Asia | China

The Iron Dam Failure

This happened almost 50 years ago in western China. In one day the area received the total amount of its annual rainfall. The floods from the dam failure caused death of more than 150,000 people, making it one of the deadliest typhoon disasters in history.

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The Banquiao Dam failed because of a strong tropical cyclone - Typhoon Nina

Europe | Netherlands

The Grote Mandrenke

A vicious gale from the Atlantic Ocean tore its way across Ireland, Britain, Germany, and The Netherlands. The high winds with high tides created a devastating storm surge that permanently changed the land and swallowed the islands whole. 25,000 people died.

The Great Drowning of Men

January 1362

Africa | 2000 Mozambique Flood

The rainfall started in February and it was not just in Mozambique, but in several neighboring African countries. The flooding was said to be the worst the country had suffered in fifty years. Over the space of three days, the country had experienced seventy five per cent of its year’s rainfall. The rivers that ran through the countries valleys began to overflow. Limpopo river surged over its banks, flooding villages and destroying homes.

In 2000, Mozambique was hit by widespread flooding that affected some 4.5 million people.

Australia | 2011 Queensland Flood

The floodwaters not only devastated homes and businesses, but also resulted in a massive invasion of crocodiles and snakes.

The most devastating flood in Australia was caused by a series of floods prompted by months of bad weather.

South America | 2015 El Nino Floods

El Nino is caused as the sun warms near the equator, inducing cloud formation and rain. In 2015, El Nino caused heavy rains in South America, with Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil affected the most.

El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide.

North America | 1927 Mississippi River Flood

Poultry and livestock sit on a levee just above the waterIt was more than 2 months before the floodwaters wholly subsided.

In 1927, Mississippi river flooded its banks, causing one of the worst natural disasters in United States history.