Recent natural disasters

Earthquakes
2004: Indian Ocean earthquake. The second largest earthquake in recorded history, registering a magnitude of 9.3.
2005: Kashmir earthquake. Magnitude 7.6-7.7, which cost 79,000 lives in Pakistan.
2008: Sichuan, China earthquake. Magnitude 7.9, death toll at over 61,150.

Hurricanes
2005: Hurricane Katrina. Devastated the Gulf Coast, USA.

Drought
2006: Sichuan, China. Its worst drought with nearly 8 million suffering water shortage.

Wildfire
2009: Australia bushfires

Epidemics
2002: SARS
2009: Swine Flu

Famine
2005: Malawi
2008: North Korea
2008: Afghanistan
2008: Bangladesh
2009: Kenya

Gamma Ray bursts
2003: Closest one to Earth
2008: Most luminous
2008: Most energetic
2009: Most distant object in the Universe


Solar Flare
2003: Most powerful ever recorded


Supernovae
2006: Largest ever supernova


The charity Oxfam stated that the number of people hit by natural disasters is expected to rise by about 50%, to reach 375 million a year by 2015.