Natural Disasters

List of Natural Disasters articles

A campaign poster for Turkish opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu is seen across the street from an earthquake-scarred building in Antakya, Turkey.
A campaign poster for Turkish opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu is seen across the street from an earthquake-scarred building in Antakya, Turkey.

Erdogan’s Support Is Shakiest in Turkey’s Quake Belt

Millions of voters return to shattered towns hoping for a new president this weekend.

A digger stationed on a mound of rubble breaks down a destroyed building in Adiyaman, Turkey, on March 25, following a massive earthquake the month before.
A digger stationed on a mound of rubble breaks down a destroyed building in Adiyaman, Turkey, on March 25, following a massive earthquake the month before.

Turkey’s Government Uses Disaster for Profit

The ruling Justice and Development Party has a long record of targeting minorities through reconstruction projects.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a press conference at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on June 6, 2022.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a press conference at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on June 6, 2022.

Turkey’s Weak Strongman

Western pundits often admire autocrats for getting things done. Turkey shows why they’re wrong.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech after receiving an honorary doctorate of laws from Waseda University in Tokyo on October 8, 2015.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech after receiving an honorary doctorate of laws from Waseda University in Tokyo on October 8, 2015.

The Deadly Toll of Erdogan’s War on Academia

The fault lines between the Turkish government and universities have increased the fallout from the country’s earthquakes.

An aerial view of collapsed buildings as search and rescue efforts continue in Idlib, Syria on February 13, 2023.
An aerial view of collapsed buildings as search and rescue efforts continue in Idlib, Syria on February 13, 2023.

Don’t Rely on Assad to Get Aid to Syria’s Earthquake Victims

The announcement of border openings is reversible, and it won’t stop the regime’s ongoing obstruction of aid to rebel-held areas.

Earthquake survivors living in tent cities in Turkey charge their phones.
Earthquake survivors living in tent cities in Turkey charge their phones.

Turkey Tests Elon Musk’s Grasp of Twitter

The deadly earthquake has forced the billionaire to face his biggest test of Twitter's global responsibility thus far—but it won’t be his last.

A rescuer checks a partly damaged building in Turkey.
A rescuer checks a partly damaged building in Turkey.

The Quake That Exposed Erdogan’s Fault Lines

Last week’s earthquake killed tens of thousands of people, made many more individuals homeless, and exposed the shoddy underpinnings of the AKP economic miracle.

People stand in front of a huge mound of rubble.
People stand in front of a huge mound of rubble.

How Corruption and Misrule Made Turkey’s Earthquake Deadlier

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hollowed out state institutions, placed loyalists in key positions, and enriched his cronies—paving the way for this tragedy.

A view of a forest fire in Purén, Chile, on Feb. 4.
A view of a forest fire in Purén, Chile, on Feb. 4.

Climate Change Looms Behind South America’s Heat Wave

The dry heat has worsened deadly forest fires in Chile and caused expensive droughts in Argentina’s and Uruguay’s agriculture sectors.

Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building in the town of Jableh in Syria's northwestern province of Latakia following an earthquake, on February 7, 2023.
Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building in the town of Jableh in Syria's northwestern province of Latakia following an earthquake, on February 7, 2023.

Syria’s Earthquake Victims Are Trapped by Assad

Russia left the war-torn region with only a single border crossing—and it’s no longer open for aid.

Living quarters are flooded in Bangui, Central Africa Republic
Living quarters are flooded in Bangui, Central Africa Republic
A person in firefighting gear and goggles carries a long yellow hose amid a smoky haze.
A person in firefighting gear and goggles carries a long yellow hose amid a smoky haze.

The World’s Militaries Aren’t Ready for Climate Change

These days, threats don’t just come from other states.

A child stands in front of a makeshift shelter on the banks of a body of water.
A child stands in front of a makeshift shelter on the banks of a body of water.

Pakistan’s Flood Disaster Shows the Perils of Climate Shortsightedness

“We have never had a really good plan in terms of how we counter climate change,” one expert noted.

Members of the Taliban stand in front of a Blackhawk helicopter.
Members of the Taliban stand in front of a Blackhawk helicopter.

Afghans Battle Another Blow After Big Earthquake

The Taliban can’t govern in normal times, let alone disaster response.

In an aerial view, traffic creeps along Virginia Highway 1 after being diverted away from Interstate 95 after it was closed due to a winter storm.
In an aerial view, traffic creeps along Virginia Highway 1 after being diverted away from Interstate 95 after it was closed due to a winter storm.

Traffic Jams Are a Very American Disaster

The I-95 backup shows how easily highways can become traps.

A soldier stands over debris in Haiti.
A soldier stands over debris in Haiti.

Haiti’s Convenient Disaster

Last weekend’s earthquake was a catastrophe. But for the country’s political class, it came at exactly the right time.

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