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I saw Bob's post on the most earthquake prone states and figured I could do him one better. These are the 10 most deadly natural disasters.
You'll note that and that in China, two of the disasters were man-made. I've left a couple of famines (mainly in Africa, China and Bangladesh) because famine deaths are different than straight up natural disasters. I'll make a list of famines later.11931 Yellow River Flood, China
In the summer of 1931, this killed and estimated 850,000 to 4,000,000. The actual death toll will never be known because of reporting problems.
21887 Yellow River Flood, China
This one killed 900,000 to 2,000,000. In the Yellow River floods, the death toll includes not just drowned people, but those who died later from disease, famine, etc.
31970 Bhola cyclone, Pakistan
500,000 to 1,000,000 perished.
41938 Yellow River flood, China (a man-made disaster)
This one killed between 500,000 and 900,000 people -- and what makes this worst is that it was man made. Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist Chinese army the Kuoming Tang, breached levees to create the flood.
Why? To stop the invading Japanese army. However, to the horror of the people of China, Chiang Kai-shek chose to kill nearly a million of his fellow Chinese to do it.
The dikes on the Yellow River would not be rebuilt until the communists took control of China and ran Chaing Kai-shek off to Taiwan.
Why? To stop the invading Japanese army. However, to the horror of the people of China, Chiang Kai-shek chose to kill nearly a million of his fellow Chinese to do it.
The dikes on the Yellow River would not be rebuilt until the communists took control of China and ran Chaing Kai-shek off to Taiwan.
5Shananxi Earthquake, China (1556)
This was a massive quake that killed 830,000 outright and devastated a 530 mile area. In some places, 60 percent of the population died.
The high death toll was due to the fact that most of the population lived in artificial caves dug into clay and those who didn't lived in huts made of mud brick, all of which collapsed during the quake.
This was also the deadliest earthquake of all time. It was estimated to be about a magnitude 8.
The high death toll was due to the fact that most of the population lived in artificial caves dug into clay and those who didn't lived in huts made of mud brick, all of which collapsed during the quake.
This was also the deadliest earthquake of all time. It was estimated to be about a magnitude 8.
61839 Cyclone in Coringa, India
This storm killed approximately 300,000 when a 40-foot tall tsunami -- fed by the cyclone -- hit the port city of Coringa. The city was never fully rebuilt
72004 Indian earthquake-tsunami
We're still sorting out the death toll from this one but at this time it looks as if we've settled on between 225,000 and 275,000 souls lost.
81642 Kaifeng flood, China (man-made)
Rebels breached dikes and the resultant flood killed roughly 300,000.
The entire city of Kaifeng was destroyed. Interestingly, this also put an end to a little known "golden age" of Jews in China -- which was centered in Kaifeng.
The first Jews arrived in China in the 8th century and they thrived during the Ming dynasty -- taking public office, etc. Jews in ancient China were embraced, unlike ancient Europe.
However, the Kaifeng flood -- caused by rebels bent on destroying the Ming -- put an end to that.
There are plenty of sources on the flood itself -- people interested in the Jewish part of this should follow the link.
The entire city of Kaifeng was destroyed. Interestingly, this also put an end to a little known "golden age" of Jews in China -- which was centered in Kaifeng.
The first Jews arrived in China in the 8th century and they thrived during the Ming dynasty -- taking public office, etc. Jews in ancient China were embraced, unlike ancient Europe.
However, the Kaifeng flood -- caused by rebels bent on destroying the Ming -- put an end to that.
There are plenty of sources on the flood itself -- people interested in the Jewish part of this should follow the link.
91976 Tangshan earthquake China
About 242,000 perished in this quake, one the largest of modern times.
101138 Aleppo Earthquake, Syria
About 230,000 people died in this one.
