• Source:JND
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Morocco witnessed the deadliest earthquake in over six years, which left nearly 2,500 killed. Search teams from various countries including Spain, Britain, and Qatar have joined the rescue operation. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the country late on Friday night. The death toll has climbed to 2,497 with 2,476 people injured, news agency Reuters reported citing the state news agency on Monday. The earthquake was the country's deadliest quake since 1960 when a tremor was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people.

Meanwhile, several other countries in the world have also witnessed massive loss of lives and properties caused by natural calamities this year. From an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hitting Turkey and Syria leaving over 50,000 dead to Cyclone Freddy in Malawi's Blantyre killing over 1,000, let's take a look at this year's deadliest disasters. The list includes the natural calamities in which over 1,000 people have died.

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1. Morocco Earthquake

Over 2,500 people were killed after the deadly earthquake jolted Morocco in the late evening hours on Friday. Historic structures in Marrakesh, the closest city to the epicentre, were damaged by the earthquake that shook Morocco's High Atlas mountains, but the majority of casualties were recorded in mountainous regions to the south in the Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces, reported Al Jazeera.

Aftermath of a powerful earthquake in Morocco

A general view of damage following a powerful earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco, September 9 (Image Credits: Reuters)

The epicentre of the earthquake was recorded at 72 kilometres west of Marrakesh, a major economic centre. The efforts to clear roads for search and rescue operations are still underway.

2. Freddy Cyclone

The death toll from Cyclone Freddy which left a trail of destruction in its wake after ripping through Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar, crossed the 1,000 mark. The incident took place in late February 2023. It affected over 2 million people and displaced over half a million, washing away homes, roads and other infrastructure, according to a report by news agency Reuters.

Freddy developed off the coast of Australia, crossed the entire South Indian Ocean and travelled more than 8,000 km (4,970 miles) to make landfall in Madagascar and Mozambique in late February.

3. Earthquake In Turkey And Syria

The death toll in Turkey and Syria crossed 50,000 as more than 1,60,000 buildings containing 5,20,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in a series of massive earthquakes on February 6 and 7. The magnitude-7.8 quake brought down whole apartment blocks in Turkish cities and piled more devastation on millions of Syrians displaced by years of war.

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the death toll in Turkey due to earthquakes was recorded at 44,218. With Syria's death toll of 5,914, the combined death toll in the two countries rose to above 50,000.

Aftermath of Storm Freddy in Muloza outside Blantyre

People cross a flooded area in Muloza on the border with Mozambique after the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, around 100 km outside Blantyre, Malawi, March 18, 2023 (Image Credits: Reuters)

Libya Flood Kills Over 2,000, More Than 10,000 Go Missing

More than 1,000 bodies have been recovered in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, after it was hit by floods, said a minister in the eastern administration on Tuesday, September 12. About 25 per cent of Libya's eastern city of Derna was wiped out after dams burst in a storm, and the Red Cross said 10,000 people were feared to be missing across the country in floods.

A damaged van is seen on a road as a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Shahhat city, Libya (Image Credits: Reuters)

Besides these natural calamities, wildfires in several countries of the world also affected the lives of people drastically.

At least 18 burned bodies, possibly migrants, were found in a rural area in northern Greece where wildfires were burning out of control. The incident took place on August 22, 2023.

Wildfires have intensified around the globe, providing a stark reminder of how the climate crisis is upending lives and inflicting billions of dollars a year in damage.