The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean placed this catastrophy among one of world's deadliest disasters in the past century.

Deadly toll of natural disasters:

1908   Italy    Earthquake 150,000
1923   Japan  Earthquake 120,000
1927   China  Earthquake 200,000
1970   Bangladesh
           Flooding   300,0000
1970   Peru    Earthquake 60,000
1976   China  Earthquake 250,000
1991   Bangladesh
           Flooding   120,000
2003   Iran   Earthquake 40,000