Fatal Accidents or 'disasters'

Connected Sites: 53

Sites where there have been "disasters" causing significant numbers of human deaths from a single incident or where repeated "tourism related" deaths have totalled a significant number. Only sites involving an "entry" are included (ie not city or town centres etc) and "simple" traffic accidents etc are not counted.

Connected Sites

  • Hampi
    Hampi
    India
    Inscribed: 1986
    4.04
    66
    4
    In January 2009 the collapse of the Anegundi Bridge during construction caused the death of 8 construction workers
  • Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch
    Inscribed: 2001
    3.91
    220
    11
    July 2006 6 Swiss soldiers died in an avalanche on the Jungfrau.
  • Qutb Minar
    Inscribed: 1993
    3.45
    208
    6
    A "stampede" of Schoolgirls inside the tower occurred in 1979 when the power inside the tower failed leading to 20 deaths and its subsequent closure to the public.
  • Timbuktu
    Inscribed: 1988
    3.45
    27
    2
    At least 26 people have been crushed to death in a deadly stampede in the famous Djinguereber mosque in the city of Timbuktu (Feb 2010)
    See www.rttnews.com
  • Mining Sites of Wallonia
    Inscribed: 2012
    2.25
    176
    7
    Le Bois du Cazier colliery , the last major mining disaster in European history, which occurred in 1956 and cost 262 lives. (AB ev)
  • Lake Turkana
    Inscribed: 1997
    2.64
    11
    1
    5 dead in helicopter crash in Central Island National Park (March 3, 2019)
    See www.cbsnews.com
  • Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
    Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
    Canada, United States of America
    Inscribed: 1995
    3.91
    129
    8
    Glacier NP reports 9 fatal bear attacks since the 1960s.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • The Sundarbans
    The Sundarbans
    Bangladesh
    Inscribed: 1997
    2.82
    30
    2
    The Sundarbans has been notorious for its man-eating tigers since the 17th century. Numbers of reported deaths has varied from 0 to 47 (mean = 22.1) per annum during the period 1947-1983 (R.E. Salter, pers. con-m., 1987). In 1988, 65 deaths were reported during a fourmonth period (The Guardian, 28 December 1988). (AB ev)
  • Shiretoko
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.50
    38
    8
    April 2022: "Ten confirmed dead from missing tourist boat. ...The Kazu 1 is believed to have been on a three-hour sightseeing voyage around the Shiretoko Peninsula."
    See www.bbc.com
  • Old Havana
    Inscribed: 1982
    3.82
    178
    6
    A gas explosion at the Saratoga Hotel left 22 people dead (May 2022).
    See www.bbc.com
  • Champaner-Pavagadh
    Inscribed: 2004
    2.84
    40
    3
    "On 19 January 2003, seven people were killed and 24 were injured in a ropeway accident." (wiki)
  • Sundarbans National Park
    Inscribed: 1987
    2.76
    27
    6
    "Due to wandering tigers, human-tiger conflict continues to be an issue. Sunderban tigers hunt humans, and it is estimated that over a thousand of the local people have been killed by tigers over the past four decades." (wiki)
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Budapest
    Budapest
    Hungary
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.88
    544
    15
    Sinking of a tour boat on the Danube May 29, 2019; killed 24 people
    See www.foxnews.com
  • Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago
    Inscribed: 1994
    4.00
    258
    17
    12 tourists killed on boat that sunk in February 2011
    See www.bbc.co.uk
  • Meknes
    Meknes
    Morocco
    Inscribed: 1996
    2.96
    217
    6
    Collapse of the Lalla Khenata mosque's minaret in the old Bab el Bardiyine neighbourhood left 41 people dead (February 2010)
  • Khangchendzonga National Park
    Inscribed: 2016
    3.42
    15
    3
    Kangchenjunga has seen over 50 deaths since 1905.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Chitwan National Park
    Inscribed: 1984
    3.28
    88
    11
    12 people killed by tigers inside the NP (2007-2014)
    See www.researchgate.net
  • Yosemite National Park
    Yosemite National Park
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1984
    4.28
    287
    12
    18 deaths in 2011 "an unfortunate increase from recent years that has included a few terrifying deaths this summer, including three members of a church group who were swept over a waterfall and a pair of deaths from falling at Half Dome, the park's signature peak." (New York Times 9/6/2011) Plus: 1938 Yosemite TWA crash with 9 fatalities
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Yellowstone
    Yellowstone
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1978
    4.49
    214
    12
    "There have been 22 known deaths related to thermal features in Yellowstone since 1890" Plus: Since Yellowstone was established in 1872, eight people have been killed by bears in the park.
