Deadliest structural failures - infographic

[Altair]

Deadliest structural failures.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...s_fullsize.jpg



Previously:

Earthquake simulator for buildings - GIF
Miami condo collapse - GIF
Building collapse in Washington, D.C. - video
New Orleans Hard Rock Cafe collapse yesterday - GIF
Building collapses during construction - GIF

[schuylergrace]

I found it interesting the United States seems to have had many more than anywhere else. I would have guessed south or east Asia, given the high population density and frequent seismic and large weather events.

[Frank S]

I found it interesting the United States seems to have had many more than anywhere else. I would have guessed south or east Asia, given the high population density and frequent seismic and large weather events.

At least a couple of the dam failures can be attributed to poor communications between Geological and Civil engineers Failures from natural disasters are predictably unpredictable. Some bridge and structure failures possibly could be the results of alleged under the table dealings the Terrorist destructions are just that caused by a terrorist or terrorists. I imagine there will be countless scores more structure failures happen in this century largely because of an aging infrastructure hopefully thses will be demolished before they become killing zones

[hemmjo]

I found it interesting the United States seems to have had many more than anywhere else. I would have guessed south or east Asia, given the high population density and frequent seismic and large weather events.

I am not saying the US is not without some issues, but lets keep things in perspective.

There are 30 events listed. The US has 9 of them. Nine is not many times more than 21. It is in fact less than 1/2 of the total listed. Also of note in the graphic are huge areas where they are no building failures listed. If you examine the graphic you will notice those areas with no failures are the huge sections of the Earth where they are very few large structures. In some of those areas there are no structures at all. In the other areas, there is very little reporting done. Is it significant that there are none reported in China or Russia? I believe it is.

In addition, many deadly incidents happen where hundreds, maybe 1,000's, of smaller structures were destroyed in one event, rather then one large structure. For example, #6 on the list might be the level 8.0 earthquake that occurred on Hispanola in 1946. This event killed over 1700 in Haiti and the Dominican Republic which share the island. Number 1 on the list might be the 2010, 7.0 earthquake near Port-au-Prince, the densely populated capital city, that may have killed 100,000 to 300,000 people. (Numbers are difficult to verify when there are few birth/death records, and many bodies were just scooped up in the rubble and discarded.) The building standards are all but non-existent. Those standards that may exist are not enforced anyway.

I am sure there are other large events that are little known.

[schuylergrace]

I am not saying the US is not without some issues, but lets keep things in perspective. There are 30 events listed. The US has 9 of them. Nine is not many times more than 21. It is in fact less than 1/2 of the total listed.

I wasn't saying we had more than everyone else combined, and I figured different reporting standards might be part of the difference. I just assumed there'd be many more large, single structure events somewhere like Hong Kong or Mumbai or Shanghai, where earthquakes are common and population density is higher. And the small disasters add up to many more lives impacted than do the big ones, no matter whether you are talking about structures failing or car wrecks or plane crashes. There are lots of fatal GA plane crashes every year, for example, but when one jumbo jet goes down, that's news.

[mansworld]

If commercial airplanes collisions with WTC towers caused their collapse. Then, what caused the ground floor columns to appear as if it had been flame-cut at 45 degrees inclination towards the building center? Apparently, the presumed hijackers planned to have the two towers to fall within its footprint without controlled demolition!!

[bob_3000]

If commercial airplanes collisions with WTC towers caused their collapse. Then, what caused the ground floor columns to appear as if it had been flame-cut at 45 degrees inclination towards the building center? Apparently, the presumed hijackers planned to have the two towers to fall within its footprint without controlled demolition!!

He's baaaaack.

[mansworld]

That's not a defense or even explain the obvious. When Senator Robert Kennedy tried to find out who killed his brother President John Kennedy, they killed him too. The number of people killed following the 9/11 attacks to smother the TRUTH are staggering and exceeded the number of those killed in the attacks.

[mansworld]

He's baaaaack.

That's not a defense or even explain the obvious. When Senator Robert Kennedy tried to find out who killed his brother President John Kennedy, they killed him too. The number of people killed following the 9/11 attacks to smother the TRUTH are staggering and exceeded the number of those killed in the attacks.

[bob_3000]

That's not a defense or even explain the obvious. When Senator Robert Kennedy tried to find out who killed his brother President John Kennedy, they killed him too. The number of people killed following the 9/11 attacks to smother the TRUTH are staggering and exceeded the number of those killed in the attacks.

Didn't you hear? The Kennedy's are alive and well and living on Castaway Cay in the Caribbean.