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List of disasters in Australia by death toll

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 144.132.128.57 (talk) at 01:38, 30 September 2009 (→‎Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This is a list of disasters in Australia sorted by death toll. It generally excludes incidents attributed to the impact of European colonisation on the indigenous population.

100 or more deaths

Disaster Standort Deaths Date Notes
Epidemic Australia-wide 12,000+ 19181918–1919 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic; approximate death toll. Sydney was the worst affected area.[1]
Epidemic Australia-wide 1,013 19461946–1955 Polio epidemic.[2]
Sea battle Indian Ocean, near Shark Bay 722 1941-11-1919 November 1941 Approximate total, in the battle between HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran. Both ships sank; Sydney's entire crew of 645 were killed along with about 77 personnel from Kormoran.
Epidemic Australia-wide 550 19001900–1910 Bubonic plague.[3]
Heat wave Victoria 438 1939-01Dec 1938-Feb 1939 Heatwave killed 438 and sparked the Black Friday bushfires (see below).[4]
Heat wave South-eastern Australia 437 18951895–1896 Widespread heatwave killed 437, including 47 in Bourke, New South Wales.[5]
Cyclone Bathurst Bay, Queensland 410 1889-03March 1889 Cyclone Mahina; estimated toll.[6]
Shipwreck King Island, Tasmania 406 18451845 Cataraqui. Australia's worst maritime civil disaster incident.[7]
Heatwave South-eastern Australia 374 2009-01-25January 25 to February 9, 2009 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave. A nine day heatwave with Adelaide recording a record six consecutive days over Template:C to F, a record high of Template:C to F and a record overnight minimum of Template:C to F on January 28.[8][9] Sparked the Black Saturday bushfires (see below). Health authorities attribute 374 deaths to the Heatwave[10]
Shipwreck coast near Murchison River, Western Australia 286 1712-04April 1712 Sinking of Dutch ship Zuytdorp. There has been speculation that there were survivors, who may have been assisted by local Aborigines.[11][12]
Sinking Off North Stradbroke IslandQueensland 268 1943-05-1414 May 1943 Sinking of AHS Centaur. Hospital ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.[13]
Heat wave Southern states 246 1907-12December 1907-January 1908 [14]
Air raids Darwin, Northern Territory 243 1942-02-1919 February 1942 First bombings of Darwin. The first Japanese air raids against Australia. The toll may have been higher, itinerants and Aboriginal persons may be under-represented in the official count.[15]
Prison break Cowra, New South Wales 235-238 1944-08-055 August 1944 Cowra breakout. Escape by Japanese POWs.[16][17]
Shipwreck King Island, Tasmania 224 1835-05-1313 May 1835 Neva [18][19]
Shipwreck Perth, Western Australia 186 1656-04April 1656 Vergulde Draeck[20]
Bushfires Victoria 173 2009-02February 2009 Black Saturday bushfires[21]
Cyclone/Sinking Western Australia 149 1912-03-011 March 1912 SS Koombana[22][23]
Heatwaves Australia-wide 147 19201920–1921 [24]
Heatwaves Australia-wide 143+ 19111911–1912 [25]
Cyclone Broome, Western Australia 141 1935-03March 1935 Pearling fleet devastated [26]
Cyclone Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia 140 18841884 Pearling fleet sunk [27]
Shipwreck D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania 133 1835-04-1212 April 1835 George III [28]
Shipwreck Cape York, Queensland 133 1890-02-2828 February 1890 Quetta [29]
Heatwave Southern states 130 19261926–1927 [30]
Shipwreck/mutiny/
massacre		 Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia 125+ 1629-06June-July 1629 Sinking of the Dutch ship Batavia, after which mutineers murdered 125 other passengers. The death toll of 125 does not include the mutineers, of whom seven were immediately hanged and two cast away when the passengers were rescued. Most of the remaining mutineers were later executed.[31]
Heatwave Australia-wide 122+ 19131913–1914 [32]
Cyclone/Sinking North-eastern Queensland 122 1911-03-1616 March 1911 SS Yongala[33]
Shipwreck Sydney, New South Wales 121 1857-08-2020 August 1857 Dunbar. 1 survivor.[34]
Heatwave Australia-wide 112 19391939–1940 [35]
Heatwave Australia-wide 109 19091909–1910 [36]
Heatwave Southern regions, Australia 105+ 19591959 One source puts death toll at 145[37][38][39]
Cyclone/sinking Ayr, Queensland 102-112 1875-02-2424 February 1875 SS Gothenburg. Records of passengers vary [40][41][42]
  • The Centaur memorial, in Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland, commemorates the sinking of the hospital ship AHS Centaur in 1943, which claimed 268 lives.
    The Centaur memorial, in Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland, commemorates the sinking of the hospital ship AHS Centaur in 1943, which claimed 268 lives.
  • At least 243 people died in the Japanese air raids on Darwin in 1942.
    At least 243 people died in the Japanese air raids on Darwin in 1942.
  • Japanese prisoners of war practice baseball on the sports ground near their quarters, several weeks before the 1944 Cowra breakout, in which at least 235 people died.
    Japanese prisoners of war practice baseball on the sports ground near their quarters, several weeks before the 1944 Cowra breakout, in which at least 235 people died.

