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The Deadliest Natural Disaster In History
A prolonged event that affected millions
When people think of deadly disasters, most imagine earthquakes and cyclones. In fact, earthquakes and cyclones take up many of the top spots when it comes to terrible disasters. These events typically occur quickly and destroy large areas in a very short amount of time. Earthquakes normally last for mere minutes, and cyclones for mere hours. When it comes to sheer destruction and death, there is one type of disaster that tops the list that most people don’t think about — flooding.
In 1930, conditions developed that would inundate thousands of square miles of Chinese soil, leading to millions of casualties. The 1931 Chinese floods would unfurl and become the deadliest natural disaster in history and one with the largest impact. Unlike earthquakes and severe storms, flooding can last for weeks or even months. Flooding can leave entire populations homeless, spread deadly diseases, and leave food-bearing fields and herds dead and drowned. This type of disaster can make entire regions uninhabitable for long periods of time, making survival difficult or even impossible.
What caused the 1931 China floods? How many people died? How widespread was this disaster, and why was it the worst ever?
