Asia's worst natural disasters since 2004 tsunami
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20/05/2008
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Daily News (Sri Lanka)
Asia's worst natural disasters since 2004 tsunami Hundreds of aftershocks have rattled China's Sichuan province following last Monday's devastating quake which killed nearly 32,500, state news agency Xinhua said. Early on Sunday, another 6.1 magnitude tremor caused thousands to flee as buildings swayed in the provincial capital, Chengdu. Here are some of the region's worst natural disasters since the Asian tsunami of 2004. Dec. 26, 2004 - ASIA - The number of dead and missing from the earthquake and tsunami is at least 232,000. It crashed into Sri Lanka and India, drowning thousands and swamping tourist isles in Thailand and the Maldives. The quake measured 9.15 in magnitude. March 28, 2005 - INDONESIA - Nearly 1,000 people are killed after a quake of magnitude 8.7 strikes the coast off Indonesian island of Sumatra. July/Aug - INDIA - More than 1,000 people are killed - mostly drowned and buried by landslides - after the heaviest rainfall ever recorded falls on western state of Maharashtra on July 26. Oct 8 - PAKISTAN - At least 73,320 people are killed by a 7.6 magnitude quake that strikes about 95 km (60 miles) northeast of Islamabad. The quake also rocks Indian Kashmir, killing 1,244 people. Feb. 17, 2006 - PHILIPPINES - Mudslide triggered by heavy rain buries nearly 1,000 people in the Philippines. About 140 bodies are recovered; rescuers give up hope of finding survivors. May 27 - INDONESIA - More than 5,700 people are killed when an earthquake centred just off the Indian Ocean coast hits the island of Java near Yogyakarta. June-July, 2007 - INDIAN SUBCONTINENT - Monsoon storms kill around 1,750 people in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan. India is hardest hit with at least 750 people killed. Nov 15 - BANGLADESH - Cyclone Sidr strikes Bangladesh, killing around 3,500 people. May 2/3, 2008 - MYANMAR - The official toll as of May 18 of dead and missing is above 133,000 after Cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta. May 12 - CHINA - The most devastating earthquake to hit China in three decades strikes southwest Sichuan. The quake, which measured 7.9, killed nearly 32,500 with more than 220,000 injured. Thomson Reuters