These Are The Deadliest Natural Disasters In Modern History

European Heat Wave, 2003

In the summer of 2003, Europe was struck with a heat wave that they were far unprepared for. It was recognized as a health crisis in several countries and led to a crop shortage, especially in the Ukraine where 75 percent of the crops were lost.

It was the hottest it had been since 1540 and heat-related deaths topped out around 70,000. In France alone, there were 14,082 heat-related deaths, mostly among the elderly in nursing homes or families without air conditioning. The high temperatures also led to forest fires and eventually flooding when the rains came back.