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Page added on April 14, 2015
Volcanic eruption could end the world
Mankind is grossly unprepared for a catastrophic volcanic eruption that could kill hundreds of millions of people and cast the world back into a “pre-civilisation state”, academics have warned.
The chance of a devastating eruption happening by the end of this century was estimated to be as high as one in ten in a report on the risks from “X-events” that could wipe out an appreciable fraction of the world’s population.
Most countries are now so interdependent and densely populated that an eruption which would have killed only tens of thousands two centuries ago would be “cataclysmic” today, the authors
Earthquakes
More people have died from earthquakes and tsunamis since 1980 than any other natural disaster. Memories of the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, which killed 230,000 people, and the Haiti earthquake in 2010 that killed up to 160,000, remain painful.
Disaster rating: 3/5
Likelihood: 4/5
Drought
The next biggest killer among all the acts of God is drought, which has caused more than 560,000 deaths
around the world over the past three decades. It is set to worsen as climate change gradually dries out many regions around the world, including large parts of the United States and the Mediterranean. Mankind, however, may increasingly find that drought conditions are easier to adapt to and predict.
Disaster rating: 2/5
Likelihood: 5/5
Asteroid
Three quarters of the Earth’s plant and animal species may have been obliterated by an asteroid strike 66 million years ago. So far, humanity has been lucky that most bolides over recent centuries have fallen far away from towns and cities, but a direct hit on a densely populated area could be the worst disaster in history. Will we have worked out how to deflect them or break them up by the time one arrives?
Disaster rating: 4/5
Likelihood: 1/5
Pandemic
It may not be an entirely natural disaster that ends up decimating the world’s population. Antibiotic-resistant superbugs could kill 10 million people a year by 2050, according to some forecasts.
Disaster rating: 5/5
Likelihood: 4/5
If you experience feelings of distress when contemplating the prospect of catastrophic natural disaster, you can contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90
Sources: International Disaster Database; Review on Antimicrobial Resistance; Times research
10 Comments on "Volcanic eruption could end the world"
Makati1 on Tue, 14th Apr 2015 7:54 pm
Two You Tube movies to watch if you like this kind of thing:
“Supervolcano” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AjQvOWUJ2o
“Super Comet – After the Impact”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aGMDMNeWh0&spfreload=10
Just watched these again last night. They kinda put the human species in it’s place in the order of things.
Taris4171 on Tue, 14th Apr 2015 8:18 pm
They forgot to add ‘Third World War’.
Speculawyer on Tue, 14th Apr 2015 11:22 pm
They could add:
-AI taking over (not gonna happen any time soon)
-Comet impact (I guess pretty much the same as asteroid)
-Severe climate change impact (Partially covered by drought)
-Alien invasion (Hey, it could happen . . . extremely unlikely.)
-WW3 (Taris pointed out.)
-SuperVolcano (As Mak pointed out . . . Yellowstone Park.)
-Nuclear winter from even a limited nuclear exchange
-Atmospheric problem (Hydrogen sulfide, lack of oxygen, etc.)
Apneaman on Tue, 14th Apr 2015 11:58 pm
Internet and cell phone network goes down for more than 3 days-mass suicides
Makati1 on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 12:47 am
Apneamna, I think you hit the most terrible event as far as most Americans are concerned…lol. Especially those under 40. They would actually have to get a real life. No ‘selfies’, no connection 24/7/365 to all of their faux friends. No Kardasian updates. LMAO!
J-Gav on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 3:07 am
“Mankind is grossly unprepared …”
Wondering exactly what it is we’re supposed to do in preparation for such an event.
GregT on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 8:12 am
“Internet and cell phone network goes down for more than 3 days-mass suicides”
At work yesterday for a mere 6 hours, we lost connectivity to mobile e-mail, contact lists, and scheduling. Suffice to say, very little work was done.
Northwest Resident on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 11:19 am
Yep. When Mount BAU blows, the outflowing magma eruption of insolvent banks will scorch entire continents, the poisonous plume of utterly failed trade/delivery systems will wrap the planet in its noxious cloud of death and chaos, and the seismic aftershocks will shake confidence and civil obedience into dust. Like any other volcanic eruption, it is difficult to predict exactly when this baby is going to blow, but the increasing level of “tremors” and mini-eruptions emanating from Mount BAU tell us that the eruption is imminent, and could occur any day now, or any minute now more like it.
Hugh Culliton on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 3:14 pm
Interesting but kinda low on my “things to loose sleep over” list.
Makati1 on Wed, 15th Apr 2015 7:37 pm
NWR, nice! “Thar she blows!” Oops! That was a whale, not a volcano. ^_^