Today, from the World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10, we are about to share with you the top 10 natural disasters that shook the world in 2022.
Natural disasters have affected the world from the dawn of time as every year, the world is faced various natural disasters from the simplest to the dreadful due to the climate crisis. Despite these disasters causing unprecedented destruction across the globe, the annual average death toll by natural disasters is recorded at nearly 60,000 people, according to Statista.
What is the Deadliest Natural Disaster in 2022?
The year has faced many high-fat natural disasters that have shocked the globe so far. Unfortunately, the heart-melting summer of 2022 will be memorable for many for unbelievable reasons. Climate change shook up the weather conditions in the past few months, leading to a series of unexpected and dreadful weather events with catastrophic and even fatal endings.
Here are the deadliest world-shaking Top 10 natural disasters of 2022 impacting people all over the globe:
TOP 10: Windstorms Eunice of Europe
The deadly storms affected Ireland, France, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia between 16 to 19 February 2022. Eunice windstorm ranked as the most damaging European windstorm since 2007. According to the ITIJ, Eunice causes significant damage to property, automobiles, agriculture, direct business interruption, and damage to infrastructure.
TOP 9: Ecuador’s Wolf Volcano Eruption
Ecuador’s Wolf volcano and the Pacific nation of Tonga erupt, spewing lava and clouds of gas and ash over the Pacific Ocean, rising to 3,793 meters (12,444 feet) above sea level. This is the tallest mountain in the Pacific region.
As Wolf Volcano is located opposite Isabela island, there was no immediate danger, and 8 people, including national park guards and field work scientists on pink iguanas living on the volcano’s slopes, were evacuated from the area. According to the Disasters Charter, the spread of gas and ash to the Pacific Ocean significantly impacted the fishing community and nature.
TOP 8: China’s Record-Breaking Heatwave
From June to August 31, 2022, China was hit by its record-breaking heatwave in 6 decades. This severe heat wave affected several provinces and municipalities in China and set heat records nationwide. The worst heat wave caused drought and wildfires that have vastly impacted food and factory production, power supplies, crop failures, factory shutdowns, and transport in the country.
According to the SCMP, more than 900 million people were affected by this in 17 provinces, from southwestern Sichuan to coastal Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the east. Record-breaking sustained temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) – China’s worst heat wave ever recorded.
TOP 7: New York Snowstorm
Lake-effect snowstorms currently taking place in western and northern New York, including the cities of Buffalo and Watertown, could be measured in feet. This extremely negative effect in New York society results in paralyzed cities and shut down roads. Additionally, 2 deaths and a travel ban were imposed.
According to the BBC, this event has been recorded as historic snowfall in New York history; as it is recorded, snowfall rates in Ontario have been recorded as 3 inches per hour since Thursday, more than 50 inches in total. Seven inches of snow in Monroe Center in Northeastern Ohio; in some places, the snow could fall at a rate of 3 inches per hour, with snow piling up to 4 feet in some areas.
TOP 6: Wildfire in Algeria
Northern Algeria faced a large wildfire in the August of 2022; due to the record-breaking temperature, the forest of Algeria caught fire. According to the record of OCHA, nearly 44 people instantly died, and extreme heat killed hundreds of people. More than 200 people got injured, including 10 firefighters. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated during the wildfire.
The fire spreads across northern and north-eastern Algeria, causing a significant humanitarian impact on Algerian society. Additionally, more people are affected by smoke and heat waves. Due to the highest temperature, wildfires are burning faster, and the environment is becoming hotter than ever before.
TOP 5: Deadly Flash Floods in China
Northwest Qinghai Province was highly affected by the flash flood from June to September 2022. The total damage was recorded as $12 Billion, killing nearly 16 people and 18 missings. According to the Flood List, more than 6200 people in Qinghai province were affected due to this flooding situation, and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated.
Additionally, heavy rainfall causes many landslides. The unexpected flood had a vast impact on China’s society and economy.
