List of disasters in Australia by death toll

Alaamu shɛŋa din niŋ Australia ka ʒi kpibu na.

Kɔbigu bee kpibu din gari
 AlaamuAlaamu  Kpibu Dabisili  Noosi Pandemic  Australia-wide  19,265  2020 Jan – 2023 MayCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia, part of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic  Australia-wide  12,000+  1918–1920  1918 flu pandemic. Epidemic  Australia-wide  8,000+  1875–1876  Scarlet fever epidemic.Curson, P H. Times of Crisis: Epidemics in Sydney 1788–1900. Sydney University Press, 1988. p-74. Volcanic eruption  Territory of Papua and New Guinea  2,942  1951 Jan  1951 eruption of Mount Lamington. Epidemic  Western Australia  2,000+  1891–1910  Australia's worst typhoid epidemic. Worst-affected areas were the WA Goldfields where over-crowding and un-sanitary living conditions were rife. Official death toll was close to 2,000 but actual toll much higher. Epidemic  Australia-wide  1,013  1946–1955  Polio epidemic. Epidemic  New South Wales  750 to 2,600  1789  Smallpox epidemic among Aboriginal peoples Epidemic  Sydney, New South Wales  748  1867 Feb–June  Measles epidemic in Sydney city & inner suburbs. Most of the victims were children under the age of 4. Epidemic  Australia-wide  535  1900–1925  Bubonic plague.Bushfires Australia-wide4792019–2020The Black Summer bushfires killed 479 people; 34 people from flames, and 445 people from smoke exposure. Future deaths from cardiovascular conditions and cancer are predicted. Heat wave  Victoria  438  1938 Dec – 1939 Feb  Heat wave killed 438 and sparked the Black Friday bushfires (see below). Heat wave  South-eastern Australia  437  1895 Dec – 1896 Jan Widespread heat wave killed 437, including 47 in Bourke, New South Wales. Cyclone  Bathurst Bay, Queensland  410  1899 Mar 4  Cyclone Mahina; estimated toll. Shipwreck  King Island, Tasmania  406  1845 Aug 4  The Cataraqui was wrecked when it crashed into rocks off the coast of King Island in stormy weather at 4:30 in the morning on 4 August. With 400 dead (another source states 406), it was Australia's worst civil maritime disaster. Heat wave  South-eastern Australia  374  2009 Jan 25 – 9 Feb  A nine-day heat wave in early 2009 in which Adelaide recorded six consecutive days over , a high of  and a record overnight minimum of  on 28 January.75 excess deaths attributed to heat stress were recorded in the Adelaide metropolitan area, 33 in Melbourne and an unknown number in country areas. Sparked the Black Saturday bushfires (see below). Health authorities attribute 374 deaths to the heat wave. Massacre  Gippsland Victoria 300+  1840–1850  Gippsland massacres – The Aboriginal people of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, known as the Gunai/Kurnai people, fought against the European colonisation of their traditional hunting grounds. At least 300 people were killed, but other figures estimate up to 1,000. Shipwreck    286  1712 Jun  Sinking of Dutch ship Zuytdorp, which was wrecked off the coast near Kalbarri. There has been speculation that there were survivors, who may have been assisted by local Aboriginal Australians. Sinking  Off North Stradbroke Island, Queensland  268  1943 May 14 thumb|Centaur memorial Sinking of AHS Centaur. Hospital ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.The Centaur memorial, in Point Danger, Coolangatta, Queensland, commemorates the sinking of the hospital ship AHS Centaur in 1943, which claimed 268 lives. Heat wave Southern states  246  1907 Dec – 1908 JanThere were 105 deaths in South Australia alone (between 7 December 1907 and 8 February 1908). Air raids  Darwin, Northern Territory  243  1942 Feb 19 thumb|Japanese air raids on Darwin First bombings of Darwin. The first Japanese air raids against Australia. There were two air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942, the first one began around 10 am, the second around 11:45 am. The toll may have been higher because itinerants and Aboriginal Australians may be under-represented in the official count. Prison break  Cowra, New South Wales  235–238  1944 Aug 5  Cowra breakout.thumb|Japanese prisoners of war Escape by Japanese POWs. Japanese prisoners of war practise baseball on the sports ground near their quarters, several weeks before the 1944 Cowra breakout, in which at least 235 people died Pandemic  Australia-wide  234  1890  1889-90 flu pandemic Shipwreck  King Island, Tasmania  224  1835 May 13  The convict ship the , was wrecked on Navarine Reef near King Island in the early hours of 13 May 1835. Shipwreck  Western Australia 212  1726  Aagtekerke.  Possibly WA, but there is some doubt on this.:nl:Lijst van rampen buiten Nederland met Nederlandse dodelijke slachtoffers Pandemic  Australia-wide  191  2009  2009 flu pandemic in Australia. 191 confirmed deaths. Death toll possibly as high as 1600. Shipwreck  Ledge Point, Western Australia  186  1656 Apr 28  The Vergulde Draeck bound for Batavia, was wrecked near Ledge Point on 28 April 1656. Bushfires  Victoria  173  2009 Feb 7  The Black Saturday bushfires broke out on 7 February 2009, strong winds gusted up to 100 km/h, allowing the fires to spread quickly. The final death toll was 173, with over 2000 houses destroyed. Cyclone/sinking  Western Australia  150+  1912 Mar 21–22  The  was lost in a cyclone between Port Hedland and Broome during a cyclone with all on board (around 158 people). The cyclone crossed the Western Australia coast around Balla Balla, early on 22nd. Several other ships and vessels were also wrecked in the cyclone, claiming another 15 lives. Heat waves  Australia-wide  147  1920–1921  Heat waves  Australia-wide  143 +  1911–1912  Cyclone  Broome, Western Australia  141  1935 Mar 26  Pearling fleet devastated. Cyclone  Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia  140  1884  Pearling fleet sunk. Cyclone  Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia  140  1887 Apr 22  A late season cyclone hit the Eighty Mile Beach area (then known as Ninety Mile Beach), devastating the pearling fleet there, killing 140 people and around 20 boats lost. Shipwreck  D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania  133  1835 Apr 12  George III Shipwreck  Cape York, Queensland  133  1890 Feb 28  The RMS Quetta, sank in around 3 minutes, with the loss of 134 of her 292 passengers and crew. Heat wave  Southern states  130  1926 Dec – 1927 Jan  Shipwreck/mutiny/massacre  Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia  125+  1629 Jun – Jul  The Dutch ship Batavia was wrecked in the Abrolhos Islands early on 4 June 1629. After some of the crew left for help, mutineers murdered at least 125 of the survivors, while 40 drowned when the wreck broke up. This toll does not include the mutineers, seven of whom were hanged and two cast away after the remaining passengers had been rescued. Most of the remaining mutineers were later executed. Heat wave  Australia-wide  122 +  1913–1914  Cyclone/sinking  North-eastern Queensland  122  1911 Mar 16   Shipwreck  Sydney  121  1857 Aug 20  Dunbar. 1 survivor. Heat wave  Australia-wide  112  1939–1940  Heat wave  Australia-wide  109  1909 Dec – 1910 Feb  Heat wave  Southern regions, Australia  105 +  1959 Jan – Feb  Some sources puts the death toll at 145. Cyclone/sinking  Ayr, Queensland  102–112  1875 Feb 24  . Records of passengers vary.

