Of the natural phenomena that pose a danger to man and the environment, hurricanes are relatively small in size, but have great destructive power. Tropical cyclones, originating in the open ocean, gaining strength, develop into severe hurricanes. Their strength is measured on a five-point scale. These are the most powerful hurricanes in the world we will consider in our review on thebiggest.ru.
10
Galveston
At the turn of the century, in September 1900, the largest hurricane hit the American city of Galveston, which killed 6 thousand people.
He was assigned the 4th hazard category, and strong gusts of wind damaged and practically destroyed 3,600 buildings. The damage was estimated at $ 20 million, according to the current rate of the beginning of the twentieth century.
More than 100 years have passed, and memories of one of the strongest hurricanes in US history still excite consciousness with the consequences of destruction.
9
Camilla
It was possible to notice the emergence of a cyclone on August 5, 1969 off the coast of Africa, and on the night of August 17, a strong natural element had already hit the coastal territories of the United States and Mexico.
Camille was assigned the 5th hazard level, since the speed of the vortex flows when approaching the United States reached 180 kilometers per hour. Great damage the hurricane brought at the mouth of the Mississippi, 256 people are missing.
A powerful hurricane was followed by a flood that claimed the lives of 113 Virginia residents.
8
Typhoon Nika
Typhoons are a common occurrence in the southeastern region of the planet, but the typhoon Nika, which hit China in 1975, has become the most powerful and destructive.
The force of the wind was so powerful that it broke through the large Banquiao dam, as well as dozens of small dams. This led to severe flooding.
According to various estimates, from 100 to 230 thousand people died during the rampage in China.
7
Andrew
Originating in the Atlantic Ocean, Andrew gained strength and whirled through the Bahamas, southern Florida and touched Louisiana.
Residents managed to be warned in time, but the hurricane became one of the most devastating. Despite the successful evacuation, victims could not be avoided. 26 people died, and 39 later died from their injuries.
US authorities estimate the damage from Andrew at $ 26.5 billion.
6
Mitch
October 1998 remained in the memory of the inhabitants of the islands of the Atlantic and Central America in connection with a sweeping hurricane, the speed of which reached 320 kilometers per hour.
The worst hurricane in history claimed the lives of more than 20 thousand inhabitants of three Central American states. Powerful mud-mud flows demolished entire villages, dragging cars and architectural structures along with them.
The element generated a powerful tsunami with a wave height of 6 meters, which, rolling on the coast, caused a powerful flood. During the elements, eyewitnesses observed the tornadoes that formed, which carried no less danger.
5
Irma
Thanks to favorable conditions, the tropical cyclone, which arose on August 30, 2017 off the coast of Africa, grew into a category 5 hurricane in just a few days.
Hurricane Irma is the longest in the history of observations. It should be noted that September became unique, because in the Atlantic three powerful cyclones raged with rhinestones.
Despite the timely evacuation, no casualties could be avoided, and the amount of destruction amounted to more than $ 60 billion. Today, Irma is the most powerful hurricane not only in US history, but throughout the western hemisphere.
4
Pauline
A major tragedy, caused by a tropical cyclone, occurred in 1997 and became the worst in the history of Mexico in terms of the power of destruction and damage.
Originating in the open ocean, the hurricane first moved east, but then abruptly turned to the northwest and, with a tremendous speed sometimes exceeding 200 kilometers per hour, swept along the coast of Mexico. It provoked heavy rains, which caused flooding and powerful landslides.
After the "Pauline" calmed down, the number of victims was 500 people, and about 300 thousand Mexicans remained without a roof over their heads.
3
Kenna
The maximum speed of a hurricane that arose in the northeastern Pacific Ocean reached 270 km per hour, which is why it was assigned the 5th category.
Wind and tornado of great destructive power covered two states of Mexico and destroyed or partially damaged tens of thousands of buildings. Unfortunately, 4 thousand inhabitants of Mexico were lost, and the city of San Blas was almost destroyed.
According to eyewitnesses of that element and rescuers, it was terrible to observe the consequences of the disaster that Kenna brought with it.
2
San calixto
The most powerful tropical cyclone in the history of mankind swept over the islands of the Caribbean archipelago in the fall of 1780. The worst hurricane, according to historical records, claimed the lives of 22 thousand people.
Walking from Newfoundland Canada to the island of Barbados, San Calixto destroyed 95% of residential and utility buildings, administrative cultural buildings. Using modern technology, scientists suggested that the wind speed in those days was about 330 kilometers per hour.
1
Cyclone Bhol
The most devastating hurricanes are the result of a collision of air currents of different temperatures, and arise in various corners of the Earth. But the strongest hurricane to date has arisen in the Pacific.
The cyclone was the consequence of a tropical storm, but the saddest, the record in the number of human casualties of the elements that swept at a speed of 320 kilometers per hour on November 12, 1970 through the territories of Pakistan and some states of India.
Huge waves that hit the coastal zone washed off entire villages. The number of people killed in the disaster amounted to more than 400 thousand, and the damage from destruction and damage to agricultural land amounted to 86 billion dollars.
Summarize
Today, weather observations using space satellites and state-of-the-art warning systems help warn of impending elements and prevent numerous casualties. But this sometimes does not help either, because the suddenness of the hurricanes and their enormous speed of spread sometimes take the inhabitants of the planet by surprise. TheBiggest editors ask you to write in the comments what powerful hurricanes you have experienced. Describe your emotions from what you saw.
Article author: Valery Skiba