.40000–50,0001755 Lisbon earthquakePortugal
5.30000-100,000 Minoan EruptionGreece2nd Millennium BC
6.310001498 Meiō Nankaidō earthquakeJapan
7.300001707 Hōei earthquakeJapan
8.271221896 Sanriku earthquakeJapan
9.256741868 Arica earthquakeChile
10.5700–50,000365 Crete earthquakeGreece

Ten deadliest volcanic eruptions

RankDeath tollEventLocationDate
1.71,000+1815 eruption of Mount Tambora Indonesia
2.36,000+1883 eruption of KrakatoaIndonesia
3.30,0001902 eruption of Mount PeléeMartinique
4.23,000Armero tragedyColombia
5.15,0001792 Unzen earthquake and tsunamiJapan
6.10,000Mount KeludIndonesia
7.6,000Santa MariaGuatemala
8.5,000Mount KeludIndonesia
9.4,011Mount GalunggungIndonesia
10.3,000VesuviusItaly