50 to 99 deaths
 DisasterLocation  Deaths Date  Notes Heat wave  Southern regions Australia  99  1972 Dec – 1973 Feb  Cyclone  Northern Queensland  99  1934 Mar 12  A tropical cyclone crossed the North Queensland coast around Cape Tribulation, which generated a 9.1 storm surge. A pearling fleet off the coast was damaged, with 75 people reported lost (one source says 99). Explosion  Mount Kembla, New South Wales  96  1902 Jul 31  Mount Kembla Mine disaster. Coal mine gas explosion Shipwreck  Montebello Islands, Western Australia  93  1622 May 24  Tryall. Earliest recorded Australian shipwreck. Flood  Gundagai, New South Wales  89  1852 Jun 24–25 A severe flash flood destroyed the town of Gundagai, which resulted in 89 deaths. Shipwreck  Near Carpenter Rocks, in South East South Australia  89  1859 Aug 6  . South Australia's worst loss of life. Air raid  Broome, Western Australia  88  1942 Mar 3  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  84  1977 Jan 18  Granville railway disaster. Derailment followed by bridge collapse. Sinking    82  1964 Feb 10  Melbourne–Voyager collision –  sank after collision with . Explosion Bulli, New South Wales  81  1887 Mar 23  Bulli Colliery coal mine gas explosion. Shipwreck  King Island, Tasmania  79  1874 May 23  British Admiral Cyclone  Queensland coast, particularly Innisfail  77+  1918 Mar 10  Cyclone and storm surge with death toll estimated between 77 and 100. Storms  New South Wales between Port Stephens and Sydney  77  1866 Jul 12  60 lives lost on  alone. Explosion  Mount Mulligan, Queensland  751921 Sep 19 Mount Mulligan mine disaster  caused by coal dust explosion.  Bushfire  Victoria and South Australia  75  1983 Feb 16  Ash Wednesday bushfires Shipwreck  Green Cape, New South Wales  71  1886 May 30  The steamship Ly-Ee-Moon was wrecked during a violent gale on 30 May 1886 near Green Cape, resulting in around 71 deaths. Bushfire  Victoria  71  1939 Jan 13  Black Friday bushfires. Cyclone  Darwin  71  1974 Dec 25  Cyclone Tracy destroys the city of Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Top wind gust recorded was . On 17 March 2005, a Northern Territory Coroner's Inquest outcome increased the official death toll from 65 to 71. Flood  Clermont, Queensland  65  1916 Dec 27  Bushfire  Tasmania  64  1967 Feb 7  Now known as Black Tuesday, 64 people died, and 7,000 left homeless as over a hundred fires burned in southern Tasmania. Cyclone  Near Roebourne and Geraldton, Western Australia  61–71  1894 Jan  Estimated toll includes those lost at sea and those killed in flooding at Geraldton. Shipwreck  Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia  60  1727  Zeewyk. Approximate death toll Shipwreck  Newcastle, New South Wales  60  1866 Jul 12  The paddle steamer SS Cawarra sank during a storm in Newcastle Harbour, there was only one survivor. Bushfire  Victoria  60  1926 Feb–Mar  The worst fires occurred on 14 February (Black Sunday) in the Gippsland region and other areas, where 31 people died at Warburton, Victoria. Houses and buildings were destroyed in many places including Erica and Belgrave. The town of Noojee was destroyed, with only the hotel left standing. In all, over the two-month period, 60 people died and 1,000 buildings were destroyed. Cyclone  Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia  59–69  1875 Dec – 1876 Jan  Most casualties were at sea. Shipwreck  Mutton Bird Island, off the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria  53  1878 Jun 1  Loch Ard. Sources vary on exact death toll (2 survivors). Epidemic  Southern States  51  1881–1885  Smallpox epidemic. Bushfire  Victoria  51    Bushfires broke out in various parts of Victoria from late December 1943 to mid February 1944, resulting in 51 deaths, and destroying 500 buildings. Shipwreck  Brisbane, Queensland  50  1896 Feb 13  Capsize of the ferry Pearl Cyclone  Around Broome, Western Australia  50  1908 Apr 26–27  A tropical cyclone impacted the Broome region, which wrecked the pearling fleet in the area, and resulted in the loss of 50 lives.

20 to 49 deaths
 DisasterLocation  Deaths Date  Notes Shipwreck   Christmas Island 48 2010 Dec 15  2010 Christmas Island boat disaster   Cyclone/Flood  , Queensland 47 1927 Feb 9  This tropical cyclone crossed the coast north of Cairns, which weakened into a rain depression, causing extensive flooding, resulting in a total 47 deaths throughout parts of Northern Queensland   New South Wales, North Coast 46  1923  Rail accident  , Victoria   44  1908 Apr 20  Sunshine rail disaster. A passenger train ran into the back of stationary train at Sunshine, near Melbourne; resulting in 44 people dead and 413 people were injured Fire  , Tasmania 42+  1912 Oct 12  1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster. Mine fire. True toll may be higher due to subsequent deaths from the effects of the fire Sinking  Sydney 40–42  1927 Nov 3  Greycliffe disaster Shipwreck  Near , South Australia 40  1909 Jan 31   Cyclone  , Western Australia  40  1910 Nov 19  This tropical cyclone was probably Broome's most destructive, with maximum wind gusts estimated to be . There were 40 deaths, and 34 pearling luggers lost with severe damage in the Broome area. Air disaster  Near , Queensland  40  1943 Jun 14  Bakers Creek air crash. USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress crashes shortly after take-offVogel, Steve, "Searching for a Home for a World War II Memorial", The Washington Post,  Flooding  Queensland  38  2010 Dec – 2011 Jan  2010–11 Queensland floods. 38 confirmed deaths plus 6 people missing (presumed dead) Shipwreck  , Queensland  36  1872  Shipwreck Maria. Some of the survivors were killed by Aboriginal people, other survivors were helped by Aboriginal people Sinking    , New South Wales  35–48  1886 Dec 8  Solitary Islands, Keilawarra - Helen Nicoll collision Shipwreck  , New South Wales  35  1876 Sep 1  The steamer Dandenong lost during severe storm Shipwreck  , Victoria  35  1887 Oct 20  SS Cheviot  Flood   35  1934 Nov 29 – 1 Dec  Torrential rainfall of up to . Yarra River becomes raging torrent. Extensive damage with 35 dead, 250 injured, and 3,000 homeless Bridge collapse  Melbourne  35  1970 Oct 15  West Gate Bridge. 