TOP 4: Hurricane Julia and Hurricane Fiona
On the 10th of October 2022 (Monday), Hurricane Julia greatly impacted Colombia. Fandom stated that Hurricane Julia destroyed nearly 174 homes and 3 roads, and at least 48,387 people and a health care service center were affected within 7 municipalities.
On 9 October 2022 (Sunday), the government declared a National Emergency due to the progression of Hurricane Julia in El Salvador. On 10 October, 52 landslides occurred in El Salvador, and 50 houses were heavily affected. On October 11, 2022 (Tuesday), 10 deaths and 2,097 people were sent to 45 shelters nationwide. There have been 513 evacuations made, and more than 300 rescues were performed.
On 8,9, and 10 October, Hurricane Julia’s activity in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama was recorded. 13 killed, 457,298 people were affected, 4 were missing, and 11 were injured in Guatemala. In Honduras, 3 deaths, and nearly 9,500 people had to leave their homes. Hurricane Fiona caused 30 deaths in Puerto Rico on 8 October 2022 (Saturday).
TOP 3: Afghan Earthquake
A massive Earthquake occurred in Paktika province in Afghanistan on the 22nd of June 2022, it has killed at least 1000 Afghan civilians and nearly 1500 injured, an official of the ruling Taliban said to the BBC. Noticeable landslides and hundreds of mud-built houses in eastern Afghanistan were majorly destructive by the Richter scale of 6.1, and the depth was recorded as 51km.
According to the BBC, the vibration was felt 44 km away from the epicenter. This dreadful quake hit probably after 01:30 am (21:00 GMT Tuesday); the impact was high as people slept during that time. Taliban seek international help for the rescue process. This was one of the largest world-shaking disasters of 2022.
TOP 2: Flooding in Jaffarabad, Pakistan
The horrible rainfall in Pakistan led to catastrophic flooding this summer, which killed more than 1700 innocent people, and 33 million were severely affected that one in seven of the population, according to the Euro News. Jaffarabad was devastating underwater, demolishing homes, communities, and livestock. The government reported damage as $10 Billion.
During the second half of 2022, Pakistan faced a continuous cycle of monsoons which was nine times greater than average and record-breaking rainfall. This was the worst flooding in the history of Pakistan, said The Guardian website. This sudden and tremendous incident left the entire country in sadness.
TOP 1: Heatwave in Europe
Europe was largely hit by the extreme heatwave during the middle of 2022, with two separate heat waves ever recorded this year, June and July. Western, southern, and central parts of the European continent were commonly affected. The estimated death toll was more than 16,000 people. Yale Climate Connections reported 3,700 deaths by the June heatwave; in July 2022, heat-wave fatalities were recorded as 13,000.
Regardless of the death toll, hundreds of millions of people were economically and socially victimized. Particularly, the damage to agriculture, power shortages, low hydropower generation, and reduced shipping is an excessive loss to the European Economy and is the number one world-shocking disaster of 2022.
What are the Natural Disasters that Shook the World in 2022
Throughout history, the world has witnessed many natural disasters endlessly, but still, humans are the eventual cause of some natural disasters; for example, deforestation leads to landslides and soil erosion, improper drainage systems cause flooding, additionally poor disaster management results in excessive fatalities.
For your quick reference, below is the Top 10 List of Natural Disasters that shook the world in 2022:
- Heatwave in Europe
- Flooding in Jaffarabad, Pakistan
- Afghan Earthquake
- Hurricane Julia and Hurricane Fiona
- Deadly Flash Floods in China
- Wildfire in Algeria
- New York Snowstorm
- China’s Record-Breaking Heatwave
- Ecuador’s Wolf Volcano Eruption
- Windstorms Eunice of Europe
As humans, we cannot control nature, but appreciating nature and proper disaster management can help us mitigate the impact of natural disasters. So, this is our list of the top 10 Natural Disasters that shook the world in 2022. If you think we did miss anything, please mention it and let us know!
Author: Fahad M.
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