The 100 Most Expensive Technological Disasters of the 20TH
Century
|
Country |
Year |
Day |
Month |
Disaster |
Region |
Continent |
Damage.US$ |
1 |
Indonesia |
1991 |
|
8 |
Accident |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 13,200,000,000 |
2 |
Indonesia |
1987 |
4 |
4 |
Accident |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 9,900,000,000 |
3 |
United States |
1991 |
5 |
4 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 5,900,000,000 |
4 |
Myanmar |
1987 |
11 |
10 |
Accident |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 5,200,000,000 |
5 |
Soviet Union |
1986 |
26 |
4 |
Chem.acci |
Russia.Fed |
Europe |
$ 2,800,000,000 |
6 |
Myanmar |
1987 |
21 |
6 |
Accident |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 2,700,000,000 |
7 |
Peru |
1987 |
20 |
6 |
Accident |
S.America |
Americas |
$ 2,200,000,000 |
8 |
United States |
1989 |
24 |
3 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 2,000,000,000 |
9 |
Seychelles |
1995 |
19 |
10 |
Accident |
E.Africa |
Africa |
$ 1,500,000,000 |
10 |
United States |
1989 |
28 |
10 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 1,300,000,000 |
11 |
United States |
1996 |
21 |
11 |
Urban.fire |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 1,210,000,000 |
12 |
United Kingdom |
1988 |
7 |
7 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 1,200,000,000 |
13 |
United States |
1989 |
23 |
10 |
Chem.acci |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 1,100,000,000 |
14 |
United States |
1993 |
26 |
2 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 1,100,000,000 |
15 |
Mexico |
1996 |
27 |
7 |
Chem.acci |
C.America |
Americas |
$ 1,000,000,000 |
16 |
Soviet Union |
1991 |
22 |
1 |
Chem.acci |
Russia.Fed |
Europe |
$ 1,000,000,000 |
17 |
Panama |
1990 |
18 |
4 |
Accident |
C.America |
Americas |
$ 800,000,000 |
18 |
Ecuador |
1996 |
23 |
10 |
Accident |
S.America |
Americas |
$ 600,000,000 |
19 |
Korea, Rep |
1994 |
21 |
10 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 552,000,000 |
20 |
India |
1995 |
20 |
8 |
Accident |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 480,000,000 |
21 |
United States |
1994 |
8 |
9 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 410,000,000 |
22 |
France |
1994 |
30 |
3 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 407,500,000 |
23 |
France |
1996 |
5 |
5 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 403,900,000 |
24 |
Austria |
1990 |
8 |
7 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 400,000,000 |
25 |
Israel |
1993 |
16 |
5 |
Accident |
W.Asia |
Asia |
$ 350,000,000 |
26 |
Brazil |
1988 |
24 |
4 |
Accident |
S.America |
Americas |
$ 330,000,000 |
27 |
Japan |
1994 |
26 |
4 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 320,000,000 |
28 |
Germany |
1996 |
11 |
4 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 314,700,000 |
29 |
Mexico |
1992 |
22 |
4 |
Chem.acci |
C.America |
Americas |
$ 300,000,000 |
30 |
United States |
1993 |
22 |
9 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 300,000,000 |
31 |
United Kingdom |
1991 |
7 |
8 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 290,000,000 |
32 |
Portugal |
1988 |
25 |
8 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 250,000,000 |
33 |
United States |
1987 |
16 |
8 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 225,200,000 |
34 |
United States |
1990 |
5 |
7 |
Chem.acci |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 220,000,000 |
35 |
Algeria |
1988 |
12 |
1 |
Urban.fire |
N.Africa |
Africa |
$ 196,100,000 |
36 |
Guyana |
1990 |
22 |
2 |
Accident |
S.America |
Americas |
$ 189,400,000 |
37 |
France |
1992 |
9 |
11 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 181,900,000 |
38 |
Germany |
1998 |
3 |
6 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 180,100,000 |
39 |
United States |
1993 |
14 |
11 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 180,000,000 |
40 |
United Kingdom |
1988 |
25 |
4 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 179,800,000 |
41 |
Turkey |
1954 |
27 |
11 |
Urban.fire |
W.Asia |
Asia |
$ 178,000,000 |
42 |
Canada |
1998 |
2 |
9 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 165,500,000 |
43 |
Japan |
1992 |
16 |
10 |
Chem.acci |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 160,500,000 |
44 |
United States |
1992 |
13 |
1 |
Urban.fire |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 160,000,000 |
45 |
United States |
1992 |
22 |
8 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 159,500,000 |
46 |
Hong Kong (China) |
1993 |
4 |
11 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 155,000,000 |
47 |
Germany |
1991 |
31 |
1 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 154,900,000 |
48 |
Iran, Islam Rep |
1991 |
29 |
7 |
Urban.fire |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 150,000,000 |
49 |
United Kingdom |
1991 |
1 |
11 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 149,700,000 |
50 |
United States |
1991 |
23 |
2 |
Urban.fire |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 148,000,000 |
