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.

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 (an act of war, destroying dikes).

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.

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.