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1931 China Flood vs. 1973 Eldfell - Comparison of sizes
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1931 China Flood vs 1973 Eldfell

1931 China Flood
1973 Eldfell
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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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1973 Eldfell

Total costsN/A
Deaths 1

Informations

Eldfell is a volcanic cone just over 200 metres (660 ft) high on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. It formed in a volcanic eruption, which began without warning on the eastern side of Heimaey, in the Westman Islands, on 23 January 1973. The name means Hill of Fire in Icelandic. The eruption caused a major crisis for the island and led to its temporary evacuation. Volcanic ash fell over most of the island, destroying around 400 homes, and a lava flow threatened to close off the harbour, the island's main income source via its fishing fleet. An operation was mounted to cool the advancing lava flow by pumping sea water onto it, which was successful in preventing the loss of the harbour. After the eruption, the islanders used heat from the cooling lava flows to provide hot water and to generate electricity. They also used some of the extensive tephra, fall-out of airborne volcanic material to extend the runway at the island's small airport and as landfill on which 200 new houses were built.

Source: Wikipedia

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