Earthquakes, extreme heat, widespread fires, devastating storms and floods – 2025 went down in history as one of the most destructive years in recent times. Here is a list of the biggest disasters:
Earthquake in Myanmar
On 28 March, Myanmar was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, followed by another measuring 6.4. The epicentre was located west of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. The tremors were also felt in Thailand and neighbouring countries. At least 5,456 people died in the earthquakes. In April, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations sent rescuers, dog handlers with rescue dogs, and medics to Myanmar to participate in rescue efforts.
Forest fires
In January, large-scale forest fires broke out in southern California, affecting Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties. Strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fires, which destroyed more than 16,000 buildings. The direct death toll from the fires reached 30, while an estimated 440 people died indirectly, including from smoke inhalation and respiratory illnesses. The damage caused by the wildfires exceeded $61 billion.
Heat waves
Between April and September, several heatwaves hit most of Europe. On 28 June, a continental record temperature of 46 degrees Celsius was recorded in the village of El Granado in the Andalusia region of Spain. The extreme heat caused an estimated 4,700 to 24,400 excess deaths across Europe.
Tropical cyclone
Between 25 and 30 November, tropical cyclone Senyar devastated large areas of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia, with the northern and western parts of Sumatra being the worst affected. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,200 people died in the floods and landslides caused by the cyclone. Material damage was estimated at $19 billion.
Landslide
On 31 August, after prolonged rains, a massive landslide occurred in the Marrah Mountains in the Sudanese province of Central Darfur. The village of Tarseen was completely buried. According to estimates by humanitarian organisations, between 375 and 1,500 people died in the landslide and only one person survived. The village remains in ruins.
Floods
During the monsoon season from June to September, Pakistan was hit by catastrophic floods. Millions of people were affected, thousands of homes were destroyed and vast areas of agricultural land were damaged. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was particularly hard hit. The death toll exceeded 1,000.
Hurricane
On 28 October, Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm, struck Jamaica, Haiti and other Caribbean countries. Wind speeds reached up to 183 miles per hour (295 km/h), causing catastrophic damage in the western Jamaican parishes of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth. The hurricane claimed at least 102 lives, with 27 people still missing. Economic damage in Jamaica was estimated at $10 billion.
Tornado
On 16 May, a powerful tornado swept through the state of Kentucky in the United States, with the main impact concentrated in Laurel County. The disaster claimed 20 lives. This incident was part of a series of devastating tornadoes that struck the central United States in the first half of the year.
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