Since time immemorial, the tumultuous forces of nature have shaped the earth. Even today, they remain largely out of our control. Tsunamis engulf entire islands, hurricanes wipe clean broad stretches of land, and earthquakes and volcano eruptions cover large regions with ash and debris. There are other kinds of disasters as well: disease and epidemics, technical errors, wars and terrorist attacks all claim thousands of lives and at the same time deeply unsettle our belief in the panacea of progress. This book presents many of the great disasters that have taken place in history throughout the world, in an informative and objective manner. At the same time, the spectacular pictures and eyewitness reports heighten our sensitivity to the devastating consequences of the events.