35 construction workers died due to a collapse during construction. Australia's worst industrial accident. Road accident  , New South Wales  35 1989 Dec 22  Kempsey bus crash Shooting  , Tasmania  35  1996 Apr 28  Port Arthur massacre Bushfire  Australia-wide  34  2019 Oct – 2020 Jan  2019-20 Australian bushfire season. Death toll included 3 US fire-fighters.  Shipwreck  Near , South Australia  31  1876 Jun 14  Geltwood. Wreck not found for two weeks. No survivors. Shipwreck  Off Wilsons Promontory in Bass Strait, Victoria  31  1935 Dec 1  SS Paringa Sunk during storm while towing another vessel. All officers and crew lost.Air accident  Canal Creek, Queensland 31 1943 19 Dec Canal Creek air crash of Dakota C-47 of the 22d Troop Carrier Squadron, all on board killed.Roberts, Alice; Mackay, Jacquie (22 May 2012) A site to remember: Canal Creek air disaster, ABC Capricornia. Retrieved 27 August 2019. Insurrection  Castle Hill, New South Wales  30*  1804 Mar 4–5  Castle Hill convict rebellion. An additional nine convicts were later executed for participating in the rebellion. *Exact death toll unknown, likely to be higher. Memorial at Castle Hill gives a figure of 45 lives lost. Cyclone  Queensland coast, particularly Mackay  30  1918 Jan  Mackay Cyclone Fire  Melbourne  30  1966 Aug 13  William Booth Memorial Home fire – Australia's deadliest building fire.  Salvation Army home for destitute men. Air accident  Near York, east of Perth, Western Australia  29  1950 Jun 26  The 1950 Australian National Airways Douglas DC-4 crash. The plane crashed in bushland near York, burning on impact, with 28 people dying instantly (there was 1 survivor who later died from his injuries. Air accident Mackay, Queensland  29  1960 Jun 10  Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538 crashed into sea. Cyclone/sinking.  Western Australia  29  1991 Apr 17–20 Tropical Cyclone Fifi. 27 were lost in shipwreck of Mineral Diamond, off the Western Australia coastline. Massacre  Myall Creek, near , New South Wales  28  1838 Jun 9  Myall Creek massacre. 28 Aboriginal people killed by white stockmen Riot and insurrection  Ballarat, Victoria  28  1854 Dec 3  Eureka Stockade. 28 confirmed, exact death toll remains unknown, could possibly be as high as 80. Cyclone  , Northern Territory  28  1897 Jan 1897 Darwin cyclone Shipwreck  Kangaroo Island, South Australia  27  1905 Sep  Loch Vennachar Rail accident  , New South Wales  27  1926 Sep 13  The Murulla rail accident. The North West Mail train collided with five runaway wagons at Murulla, near Murrurundi, which resulted in 27 deaths. Sea battle  Port Jackson, New South Wales  27  1942 May 31 – 1 Jun  Attack on Sydney Harbour. Japanese submarine attack on allied shipping. Death toll includes attackers. Air accident  Cleveland Bay, Townsville, Queensland  27  1943 Aug 7  C-47 Dakota plane crash. Plane crashed after takeoff. Shipwreck/massacre  , South Australia  26  1840  Maria. Survivors murdered. Brutal punitive expedition ordered by Governor Gawler. Explosion  Wagga Wagga, New South Wales  26  1945 May 21 Kapooka Army Base soldiers received instruction of demolition work in a bunker which was  below the ground when an explosion took place which resulted in Australia's largest military funeral.Wagga Wagga City Council , 4. Bomb Site at Kapooka Cyclone  Gold Coast and northern New South Wales  26–30  1954 Feb 20–21  A tropical cyclone (known as The Gold Coast Cyclone) crossed the coast late evening on 20 February 1954 at Coolangatta. Extreme rainfall associated with the cyclone produced record totals, including 900mm at Springbrook, Queensland in the 24 hours crossing and 809mm at Dorrigo, New South Wales in 24 hours to 9 am on 21st. There was widespread severe flooding over many areas of NSW and between 26 and 30 people died in the event. Air accident  , Western Australia  26  1968 Dec 31  In-flight break up of MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 (Vickers Viscount) Rail accident  , Victoria  25  1943  Train hit bus carrying army personnel Air accident  Seven-Mile Beach, near Hobart, Tasmania  25  1946 Mar  1946 Australian National Airways DC-3 crashed into the sea. Flood  Hunter Valley, New South Wales  25  1955 Feb  1955 Hunter Valley floods. Most deaths were around Singleton and Maitland, but most other river systems in the state were also in flood. Shipwreck  Gosford, New South Wales  24  1898 May 6 Maitland Cyclone  , Western Australia  24  1909 Apr 5–6  A tropical cyclone crossed the coast near Onslow, causing extensive damage in the town, with the tramline partly washed away. Four luggers and 24–25 crew were lost during the cyclone. Air accident  , Queensland  24  1966 Sep 22  Ansett-ANA Viscount disaster. Flight 149 en route Mount Isa – Longreach. Air accident  Kudjeru Gap, in the Australian Territory of Papua and New Guinea  24  1972 Aug  RAAF Caribou aircraft crashes in rugged mountainous country en route from Lae to Port Moresby, killing 24 of the 28 people on board. Bushfire  Southern regions of Victoria  23  1969 Jan  280 fires. 17 casualties at Lara Mine disaster  Creswick, Victoria  22  1882 Dec 12  New Australasia gold mine. 44 miners trapped when a flooded mine shaft is breached. 22 men drown. Flood  Northern Tasmania  22  1929 Apr Eight drowned when truck ploughed into river and 14 died when dam collapsed and wall swept into town. Heat wave  South-east Queensland  22  2000 Jan  Flood  Queensland and New South Wales  22  2022 Feb – Mar 2022 eastern Australia floods. Severe flooding across South East Queensland and Northern Rivers in New South Wales resulted in 22 deaths. Shipwreck  Off Gabo Island, Victoria  21  1901 Mar 1  SS Federal vanished without trace. All crewmembers lost. Air accident  , Queensland  21  1949 Mar 10  1949 Queensland Airlines Lockheed Lodestar crash – aircraft crashed shortly after take-off due to incorrect loading. Shipwreck  , New South Wales  21  1969 Aug 25  The Noongah sank. Road accident  , New South Wales  21  1989 Oct 20  Grafton bus crash. A head-on collision between a tourist coach and a truck.

