1. Hurricane Patricia
This Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Mexico's Jalisco state on October 22, 2015, with sustained winds of 215 mph (346 km/h). The storm's intense pressure drop created a rare "perfect storm," resulting in catastrophic damage and unprecedented rainfall totals. Hurricane Patricia caused 14 direct deaths, destroyed over 7,000 homes, and left thousands more without power.
2. Mount Pinatubo Eruption
This devastating volcanic eruption occurred on June 15, 1991, in the Philippines, releasing an estimated 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. The resulting global cooling effect led to a 0.5°C (0.9°F) drop in average temperature worldwide, making it one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recent history. Mount Pinatubo's eruption also destroyed entire villages and caused widespread famine.
3. Cyclone Nargis
This Category 2 cyclone made landfall in Myanmar (Burma) on May 2, 2008, with winds of up to 145 mph (233 km/h). The storm's massive surge inundated coastal areas, killing an estimated 138,000 people and displacing over 3.4 million more. Cyclone Nargis was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in recorded history.
4. The Great Molasses Flood
This disaster occurred on January 15, 1919, in Boston's North End, when a storage tank containing over 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, releasing its contents into the streets. The resulting flood was so powerful that it killed 21 people, injured 150, and destroyed several city blocks. The cause of the disaster remains disputed to this day.
5. The Great Galveston Hurricane
This Category 4 hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900, with winds estimated at around 145 mph (233 km/h). The storm's massive storm surge inundated an estimated 6 square miles of the city, killing between 6,000 to 12,000 people – a staggering number that still ranks as one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.