Report on Disaster Events

This report contains a list of disaster events that occurred across the world during the stated reporting periods. The events listed do not represent all disaster events that occurred and include only events meeting set criteria and where our researchers were able to find relevant information. Only events meeting the following criteria were included in this report:

• 10+ people were killed in the event;
• 100+ people affected by the event; or
• where a state of disaster or similar declaration was made.

Please submit any information on events not listed in this report through our contact form.

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 October 2017

Over 17 people killed as boat capsizes in River Niger

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Water
• DATE: 4 October 2017
• WHERE: Northeast Nigeria
• KILLED: At least 17
• INJURED: None
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: At least 17 people have reportedly died in Northeast Nigeria as a boat capsized in the River Niger region. Reports indicated that the boat, which was overloaded with passengers who weren’t wearing any lifejackets, smashed into a tree trunk.
• SOURCE: Vanguard

16 People Killed in a bus-train collision in Russia

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road/Rail
• DATE: 6 October 2017
• WHERE: Vladimir, Russia
• KILLED: 16
• INJURED: None
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: A bus/train collision that happened in Russia claimed the lives of at least 16 people. According to reports, the bus driver ignored the red light and attempted to cross the railway but unfortunately suffered engine failure. Nobody on the train was injured in the accident.
• SOURCE: BBC

Northern California wildfire claims over 40 lives and 5,700 homes and properties

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Climatological – Wildfire
• DATE: 8 October 2017
• WHERE: Northern California, USA
• KILLED: 43
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 90,000
• DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have died in Northern California as a wildfire destroys thousands of homes and businesses. The affected counties include Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba, forcing a state of emergency to be declared. Although the fire has been contained, over 40,000 still remain displaced.
• SOURCE: Reuters, The Washington Post, SFGate

Flood and landslides kill at least 54 in Vietnam

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical and Hydrological – Landslide and Flood
• DATE: 12 October 2017
• WHERE: Hanoi, Vietnam
• KILLED: At least 54
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: Over 20,000
• DESCRIPTION: Floods and landslides have killed at least 54 people in the Yên Bái and Hòa Bình provinces in Vietnam. Over 20,000 houses have either been destroyed or submerged in water as a result. Livestock and agricultural produce such as rice have also been lost.
• SOURCE: BBC, Reuters

Over 350 people killed in a truck explosion that rocked Mogadishu, the Capital of Somalia

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Miscellaneous accident – Explosion
• DATE: 14 October 2017
• WHERE: Mogadishu, Somalia
• KILLED: 358
• INJURED: Over 400
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: A total of 358 people were killed in what is believed to be the worst terrorist attack in Somalia’s history. A truck filled with explosives detonated outside a hotel in the country’s capital, Mogadishu. The explosion happened in a busy area filled with many ministries, which contributed to the number of casualties recorded.
• SOURCE: NBC News, Independent

Scores of people dead and many more injured as wildfires ravage through Portugal and Spain

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Climatological – Wildfire
• DATE: 13 – 18 October 2017
• WHERE: Portugal and Northern Spain
• KILLED: At least 38
• INJURED: 56
• DISPLACED: Unknown
• DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have lost their lives and at least 56 were reportedly injured as wildfires ravaged Portugal and parts of Northern Spain. The fires were said to have been further worsened by Hurricane Ophelia as it brought strong winds that ended up spreading the flames.
• SOURCE: BBC, The Guardian, New York Times

Fireworks factory explosion leaves 47 people dead and scores more injured in Indonesia

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Industrial accident – Explosion
• DATE: 26 October 2017
• WHERE: Tangerang, Indonesia
• KILLED: At least 47
• INJURED: Over 40
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: An explosion in a fireworks industrial plant in Tangerang, a city located west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, killed at least 47 people and injured over 40 others. According to reports, the explosion was caused by a welding spark that ignited the gunpowder used in making the fireworks.
• SOURCE: ABC News

At least 19 dead and 16 injured in central Nepal bus accident

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road
• DATE: 28 October 2017
• WHERE: Dhading district, Central Nepal
• KILLED: At least 19
• INJURED: At least 16
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: At least 19 people were killed and several others injured, when an overcrowded bus skidded off the road in the Dhading District and fell into the Trishuli River in central Nepal. Authorities said the driver might have been drunk, but they couldn’t question him as he had fled the scene before help could arrive.
• SOURCE: MSN