Between 10 and 20
 DisasterLocation  Deaths Date  Notes Air accident  , Queensland  20 1944 Sep 7  Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force Douglas C-47 Dakota crashes en route between Merauke, Dutch East Indies and Cairns  Shipwreck  Trial Bay, New South Wales  19–21  1816 Sep  Fire  , New South Wales  19 1981 Aug 25  Rembrandt HotelAir accident  Rewan, south of , Queensland 19 1943 Nov 16  Rewan air crash of Dakota C-47 of the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron crashed, all killedDakota C-47 Air Crash Memorial, Monuments Australia website. Accessed 28 August 2019. ShipwreckSydney Harbour, New South Wales191938 Feb 13Capsize of launch Rodney Shipwreck  Port Willunga, South Australia  18  1888 Jul 13  Star of Greece was driven aground in a storm 200 yards from the beach at Port Willunga, ten survivors Air accident  Dandenong Ranges, Victoria  18 1938 Oct 25 1938 Kyeema crash   Air accident  Perth Airport, Western Australia  18 1949 Jul 2 1949 MacRobertson Miller Aviation DC-3 crash – aircraft crashed a minute after take-off, killing all 18 people on boardSunday Times – 3 July 1949 Retrieved 7 October 2011 Road accident  Tumut Pond Dam, New South Wales 18 1973 Sep 1 Brake failure caused bus to plummet into reservoir Air accident  Townsville, Queensland  18 1996 Jun 12 Two Army Blackhawk helicopters collided Landslide  Thredbo, New South Wales  18 1997 Jul 30 1997 Thredbo landslide Rail accident  , New South Wales 17 1944 Jan 20 A mail train ploughed into a bus at Brooklyn Railway Station Rail accident  Wasleys Crossing, near Gawler, South Australia  17  1970 Apr 12  Wasleys Crossing (Gawler) disaster. Bus collided with a passenger train Massacre  Coniston Station, Northern Territory  17   Coniston massacre  Explosion  , Queensland  17  1972 Jul 31  Mine gas explosion in the Box Flat Colliery Heat wave  South-eastern regions  17  1993 Feb 1 – 10  Possibility of additional unreported deaths Shipwreck  Bass Strait, Victoria  16  1934 Nov 29   left Warrnambool for Melbourne and was never seen again. Believed lost during storm Rail accident  Camp Mountain, Queensland  16  1947 May 5 Camp Mountain train disaster. A crowded picnic train derailed on bend  Fire  Sylvania Heights, New South Wales  16  1981 Apr 29 Pacific Nursing Home fire Boating accident  Mornington Peninsula, Victoria  15 1892 May 21 15 members of Mornington football team returning from match in Mordialloc in small fishing vessel Process were lost when their boat sank in bad weather. Only 4 bodies were recovered Shipwreck  Near Cape Schanck, Victoria  15 1893 Dec 28   Boat accident  Sydney Harbour  15  1909 Jan  HMS Encounter v Dunmore1909 Trove searches Bombings  Kalgoorlie  15  1942 Feb 1  Pero Raecivich threw gelinite into a house and a hotel Air accident  Botany Bay, New South Wales  15 1961 Nov 30 Ansett-ANA Flight 325 – Vickers Viscount aeroplane crash. All on board died Fire  Fortitude Valley, Queensland  15  1973 Mar 8  Whiskey Au Go Go fire, caused by arson Fire   , New South Wales  15 1975 Dec 25 Savoy Hotel fire caused by arson Cyclone/sinking  Near , Western Australia  15 1979  Cyclone Hazel Heat wave  South-eastern region  15  1981 Feb  Fire  , Queensland  15  2000 Jun  Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel fire, caused by arson Air accident  , Queensland  15  2005 May 7  In the Lockhart River air disaster an aeroplane crashed on approach to land, killing all on board Cyclone  Townsville and Charters Towers, Queensland  14  1903 Mar 9  Cyclone Leonta killed 12 people in Townsville and 2 in Charters Towers and caused massive property damage across North Queensland Bushfire  Dandenong Ranges and , Victoria  14*  1962 Jan 14 – 16  Casualty numbers vary between 9,14, and 32 Bushfires    14*  1968 Jan  *Sources vary on death toll but most say 14 Cyclone  Whitsunday Islands, Queensland 14 1970 Jan 17 – 18 Tropical Cyclone Ada passed over the Whitsunday Islands from late 17th to early 18 January, crossing the Queensland coastline around Shute Harbour early that morning. 14 people perished in the cyclone Cyclone  Brisbane, Queensland  14  1974 Jan 27  1974 Brisbane flood. Cyclone Wanda Explosion  , New South Wales  14  1979 Jul 24  Appin Colliery Gas Explosion during a planned ventilation change Cyclone/flood  Queensland and   14  2017 Mar 27 – Apr 1  Cyclone Debbie causes severe flooding throughout Queensland and New South Wales, with resultant severe damage Explosion  Wonthaggi, Victoria  13  1937 Feb 15  Dalyson Colliery Boating accident  Grafton, New South Wales  13 1943 Dec 11 13 Cub scouts drowned crossing the Clarence River when their punt capsized.13 Dec 1943 – 13 BOYS DROWNED IN CLARENCE RIVER TRAGEDY – Trove Air accident  Nundle, New South Wales  13  1948 Sep  DC3 Lutana near TamworthTrove search for many results 1948 Sep Explosion  Kianga, near , Queensland  13  1975 Sep 20  Kianga Mine explosion Air accident  Sydney Airport, New South Wales  13  1980 Feb 21  Light aircraft suffers engine failure Air accident  Near Alice Springs, Northern Territory  13  1989 Aug 13  1989 Alice Springs hot air balloon crash Earthquake   , New South Wales  13  1989 Dec 28  1989 Newcastle earthquake  Bushfire  , Plenty Ranges, WesternportWimmera and Dandenong districts, Victoria 12* 1851 Feb 6  "Black Thursday" bushfires. *Approximately 12 fatalities, one million sheep, thousands of cattle,  burnt   Hawkesbury River, New South Wales  12 1936 Oct 18Wedding party boat foundered during wind squall Flood  , New South Wales  12  1867 Jun 21 The Eather family swept away in flood Shipwreck  Calgardup Bay, Western Australia  12  1876 Dec 1   Shipwreck  Wollongong, New South Wales  12  1949 Feb 22   Bushfire  Gippsland, Victoria  12  1898 Feb 1  "Red Tuesday" bushfires.  burnt, 12 people killed, 2,000 buildings destroyed Bridge collapse  Hobart, Tasmania  12  1975 Jan 5  Tasman Bridge disaster. The bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the bridge, causing a section to fall onto the vessel. Seven crewmen died as the ship sank. Five people perished as their cars plummeted off the edge. Air accident  Adavale, Queensland  12  1983 Aug 28  A charter flight from Windorah to Toowoomba broke up in flight and crashed on the evening of 28 August 1983, near Adavale Explosion   , Queensland 12 1986 Jul 16  Explosion in Moura No 4 Mine Fire  Dungog, New South Wales  12  1991 Aug 2  Palm Grove Hostel fire Serial killing  Snowtown, South Australia  12 1992–1999  Snowtown murders Road accident  Boondall, Queensland  12  1994 Oct 24  Boondall bus crash Shipwreck  Fraser Island, Queensland  11  1864 Mar 19  The Panama was driven onto sand on the western coast of Fraser Island, near Sandy Cape during a cyclone early on 19 March. The death toll was 11 or 12 (sources vary) Rail accident  Near , Victoria  11  1951 Feb 24  A train collides with a bus at a level crossingRoad