DEADLIEST TROPICAL CYCLONES IN HISTORY
Death counts from large killer cyclones are highly uncertain, particularly for those before 1900. The above rankings are somewhat speculative. Information sources: EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database; Banglapedia, Wikipedia, Climate change impacts and adaptation assessment in Bangladesh" by Anwar Ali, and Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (1999), by David Longshore.
Richard's Comments:
Having received many emails stating the "worst storm in history" in the Philippines I did some searches. Looking at the global warming angle on Typhoon Haiyan, which is quoted everywhere as .... "The worst storm in history... " - this is simply not historically factual.
While the storm and its damage is horrifying, if you go through the historical records you will find that its not true. Its some sort of exaggeration made by a CNN and other media reporters WITHOUT any historical facts behind it. The statement is without truthful basis This is then taken up by everyone else.
What this does is to distort the truth of the current weather/climate conditions on the planet. If this was not the WORST storm in history, why is it being made out to be? When these exaggerated claims are made based on sheer conjecture with no history behind it , what do you conclude - that this is an overly emotional appeal to fear and for what?
PS: You have to remember that the population of the Philippines (and indeed the world) has increased multifold over the last 100 years. So more people will die in a disaster than in past centuries. Below is the list of the worst 15 cyclones/typhoons/hurricanes recorded.
Note that Typhoon Haiyan is not even in the top 15, in fact, its not even in the top 35 on loss of life, or intensity. I simply searched through the web records and within minutes found information that TOTALLY contradicted all the claims made by CNN, all media outlets, Greenpeace and the Australian Greens. If I can do it in minutes why doesn't Greenpeace??
Read Here: Deadliest Tropical Cyclones in History
Deadliest Tropical Cyclones in History
| Rank | Name / Areas of Largest Loss | Year | Ocean Area | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Great Bhola Cyclone, Bangladesh | 1970 (Nov 12) | Bay of Bengal | 300,000 - 500,000 |
| 2. | Hooghly River Cyclone, India and Bangladesh | 1737 | Bay of Bengal | 300,000 |
| 3. | Haiphong Typhoon, Vietnam | 1881 | West Pacific | 300,000 |
| 4. | Coringa, India | 1839 | Bay of Bengal | 300,000 |
| 5. | Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh | 1584 | Bay of Bengal | 200,000 |
| 6. | Great Backerganj Cyclone, Bangladesh | 1876 | Bay of Bengal | 200,000 |
| 7. | Chittagong, Bangladesh | 1897 | Bay of Bengal | 175,000 |
| 8. | Super Typhoon Nina, China | 1975 (Aug 5) | West Pacific | 171,000 |
| 9. | Cyclone 02B, Bangladesh | 1991 (May 5) | Bay of Bengal | 138,866 |
| 10. | Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar | 2008 (May 3) | Bay of Bengal | 138,366 |
| 11. | Swatlow, China | 1922 (Jul 27) | West Pacific | 100,000 |
| 12. | Great Bombay Cyclone, India | 1882 | Arabian Sea | 100,000 |
| 13. | Hakata Bay Typhoon, Japan | 1281 | West Pacific | 65,000 |
| 14. | Bangladesh | 1942 (Oct 14) | Bay of Bengal | 61,000 |
| 15. | India | 1935 | Bay of Bengal | 60,000 |
| 16. | Calcutta, India | 1864 | Bay of Bengal | 60,000 |
| 17. | Barisal, Bangladesh | 1822 | Bay of Bengal | 50,000 |
| 18. | Sunderbans coast, Bangladesh | 1699 | Bay of Bengal | 50,000 |
| 19. | India | 1833 | Bay of Bengal | 50,000 |
| 20. | India | 1854 | Bay of Bengal | 50,000 |
| 21. | Wenchou, China | 1912 (Aug) | West Pacific | 50,000 |
| 22. | Bengal Cyclone, Calcutta, India | 1942 | Bay of Bengal | 40,000 |
| 23. | Bangladesh | 1912 | Bay of Bengal | 40,000 |
| 24. | Bangladesh | 1919 | Bay of Bengal | 40,000 |
| 25. | Canton, China | 1862 | West Pacific | 37,000 |
| 26. | Bangladesh | 1965 (May 11) | Bay of Bengal | 36,000 |
| 27. | Backerganj (Barisal), Bangladesh | 1767 | Bay of Bengal | 30,000 |
| 28. | Barisal, Bangladesh | 1831 | Bay of Bengal | 22,000 |
| 29. | Great Hurricane, Lesser Antilles Islands | 1780 | Atlantic | 22,000 |
| 30. | Chittagong, Bangladesh | 1963 (May 28) | Bay of Bengal | 22,000 |
| 31. | Great Coringa Cyclone, India | 1789 | Bay of Bengal | 20,000 |
| 32. | Nagasaki Typhoon, Japan | 1828 | Western Pacific | 15,000 |
| 33. | Urir, Bangladesh | 1985 (May 28) | Bay of Bengal | 15,000 |
| 34. | Devi Taluk, SE India | 1977 (Nov 12) | Bay of Bengal | 14,204 |
| 35. | Bangladesh | 1965 (May 31) | Bay of Bengal | 12,047 |