51 |
Russia |
1997 |
6 |
12 |
Accident |
Russia.Fed |
Europe |
$ 140,000,000 |
52 |
Belgium |
1993 |
6 |
1 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 138,000,000 |
53 |
United States |
1995 |
19 |
4 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 125,000,000 |
54 |
Austria |
1995 |
11 |
8 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 120,000,000 |
55 |
Spain |
1998 |
25 |
4 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 120,000,000 |
56 |
United Kingdom |
1993 |
5 |
1 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 115,000,000 |
57 |
United States |
1994 |
1 |
11 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 112,100,000 |
58 |
Germany, Fed Rep |
1988 |
28 |
8 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 112,000,000 |
59 |
Japan |
1985 |
13 |
8 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 107,000,000 |
60 |
Belgium |
1991 |
13 |
12 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 103,500,000 |
61 |
Mauritius |
1987 |
28 |
11 |
Accident |
E.Africa |
Africa |
$ 101,000,000 |
62 |
Turkey |
1922 |
13 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
W.Asia |
Asia |
$ 100,000,000 |
63 |
Pakistan |
1996 |
3 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 100,000,000 |
64 |
United States |
1988 |
4 |
5 |
Chem.acci |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 100,000,000 |
65 |
Dominican Rep |
1988 |
10 |
6 |
Urban.fire |
Caribbean |
Americas |
$ 100,000,000 |
66 |
United States |
1991 |
4 |
5 |
Urban.fire |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 100,000,000 |
67 |
Germany |
1990 |
6 |
12 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 99,800,000 |
68 |
Venezuela |
1993 |
25 |
3 |
Chem.acci |
S.America |
Americas |
$ 96,000,000 |
69 |
Myanmar |
1984 |
24 |
3 |
Urban.fire |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 96,000,000 |
70 |
United Kingdom |
1990 |
22 |
6 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 95,700,000 |
71 |
Switzerland |
1995 |
5 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
Rest.Europ |
Europe |
$ 95,600,000 |
72 |
United States |
1987 |
7 |
12 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 95,500,000 |
73 |
United Kingdom |
1988 |
26 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 95,300,000 |
74 |
United Kingdom |
1988 |
21 |
12 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 92,000,000 |
75 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
10 |
11 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 91,100,000 |
76 |
India |
1988 |
23 |
7 |
Accident |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 90,400,000 |
77 |
Canada |
1988 |
15 |
12 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 90,000,000 |
78 |
Russia |
1994 |
23 |
3 |
Accident |
Russia.Fed |
Europe |
$ 88,700,000 |
79 |
Austria |
1992 |
27 |
11 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 88,100,000 |
80 |
France |
1992 |
22 |
4 |
Chem.acci |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 87,800,000 |
81 |
France |
1990 |
20 |
8 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 86,100,000 |
82 |
United Kingdom |
1993 |
6 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 85,000,000 |
83 |
Norway |
1988 |
18 |
9 |
Urban.fire |
Rest.Europ |
Europe |
$ 84,500,000 |
84 |
Portugal |
1988 |
27 |
4 |
Accident |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 84,000,000 |
85 |
Thailand |
1991 |
27 |
5 |
Accident |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 80,000,000 |
86 |
China, P Rep |
1990 |
2 |
10 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 76,500,000 |
87 |
Japan |
1995 |
15 |
1 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 76,000,000 |
88 |
United States |
1992 |
8 |
8 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 75,900,000 |
89 |
United States |
1991 |
13 |
4 |
Chem.acci |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 75,000,000 |
90 |
Pakistan |
1996 |
9 |
4 |
Urban.fire |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 74,900,000 |
91 |
Taiwan (China) |
1998 |
16 |
2 |
Accident |
E.Asia |
Asia |
$ 71,500,000 |
92 |
Germany |
1995 |
24 |
12 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 69,900,000 |
93 |
Philippines |
1961 |
5 |
1 |
Urban.fire |
SE.Asia |
Asia |
$ 68,812,000 |
94 |
Nepal |
1992 |
31 |
7 |
Accident |
S.Asia |
Asia |
$ 68,000,000 |
95 |
South Africa |
1989 |
30 |
1 |
Chem.acci |
S.Africa |
Africa |
$ 67,700,000 |
96 |
South Africa |
1997 |
3 |
3 |
Urban.fire |
S.Africa |
Africa |
$ 67,500,000 |
97 |
Italy |
1990 |
30 |
7 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 66,200,000 |
98 |
Sweden |
1990 |
10 |
1 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 66,000,000 |
99 |
Ireland |
1992 |
8 |
1 |
Urban.fire |
Euro.Union |
Europe |
$ 65,400,000 |
100 |
United States |
1987 |
15 |
11 |
Accident |
N.America |
Americas |
$ 64,000,000 |
The Disaster Center
Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.md.ucl.ac.be/cred
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