accidentNear Laverton, Western Australia111985 Dec 16Eight indigenous men and three indigenous women aged between 16-40 died when their station wagon collided with a sedan near Laverton, WA. Air accident  Cairns, Queensland  11  1975 Oct 23  A de Havilland Heron DH114 aircraft crash landed near Cairns Airport on the night of 23 October, killing all eleven occupants Air accident  , Queensland  11  1990 May 11  Cessna 500 jet aircraft collided with terrain  south of Mareeba Airfield Road accident  Tamborine Mountain, Queensland11 1990 Sep 25 Bus carrying mostly senior citizens from Newcastle, New South Wales overturned and rolled down mountain slope Explosion  , Queensland  11  1994 Aug 7  Explosion in Moura No 2 Minehttp://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/mines/inspectorate/inquiries/moura2.pdf Rail accident  Near Kerang, Victoria  11  2007 May 5  Kerang train crash. A V/Line train collides with a truck at a level crossing Fire  Slacks Creek, Queensland  11 2011 Aug 24 House fire Fire  Quakers Hill, New South Wales  11*  2011 Nov 18  Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire. , NSW health officials claimed a total of 21 out of 96 residents died but police could only conclusively prove 11 perished directly as a result of the fire. Shipwreck  Warrnambool, Victoria  10  1921 Jan 9  Motorlaunch Nestor sinks in the Hopkins River, ten minutes into a pleasure cruise. Of the eighty on board ten were drowned. Victoria's worst ferry disasterRail accident    10  1925 Jun 9  10 died and 48 injured when a passenger carriage and luggage van of the Rockhampton Mail plunged off a high trestle bridge Retrieved from the Internet Archive on 9 June 2006. Rail accident  Near Boronia, Victoria  10  1926 Apr 26  A train collides with a van at a level crossing25 May 1926 – BORONIA DISASTER – Trove Air accident  Canberra,   10  1940 Aug 13  Senior War Cabinet Ministers, Chief of Staff, and others killed when their plane crashed in fine weather Air accident  Near , Victoria  10  1945 Jan 31  Crash of Stinson Tokana caused by fatigue crack in wing spar Massacre  South Australia  10  1971 Sep 6  Clifford Bartholomew kills ten members of his familyRoad accidentMerredin, Western Australia101982 Sep 18Ten people died (one adult, nine children) and 8 injured (four seriously) when their bus crashed into a tree returning from a football trip to Perth.   Air accident  Near , Western Australia  10  1988 Dec 16  Mitsubishi MU-2 accident Road accident  Wangaratta, Victoria  10 1993 Nov 2  Crash between a semi-trailer truck and a bus on Melbourne Cup Day 1993. Ten members of the Anglo-Indian Association died when their bus heading to Corowa for a Melbourne Cup outing collided with a car-carrier semi trailer  Heat wave    10+ 1997 Jan 1 – 2  Strong likelihood of additional unreported deaths Storm/flood  , New South Wales  10 2007 Jun 8 – 11  Storm and flooding Road accident  Greta, New South Wales  10  2023 Jun 11  Greta bus crash

 Gallery 

Significant incidents resulting in fewer than 10 deaths
 Disaster Location Deaths Date Notes Rail accident  Richmond railway station, Melbourne  9  1910 Jul 1  Brighton train collided with stationary train at platform.Boronia lesson must be applied The Age 3 September 1952 page 2 Bushfire  Gippsland, Victoria  9  1932 Feb 4  Locations affected included Gilderoy, Noojee and Erica in North Gippsland. Worst incident was at Erica where six people were killed. Rail accident  Boronia, Victoria  9  1951 Jun 1  Bus collided with suburban train. Bushfire  Longwood, Victoria  9    Death toll included seven members of one family who were lost when their car crashed and was engulfed in the fires.2,000 still fight death blaze Canberra Times 19 January 1965 page 3 Rail accident  Violet Town, Victoria  9  1969 Feb 7  Violet Town rail accident. Head-on collision after driver died at controls.Violet Town Collision - 1969 Australian Railway History issue 976 February 2019 page 4 Fire  Kings Cross, New South Wales  9  1981 Aug  Rembrandt Apartments Hostel Fire. Fire. Massacre  Melbourne  9  1987 Dec 8  Queen Street massacre. Shooting massacre Air accident  Newcastle–Lord Howe Island  9  1994 Oct 2  Seaview Air Aero Commander 690 crashes between Williamtown, NSW and Lord Howe Island., Williamtown-Lord Howe Island, NSW Light Aircraft Crash. Retrieved 14 March 2006. Fire  Kew, Victoria  9  1996 Apr 8  Kew Cottages fire. Fire at a Melbourne home for disabled people kills nine men. Coronial inquest in 1997 finds there was no proper fire safety system in place at the time of the fire. Landslide  Gracetown, Western Australia  9  1996 Sep 27  5 adults and 4 children died when a cliff face collapsed at Cowaramup Bay near Gracetown (Margaret River) Bushfire  Eyre Peninsula, South Australia  9  2005 Jan 11  Eyre Peninsula bushfire. Storm  Melbourne  9  2016 Nov 21  Nine people died of thunderstorm asthma and approximately 8,500 sought hospital treatment after a storm hit Melbourne. Insurrection  Norfolk Island  8  1834 Jan 15  Convict mutiny. Six convicts and two guards killed. 11 convicts were later executed. Civil unrest  Broome, Western Australia  8  1920 Dec 23–26  Broome Race Riots. Brawling and rioting between Japanese and Koepanger (Malay & Timorese) pearl divers. Air accident  Snowy Mountains, New South Wales  8  1931 Mar 21  Southern Cloud Air accident  Jervis Bay, New South Wales  8  1943 Apr 14  Two RAAF Bristol Beauforts collided whilst performing demonstration flight for war correspondents on board a naval vessel. Bushfire  Wandilo, South Australia  8  1958 Apr  8 firefighters died Air accident  Golden Grove, South Australia  8  1972 Jul 13  Piper PA-31-310 Navajo plane crash Explosion  Sandy Bay, Tasmania  8  1974 Sep 5  8 died when newly installed boiler at Mt. St. Canice laundry breached after "gags" were not removed from safety valves and boiler was subsequently fired until it exploded whilst commissioning. Bushfire  Western Victoria  8  1977 Feb  Around Streatham was the worst affected area. Road accident  Near Gordonvale, Queensland  8  1987 Feb 4  Bus returning from school camp veered off-road. All of those lost were students of Cairns State High School aged 15–17. 12 more people were seriously injured. Subsequent inquests ruled that faulty brakes on the vehicle were the cause of the accident. Cyclone  Onslow & Carnarvon, Western Australia  8  1995 Feb 24–26  Cyclone Bobby. Seven of the deaths occurred when two fishing trawlers sank near Onslow.  