Random Worst Man-Made Disasters in China (9 items)

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  (#9) Yellow River Flood (1938)

  Date: June 5, 1938
  Location: Huayuankou, Zhengzhou, China
  Deaths: 800,000 (approximately)

  There are two different notable Yellow River Floods in China's history, both of which were devastating. The first, which took place in 1887, was an unavoidable result of torrential rains, ultimately killing over 900,000 people. The Yellow River Flood of 1938, however, was no accident - it was strategically planned by the Chinese Nationalist Party as a deterrent to encroaching Japanese forces during the second Sino-Japanese War. As planned, surrounding villages were flooded and destroyed as part of the military strategy. Over 800,000 people died, and millions more were driven from their homes and indefinitely displaced.
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  (#7) The Great Famine

  Date: 1959 - 1961
  Location: All provinces
  Deaths: Between 36 and 45 million

  The Great Famine is often cited as one of the worst natural disasters of all time, not only in China, but anywhere in the world. China has a history of alternating droughts and flooding, and the Chinese government has previously tried to attribute the famine to climatic forces. In reality, however, government officials colluded to exaggerate crop yields in order to seize large percentages of rice, grain, and other staple crops from farmers. This left very little food for provincial Chinese citizens to live on, and the result was widespread starvation, disease, and several documented instances of cannibalism. The final death toll is uncertain, but it easily ranks in the tens of millions.
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  (#8) Benxihu Colliery Explosion

  Date: April 26, 1942
  Location: Benxi, Liaoning, China
  Deaths: 1,549 (approx)

  Over a third of annual deaths related to coal mining accidents occur in China. One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1942, when an amalgamation of gas and coal dust ignited inside a mine shaft. Hundreds of workers were trapped inside, and the situation was worsened by Japanese guards who sealed off the pit head and ventilators without fully evacuating the shaft first. The final death toll was well over 1,500, making it the most deadly disaster in the history of coal mining.
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  (#4) Shanxi Mudslide

  Date: September 8, 2008
  Location: Linfen, Shanxi Province, China
  Deaths: 250 - 280 (approximately)

  Due to sloppy enforcement of government safety regulations, an unlicensed landfill mine in Shanxi Province collapsed in 2008, killing at least 250 people and injuring 33, with as many as 500 individuals officially listed as missing or unidentified. In addition to on-site workers, the mudslide affected the adjacent village of Yunhe - its crowded outdoor marketplace was completely destroyed. The Shanxi mudslide also resulted in the displacement of over 1,000 citizens.
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  (#5) Jilin Chemical Plant Explosions

  Date: November 13, 2005
  Location: Jilin Province, China
  Deaths: 6

  Supposedly due to inadequate response from workers who had been instructed to clear a dangerous blockage in the plant's processing tower, a string of chemical explosions erupted in Jilin City's Jilin Chemical plant in November of 2005. Tens of thousands of nearby citizens were evacuated, dozens of chemical plant workers were injured, and 6 of them were killed. As a byproduct of the explosions, over 100 tons of deadly pollutants were introduced into the nearby Songhua River, polluting nearby groundwater. Officially, the explosions were blamed on workers who inadequately cleared a dangerous blockage in the plant's processing tower.
  
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  (#6) Banqiao Dam Tragedy

  Date: August 9, 1975
  Location: Zhumadian City, Henan Province, China
  Deaths: 26,000

  Thanks partially to faulty construction, the Banquiao Dam in Henan Province failed to contain flooding from massive rainfall in August of 1975. This led to massive damages throughout the region, including approximately 26,000 deaths. The dam's architect had been critical of China's safety regulations, and had originally proposed a far more comprehensive version of the dam, but his initial proposals were rejected. China's government took pains to emphasize the unexpected amount of rainfall that led to the flooding, while also downplaying the lack of foresight in the dam's construction.
  

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