50 to 99 deaths

Disaster Standort Deaths Date Notes
Heatwave Southern regions Australia 99 December 1972 to February 1973 [43]
Cyclone Northern Queensland 99 March 1934 Cyclone and 9.1 m storm surge [44]
Explosion Mount Kembla, New South Wales 96 31 July 1902 Mount Kembla Colliery gas explosion. Coal mine gas explosion [45]
Shipwreck Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia 93 23 April 1622 Tryall. Earliest recorded Australian shipwreck [46]
Flood Gundagai, New South Wales 89 24 June 1852 [47]
Shipwreck near Carpenter Rocks, in South East South Australia 89 6 August 6 1859 SS Admella.[48] South Australia's worst loss of life
Air raid Broome, Western Australia 88 3 March 1942 Air raid on Broome. Japanese fighter planes strafed the town. Official toll; may not include some refugees from the Dutch East Indies.
Rail accident Sydney, New South Wales 83 18 January 1977 Granville railway disaster. Derailment followed by bridge collapse
Sinking twenty miles south-east of Jervis Bay, New South Wales 82 10 February 1964 Melbourne-Voyager collision - HMAS Voyager sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne
Explosion Bulli, New South Wales 81 23 March 1887 Bulli Colliery coal mine gas explosion [49]
Shipwreck King Island, Tasmania 79 23 May 1874 British Admiral[50]
Cyclone Queensland coast, particularly Innisfail 77+ 10 March 1918 Cyclone and storm surge with death toll estimated between 77 and 100.[51]
Storms New South Wales between Port Stephens and Sydney 77 12 July 1866 60 lives lost on SS Cawarra alone.[52]
Explosion Mount Mulligan, Queensland 76 16 September 1921 Mount Mulligan coal dust explosion [53]
Bushfire Victoria and South Australia 75 16 February 1983 Ash Wednesday fires[54]
Shipwreck Green Cape 71 31 May 1886 Ly-Ee-Moon [55]
Bushfire Victoria 71 13 January 1939 Black Friday bushfires
Cyclone Darwin 71 24 December 1974 Cyclone Tracy destroys the city of Darwin. On 17 March 2005, a Northern Territory Coroner's Inquest outcome increased the official death toll from 65 to 71.[56]
Flood Clermont, Queensland 65 27 December 1916 [57]
Bushfire Tasmania 62 1967 1967 Tasmanian fires
Cyclone near Roebourne and Geraldton, Western Australia 61-71 1894 Estimated toll includes those lost at sea and those killed in flooding at Geraldton [58]
Shipwreck Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia 60 1727 Zeewyk. Approximate death toll [59]
Shipwreck Newcastle, New South Wales 60 12 July 1866 SS Cawarra;; sank during storm in Newcastle Harbour.
Bushfire Victoria 60 February-March 1926 [60]
Cyclone Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia 59-69 1875–1876 Most casualties were at sea [61][62]
Shipwreck Mutton Bird Island, off the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria 53 1 June 1878 Loch Ard. Sources vary on exact death toll (2 survivors).[63][64]
Bushfire Victoria 51 1943–1944 [65]
Shipwreck Brisbane, Queensland 50 February 1896 Pearl [66]
Cyclone Around Broome, Western Australia 50 1908 [67]