Air accident  Off Whyalla, South Australia  8  2000 May 31  Whyalla Airlines Disaster. All on board drowned, one body was never recovered. Explosion  Off Dampier, Western Australia  8  2001 Nov 18  Nigo Kim cargo ship explosion. Massacre  Manoora, Cairns, Queensland  8  2014 Dec 19  Cairns child killings. Eight children were fatally stabbed in a Murray Street residence. Serial killing  Near Berrima, New South Wales  7+  1989–1994  Backpacker murders. The remains of seven backpackers found in the Belanglo State Forest; the killer remains the prime suspect for another 16 unsolved murders and is a person of interest for another 14. There is evidence he may not have acted alone. Rail accident  Cootamundra, New South Wales  7  1885 Jan 25  Derailment when Salt Clay Creek flooded, destroying culvert Mine disaster  Collinsville, Queensland  7  1954 Oct 13 On 13 October 1954, seven men were killed in the deepest part of the Collinsville State Coal Mine about 1.5 kilometres from the entrance of the No. 1 tunnel, when an outburst dislodged 900 tonnes of earth. The Collinsville mine disaster was the largest loss of life in a Queensland mine since the Mount Mulligan mine disaster in 1921. Boating accident  Wilson Inlet, Western Australia  7  1911 Nov 5  Seven members of the same family drowned when a small yacht Little Wonder was hit by a squall. Boating accident  Lake Hume, New South Wales  7  1963 Aug 15  Canoeists on Outward Bound outdoor education trip drowned when their canoes capsized in rough weather and in cold waters. Flood  Canberra  7  1971 Jan 26  1971 Canberra flood. Seven motorists were killed when their cars were swept into a creek. Air accident  Near Alice Springs, Northern Territory  7  1972 Jan 20  Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air accident. Serial killing  Near Truro, South Australia  7  1976–1977  Truro murders. Remains of seven young women found in bushland. Fire  Sydney  7  1979 Jun 9  Fire engulfs the Ghost Train ride at Luna Park Sydney. May have been arson. Air accident  Near Charleville, Queensland  7  1981 Sep 19  Cessna U206 accident. Massacre  Milperra, New South Wales  7  1984 Sep 2  Milperra massacre. Shooting massacre Massacre  Clifton Hill, Victoria  7  1987 Aug 9  Hoddle Street massacre. Shooting massacre Flood  Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria  7  1990  Nyngan and Charleville Flood. More than a million square kilometres of flooding. Air accident  South Stradbroke Island, Queensland  7  1991 Mar 3  Sea World helicopter accident. Massacre  Strathfield, New South Wales  7  1991 Aug 17  Strathfield massacre. Shooting massacre Massacre  Terrigal, New South Wales  7  1992 Oct 27  Central Coast massacre. Shooting massacre Air accident  Young, New South Wales  7  1993 Jun 11  Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain plane crash. Massacre  Hillcrest, Queensland  7  1996 Jan 25  Peter May killed his estranged wife, three children and parents-in-law before committing suicide. Cyclone  Around Cairns, Queensland  7  1997 Mar  Cyclone Justin. 1 death from landslide. There were also 26 deaths from the same cyclone in Papua New Guinea. Rail accident  Glenbrook, New South Wales  7  1999 Dec  Glenbrook train disaster. Collision by a CityRail Intercity train into the rear wagon of an Indian Pacific train after "Stop and Proceed". Heat wave  Around Adelaide, South Australia  7  2000 Feb  Rail accident  Waterfall, New South Wales  7  2003 Jan  Waterfall rail accident. Excessive speed resulting in derailment after driver died at the controls and 'dead man' safety device failed to function.Waterfall train had mind of its own, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 2003 Massacre   Osmington, Western Australia  7  2018 May 11  Osmington shooting. Three adults and four children were shot dead in an alleged murder-suicide on a rural property. Industrial accident  Spotswood, Victoria  6  1895  Spotswood Sewer Disaster. The drilling of an underground sewer in Melbourne went too close to the Yarra River.Westgate Bridge Memorial Committee , Spotswood Sewer Disaster Massacre  Alligator Creek near Mackay, Queensland 6  1911 Nov 17  A mother and five children were murdered in their home. Battle  Broken Hill, New South Wales  6  1915 Jan 1  Battle of Broken Hill. Two Indian immigrants open fire on a train carrying picnickers. , ABC, 23 February 2004 Landslide    6  1928 Jan 31  Hills Railway line disaster. A railway embankment collapsed during tunnel demolition, entombing 6 railway workers. Air Accident  Near Port Pirie, South Australia  6  1943 Aug 27  Two RAAF Fairey Battle aircraft on a training flight collided in mid-air.Virtual War Memorial | Port Pirie RAAF K9380 and L5654 Crash Site Air Raid  Drysdale Mission, Northern Territory  6  1943 Sep 26  Missionary Priest & five Aboriginal children killed in Japanese bombing raid on RAAF aerodrome located beside the Mission.Cooper, Anthony. Darwin Spitfires. New South Press, University of New South Wales Press Ltd, 2011. p-457. Flood  Kempsey, Macleay Valley  6  1949 Aug 26–27  Six people died in the flood, five in Kempsey. The Kempsey Traffic Bridge reached a peak height of 8.42m on the afternoon of 27 August. Air accident  East Sale, Victoria  6  1962 Aug 15  Four RAAF Vampire jets crashed in a military gunnery range area during rehearsals for a low-level aerobatic display. Four pilots and two passengers killed. Air accident    6  1974 Apr 2  Cessna 310H accident. Air accident  Near Merimbula, New South Wales  6  1976 Feb 29  Piper PA-32 accident. Air accident    6  1977 May 15  Cessna 210K accident. Flood  Sydney and Penrith, New South Wales  6  1978 Feb–Mar  Air accident  Norseman Airport, Norseman, Western Australia  6  1978 Jun 11  Beechcraft D-55 Baron accident. Air accident  Essendon, Victoria  6  1978 Jul 10  Aircraft with a crew of two and one passenger crashed into houses shortly after takeoff from Essendon Airport. 6 members of one family were killed. Air accident  Near Shepparton, Victoria  6  1979 Aug 30  Cessna P206C accident. Serial killing  Tynong North and Frankston, Victoria  6  1980 Dec  Remains found in bushland. Investigation still open. Air accident  Koolan Island, Western Australia  6  1984 Dec 23  Cessna 210L accident. Air accident  Near Bankstown Airport, New South Wales  6  1985 Jun 7  Cessna 210N accident. Flood  Hawkesbury, New South Wales  6  1986 Aug  Hawkesbury and Georges River Flood. Air accident  Essendon, Victoria  6  1986 Sep 3  Air Ambulance Cessna (call signal RED) crashed on takeoff from Essendon Airport after single engine failure. Fire  Kings Cross, New South Wales  6  1989 Sep 17  Downunder Hostel fire. Arson attack. Flood/cyclone  Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales  6  1990 Feb 3–7  Tropical Cyclone Nancy crossed the coast near Byron Bay, then moving back out to sea. It brought extremely heavy rain which led to flash flooding, with 6 lives lost to drowning. Rail accident  Brooklyn, New South Wales  6  1990 May 6  Commuter train crashed into a stalled chartered steam train. Air accident  Tarago, New South Wales  6  1992 Jun 19  Beechcraft Baron accident. Air accident  Geraldton, Western Australia  6  1992 Aug 25  Beechcraft Baron accident. Air accident  Launceston, Tasmania  6  1993 Sep 17  A Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain collided with powerlines and crashed near Launceston Airport, killing six of the ten people on board. Air accident  Weipa Airport, Weipa, Queensland  6  1994 Mar 21  Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander accident. Maritime accident  Tasman Sea  6  1998  1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. 