Ice cold disasters that shook the planet
A major fire broke out early during the morning of April 29 at an electrical substation in Maida Vale, in West London, prompting a large emergency response. Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze on Aberdeen Place, where an electrical transformer caught fire. The flames also spread to the roof of a nearby residential building, forcing the evacuation of approximately 80 people.
Thick black smoke swirled across the London skyline, with the fire brigade receiving more than 170 emergency calls starting at around 5:30 am. Authorities have urged residents to keep windows and doors shut due to the smoke, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fires have been a destructive force throughout history, affecting civilizations from Ancient Rome to present-day California. To learn about the deadliest fires in human history, click through this gallery.
The Great Fire of Rome is a legendary event that happened in 64 and lasted for six days.
A majority of Rome was destroyed by a fire. Some believe Emperor Nero caused it, but he blamed Christians for the disaster that occurred.
Also referred to as the Furisode Fire, this significant tragedy destroyed 60-70% of Edo, the capital of Japan in 1657. Lasting three days, the fire resulted in the tragic deaths of over 100,000 individuals, according to historical records.
London has experienced several fires throughout history. The most well-known, of course, was The Great Fire of London in 1666.
The fire in the medieval City of London lasted for four days, destroying an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 homes. There were only a few deaths officially recorded during this devastating event.
In 1871, the Peshtigo fire tore through northeastern America, destroying more than one million acres of land.
Approximately 1,500 to 2,500 individuals perished in the fire due to small fires spreading rapidly in windy and dry conditions.
In 1871, a devastating fire destroyed central Chicago, leaving over 100,000 people homeless and resulting in around 300 deaths. This event is a significant part of American history.
The fire began in the downtown area of the city in the southwest, fueled by the hot and arid weather conditions.
In 1906, there was a severe earthquake in San Francisco that impacted the West Coast, causing numerous fires that destroyed more than 25,000 buildings.
Approximately 3,000 individuals perished in the tragic fire due to the destruction of the city's water mains during the earthquake event.
In 1911, a 10-story clothing factory in New York City caught fire. The workers, mostly immigrant women (and children), were killed en masse.
The fire resulted in the deaths of at least 123 women and 23 men. Unfortunately, stairwell doors and exits were locked to keep workers from taking breaks, meaning they couldn't escape the inferno.
The Halifax Explosion of 1917 is often overlooked as it happened during World War One. It took place in Halifax, Canada.
A tragedy happened when ammunition on a cargo ship caught fire, resulting in the largest man-made explosion at the time and the death of over 2,000 people.
In 1923, Tokyo experienced a powerful earthquake. It occurred at lunchtime, when meals were being cooked over fires and stoves all over the city. The earthquake caused many fires to break out, resulting in additional destruction and chaos.
A fire tornado struck downtown Tokyo, damaging water mains and allowing the fire to burn for two days. Reports suggest casualties could range from 100,000 to 142,000 people.
The Cocoanut Grove was a popular nightclub in Boston. Unfortunately, in 1942, it was devastated by the deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history.
The incident began with a lit match igniting paper decorations in the nightclub, causing the deaths of almost 500 people.
The disaster in Port of Texas City in 1947 resulted in the death of 600 individuals, making it the most fatal industrial accident in U.S. history.
The Texas City disaster began with a fire on a freighter at the dock. The fire caused an explosion that wiped out 1,000 buildings.
In June 2017, London was hit with tragedy. The Grenfell Tower flats were engulfed in a 60-hour fire.
Rumors suggest that more than 70 individuals perished in the fire, although there is disagreement about the exact number. Prior to the incident, occupants of the tower had raised concerns about its safety.
The 2018 wildfire season in California was the most devastating in history, with more than 8,000 fires ravaging the state.
The fires caused the deaths of over 81 individuals, displacing countless more.
In February 2019, a fire ravaged Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It started in a road accident, which exploded and led to a chemical fire. At least 80 people died in the fire, while over 50 people were left injured.
The dive boat Conception, which had departed Santa Barbara Harbor, caught fire early September 2, 2019, near Santa Cruz Island, leaving 34 trapped on board, all of whom likely died from smoke inhalation.
Five crew members survived the fire, including the captain. He was later charged with criminal negligence in relation to the 34 deaths.
Late on Dec. 28, 2022, a devastating fire broke out at the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in Proipet, Cambodia. Videos captured by onlookers show flames erupting from the building as the massive complex was engulfed by the fire. It's believed that hundreds of Cambodian and Thai employees were trapped inside the casino while the fire blazed. Devastating images showed desperate people jumping from the windows to escape. There were 27 confirmed deaths and many more injuries.
On February 24, 2024, a fire swept through a complex of 140 apartments in Valencia, Spain, claiming the lives of ten people. Smartphone footage captured an awning on a seventh-floor balcony catching fire around 5:30 pm, followed by rapid upward spread of flames. Within 15 minutes, the entire building was engulfed.
On January 7, a series of catastrophic wildfires developed in Los Angeles County, triggered by a strong Santa Ana wind event that brought intense winds across much of Southern California. This led to several fires spreading quickly throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of structures and scorching over 50,000 acres (20,200 hectares).
See also: 'Bomb cyclone' and some of the worst natural disasters of this millennium
Massive fire breaks out in West London
Around 100 firefighters deployed to tackle the flames
LIFESTYLE Disasters
A major fire broke out early during the morning of April 29 at an electrical substation in Maida Vale, in West London, prompting a large emergency response. Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze on Aberdeen Place, where an electrical transformer caught fire. The flames also spread to the roof of a nearby residential building, forcing the evacuation of approximately 80 people.
Thick black smoke swirled across the London skyline, with the fire brigade receiving more than 170 emergency calls starting at around 5:30 am. Authorities have urged residents to keep windows and doors shut due to the smoke, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fires have been a destructive force throughout history, affecting civilizations from Ancient Rome to present-day California. To learn about the deadliest fires in human history, click through this gallery.