    See www.nbcnews.com
  • Inscribed: 1996
    4.31
    15
    2
    6 climbers killed during a fall on Klyuchevskaya Sopka
    See www.bbc.com
  • Valletta
    Inscribed: 1980
    3.76
    382
    10
    Carnival tragedy of 1823: a human crush which occurred on 11 February 1823 at the Convent of the Minori Osservanti in Valletta. About 110 boys who had gone to the convent to receive bread on the last day of carnival celebrations were killed after falling down a flight of steps while trying to get out of the convent.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Uluru
    Uluru
    Australia
    Inscribed: 1987
    4.39
    139
    6
    Over 35 tourists have died climbing the rock - many by heart attack!
  • Te Wahipounamu
    Te Wahipounamu
    New Zealand
    Inscribed: 1986
    4.18
    120
    11
    Fox Glacier in Westland National Park: Two Australian tourists were killed 8 January 2009 when more than 100 tonnes of ice fell on them. Nine people, including four international tourists, died in a plane crash 4 September 2010 when the plane, carrying a party of skydivers and tourists, crashed at the end of the runway at Fox Glacier Airport. Seven people, including the pilot, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Nov 2015.
  • Syracuse
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.59
    247
    8
    One night in December 1704, during a very strong storm, lightning struck the Castello Maniace in Syracuse, blowing up its powder magazine (800 barrels), destroying its watchtowers, causing an entire floor to collapse and killing 33 Spanish soldiers who, as usual, garrisoned it, even at night. (wiki)
    See it.wikipedia.org
  • Sceilg Mhichíl
    Inscribed: 1996
    3.82
    90
    8
    there have been 3 deaths at Skellig Michael that resulted from tourists falling (1 in 1995 2 in 2009)
    See www.heritageireland.ie
  • Sagarmatha National Park
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.78
    49
    3
    There have been over 296 recorded deaths of climbers on "Everest". The worst single event was the result of the 25 April 2015 earthquake when at least 17 climbers died when an avalanche hit Everest South Base Camp.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Rammelsberg and Goslar
    Inscribed: 1992
    3.20
    203
    11
    "A mining accident is documented in 1376, when more than 100 miners were buried and killed."
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Potosi
    Potosi
    Bolivia
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.21
    90
    6
    Cerro Rico: 19 and 20 deaths from mining accidents in 2009 and 2010 respectively
  • Petra
    Petra
    Jordan
    Inscribed: 1985
    4.61
    288
    21
    There have been several incidents with flash floods in or near Petra. In April 1963, 23 French tourists and a local guide died due to a sudden flash flood in the Siq.
    See www.lemonde.fr
  • Paris, Banks of the Seine
    Inscribed: 1991
    4.19
    680
    20
    The "grand étouffement" on the Place Louis XV (now Place de la Concorde) on 30 May 1770. During fireworks in honour of the marriage of the Dauphin and Archduchess Marie-Antoinette of Austria, hundreds of people are trampled and suffocated in a panic caused by a fire started by a falling rocket.
    See fr.wikipedia.org
  • Okavango Delta
    Inscribed: 2014
    4.14
    85
    4
    On 14 October 2011, a Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop passenger aircraft operated by Moremi Air on a domestic flight from Xakanaka camp to Maun, Botswana, crashed and caught fire shortly after take-off, killing eight of the twelve people on board.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
    Inscribed: 2012
    2.05
    141
    9
    Courrières disaster (1906, almost 1,100 deaths) (AB ev)
  • Nice
    Nice
    France
    Inscribed: 2021
    2.78
    353
    5
    On March 23, 1881, a fire destroyed the Théâtre Municipal during a performance of "Lucia de Lammermoor". This disaster caused two hundred victims. The theatre was rebuilt as the Opéra de Nice.
    See fr.wikipedia.org
  • Ngorongoro
    Ngorongoro
    Tanzania
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.36
    128
    4
    11 people killed in a plane crash (Nov 2017)
  • Nasca Lines
    Inscribed: 1994
    3.87
    147
    10
    Seven tourists died in a plane crash while viewing the Lines (feb 2010). Five tourists had suffered the same fate in april 2008. Seven more were killed on 4 Feb 2022.