5 boats sank and 6 people died. Air accident  Hamilton Island, Queensland  6  2002 Sep 27  Piper Cherokee Six aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. All six occupants, five of which were foreign nationals, perished. Road crash  Cardross, near Mildura, Victoria  6  2006 Feb 18  Cardross road crash. Car ploughs into group of teenagers, driver flees. Sinking  Sydney Harbour  6  2008 May 1  6 killed and 9 injured when two boats collided.Five killed in Sydney Harbour boat smash Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 2008 Road accident  Penshurst  6  2011 Nov 11  A car and truck collided and subsequently caught fire at an intersection near Penshurst. Four occupants of the car died at the scene, along with the truck driver, and a fifth occupant of the car died later in hospital. Air accident  Near Gympie, Queensland  6  2012 Oct 1  De Havilland DH84 Dragon crashed in dense bushland, killing all six on board. Flood  Tasmania, ACT & New South Wales  6  2016 Jun 5–8  Three deaths occurred in Tasmania at Latrobe, Ouse and Evandale. One death occurred at Cotter Dam in the ACT. Two deaths occurred in NSW, one near Bowral, the other in Leppington. Vehicle attack  Melbourne  6  2017 Jan 20  January 2017 Melbourne car attack Sinking  Near 1770, Queensland  6  2017 Oct 16  Sinking of the FV Dianne Air accident  Cottage Point, New South Wales  6  2017 Dec 31  2017 Sydney Seaplanes crash. A de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver seaplane crashed in Jerusalem Bay, killing all 6 people on board including Richard Cousins, CEO of British foodservice company, Compass Group. Recreation accident  Devonport, Tasmania  6  2021 Dec 16  An inflatable castle that was being used for a year-end celebration at Hillcrest Primary School became airborne, resulting in the deaths of six students. A further three students were seriously injured. Police siege  Glenrowan, Victoria  5  1880 Jun 28  Planned ambush of police train by outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang was thwarted and instead became a hostage situation at Glenrowan hotel. Three gang members and two hostages were killed. Sinking  North of Bermagui, New South Wales  5  1880 Oct 9  Mystery Bay disappearance. Crew of 5 men in a small boat disappears off the NSW south coast. Boat found at Mutton Fish Point (now Mystery Bay) with some of the crews belongings. Landslide  Cairns, Queensland  5  1900 May 31  Riverstone landslide. A tramway cutting caves in on workers, at Gordonvale. Storm  Sydney  5  1937 Jan 25  A tornadic thunderstorm moved through Sydney on the afternoon of 25 January. Five people died. Air accident  Lamington National Park, New South Wales  5  1937 Feb 19–20  Crash of Australian National Airways Stinson Model A VH-UHH Brisbane. Four men died in initial crash, fifth man killed in accidental fall the following day whilst trying to reach help. Two survivors rescued nine days later. Drowning  Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales  5  1938 Feb 6  'Black Sunday'- Approximately 200 swimmers were dragged out by severe undertow caused by three freak waves. Surf Lifesavers were credited with saving at least 180 people. Air accident  Nhill, Victoria  5  1943 May 13  Avro Anson During a training mission from Mt Gambier to Nhill crashed in fog just 8 miles north east of Nhill. Rail accident  Sydenham, New South Wales  5  1953  Sydenham rail disaster. Wrong-side failure causes rear-end collision of two trains Air accident  Near Gove Airport, East Arnhem Region, Northern Territory  5  1969 Dec 22  Cessna 402 accident. Air accident  Moorabbin, Victoria  5  1970 Oct 19  Airborne collision between a Beechcraft D-50 Twin Bonanza and a Bell 47G helicopter. Air accident  Parafield Airport, Parafield, South Australia  5  1975 Mar 3  Beechcraft D-55 Baron accident. Air accident  Fitzroy Station, Northern Territory  5  1975 Mar 13  A Cessna 310N collided with a radio mast and subsequently crashed. Air accident  Parafield Airport, Parafield, South Australia  5  1976 Feb 1  Airborne collision between a Rossair Cessna 172M and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee. Air accident  Near Cloncurry, Queensland  5  1976 Jun 11  Cessna 210 accident. Suicide air attack  Alice Springs Airport  5  1977 Jan 5  Connellan air disaster A disgruntled ex-employee deliberately flew light aircraft into Connellan Airways building. Roger Connellan, son of the company's founder, was among those killed. Air accident  Mount Cataract, Queensland  5  1977 May 26  Cessna 310R accident. Air accident  Near Moorooduc, Victoria  5  1980 Sep 28  Airborne collision between a Cessna 172N and a glider. Presumed air accident  Barrington Tops National Park  5  1981 Aug 9  VH-MDX disappeared Air accident  Archerfield, Queensland  5  1982 Jan 5  A Cessna 411A crashed into an annex, killing the pilot and four people on the ground. Air accident  Near Lang Lang, Victoria  5  1982 Jan 7  Bell 206B accident. Air accident  Near Cairns, Queensland  5  1982 Sep 30  Cessna 210 accident. Massacre  Inland Motel at the base of Uluru  5  1983 Aug 18  Douglas Crabbe rammed his 25-ton Mack truck through the wall of the motel's bar.The Untold Suffering of Victims of Crime , Darwin Research Centre Air accident  33 km West of Peterborough, South Australia  5  1985 Oct 22  Piper PA-32 accident. Air accident  Chipping Norton, New South Wales  5  1986 Aug 17  A Piper PA-32 crashed into the roof of a factory, killing five of the six occupants on board. Riot  Pentridge Prison, Melbourne  5  1987 Oct 29  Five prisoners die in fire in Jika Jika Maximum Security Wing. Fire was started by inmates as a protest. Air accident  Cravens Peak Station, Queensland  5  1989 Apr 7  Cessna 172 accident. Air accident  Near Roma, Queensland  5  1989 Sep 28  Beechcraft Baron accident. Heat wave  Southern South Australia and northern Victoria  5+  1990 Jan  Likelihood of additional unreported deaths. Air accident  Wondai, Queensland  5  1990 Jul 26  Beechcraft King Air accident. Air accident  Off East Sale, Victoria  5  1991 Oct 29  1991 RAAF Boeing 707 crash. Air accident  Moormbool West, Victoria  5  1992 Jun 12  Piper PA-32R accident. Alt URL Heat wave  Townsville region  5  1994 Jan  Flood  Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales  5  1996 May  Heavy flooding in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, with areas west of Brisbane and the Grafton area worst affected. Air accident  Near Katherine, Northern Territory  5  1997 Aug 14  Cessna 