Japan Earthquake (8.9) and Tsunami March 11 2011

The town is just one of many nearly erased from Japan’s northeastern coast, where water, electricity, and telecommunications are largely unavailable.A As of Monday an estimated 350,000 people are reportedly homeless in the wake of Friday’s magnitude 9 earthquake ”Japan’s biggest on record. According to the police chief of hard-hit Miyagi Prefecture, at least 10,000 are dead, the Washington Post reported.

New Zealand Christ Church Earthquake Feb 22 2011

New Zealand prime minister John Key has confirmed that at least 65 people are dead after a major earthquake devastated Christchurch on what he described as the country’s “darkest day”. A Thousands of shocked people are wandering the rubble-strewn city, many searching for loved ones and trying to reach trapped people.

Local television showed bodies being pulled out of rubble strewn around the city centre, while other footage showed onlookers clinging to each other and others bleeding and limping.A  Screams rang out across the southern New Zealand city’s main square as parts of Christchurch Cathedral toppled to the ground.

China Hailstorm April 18 2011

Twelve people were killed and 27 others injured as hailstones, thundershower and gales pounded China southern Guangdong province Sunday, a media report said. Cities such as Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan and Zhongshan were affected, China Daily reported quoting the civil affairs ministry.A Over 500 hectares of farmland were affected and direct economic losses were estimated at about 50 million yuan (about $7 million).

The Guangdong provincial government has dispatched a team of relief workers to the affected area. The injured were shifted to hospital.

Australia Flood Jan 10 2011

Officials in the Australian state of Queensland say at least 72 people are missing after flash floods which have already claimed eight lives. A massive deluge overwhelmed Toowoomba, a city west of the state capital Brisbane, without warning.A Sandbags have been given out to residents of Brisbane, where the flooding may not peak until Wednesday.A  State Premier Anna Bligh called the flash floods Queensland’s “darkest hour” since the flood crisis began.A  At least two of the dead were children, Ms Bligh said, and she warned that the death toll was likely to rise.

Brazil Mudslide Jan 17 2011

Rain began falling again Friday in this mountain town, hampering rescue efforts in the wake of deadly mudslides and flooding that has killed hundreds of people and left vast swaths of cities buried under layers of earth.A The death toll ticked up overnight to 479 killed in three cities north of Rio in what is one of Brazil's deadliest natural disasters on record. Officials feared, however, that number could sharply rise, though they would not venture a guess of how many remain missing. Local reports put it in the hundreds.A  Hundreds of rescuers were in the area and officials said lack of help was not a problem rather it was trying to access remote areas isolated after roads were washed out.