A history of humanity is full of disasters that have had a profound impact on communities, ecosystems and global health, forever changing life in certain regions of the globe.
The devastating events that we will show here left lasting marks on the collective memory, to the point of being classified as the greatest tragedies in history. See the full list:
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The Great Smog of London, also known as the “Great Smog,” was a terrifying weather event that occurred in December 1952.
A combination of air pollution and adverse weather conditions has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, leading to global awareness about the dangers of air pollution.
The city of Minamata, Japan, was the scene of one of the worst chemical pollution disasters of the 20th century.
The release of mercury by local industry caused mass poisoning, resulting in neurological damage, deformities and deaths in an entire community.
In 1984, the city of Bhopal witnessed one of the biggest industrial disasters in history. A toxic gas leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and caused chronic illnesses in many others.
The oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker in Alaskan waters had devastating consequences for the marine environment. Wildlife and ecosystems have suffered irreparable damage, taking years to recover.
O Chernobyl nuclear disaster It is one of the most infamous in all of human history. In the incident, a nuclear reactor exploded, releasing deadly radiation.
Several people died immediately, others in hospitals. Large areas around Chernobyl remain uninhabitable to this day due to radiation.
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a massive oil spill that lasted for months. As a result of the environmental disaster, marine life and the coastal economy were seriously affected.
The collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, Minas Gerais, caused impressive devastation. Tons of toxic waste flooded communities, causing deaths, environmental destruction and the displacement of thousands of people.
A few years after Mariana, Brazil witnessed a tragedy similar in Brumadinho, also in Minas Gerais. Once again, a mining structure spilled tons of mud onto the city.
The collapse of the Córrego do Feijão mine dam resulted in further human losses, environmental damage and a harrowing reminder of the vulnerability of dam structures.
These disasters serve as painful reminders of the importance of learning from past mistakes to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
