Major natural disasters of 2026 so far: earthquakes, a cyclone, floods, wildfire and heat

This review lists some of the most consequential natural disasters of 2026 up to 17 October. It is not a complete list: we selected events that carry a red or orange alert in GDACS or have a documented high toll. Every figure is the one reported by the named source on the date given; death tolls often rise for weeks and sources sometimes disagree.

Earthquakes

• Venezuela, 24 June. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake, the mainshock of a double event that followed a magnitude 7.2 shock, struck near Caracas. According to the USGS, as of 24 August at least 6,500 people were killed, 226,696 injured and an estimated 50,000 missing, with 59,000 buildings damaged or destroyed; in La Guaira state 80% of buildings collapsed. Venezuela's interim government put the toll at 6,509 on 24 August, as reported by AFP. GDACS rated it red, with 6.8 million people exposed to strong shaking.
• Mindanao, Philippines, 7-8 June. A magnitude 7.8 quake. The national disaster council reported 78 dead, at least 30 missing and 1,399 injured as of 19 June, with more than 1.5 million people affected, according to Philstar. The USGS records a tsunami of up to 1.48 m at Kiamba and 2 m of coastal uplift; its regional counts are lower than the national figure, so numbers differ by source and date.
• Colombia, 10 August. A magnitude 7.4 quake at about 108 km depth. The USGS lists, as of 26 August, 331 deaths (the sum of its department figures), 4,613 injured, 111 missing and 36,478 homes destroyed. GDACS rated it red, with 5.4 million people exposed to strong shaking.
• Flores, Indonesia, 14-15 August. A magnitude 7.8 quake (GDACS gives 7.7). The USGS reports at least 136 killed, 1,776 injured and 27,414 homes destroyed, plus a tsunami of up to 169 cm at Pota. GDACS also rated it red but gives no toll.
• Kumamoto, Japan, 28 July. A magnitude 6.8 quake (USGS). Kumamoto prefecture's headquarters reported 39 deaths as of 8 August, according to Adnkronos; the USGS notes that nine died when a factory chimney collapsed and 55 were injured in an explosion at a shopping mall.

Storm, flood, wildfire and heat

• Cyclone Gezani, Madagascar and Mozambique, February. It made landfall at Toamasina on 10 February with winds of about 250 km/h, and authorities cited damage to 75-80% of the city, Al Jazeera reported (40 dead on 13 February). GDACS gives about 63 deaths (59 in Madagascar, 4 in Mozambique) and roughly 430,000 affected as of 19 February.
• Nepal, from 26 August. An ice-and-rock collapse in the Lhende Khola near the Chinese border sent a debris-laden flood down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Early on, the authority had recovered 83 bodies; GDACS lists 955 deaths. On 6 September Himal Press reported 1,341 dead and nearly 5,000 missing, citing the national authority. The figures are not consistent, and the final toll is not confirmed.
• France, July. The Saumos fire in Gironde began on 22 July. About 42,000 hectares burned, 220,000 people were evacuated, 240 homes were destroyed and 231 firefighters were injured; it was declared extinguished on 28 September, according to Feux de Forêt. GDACS estimates a burned area of 47,910 ha. Two firefighters died on 21 July in a separate Gironde fire, Connexion France reported.
• Western Europe heat, June. The WMO reported on 9 July a regional June average of 20.74 C, 3.05 C above the 1991-2020 mean, a record; Germany recorded 41.7 C and France its hottest day on record on 24 June. The WMO speaks of heat-related deaths but gives no count.

We did not find a verifiable toll for the magnitude 7.7 Panama earthquake of 9 October or for Typhoon Champi, which GDACS still rated red near Guam on 17 October, so they are left out.

Preparedness lessons

Official guidance is simple. The US emergency agency advises you to practise drop, cover and hold on, secure heavy furniture, and keep a supply kit and a family communication plan. Switzerland's Alertswiss recommends writing down in advance how to reach relatives, where to go and what to take. Many of the deaths above came from building collapse, so knowing your local alert channels and your building's weak points matters before an event, not after.