10 to 49 deaths

Disaster Standort Deaths Date Notes
Cyclonic effects North coast, New South Wales 46 1923 [68]
Rail accident Sunshine, Victoria 44 1908 Sunshine train disaster. Rear end collision
Air Disaster near Mackay, Queensland 40 14 June 1943 Bakers Creek air crash. USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress crashes shortly after take-off.[69]
Fire Queenstown, Tasmania 42+ 1912 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster. Mine fire. True toll may be higher due to subsequent deaths from the effects of the fire [70]
Shipwreck near Edithburgh, South Australia 40 31 January 1909 Clan Ranald [71][72]
Sinking Sydney 40-42 3 November 1927 Sydney ferry disaster[73][74]
Shipwreck Cardwell, Queensland 36 1872 Shipwreck Maria. Some of the survivors were killed by Aborigines although others were helped [75][76]
Flood Melbourne suburbs and Southern Victoria 35 29 November to 1 December 1934 Torrential rainfall of up to 350 mm. Yarra River becomes raging torrent. Extensive damage with 35 dead, 250 injured, and 3,000 homeless.[77][78]
Massacre Port Arthur, Tasmania 35 28 April 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Shooting massacre
Shipwreck Jervis Bay, New South Wales, 35 1 September 1876 The steamer Dandenong lost during severe storm.[79]
Shipwreck Cheviot Beach, Victoria 35 20 October 1887 SS Cheviot
Bridge collapse Melbourne 35 15 October 1970 West Gate Bridge. 35 construction workers died due to a collapse during construction[80]
Road accident Kempsey, New South Wales 35 22 December 1989 Kempsey bus crash . Two tourist coaches collided head-on [81]
Cyclone Queensland coast, particularly Mackay 30 January 1918 Mackay Cyclone[51][82]
Shipwreck near Southend, south east South Australia 31 14 June 1876 Geltwood. Wreck not found for two weeks. No survivors.[83][84]
Shipwreck off Wilsons Promontory in Bass Strait 31 1 December 1935 SS Paringa Sunk during storm while towing another vessel. All officers and crew lost.[85][86]
Fire Melbourne 30 13 August 1966 William Booth Memorial Hostel fire. Convalescent home for men [87]
Air disaster Mackay 29 10 June 1960 TAA Fokker Friendship disaster. Crashed into sea
Cyclone/sinking. Western Australia 29 April 1991 Cyclone Fife. 27 lost in shipwreck of Mineral Diamond [88][89]
Riot and insurrection Ballarat, Victoria 28 3 December 1854 Eureka Stockade. Exact death toll remains unknown.
Massacre Myall Creek, near Inverell, New South Wales 28 9 June 1838 Myall Creek massacre. 28 Aboriginal people killed by white stockmen [90]
Cyclone Darwin, Northern Territory 28 January 1897 [91][92]
Air accident York near Perth 28 26 June 1950 ANA Skymaster Amana crash. 1 survivor [93]
Shipwreck Kangaroo Island, South Australia 27 September 1905 Loch Vennachar[94]
Air accident Cleveland Bay, Townsville, Queensland 27 7 August 1943 C-47 Dakota plane crash. Plane crashed after takeoff.[95]
Shipwreck/Massacre Coorong, South Australia 26 1840 Maria. Survivors murdered.[96][97] Exactly what took place remains controversial.[citation needed]
Explosion Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 26 21 May 1945 Kapooka Army Base soldiers received instruction of demolition work in a bunker which was 3 metres (9.8 ft) below the ground when an explosion took place which resulted in Australia's largest military funeral.[98][99]
Cyclone Gold Coast and northern New South Wales 26 February 1954 [100]
Air accident Port Hedland, Western Australia 26 31 December 1968 Port Hedland plane crash. In-flight break up[citation needed]
