The World's Deadliest Natural Disasters
These Natural Disasters Caused Unbelievable Death Tolls
From the 1931 China floods to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, these are the world's deadliest natural disasters—and the details are not for the faint of heart.
The China Floods Of 1931
The death toll for the China Floods of 1931 is the highest in history—a devastating estimate of 4 million. But the disaster was many years in the making.
The China Floods Of 1931: An Extreme Winter
It all began with a long drought that lasted from 1928 to 1930. Then the winter leading into 1931 resulted in a build-up of snow and ice in the mountains. This would lead to a spring season straight out of a horror story.
The China Floods Of 1931: Heavy Rain
When the large amount of snow and ice melted at the beginning of the year, it flowed into the middle of the Yangtze River. However, something else was different about that year.
The China Floods Of 1931: High Water Levels
There were heavy rains, with the period of high water lasting far longer than usual, with no respite. Little did anyone know, this was just the calm before the storm.
