These Are The Deadliest Natural Disasters In Modern History

Natural disasters remind us that we live at the will of mother nature. Just when we think we have it all figured out, a natural disaster can bring us to our knees and change life as we once knew it. From deadly ‘quakes to catastrophic hurricanes, here’s a look at the worst natural disasters in modern history.

The Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, 2004

Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

On December 26, 2004, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake occurred under water off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Although the earthquake lasted just 10 seconds, it created a tsunami that hit the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, and Thailand.

The natural disaster killed upwards of 229,000 people in a total of 14 countries. There was even a death recorded at Port Elizabeth in South Africa over 8,000 miles away from the epicenter. In the hardest-hit countries, waves were recorded at over 100-feet high. It is noted as one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history.