Flood Hunter Valley, New South Wales 25 February 1955 1955 Hunter Valley floods. Most deaths were around Singleton and Maitland, but most other river systems in the state were also in flood.[101][102]
Rail accident Wodonga, Victoria 25 1943 Train hit bus carrying army personnel [103]
Air accident Seven Mile Beach, near Hobart 25 March 1946 Australian National Airways plane [37]
Air accident Winton, Queensland 24 22 September 1966 Ansett-ANA Viscount disaster. VH-RMI enroute Mount Isa - Longreach
Shipwreck Gosford 24 6 May 1898 Maitland[104]
Air accident Kudjeru Gap, in the Australian territory of Papua New Guinea 24 August 1972 RAAF Caribou aircraft crashes in rugged mountainous country enroute from Lae to Port Moresby, killing 24 of the 28 people on board.
Bushfire Southern regions of Victoria 23 January 1969 280 fires. 17 casualties at Lara [105]
Mine disaster Creswick, Central Victoria 22 12 December 12 1882 New Australasia gold mine. 44 miners trapped when a flooded mine shaft is breached. 22 men drown.[106]
Flood Northern Tasmania 22 April 1929 Eight drowned when truck ploughed into river and 14 died when dam collapsed and wall swept into town[107]
Heatwave South-east Queensland 22 January 2000 [108]
Road accident Grafton, New South Wales 21 20 October 1989 Grafton bus crash. A head-on collision between a tourist coach and a truck.[109]
Air accident Coolangatta, Queensland 21 10 March 1949 Queensland Airlines Lockheed Lodestar crashes shortly after take-off due to imbalanced load.[110]
Shipwreck Trial Bay, New South Wales 19-21 September 1816 [111]
Shipwreck Smokey Cape, New South Wales 21 25 August 1969 Noongah sank
Shipwreck off Gabo Island, Bass Strait 21 1 March 1901 SS Federal vanished without trace. All crewmembers lost.[112][113]
Air accident Mossman, Queensland 20 7 September 1944 Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force Douglas C-47 Dakota crashes en-route between Merauke, Dutch East Indies and Cairns.
Fire Kings Cross, New South Wales 19 25 August 1981 Rembrant Hotel.[114]
Shipwreck Adelaide, South Australia 18+ 13 July 1888 Star of Greece. Exact number of lives lost uncertain.[115]
Road accident Tumut Pond, New South Wales 18 1 September 1973 Brake failure caused bus to plummet into reservoir [116]
Air accident Townsville, Queensland 18 12 June 1996 Two Army Blackhawk helicopters collided[117]
Landslide Thredbo, New South Wales 18 1997 1997 Thredbo landslide
Air accident Dandenongs, Victoria 18 1938 1938 Kyeema Crash
Rail accident Brooklyn, New South Wales 17 1944 Train ploughed into bus at Hawksbury River station [118]
Rail accident Wasleys Crossing, near Gawler, South Australia 17 12 April 1970 Wasleys Crossing (Gawler) disaster. Bus collided with a passenger train [119]
Explosion Ipswich, Queensland 17 31 July 1972 Mine gas explosion in the Box Flat Colliery [120]
Heatwave South-Eastern regions, Australia 17 February 1993 Possibility of additional unreported deaths [121]
Shipwreck Bass Strait Victorian coast 16 29 November 1934 SS Coramba left Warrnambool for Melbourne and was never seen again. Believed lost during storm.[122][123]
Rail accident Camp Mountain, Queensland 16 5 May 1947 Camp Mountain train disaster. A crowded picnic train derailed on bend
Fire Sylvania Heights, New South Wales 16 29 April 1981 Pacific Nursing Home fire.[124]
Air accident Botany Bay, New South Wales 15 30 November 1961 Ansett-ANA Viscount plane crash. All occupants (11 passengers and 4 crew) died.[125]
Fire Kings Cross, New South Wales 15 25 December 1975 Savoy Hotel Fire. Arson [126]
Shipwreck near Cape Schanck, Victoria 15 28 December 1893 SS Alert
Fire Fortitude Valley, Queensland 15 8 March 1973 Whiskey Au Go Go fire. Arson
