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Last weekend, the deadliest tropical cyclone in more than 15 years struck Myanmar (aka Burma). With at least 22,000 confirmed dead and more than 44,000 missing, the death toll looks pretty grim. It’s small potatoes, though, compared to the top 10 worst recorded natural disasters in history.
10 Worst Natural Disasters By Death Toll
1. 1931 Yellow River Flood of China – 1 million to 3.7 million
2. 1887 Yellow River Flood of China – 900,000 to 2 million
3. 1557 Shaanxi earthquake of Shaanxi Province, China – 830,000
4. 1970 Bhola cyclone of Bangladesh – 200,000 to 500,000
5. 1839 India cyclone – 300,000
6. 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami – 283,100
7. 526 Antioch earthquake of Syria – 250,000
8. 1976 Tangshan earthquake of China – 242,000
9. 1975 Bangiao dam failure of China – 231,000
10. 1138 Aleppo earthquake of Syria – 230,000
Comments (16)
Comment
i really don’t think calling any number of deaths “small potatoes” is appropriate, especially while still in the midst of a disaster.
posted by nancy on 5-6-2008 at 6:02 pm
True, but when comparing the data, it is “small potatoes”. A tragedy, to be sure. But no need to take what the author said literally. Just pray for the lost, and focus on the survivors still trapped or homeless.
posted by eric on 5-6-2008 at 7:57 pm
I agree with Nancy. Calling any natural disaster “a small potatoes” is very disrespectful. People are dying and starving as I type this. People lost everything they’ve ever owned in just one night. You can’t compare deaths on a scale so save your statistics for someone who cares.
posted by Sandi on 5-6-2008 at 7:59 pm
Get over it Nancy. I don’t think the point was to be ignorant, but to show that in a world of negative media times have been much worse.
posted by ben on 5-6-2008 at 8:02 pm
Maybe “Small Potatoes” wasn’t totally approtiate, but the truth is, bigger tragedies have been recorded. One life or a million, it is all a tragedy. Mother nature is an enigma of sorts.
posted by MRH on 5-6-2008 at 8:33 pm
Calling it whatever at this point,is really improper and inappropriate. When you have experienced these tragedies one way or another,makes you realize that life is to short and should be utilized to its fullest capacity. The environment only reacts to how we have treated it, we can only soften the impact if we do our little acts of kindest to it in our respective areas and i agree, we need to lift each other up in prayer and in whatever support we can extend.
posted by met on 5-6-2008 at 9:01 pm
With the death toll of about 6 million in natural disasters, I wouldn’t live in China. By the way MRH is right, our society is now controlled by fear and ignorance and a lot of it has to do with the media.
posted by Nicky on 5-6-2008 at 9:20 pm
The 1975 Bangiao dam failure of China is not a Natural Disaster and should not be on this list, it is a result of human error.
posted by Herdrich on 5-6-2008 at 9:21 pm
Is it just me or could this post use some more information about each disaster? I mean, disasters should not only be called ‘worst’ if only for the number of deaths it caused. What about its socio-economic, environmental, and political effects?
posted by Leizl on 5-6-2008 at 10:06 pm
I didn’t notice the Quick 10 before the title. My bad. IMHO, I still think this topic should merit a more thorough post.
posted by Leizl on 5-6-2008 at 10:10 pm
If you combine Pearl Harbor and 911 they aren’t a drop in the bucket compared to the loss of life in any of the major tragedies. The US used those incidents to further their Imperialistic goals.
posted by rel on 5-7-2008 at 1:34 am
It’s interesting to me that numbers 1, 2, and 4 have such a large range of possibile fatalities. I mean, I know that it may have been harder to keep up with official records of births and deaths and whatnot in 1887 and maybe even 1931, but 1970? I just wonder where the confusion lies. There’s a big difference between 1 million and 3.7 million…
posted by Bethany on 5-7-2008 at 7:58 am
all i got to say is china keeps getting owned by water and earthquakes. and right on rel!
posted by meta on 5-7-2008 at 10:21 am
@rel: Pearl Harbor and 911 were man made disasters; those listed here are all natural disasters. There’s a difference. A HUGE difference.
And yes, Myanmar is a tragedy, and I’m truly sorry for everyone involved. But it’s still true that the total killed/missing doesn’t even come close to the 10th worst natural disaster in history. Get over it. I’m fairly certain the author of the article meant no disrespect.
posted by mrs.djs on 5-7-2008 at 1:44 pm
I like potatoes.
posted by Big Bob Howser on 5-7-2008 at 3:09 pm
yeah u cannot call a small disaster a ‘’small potatos” like nancy said it is not an appropriate word, we have to focus more on the lost of lifes and those missing person.
posted by jamyang on 7-28-2008 at 9:35 am