Disaster Events: 1 – 30 September 2017

Over 300 people dead as earthquake hits Mexico City

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Earthquake
• DATE: 19 September 2017
• WHERE: Mexico City, Puebla State, Mexico
• KILLED: 360
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: Unknown
• DESCRIPTION: A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico City has left hundreds of people dead, several injured and dozens displaced. Not to mention the millions of dollars worth of damage it has caused to properties across the country. The most heavily hit states are Puebla and Morelos.
• SOURCE: The Guardian, The Denver Post

Hurricane Maria leaves Puerto Rico devastated

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Meteorological – Hurricane
• DATE: 20 September 2017
• WHERE: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• KILLED: 30
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 500+
• DESCRIPTION: In what has been described as the worst storm to hit Puerto Rico in 85 years, Hurricane Maria has left the country ravaged and devastated. When the storm hit, it knocked out power, destroyed houses and even flooded several parts of the country, including San Juan.
• SOURCE: CNN

Hundreds of thousands evacuated from their homes for fear of volcanic eruption in Indonesia

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Volcanic activity
• DATE:  September 2017
• WHERE: Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia
• KILLED: None
• INJURED: None
• DISPLACED: 180,000+
• DESCRIPTION: 28 villages have been evacuated due to mounting Agung’s threat of eruption and venting steam, along with 1,000 earthquakes per day. Volcanologists say it could erupt at any time.
• SOURCE: USA Today

Over 11,000 people affected by flooding in South Sudan

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 15 September 2017
• WHERE: Former Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States, South Sudan
• KILLED: Hundreds
• INJURED: Dozens
• DISPLACED: Thousands
• DESCRIPTION: Over 650 households in eight villages of Burj Payam, Maban county, upper Nike state and others have been affected by the flooding.
• SOURCE: All Africa, WHO

Over 20 people killed and hundreds affected as plague hits Madagascar

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Biological – Epidemic
• DATE: 11 September 2017
• WHERE: Antananarivo, Madagascar
• KILLED: 20+
• INJURED: None
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: An outbreak of pulmonary plague in Madagascar has left several people dead over a hundred affected. The World Health Organization has warned that unless the plague is contained, the death toll is likely to rise. Currently, public gatherings have been banned across the country and precautionary measures have been put in place to contain the infections.
• SOURCE: The Guardian, Al Jazeera

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 August 2017

Tunisia forest fire leaves thousands displaced

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Climatologically – Wildfire
• DATE: 1 August 2017
• WHERE: Tunisia, Jendouba Governate (the northeast region of the country)
• KILLED: None
• INJURED: None
• DISPLACED: 2,000
• DESCRIPTION: Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as forest fire ravages the northeast region of Tunisia. The fire, which was believed to have been started by the extreme heat wave, has burned several houses, leaving over 2,000 people homeless.
• SOURCE: Al Arabiya Network

Sierra Leone Mudslide claims over 1,000 lives and leaves thousands more displaced

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Landslide
• DATE: 14 August 2017
• WHERE: Sierra Leone, Regent, Freetown
• KILLED: 1,000
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 3,000
• DESCRIPTION: A mudslide on 14th August killed thousands of people in the mountain town of Regent, a few kilometers from Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. The mudslide occurred after three days of torrential rain, causing a hillside to collapse and overrun several homes, trapping hundreds of people inside.
• SOURCE: Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera

DR Congo Landslide kills over 200 people and leaves hundreds displaced

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Landslide
• DATE: 15-16 August 2017
• WHERE: DR Congo, Ituru Province.
• KILLED: 200+
• INJURED: 10
• DISPLACED: 280+
• DESCRIPTION: At least 200 people have been killed in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo after a landslide swept through a fishing village on the banks of Lake Albert in Ituri province.
• SOURCE: Al Jazeera

19 Dead in China Earthquake

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Earthquake
• DATE: 18 August 2017
• WHERE: China, Jiuzhaigou County, Southwestern Sichuan Province
• KILLED: 19
• INJURED: 247
• DISPLACED: Unknown
• DESCRIPTION: China’s Sichuan province, known for its tourist attraction, was hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake that left scores of people dead and several hundred injured.
• SOURCE: CNN and Star2

Deadly Hurricane Harvey kills dozens and leaves 30,000 more displaced

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological/Meteorological – Flood/Storm
• DATE: 17 August 2017
• WHERE: United States of America, Texas
• KILLED: 50
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 32,000
• DESCRIPTION: The month of August 2017 will be a memorable one in the minds of all Texans as what has been described as one of a ‘’500-year storms’’ hit several cities resulting in heavy flooding and several casualties. Already, over 32,000 people have been displaced, with some losing all their life’s property.
• SOURCE: CNN and NYP