Cyclone/Sinking near Carnarvon, Western Australia 15 1979 Cyclone Hazel[127]
Heatwave South-eastern regions of Australia 15 February 1981 [128]
Air accident Lockhart River, Queensland 15 7 May 2005 Lockhart River plane crash [129]
Fire Childers, Queensland 15 June 2000 Robert Long received a life sentence for starting the fire at Childers Palace backpackers hostel [130][131]
Bushfire Dandenong Ranges and Lara, Victoria 14* January 14 - January 16, 1962 Casualty numbers vary between 9,[132] 14,[37][133] and 32.[105][134]
Bushfires Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra, New South Wales 14* January 1968 *Sources vary on death toll but most say 14.[135]
Cyclone Whitsunday Islands, Queensland 14 January 1970 Cyclone Ada
Cyclone Brisbane, Queensland 14 27 January 1974 1974 Brisbane flood. Cyclone Wanda [136]
Explosion Appin, New South Wales 14 24 July 1979 Appin Colliery Gas Explosion during a pre-planned ventilation change.[137]
Explosion Wonthaggi, Victoria 13 15 February 1937 Dalyson Colliery[138]
Air accident Tamworth, New South Wales 13 January 1960 [37]
Explosion Kianga, near Moura, Queensland 13 20 September 1975 Kianga Mine explosion [139]
Air accident Sydney Airport 13 21 February 1980 Light aircraft suffers engine failure [140]
Air accident near Alice Springs, Northern Territory 13 13 August 1989 Collision between 2 hot air balloons [141]
Earthquake Newcastle, New South Wales 13 28 December 1989 1989 Newcastle earthquake
Flood Windsor, New South Wales 12 21 June 1867 12 members of the Eather family swept away in flood.[142]
Bushfire Gippsland, Victoria 12 1 February 1898 "Red Tuesday" bushfires. 2,600 km² burnt, 12 people killed, 2,000 buildings destroyed.[143]
Bushfire Victoria – Portland, Plenty Ranges, Westernport, Wimmera and Dandenong districts 12* 6 February 1851 "Black Thursday" bushfires. *Approximately 12 fatalities, one million sheep, thousands of cattle, 50,000 km² burnt.[143]
Shipwreck Calgardup Bay, Western Australia 12 1 December 1876 SS Georgette[144]
Bridge collapse Hobart, Tasmania 12 5 January 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster. The bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the bridge, causing a section to fall onto the vessel. 7 crewmen died as the ship sank. 5 people perished as their cars plummeted off the edge.
Explosion Moura, Queensland 12 16 July 1986 Explosion in Moura No 4 Mine[145]
Fire Dungog, New South Wales 12 2 August 1991 Palm Grove Hostel fire[146]
Rail accident Near Kerang, Victoria 11 5 June 2007 Kerang train crash. A V/Line train collides with a truck at a level crossing.[147]
Road accident Boondall, Queensland 12 1 October 1994 Boondall bus crash[148]
Rail accident Near Horsham, Victoria 11 24 February 1951 A train collides with a bus at a level crossing.[149]
Serial killing Remains discovered in Snowtown, South Australia 11 1999 Snowtown murders.[150]
Air accident Mount Emerald, Queensland 11 11 May 1990 [151]
Bushfire Victoria 10 January 1965 [152]
Air Accident Canberra 10 13 August 1940 Senior War Cabinet Ministers, Chief of Staff and others killed when their plane crashed in fine weather.
Storm/Flood Hunter and Central Coast regions, New South Wales 10 8 - 11 June 2007 Storm and flooding[153]
Rail accident Near Traveston railway station, Queensland 10 9 June 1925 10 died and 48 injured when a passenger carrige and luggage van of the Rockhampton Mail plunged off a high trestle bridge.[154]
Heatwave Eastern and Southern regions Australia 10+ January-February 1997 Strong likelihood of additional unreported deaths [155]

Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths

Disaster Standort Deaths Date Notes
Rail accident Violet Town, Victoria 9 7 February 1969 Violet Town railway disaster. Head on collision after driver died at controls.[156]
Landslide Gracetown, Western Australia 9 27 September 1996 5 adults and 4 children died when a cliff face collapsed at Cowaramup Bay near Gracetown (Margaret River)[157][158]
Air accident Williamtown, NSW-Lord Howe Island 9 2 October 1994 Seaview Air Aero Commander 690 crashes between Williamtown, NSW and Lord Howe Island.[159]
Bushfire Eyre Peninsula, South Australia 9 11 January 2005 Eyre Peninsula Bushfire.[160]
Massacre Melbourne 9 8 December 1987 Queen Street massacre. Shooting massacre
Air accident Snowy Mountains, New South Wales 8 21 March 1931 Southern Cloud
Bushfire Wandillo, South Australia 8 April 1958 8 firefighters died [citation needed]
Bushfire Western Victoria 8 February 1977 Around Streatham was the worst affected area.[161]
Air accident Off Whyalla, South Australia 8 31 May 2000 Whyalla Airlines Disaster. All on board drowned, Chris Schuppan's body was never recovered
Explosion Off Dampier, Western Australia 8 18 November 2001 Nigo Kim cargo ship explosion.[162]
Flood Canberra 7 26 January 1971 1971 Canberra flood. Seven motorists were killed when their cars were swept into a creek.[37]
Fire Sydney 7 9 June 1979 Fire engulfs the Ghost Train ride at Luna Park Sydney. May have been arson.[163]
Serial killing Near Berrima, New South Wales 7+ 1989-1994 Backpacker Murders. Remains of seven backpackers found in the Belanglo State Forest. The killer remains the Prime suspect for another 16 still unsolved murders and is a Person of interest for another 14. There is evidence he may not have acted alone.
Serial killing Near Truro, South Australia 7 1976-1977 Truro murders. Remains of seven young women found in bushland.
Massacre Milperra, New South Wales 7 1984 Milperra massacre. Shooting massacre
Massacre Clifton Hill, Victoria 7 1987 Hoddle Street massacre. Shooting massacre
Massacre Central Sydney 7 1992 Central Coast Massacre. Shooting massacre
Flood Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria 7 1990 Nyngan and Charleville Flood. More than a million square kilometres of flooding.[164]
Massacre Strathfield, New South Wales 7 1991 Strathfield Massacre
Cyclone Around Cairns, Queensland 7 March 1997 Cyclone Justin. 1 death from landslide. There were also 26 deaths from the same cyclone in Papua New Guinea.[165]
Rail accident Glenbrook, New South Wales 7 December 1999 Glenbrook train disaster. Collision by a CityRail Intercity train into the rear wagon of an Indian Pacific train after "Stop and Proceed".
Heatwave around Adelaide, South Australia 7 February 2000 [166]
Rail accident Waterfall, New South Wales 7 January 2003 Waterfall train disaster. Excessive speed resulting in derailment after driver died at the controls and 'dead man' safety device failed to function.[167]
Serial killing Tynong North and Frankston, Victoria 6 December 1980 Remains found in bushland. Investigation still open.[168][169]
Industrial accident Spotswood, Victoria 6 1895 Spotswood Sewer Disaster. The drilling of an underground sewer in Melbourne went too close to the Yarra River.[170]
Landslide Between Blackwood, South Australia and Belair, South Australia 6 31 January 1928 Hills Railway line disaster. Railway embankment collapsed during tunnel demolition.[171]
Flood Sydney and Penrith, New South Wales 6 February to March 1978 [172]
Flood Hawkesbury, New South Wales 6 August 1986 Hawkesbury and Georges River Flood.[173]
Air accident Essendon, Victoria 6 10 July 1978 Aircraft with a crew of two and one passenger crashed into houses shortly after take off from Essendon Airport. 6 members of one family were killed.[174]
Air accident Essendon, Victoria 6 3 September 1986 Air Ambulance Cessna (call signal RED) crashed on take off from Essendon Airport after single engine failure.[175]
Flood/cyclone Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales 6 February 1990 Drowning deaths caused by Cyclone Nancy[176]
Rail accident Brooklyn, New South Wales 6 6 May 1990 Commuter train crashed into a stalled chartered steam train.[177]
Maritime accident Tasman Sea 6 1998 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. 5 boats sank and 6 people died.
