10 of the Deadliest Natural Disasters in History

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2The 2010 Haiti Earthquake

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. The earthquake claimed the lives of an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 people, making it one of the deadliest in recent history.

Haiti’s lack of infrastructure, combined with the densely populated urban areas, exacerbated the devastation. In addition to the loss of life, the earthquake displaced over 1.5 million people and destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure, leading to a prolonged humanitarian crisis.