As of 2026-10-12, Drought in Central Europe 1540 tops the list with 500,000 deaths.
- #1 Drought in Central Europe 1540 — 500,000 deaths
natural disaster leading to famine and record-breaking temperatures in Europe during 1540
The year round heat and drought in 1540 was the worst climatic event of this kind since the 1473 heat and drought in Europe. It had catastrophic consequences in large parts of the continent, and has been described as an unprecedented eleven-month-long megadrought. From February until the end of the year it was exceptionally warm with sparse rainfall. Following a hot, dry spring, the event was triggered by a high-pressure system in the summer, which blocked the Atlantic air currents for several... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #2 1920 Haiyuan earthquake — 273,400 deaths
earthquake in Haiyuan, China
The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake occurred in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Province, Republic of China at 19:05:53 (UTC+8) on 16 December 1920. It was also called the 1920 Gansu earthquake because Ningxia was a part of Gansu Province when the earthquake occurred. It caused destruction in the Lijunbu-Haiyuan-Ganyanchi area and was assigned the maximum intensity on the Mercalli intensity scale. Estimates of the death toll range from 258,707 to 273,407, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in China and... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #3 Antioch earthquake of 115 — 260,000 deaths
7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Antakya in south-central Turkey on December 13, 115
An earthquake occurred in Antioch on 13 December 115 AD. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 on the surface-wave magnitude scale and an estimated maximum intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Antioch and surrounding areas were devastated with a great loss of life and property. It triggered a local tsunami that badly damaged the harbour at Caesarea Maritima. The Roman emperor Trajan was caught in the earthquake, as was his successor Hadrian. Although the consul Marcus Pedo... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #4 drought in Nigeria — 250,000 deaths
Climate changes in Nigeria like drought and, flooding that causes alot of environmental changes
Long-term drought in Nigeria has resulted in desertification and a shortage of land for raising cattle and growing crops. To acquire land for farming or grazing, farmers and herdsmen are encouraged to go to new areas, which frequently leads to violence. Herders and farmers have been engaged in increasingly violent fights over the previous two years. More than 2,000 people lost their lives in 2018. However, many residents of the Villages in Nigeria's Plateau State are unwilling to relocate... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #5 2010 Haiti earthquake — 230,000 deaths
12 January 2010 magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake
A catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. The epicenter was near the town of Léogâne, Ouest department, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake is locally nicknamed Goudougoudou, an onomatopoeia for the sound of collapsing buildings. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #6 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake — 227,898 deaths
megathrust underwater earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean
On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time (UTC+7), a Mw 9.2–9.3 earthquake struck with its epicenter off the west coast of Aceh, in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake, known in the scientific community as the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, was caused by a rupture along the fault boundary between the Burma plate and the Indian plate, and reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX in some areas. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #7 856 Damghan earthquake — 200,000 deaths
earthquake in Damghan County, Iran
The Damghan earthquake or the Qumis earthquake occurred on 22 December 856 in Khorasan province, Abbasid Caliphate. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.9, and a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The meizoseismal area extended for about 350 kilometres (220 mi) along the southern edge of the eastern Alborz mountains of present-day Iran including parts of Tabaristan and Gorgan. The earthquake's epicenter is estimated to be close to the city of Damghan,... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #8 1980 El Asnam earthquake — 110,000 deaths
October 1980 earthquake in Algeria
The 1980 El Asnam earthquake occurred on October 10 at 13:25:23 local time with a moment magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The shock occurred in the Algerian town of El Asnam. The shocks were felt over 550 km (340 mi) away, with the initial earthquake lasting 35 seconds. It was the largest earthquake in Algeria, and was followed three hours later by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock. The earthquake created about 42 km (26 mi) of surface rupture and had a vertical... Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #9 1667 Shamakhi earthquake — 80,000 deaths
1667 seismic event centered near present-day Shamakhi, Azerbaijan
The 1667 Shamakhi earthquake occurred on 25 November 1667 with an epicenter close to the city of Shamakhi, Azerbaijan. It had an estimated surface-wave magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum felt intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. An estimated 80,000 people died. Read more on Wikipedia.
Wikidata - #10 1693 Sicily earthquake — 60,000 deaths
sismic event
The 1693 Sicily earthquake was a natural disaster that struck parts of southern Italy near Sicily, then a territory part of the Crown of Aragon by the Kings of Spain Calabria and Malta, on 11 January at around 21:00 local time. This earthquake was preceded by a damaging foreshock on 9 January. The main quake had an estimated magnitude of 7.4 on the moment magnitude scale, the most powerful in recorded Italian history, and a maximum intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale,... Read more on Wikipedia.
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