Battle Broken Hill, New South Wales 6 1 January 1915 Battle of Broken Hill. Two Turkish immigrants open fire on a train carrying picnickers.[178]
Road accident Cardross, near Mildura, Victoria 6 18 February 2006 Cardross road accident. Car ploughs into group of teenagers, driver flees
Fire Kings Cross, New South Wales 6 17 September 1989 Downunder Hostel Fire. Arson attack.[179]
Sinking Sydney Harbour 6 1 May 2008 6 killed and 9 injured when two boats collided.[180]
Massacre North Epping, New South Wales 5 18 July 2009 Family slain at home
Air accident Willowbank, Queensland 5 2 January 2006 Skydiving Cessna 206 plane crash.[181]
Mass Murder Inland Motel at the base of Uluru 5 18 August 1983 Douglas Crabbe rammed his 25-ton Mack truck through the wall of the motel's bar.[182]
Sinking North of Bermagui, New South Wales 5 9 October 1890 Mystery Bay disappearance. Crew of a small boat disappears off the NSW south coast.
Landslide Cairns, Queensland 5 31 May 1900 Riverstone landslide. Tramway cutting caves in on workers[183]
Rail accident Sydenham, New South Wales 5 1953 Sydenham Rail Disaster. Wrong side failure causes rear end collision of two trains
Heatwave Southern South Australia and northern Victoria 5+ January 1990 Likelihood of additional unreported deaths.[184]
Heatwave Townsville region 5 January 1994 [185]
Bushfire Linton, Victoria 5 1998 Linton bushfire. Wildfire engulfs five volunteer firefighters.[186]
Rail accident Salisbury railway station, Adelaide 4 24 October 2002 The Ghan passenger train hit a car and a bus at a busy level crossing at Salisbury, in Adelaide's north.[187]
Sinking Cairns, Queensland 4 13 September 1947 HMAS Warrnambool. Sunk while clearing minefields after World War II.[188]
Flood/cyclone North and Central Coast, Queensland 4-5 December 1990 and January 1991 Extensive damage from flooding caused by Cyclone Joy[189][190]
Heatwave Melbourne 4+ December 1990 Likelihood of additional unreported deaths[191]
Bushfire Eastern Seaboard, New South Wales 4 January 1994 Over 800 bushfires. 3 of the dead were firefighters [37]
Flood Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales 4 May 1996 [192]
Sinking Sydney Harbour 4 28 March 2007 HarbourCat ferry Pam Burridge collides with pleasure cruiser Merinda.[193][194]
Landslide Cradle Mountain National Park 4 18 February 2001 4 people died when landslide causes a bus to fall into a ravine [195]
Air accident Toowoomba, Queensland 4 27 November 2001 Plane hit powerlines [196]
Bushfire Canberra 4 18 January 2003 2003 Canberra bushfires. Bushfire reaches capital city suburbs[197]
Fire Indian Ocean 4 5 May 1998 HMAS Westralia. Unsuitable fuel hose in engine room bursts, spraying diesel which ignites, creating a fireball below deck.[198]
Air accident Newman, Western Australia 4 26 January 2001 Fuel starvation on Western Australia Police aircraft.[199]
Mining accident Parkes, New South Wales 4 25 November 1999 A gust of air made its way along the access tunnel causing a truck to roll over two, while falling rocks killed the other pair.
Road accident/fire Melbourne 3 23 March 2007 Burnley Tunnel Fire. Traffic accident resulting in explosion and fire.[200]
Air accident Tambo, Queensland 3 24 March 1927 Qantas de Havilland DH-9C crash[201]
Terrorism Sydney 3 13 February 1978 Sydney Hilton bombing. Bomb explosion outside Sydney Hilton Hotel during the CHOGRM[202]
Cyclone south of Innisfail, Queensland 3 February 1986 Category 3 Cyclone Winifred in region from Cairns to Ingham.[37][203]
Cyclone Townsville, Queensland 3 December 1971 Cyclone Althea. Cyclone and storm surge.[37]
Flood Katherine, Northern Territory 3 January 1998 Flooding cause by ex-tropical cyclone Les.[37]
Bushfire Ferny Creek, Victoria, 3 21 January 1997 3 dead in bushfire lit by arsonist.
Severe storm Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Sydney and central western regions 3 November 2001 [204]
Rail Accident Trawalla, Victoria 2 28 April 2006 2 people killed in level-crossing train accident at Trawalla, near Beaufort, Victoria [205]
Hailstorm Sydney, New South Wales 1 14 April 1999 1999 Sydney hailstorm; most costly single natural disaster in Australia's history, with A$1.7 billion in insured damages and approximately A$2.3 billion total (1999 values).
Mine collapse Beaconsfield, Tasmania 1 25 April 2006 Beaconsfield Mine collapse

