Where do these disaster records come from?

From the open catalogs of scientific institutions such as NOAA, USGS, GFZ and INGV, and from the data supplements of peer-reviewed publications. None were hand-authored; every record carries its own source and license.

What is the oldest earthquake on record?

The oldest earthquake in these catalogs is dated to 2150 BCE. For volcanic eruptions, ice-core records reach as far back as 9500 BCE.

Are the magnitude and death-toll figures for ancient records reliable?

Only partly. For historical-period records, magnitude and location are estimated backward from damage accounts, and death tolls are often disputed. Each record therefore carries a confidence rating, and uncertain numbers are shown as ranges.

Is the same earthquake sometimes listed more than once?

Some events appear in several catalogs, each giving different parameters. These are deliberately not merged, so a researcher can see where the sources disagree.

Natural Disasters in History — Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tsunamis, Famines & Epidemics

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, famines and epidemics — compiled from the open catalogs of scientific institutions. Every record carries its source.

🌍 Earthquakes190,297

From the oldest written earthquake record to today.

🌋 Volcanic Eruptions2,284

Including eruptions dated from sulfur spikes in ice cores.

🌊 Tsunamis2,911

From ancient coastal accounts to modern measurements.

💧 Floods44,579

Major flood disasters and their impact.

🏜️ Droughts23,624

Drought periods recorded in the historical record.

🌾 Famines19,088

Famines and their estimated death tolls.

☣️ Epidemics12,387

Historical epidemic records, plague foremost among them.

🌪️ Storms8,939

Major storm events on record.

Deadliest Natural Disasters in History

Historical death tolls vary by source and are mostly estimates; the figures here are the numbers recorded by the catalog itself.

1.1556 CEEarthquake — China, Shaanxi Province (Ms 8)· 830,000 deaths
2.2010 CEEarthquake — Haiti, Port-Au-Prince (Mw 7)· 316,000 deaths
3.2010 CETsunami — Haiti & Dominican Republic· 316,000 deaths
4.115 CETsunami — Antakya (Antioch)· 260,000 deaths
5.115 CEEarthquake — Turkey, Antakya (Antioch) (Ms 7.5)· 260,000 deaths
6.525 CEEarthquake — Turkey, Antakya (Antioch), Samandag (Ms 7)· 250,000 deaths
7.1976 CEEarthquake — China, Ne: Tangshan (Mw 7.5)· 242,769 deaths
8.1920 CETsunami — China, Gansu And Shanxi Provinces· 235,502 deaths
9.1920 CEEarthquake — China, Gansu Province, Shanxi Province (Mw 8.3)· 235,502 deaths
10.1139 CEEarthquake — Azerbaijan, Gyzndzha· 230,000 deaths
11.2004 CETsunami — Off W. Coast Of Sumatra· 227,899 deaths
12.2004 CEEarthquake — Indonesia, Sumatra: Aceh: Off West Coast (Mw 9.1)· 227,899 deaths
13.856 CEEarthquake — Iran, Damghan, Qumis (Ms 7.9)· 200,000 deaths
14.2004 CEFlood — Thailand· 160,000 deaths
15.893 CEEarthquake — Armenia, Dvin, Iran: Ardabil· 150,000 deaths
16.1991 CEFlood — Bangladesh· 138,000 deaths
17.533 CEEarthquake — Syria, Aleppo· 130,000 deaths
18.1948 CEEarthquake — Turkmenistan, Ashkhabad (Mw 7.2)· 110,000 deaths
19.1923 CEEarthquake — Japan, Tokyo, Yokohama (Mw 7.9)· 105,385 deaths
20.1923 CETsunami — Sagami Bay· 105,385 deaths
21.2008 CEFlood — Myanmar· 100,000 deaths
22.1290 CEEarthquake — China, Nei Mongol: Ningcheng (Ms 6.8)· 100,000 deaths
23.2008 CETsunami — Sichuan Province· 87,652 deaths
24.2008 CEEarthquake — China, Sichuan Province (Mw 7.9)· 87,652 deaths
25.458 CEEarthquake — Turkey, Antakya (Antioch)· 80,000 deaths

Why famines are kept separate

Famine records are not included in the ranking above. Most of the deadliest famines of the modern era were the result not of drought but of war, blockade or state policy; listing them alongside earthquakes and tsunamis as “natural disasters” would be historically misleading. Famine data remains in the database and is shown on the map, but it is treated as a phenomenon whose cause must be judged separately.

Records older than written history

Some of these records rest on no written document at all. Sulfur layers in ice cores, isotopes in cave formations and geological traces let us date catastrophes from before humans began to write.

How to use this data

On the interactive map, open Disaster Catalogs from the layers panel; as you slide the time bar, that year’s events drop onto the map.
Today in History shows the disasters that fall on today’s calendar day.
The World History Encyclopedia puts each era in context with sourced articles.

Frequently asked questions

Where do these disaster records come from?: From the open catalogs of scientific institutions such as NOAA, USGS, GFZ and INGV, and from the data supplements of peer-reviewed publications. None were hand-authored; every record carries its own source and license.
What is the oldest earthquake on record?: The oldest earthquake in these catalogs is dated to 2150 BCE. For volcanic eruptions, ice-core records reach as far back as 9500 BCE.
Are the magnitude and death-toll figures for ancient records reliable?: Only partly. For historical-period records, magnitude and location are estimated backward from damage accounts, and death tolls are often disputed. Each record therefore carries a confidence rating, and uncertain numbers are shown as ranges.
Is the same earthquake sometimes listed more than once?: Some events appear in several catalogs, each giving different parameters. These are deliberately not merged, so a researcher can see where the sources disagree.