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1931 China Flood vs. 1944 San Juan earthquake -...
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1931 China Flood vs 1944 San Juan earthquake

1931 China Flood
1944 San Juan earthquake
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1931 China Flood

Total costsN/A
Deaths 4000000

Informations

The 1931 China floods, or the 1931 Yangtze–Huai River floods, occurred from June to August 1931 in China, hitting major cities such as Wuhan, Nanjing and beyond, which eventually culminated into a dike breach along Lake Gaoyou on 25 August 1931. Fatality estimates vary widely. A field survey by the University of Nanking led by John Lossing Buck immediately after the flood found '150,000 people had drowned, and that this number represented less than a quarter of all fatalities during the first 100 days of the flood.' The official report found 140,000 drowned and claims that '2 million people died during the flood, having drowned or died from lack of food'. A cholera epidemic in the subsequent year, from May 1932, was officially reported to have 31,974 deaths and 100,666 cases. A popular high-end estimate of 3.7 to 4.0 million fatalities 'enjoys great currency online, helping the 1931 flood to secure its position on sensationalist lists of the world’s deadliest disasters.'

Source: Wikipedia
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1944 San Juan earthquake

Total costsN/A
Deaths 10000

Informations

The 1944 San Juan earthquake took place in the province of San Juan, in the center-west area of Argentina, a region highly prone to seismic events. This moderate to strong earthquake (estimated moment magnitudes range from 6.7 to 7.8) destroyed a large part of San Juan, the provincial capital, and killed 10,000 of its inhabitants, 10% of its population at the time. One third of the province population became homeless. It is acknowledged as the worst natural disaster in Argentine history. The earthquake occurred at 8:52 pm on 15 January 1944 and had its epicenter located 30 km north of the provincial capital, near La Laja in Albardón Department. Some 90% of the buildings in the city were destroyed and those left standing suffered such damage that in most cases they had to be demolished. It is considered that the reason for such widespread destruction was the low quality of construction, rather than just the power of the earthquake. In 1944 many of San Juan's houses were made of adobe and the reconstruction programme prompted the creation of a building code that took into account contemporary knowledge of earthquakes and their effect on buildings. Stronger bricks were used, concrete single-story houses were erected and sidewalks and streets were made wider.

Source: Wikipedia

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