Natural disasters have the ability to affect many people, not only through the physical destruction they cause, but also through injury, homelessness and even death. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan last week remind us that Mother Nature can be extremely destructive.

Here we list the seven worst natural catastrophes of the 21st century. There have been many more natural disasters since the start of the millennium, but these seven were the most severe given their cost, the injuries inflicted and the lives they claimed. (continue reading…)