    See www.theguardian.com
  • Mount Etna
    Inscribed: 2013
    3.55
    263
    12
    6 tourists killed during eruption in 1979
    See news.google.com
  • Mammoth Cave
    Mammoth Cave
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1981
    3.25
    123
    5
    Several over the years, including deaths during cave tours and a helicopter accident. But the most prolific accidental death is that of Floyd Collins (see link).
    See www.nps.gov
  • Kinabalu Park
    Inscribed: 2000
    3.25
    93
    6
    2015 Sabah earthquake: Eighteen fatalities were reported, all occurring on Mount Kinabalu.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Kilimanjaro National Park
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.91
    85
    7
    "we estimate the number of people who die on Kili each year to be about six or seven. It should be noted that the study does not include the death of porters, for whom a post-mortem is not compulsory and thus the number of fatalities they suffer is more difficult to quantify with any degree of accuracy."
    See www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com
  • Huascaran National Park
    Inscribed: 1985
    3.77
    67
    7
    The Ancash Earthquake May 31 1970. Most of the destroyed towns were outside the inscribed park but "Fifteen members of a Czech expedition were climbing Huascarán at the time, and were among the thousands dead."
    See www.peakware.com
  • Hallstatt-Dachstein
    Inscribed: 1997
    3.61
    244
    16
    13 people(10 students and 3 teacher from the Knabenmittelschule Heilbronn) died/freezed on 15 april 1954
  • Grand Canyon
    Grand Canyon
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.40
    380
    21
    "About 12 deaths happen each year at the Grand Canyon, including from natural causes, medical problems, suicide, heat, drowning and traffic crashes. On average, two to three deaths per year are from falls over the rim.." Plus also: the 1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision, which killed 128 people after two planes had changed altitude unbeknownst to each other
    See www.mygrandcanyonpark.com
  • Fujisan
    Fujisan
    Japan
    Inscribed: 2013
    3.60
    203
    8
    7 deaths among climbers in 2012
    See www.japantimes.co.jp
  • Everglades
    Everglades
    United States of America
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.68
    259
    15
    Crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in 1996, killing all 110 people on board. It crashed in the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in the Everglades. Also: Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, causing 101 fatalities. Plus several smaller plane crashes.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Dorset and East Devon Coast
    Inscribed: 2001
    3.33
    200
    13
    Durdle Door - Repeated visitor deaths from "Tombstoning" - "A total of at least 20 people have died after tombstoning since 2005."
    See www.dorset.live
  • Dolomites
    Inscribed: 2009
    4.08
    251
    7
    At least eleven killed in Italian Marmolada glacier collapse (July 2022)
    See www.breakingnews.ie
  • Corfu
    Corfu
    Greece
    Inscribed: 2007
    2.97
    202
    9
    Old Fortress: In 1718 lightning struck the powder magazine at Castel da Mare causing an explosion which created a chain reaction during which three secondary ammunition facilities also exploded, this in turn destroying most buildings inside the castle. The Venetian commander of the fortress was killed along with members of his staff. Hundreds of others died in the explosion, in "one of the greatest catastrophes" in the history of Corfu. (wiki)
  • Cape Floral Region
    Inscribed: 2004
    3.40
    170
    5
    Table Mountain - "... 10 to 20 fatalities on it a year"
    See www.google.com
  • Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
    Inscribed: 1984
    4.41
    179
    9
    Due to bear attacks in Jasper and Banff NP's, 5 deaths have been reported.
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Assisi
    Assisi
    Italy
    Inscribed: 2000
    3.76
    249
    8
    "On the morning of September 26, 1997, two earthquakes hit the region around Assisi in rapid succession(...). There was widespread devastation and many ancient buildings were destroyed or damaged. While a group of specialists and friars were inspecting the damage to the Basilica of Saint Francis, an aftershock shook the building, causing the collapse of the vault. Two Franciscan friars who were among the group and two of the specialists were killed. (...) The collapse was captured on tape."
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Sewell Mining Town
    Inscribed: 2006
    2.85
    33
    8
    1945 El Teniente mining accident, where 355 men died
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Mount Kenya
    Inscribed: 1997
    2.93
    44
    3
    "On July 19, 2003, a South African registered aircraft, carrying 12 passengers and two crew, crashed into Mount Kenya at Point Lenana: nobody survived"
  • Ohrid Region
    Ohrid Region
    Albania, North Macedonia
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.41
    204
    7
    15 people died after a sightseeing boat sank in Lake Ohrid (2009)
    See news.bbc.co.uk