Significant incidents of Australians being killed overseas

Excludes deaths attributable to war.

Disaster Standort Deaths Date Notes
Terrorism Kuta, Bali, Indonesia 89 12 October 2002 2002 Bali Bombing
Tsunami Thailand and Sri Lanka 26 26 December 2004 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
Air accident Denpasar, Indonesia 16 22 April 1974 Pan Am Boeing 707 crashes into a mountain, a total of 107 people were killed.[206]
Flood Interlaken, Switzerland 14 July 28, 1999 Flash flood hits canyoning expedition.
Terrorism New York City and Arlington County, United States 11 11 September 2001 September 11, 2001 attacks.
Air accident near Isurava, Papua New Guinea 9 12 August 2009 Airlines PNG Flight CG4684 - Airlines PNG De Havilland Twin Otter 300 crashes in mountainous terrain.
Air accident Nias Island, Indonesia 9 2 April 2005 2005 Nias Island WS-61 Sea King crash crashes while providing relief services to victims of the 2005 Sumatra earthquake
Air accident Las Vegas, Nevada, United States 9 August 1974 [207]
Road accident Outside Cairo, Egypt 6 11 January 2006 Bus swerves and flips on major highway
Air accident Near Suva, Fiji 6 24 July 1999 Air Fiji Bandeirante hits mountain ridge
Poisoning Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies 6 1945 Australian soldiers accidentally drink methyl alcohol from ruptured drums[208]
Air accident Yogyakarta, Indonesia 5 7 March 2007 Garuda Indonesia flight 200
Air accident Kallang Airport, Singapore 5 13 March 1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation flying from Sydney crashes on landing.
Road accident Kota Tinggi, Malaysia 5 1993 Truck carrying Australian soldiers of 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment hit by a bus.
Air accident near San Francisco 4+ 29 October 1953 British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Flight 304 crashes on approach to San Francisco.
Bridge collapse Ramat Gan, Israel 4 14 July 1997 Maccabiah bridge collapse
Terrorism Jimbaran and Kuta, Bali, Indonesia 4 1 October 2005 2005 Bali Bombings
Air accident near Goroka, Papua New Guinea 4 17 June 1999 Airlink Embraer Bandeirante crashes on approach
Cyclone Gulf of Thailand, Thailand 4 3 November 1989 Drilling Ship Seacrest capsized during Typhoon Gay.
Air accident Tanjung Kupang, Johor, Malaysia 3 4 December 1977 Malaysia Airlines Flight 653.
Terrorism Jakarta, Indonesia 3 17 July 2009 JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel bombing.
Fire Manoharpur, Orissa, India 3 22 January 1999 Australian missionary and sons killed in arson attack.
Air accident Lukla, Nepal 2 15 October 2008 Yeti Airlines Twin Otter aircraft crashes in fog.
Air accident London, United Kingdom 2 4 November 1967 Iberia Airlines Flight 062 crashed while landing at Heathrow Airport.
Terrorism Mumbai, India 2 November 2008 November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Air accident off Mauritius 2 28 November 1987 South African Airways Flight 295.
Air accident near Qazvin, Iran 2 15 July 2009 Caspian Airlines Flight 7908
Air accident Long Island Sound, United States 2 27 June 2005 Private light plane crash
Avalanche Peru 2 2 August 2007 Avalanche in Huayhuash peaks in Bolognesi, Peru
Shootings Balibo, Portuguese Timor 2 16 October 1975 Indonesian military shoot at journalists ("Balibo Five") during incursion into Portuguese Timor
Air accident Near Hawaii, United States 2 24 February 1989 United Airlines Flight 811 between Honolulu and Auckland experiences explosive decompression
Air accident Los Rodeos, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 2 27 March 1977 KLM and Pan Am jumbos collide on runway (Tenerife disaster)
Terrorism Roermond, Netherlands 2 27 May 1990 two Australian tourists shot by the Provisional IRA, in the mistaken belief they are British military personnel
Air accident Bay of Bengal 2 8 November 1935 Lady Southern Cross, piloted by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, crashes en-route between Allahabad, India and Singapore.
Avalanche Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand 2 31 December 2003 Avalanche hits party climbing Mount Tasman

See also

References

  1. ^ "Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database". Retrieved 22 February 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database". Retrieved 22 February 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database". Retrieved 22 February 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database". Retrieved 10 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Emergency Management Australia, Disaster Database". Retrieved 22 February 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
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  8. ^ 75 excess deaths attributed to heat stress were recorded in the Adelaide metropolitan area, 33 in Melbourne and an unknown number in country areas.
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