More than 100,000 displaced as flood ravages central Nigeria

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 28 August 2017
• WHERE: Nigeria, Benue State
• KILLED: Unknown
• INJURED: Several
• DISPLACED: 110,000
• DESCRIPTION: Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless, hopeless and hungry as heavy flooding swept through several local government areas of Benue State, including the state’s capital, Makurdi.
• SOURCE: Al Jazeera and The Guardian

Heavy Flooding Displaces Thousands in Niamey, Niger

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 28 August 2017
• WHERE: Niger, Niamey
• KILLED: 40+
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: Thousands [exact figure unknown]
• DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have been killed and thousands more have been forced to evacuate their homes after heavy flooding sacked parts of Niamey, Niger. Furthermore, livestock, clean water and clean clothes have become inaccessible as a result, leaving hundreds of people in a dire situation.
• SOURCE: BBC

Heavy flooding destroys a third of Bangladesh

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 11 August 2017
• WHERE: Bangladesh, Dhaka [and other neighboring villages]
• KILLED: 142
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: Millions of people have reportedly been affected
• DESCRIPTION: Monsoon rains have resulted in heavy flooding that has ravaged a third of Bangladesh, destroying houses, livestock and crops. Millions of people have been affected and over 140 people have already lost their lives as a result.
• SOURCE: CNN

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 July 2017

Truck accident kills 78 people in the Central African Republic

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road
• DATE: 5 July 2017
• WHERE: Central African Republic, Bambari
• KILLED: 78
• INJURED: 72
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: A truck, heavily loaded with goods and passengers on its way to a local market, crashed after losing control in the Central African Republic town of Bambari. 78 people were reported to be dead and about 72 others sustained serious injuries.
• SOURCE: Reuters

Earthquake kills four and injures over a 100 in Central Philippines

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Earthquake
• DATE: 6 July 2017
• WHERE: Philippines, Masarayao, Leyte
• KILLED: 4
• INJURED: 100
• DISPLACED: Unknown
• DESCRIPTION: Four people have been killed and over 100 left injured after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Central Philippines. The damage has displaced several people and left the city without power for several weeks.
• SOURCE: Gulfnews

Two killed and thousands displaced following heavy flooding and landslides in Myanmar

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood/ Landslide
• DATE: 10 – 15 July 2017 (Reported as early July)
• WHERE: Several regions across Myanmar (actually Magway, Sagaing Ayeyarwady, Bago and Mandalay regions)
• KILLED: 2
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 100,000+
• DESCRIPTION: Monsoon rains and increased water levels since the beginning of July 2017 have caused heavy flooding and landslides across major parts of Myanmar, causing two reported deaths and displacing over 100,000 people.
• SOURCE: Reuters

Collapsed building kills 17 people in Mumbai

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Industrial accident – Collapse
• DATE: 25 July 2017
• WHERE: India, Mumbai, Ghatkopar
• KILLED: 17
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: 17 people have said to have been killed after a five-story building collapsed in Ghatkopar, an eastern suburb of Mumbai, India.
• SOURCE: CNN

Flood kills 10 and displaces 71,000 people in China

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 25 July 2017
• WHERE: China, Yulin City, Nothern Shannxi
• KILLED: 10
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 71,000
• DESCRIPTION: At least 10 people have been reportedly killed following heavy rainfalls that resulted in the flood in Shaanxi northwestern province of China. According to reports, power supply and telecommunications have also been disrupted.
• SOURCE: First Post

Flooding kills over 200 people in Gujarat, India

• CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood
• DATE: 28 July 2017
• WHERE: India, Gujarat
• KILLED: 213
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: 130,000
• DESCRIPTION: 213 people have been killed in heavy flooding that hit the state of Gujarat in northern India. According to official reports, about 450,000 people have been affected by the flooding.
• SOURCE: The Guardian and Hindustan Times

13 people killed in car accident in Pakistan

• CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road
• DATE: 30 July 2017
• WHERE: Pakistan, Punjab, Hassan Abdal
• KILLED: 13
• INJURED: Unknown
• DISPLACED: None
• DESCRIPTION: 13 people have been reportedly killed in a ghastly motor accident in the town of Hassan Abdal after a passenger van collided with a truck before finally catching fire after hitting a gas pipeline.
• SOURCE: Sputnik news

END OF REPORT

Event classification:

This list is not an exhaustive list of all disaster events that occurred during the reporting period. This report contains a list of disasters as identified by our researchers. Events are included on this list if they meet any of the following criteria:

• 10+ people killed
• 100+ people affected
• A state of disaster or declaration was made

Please submit any additional information through our contact form.