The biggest natural disasters of 2024

In the scientific community, it is widely believed that climate change is responsible for the increasing intensity of extreme weather events, leading to thousands of deaths and massive economic and ecological losses. The year 2024 was particularly dramatic in this regard—according to preliminary estimates, more than 2,000 people died in the 10 biggest natural disasters, with costs reaching $229 billion.

Deadly avalanches: Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, and Nepal

The most tragic avalanche-related event of 2024 occurred on May 24 in Papua New Guinea. A rocky-muddy avalanche descended from the limestone peak of Mount Mungalo, destroying six villages and burying at least 670 people under several meters of debris. The exact cause of the disaster remains unknown, but geologists have definitively ruled out an earthquake. According to some experts, heavy rains washed away the rocky substrate, weakening its structure.

There is no doubt, however, that extreme rainfall was the cause of two avalanches that struck Ethiopia earlier in May, claiming at least 249 lives and affecting 15,000 people. Similarly, in late September, monsoon rains in Nepal triggered a series of 143 avalanches, resulting in over 150 fatalities.

Yagi and Helene – tropical storms

Among the tropical cyclones, Typhoon Yagi marked the darkest chapter of 2024. It hit Southeast Asia in early September, with winds reaching up to 245 km/h and torrential rains exceeding 600 liters per square meter in some areas of Vietnam. Over 237,000 homes were destroyed, and rice, grain, and fruit tree crops were severely damaged. Yagi also affected Thailand, Laos, the Philippines, and Myanmar, with a total death toll exceeding 800—most of whom perished in avalanches or were swept away by water.

According to meteorologists, last year’s hurricane season in North America was exceptionally intense. Its most tragic event was Hurricane Helene, which struck six U.S. states, claiming 232 lives. It was the second most severe hurricane in the past half-century, causing massive infrastructure damage—estimated at over $200 billion. Thousands of homes were destroyed, highways were severely impacted, and power and communication networks were disrupted. In total, over 300 people died due to hurricanes in the United States and the Caribbean in 2024.

Floods in Europe

Natural disasters also struck Europe. In late October, an isolated meteorological depression known as DANA swept over the southern Iberian Peninsula. Although this phenomenon occurs annually, in 2024 it reached unprecedented proportions. In some areas of Valencia, over 300 liters of water per square meter fell within eight hours, causing riverine flooding and total paralysis of transportation. The death toll reached 219, with total economic losses estimated at over $4 billion.

Even more economically damaging were the floods that hit Central Europe in September due to the activity of the Boris low-pressure system. Total losses in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary are estimated at $5.2 billion. According to the BBC, a total of 21 people lost their lives.

A difficult start to the year

Unrelated to climate change, Japan experienced the devastating power of nature on January 1, 2024, in the form of a 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The epicenter was located on the Noto Peninsula, and the tremors triggered a tsunami that destroyed 160 hectares of coastline. Hundreds of homes were consumed by fires, and over 60,000 buildings collapsed. The total death toll reached 241, with over 1,000 people injured.

Meanwhile, in January and February, Chile faced wildfires caused by prolonged drought, high temperatures, and strong winds. In the Viña del Mar and Quilpué regions, over 130 people died, and 14,000 homes were destroyed. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) linked the Chilean disaster to the influence of El Niño, compounded by ongoing climate change.

We can only hope that 2025 will bring some relief to the world.