More than 700 people have been reported injured since the tsunami hit at 9:27 pm Saturday, the Disaster Management Agency said. At least 30 others are unaccounted for
New Delhi: Natural disasters around the world are occurring at an alarming rate in 2018. From earthquakes and tsunamis to wildfires and floods - many lives were lost and countless homes destroyed.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest natural disasters of 2018 that shook mankind:
Region: Sunda Strait, Indonesia
Death toll: 168
A tsunami, apparently caused by the eruption of an island volcano, killed more than 160 people around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, sending a wall of water crashing ashore and sweeping away people attending a beach concert along with hundreds of houses including hotels. With this incident, India was reminded of the monster from the sea that came hunting 14 years back around the same time.
More than 700 people have been reported injured since the tsunami hit at 9:27 pm Saturday, the Disaster Management Agency said. At least 30 others are unaccounted for.
The disaster could have been caused by undersea landslides from the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island formed over years from the nearby Krakatau volcano, scientists from Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said. They also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon.
The worst affected area was the Pandeglang region of Banten province in Java, which encompasses the Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, the disaster agency said.
Region: Florida
Death toll: 43
It was the strongest hurricane to hit the continental US during the month of October. No other Category 4 storm has ever hit the Panhandle area.
Region: California
Death toll: 88
It was the deadliest fire in California’s history. The Camp Fire burned through 153,000 acres in and around Paradise, a town in northern California. More than 13,900 homes and 500 businesses were destroyed.
Region: Indonesia
Death toll: 1900
Prior to the tsunami that triggered the earthquake, the country’s detection warning systems failed, causing severe destruction. Indonesia's warning system was underfunded and hadn't worked since 2012. While a tsunami warning was issued, it seemed to significantly underestimate the disaster's scale.
Region: Kerala, India
Death toll: 350+
In June, torrential rains displaced more than 8 lakh people in the southern state of Kerala in India, because of mass flooding. The Kerala government said that many people died due to landslides and falling debris as well.
Region: Central America
Death toll: 425
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted in June, causing widespread damage as the surrounding areas were covered with pyroclastic flows and clouds of volcanic ash, which left almost no evacuation time.
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