Collections: Learning from past disasters

Learn from past disasters on the PreventionWeb knowledge base. These collections explore the lessons learned from past disasters, what were the risk drivers, impacts and efforts towards building back better.

Disaster learnings

30 Aug 2023

California wildfires 2017-2018

Massive wildfires spread throughout California in 2017 and 2018, burning down homes and even destroying the town of Paradise.

Disaster learnings

08 Apr 2024

Chernobyl disaster 1986

The Chernobyl disaster was the worst nuclear power plant accident of the 20th century.

Disaster learnings

04 Mar 2024

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global outbreak of coronavirus, an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus.

Disaster learnings

15 Mar 2022

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth 2019

Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall near Beira City, Mozambique on 14 March 2019, bringing strong winds and severe flooding in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar.

Disaster learnings

04 Mar 2024

El Nino 2015 - 2016

The 2015-16 El Niño was one of the strongest El Niño events since 1950, with wide-ranging effects felt around the world.

Disaster learnings

04 Mar 2024

Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami 2011

The Japan earthquake and tsunami prompted extensive damage, including the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Disaster learnings

25 Aug 2023

Haiti earthquake 2010

In January 2010, a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, impacting millions of people and generating multiple aftershocks.

Disaster learnings

25 Aug 2023

Horn of Africa: Drought and famine crisis 2011

In July 2011, widespread drought in the Horn of Africa instigated a severe food crisis, affecting millions of people.