Public Disaster Education

Mount Erebus disaster, 28 November 1979

The Mount Erebus disaster occurred on 28 November 1979 when Air New Zealand Flight 901 (TE901)[nb 1] flew into Mount Erebus on Ross Island, Antarctica, killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board.[1][2] Air New Zealand had been operating scheduled Antarctic sightseeing flights since 1977. This flight was supposed to leave Auckland Airport in the morning and spend a few hours flying over the Antarctic continent, before returning to …

Mount Erebus disaster, 28 November 1979 Read More »

1970 Bhola cyclone

The 1970 Bhola cyclone (also known as the Great Cyclone of 1970[1]) was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and India’s West Bengal on November 12, 1970.[2] It remains the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded and one of the world’s deadliest humanitarian disasters. At least 300,000 people died in the storm,[3] possibly as many as 500,000,[4][5] primarily as a result of the storm surge that flooded much …

1970 Bhola cyclone Read More »

Tropical Storm Linda (1997)

Severe Tropical Storm Linda, also known as Typhoon Linda, Cyclonic Storm Linda (BOB 08), or in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Openg, was the worst typhoon in southern Vietnam in at least 100 years, killing thousands of people and leaving extensive damage. It formed on October 31, 1997, in the South China Sea, between Indochina and the Philippines. Strengthening as it moved westward, Linda struck extreme southern …

Tropical Storm Linda (1997) Read More »

Eruption on Whakaari (White Island) kills 10 people

10 September 1914 Attempts were first made to mine sulfur on Whakaari (White Island) in the late 19th century. Sulfur was used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid and superphosphate fertiliser. On 10 September 1914, 10 miners were killed when part of the crater wall collapsed, causing a landslide. The only survivor was the mining …

Eruption on Whakaari (White Island) kills 10 people Read More »

The 2010 Canterbury earthquake (Darfield earthquake)

The 2010 Canterbury earthquake (also known as the Darfield earthquake)[7] struck the South Island of New Zealand with a moment magnitude of 7.1[1][2] at 4:35 am local time on 4 September, and had a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale.[1] Some damaging aftershocks followed the main event, the strongest of which was a magnitude 6.3 shock known as the Christchurch earthquake that occurred nearly six months later …

The 2010 Canterbury earthquake (Darfield earthquake) Read More »

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina was a devastating Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that resulted in 1,836 fatalities and caused damage estimated between $97.4 billion to $145.5 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding areas.[1] At the time, it was the costliest tropical cyclone on record, tied now with Hurricane Harvey of 2017. Katrina was the twelfth tropical cyclone, the fifth hurricane, …

Hurricane Katrina Read More »

2003 Fiordland earthquake

The 2003 Fiordland earthquake struck the remote region of Fiordland in the South Island of New Zealand on 22 August 2003 at 12:12 am NZST. The epicentre was 12 km deep, and was thought to be near Secretary Island at the entrance to Doubtful Sound. At 7.2 Ms  magnitude, it was one of the largest quakes in the country for some time, and was the largest shallow quake …

2003 Fiordland earthquake Read More »

2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake

The 2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake[2] was a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that occurred at 2:31:05  pm (NZST) on Friday 16 August 2013.[3] The epicentre was located about 10 km south-east of Seddon, under Lake Grassmere, with a focal depth of 8 km. The earthquake caused significant land damage in the local area, with landslips blocking roads, including the main highway between Blenheim and Christchurch. Buildings …

2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake Read More »

2021 Haiti earthquake

At 08:29:09 EDT on 14 August 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Tiburon Peninsula in the Caribbean nation of Haiti.[1] It had a 10-kilometre-deep (6.2 mi) hypocenter near Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince.[5][6] Tsunami warnings were briefly issued for the Haitian coast.[7][6] At least 2,248 people were confirmed killed as of 1 September 2021 and more than 12,200 injured, mostly in the Sud Department. An estimated 650,000 people were in need of …

2021 Haiti earthquake Read More »

Sign up for the latest information

Join our mailing list for offers, and useful information.

Are You a Business Needing Bulk Supplies for Civil Defence Cabinets or PPE?

Enter your name, phone and business details below, and we’ll get in touch.

Existing business customers please email your account representative for orders or enquires.