Lists of disasters facts for kids
A disaster is a very serious event that causes a lot of damage, injury, or even death. Disasters can happen suddenly and often affect many people. They can be caused by nature, by accidents, or sometimes by human actions. This article lists different types of disasters.
Contents
Natural Disasters
A natural disaster is a big, harmful event that happens because of Earth's natural processes. These are not caused by people. They are powerful forces of nature.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- Earthquakes are when the ground shakes. This can cause buildings to collapse.
- Tsunamis are giant ocean waves. They are often caused by underwater earthquakes.
Storms and Weather Events
- Tornadoes are spinning columns of air. They can cause huge destruction.
- Tropical cyclones (like hurricanes or typhoons) are massive storms with strong winds and heavy rain.
- Blizzards are severe snowstorms with strong winds.
- Heat waves are periods of unusually hot weather.
- Ice storms cover everything in a layer of ice.
Floods and Landslides
- Floods happen when water overflows land that is usually dry.
- Landslides are when rocks, earth, or debris slide down a slope.
Fires
- Fires can spread quickly and destroy homes and land.
- Wildfires are large fires that burn in forests or natural areas.
Volcanic Eruptions
- Volcanic eruptions happen when a volcano releases lava, ash, and gases.
- Volcanic eruptions in the 21st century
Accidents
These disasters happen because of accidental human actions. They are not planned but can still cause great harm.
Transport Accidents
- Aeroplane accidents involve planes crashing or having serious problems.
- Accidents with commercial planes
- Maritime disasters involve ships or boats.
- Shipwrecks are when ships are destroyed at sea.
- Rail accidents involve trains.
- Road accidents are car crashes, especially very serious ones.
- Spaceflight accidents involve rockets or spacecraft.
Industrial Disasters
- Industrial disasters happen at factories or industrial sites.
- Building and bridge collapses are when structures fall down.
- Bridge failures
- Dam failures
- Explosions can cause massive damage.
- Mining disasters happen in mines, often trapping workers.
- Nuclear and radiation accidents involve dangerous radioactive materials.
- The Chernobyl disaster is a famous example.
- Oil spills release large amounts of oil into the environment.
Health-Related Disasters
- Famines are when many people do not have enough food.
- Epidemics and pandemics are when diseases spread very widely.
Manmade Disasters
These disasters are caused by human actions that are either deliberate or due to extreme carelessness.
Fires and Explosions
- Explosions can be caused by human actions, sometimes on purpose.
- Fires can also be started by people, either accidentally or on purpose.
- Building fires
- Nightclub fires
Other Manmade Disasters
- Environmental disasters are when human actions severely harm the environment.
- Military disasters are major failures or tragedies in war or military operations.
- Terrorist incidents are violent acts meant to cause fear and harm.
- Wars are large-scale conflicts between groups or countries.
Disasters by Location
Sometimes, disasters are listed by where they happened. This helps us understand the impact on specific places.
- Disasters in Australia
- Disasters in Canada
- Disasters in Indonesia
- Disasters in New Zealand
- Disasters in the Philippines
- Disasters in the United States
Other Types of Disasters
- Disasters by cost looks at how much money a disaster caused in damages.