210M accident. Bushfire  Linton, Victoria  5  1998  Linton bushfire. Wildfire engulfs five volunteer firefighters. Air accident  Marlborough, Queensland  5  2000 Jul 24  Five people were killed when the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service helicopter crashed in a paddock while attempting to land in thick fog Air accident  Willowbank, Queensland  5  2006 Jan 2  Skydiving Cessna 206 plane crash. Massacre  North Epping, New South Wales  5  2009 Jul 18  Lin family murders Air accident  Caboolture Airfield, Caboolture, Queensland  5  2014 Mar 22  Skydiving Cessna 206 plane crash. Massacre  Lockhart, New South Wales  5  2014 Sep  Geoff Hunt fatally shot his wife and three children on the family property before committing suicide in a dam. Flood  Caboolture, Queensland  5  2015 May 2  Cars were swept off roads by floodwaters in Caboolture. Air accident  Essendon, Victoria  5  2017 Feb 21  2017 Essendon Airport Beechcraft King Air crash Air accident  Anna Bay, New South Wales  5  2019 Sep 6  Civil-owned Bell UH-1 Helicopter en route from Brisbane to Bankstown went missing off NSW coast. Massacre  Camp Hill, Queensland  5  2020 Feb 19  Murder of Hannah Clarke. Former New Zealand Warriors player Rowan Baxter deliberately set fire to a vehicle in which his estranged wife and three children were occupants. Rowan and his three children died at the scene, whereas his wife was critically injured and died several hours later in hospital. Air accident  Lockhart River, Queensland  5  2020 Mar 11  Cessna 404 Titan accident. Air accident  Mount Disappointment, Victoria  5  2022 Mar 31  A helicopter operating on a private charter flight with another helicopter impacted terrain at Mount Disappointment. Flood/cyclone  North and Central Coast, Queensland  4–5  1990 Dec & 1991 Jan  Extensive damage from flooding caused by Cyclone Joy Heat wave  Melbourne  4+  1990 Dec  Likelihood of additional unreported deaths Insurrection  Norfolk Island  4  1846 Jul 1  Cooking pot uprising. One overseer and three constables murdered. 17 convicts were later executed, with many wounded in battle.Ring, Trudy. International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia & Oceania. Taylor & Francis, 1994. p-642 Drowning  Coogee Beach, Sydney, New South Wales  4  1911 Jan 28  Approximately 13 swimmers were dragged out to sea by the rip tide while regular surf lifesavers were at the lifesaving carnival at Manly. Harald Baker (brother of Snowy Baker) and James Clarken saved many lives. Air accident  Lady Julia Percy Island, Victoria  4  1944 Feb 15  RAAF Avro Anson crashed on island near Western Victorian coast. Crew had become disorientated in darkness, mistaking island for the nearby mainland. Sinking  Cairns, Queensland  4  1947 Sep 13  . Sunk while clearing minefields after World War II. Landslide  Steavenson Falls, Victoria  4  1968 Jan 9  Four teenage bushwalkers killed when section of cliff broke away and rolled downhill to group's location. Three others survived with injuries. Air accident  Burrendong Dam, New South Wales  4  1969 Jul 31  Cessna 182K accident. Air accident  Yendon, Victoria  4  1970 Oct 31  Cessna 210A accident. Air accident  Near Mount Buller, Victoria  4  1971 May 29  Cessna 172F accident. Air accident  Near Wellington, New South Wales  4  1971 May 31  Beechcraft Bonanza accident. Air accident  Near Narromine, New South Wales  4  1971 Nov 14  Piper PA-28 Cherokee accident. Air accident  Moomba Adelaide Pipeline System, near Leigh Creek, South Australia  4  1972 Jan 25  Beechcraft Bonanza accident. Air accident  Barkly Downs Homestead, Queensland  4  1974 Jan 4  Beechcraft Debonair accident. Air accident  Bankstown Airport, Bankstown, New South Wales  4  1974 Mar 13  Airborne collision between a de Havilland DH.104 Dove and a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche. Air accident  Mount Dom Dom, Victoria  4  1974 Jun 18  Cessna 210H accident. Air accident  Near Rankins Springs, New South Wales  4  1976 Jul 30  Cessna 182G accident. Road accident  Lamington National Park, Queensland  4  1979 Apr 21  Brisbane Girls Grammar school bus crash. Air accident  Clermont, Queensland  4  1983 Oct 24  Four Rockhampton-based ABC staff members were killed when the Cessna (being piloted by the ABC's regional manager) crashed while attempting to land on a property near Clermont.Roberts, Alice; Mackay, Jacquie (24 October 2013) The ABC remembers staff killed in plane crash, ABC Capricornia. Retrieved 10 September 2019. Boating accident  Lake Alexandrina, South Australia  4  1987 Aug 22  Canoeists on Scout excursion lost when their canoes capsized in rough weather and in cold waters. Two scouts and two adult supervisors drowned. Bushfire  Eastern Seaboard, New South Wales  4  1994 Jan  Over 800 bushfires. 4 of the dead were firefighters Road/sport accident  Stuart Highway, Northern Territory  4  1994 May 24  2 checkpoint officials and 2 occupants killed when a competing car lost control at high-speed and ploughed into a checkpoint. Fire  Indian Ocean  4  1998 May 5  . Unsuitable fuel hose in engine room bursts, spraying diesel which ignites, creating a fireball below deck. Mining accident  Parkes, New South Wales  4  1999 Nov 25  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. Air accident  Newman, Western Australia  4  2001 Jan 26  Fuel starvation on Western Australia Police aircraft. Landslide  Cradle Mountain National Park  4  2001 Feb 18  4 people died when landslide causes a bus to fall into a ravine Air accident  Toowoomba, Queensland  4  2001 Nov 27  Plane hit powerlines Rail accident  Salisbury railway station, Adelaide  4  2002 Oct 24  The Ghan passenger train hit a car and a bus at a busy level crossing at Salisbury, in Adelaide's north. Bushfire  Canberra  4  2003 Jan 18  2003 Canberra bushfires. Bushfire reaches capital city suburbsFirestorm truth buried in the ashes, The Age, 6 February 2005 Drowning  Mackenzie Falls, Grampians, Victoria  4  2004 Dec 25  Four relatives lost on Christmas Day outing. Sinking  Sydney Harbour  4  2007 Mar 28  HarbourCat ferry Pam Burridge collides with pleasure cruiser Merinda."Warning that failed to stop death in the dark" – Vallejo, Justin and Gee, Steven Daily Telegraph 30 March 2007"A nightmare of blood, terror and shattered lives" – Watson, Rhett, Chesterton, Andrew and Yamine, Evelyn Daily Telegraph 30 March 2007 Flood  Sydney, Hunter Valley and Central Coast, New South Wales  4*  2015 Apr 21–24  Flood deaths occurred in Maitland and Dungog. *An additional four deaths occurred in NSW as a result of vehicle accidents on wet roads. Bushfire  Esperance, Western Australia  4  2015 Nov 17  Three of the dead were foreign nationals. Air accident  Barwon Heads, Victoria  4  2016 Jan 29  Light aircraft en route to King Island crashed into ocean near Victorian coast. Amusement park accident  Coomera, Queensland  4  2016 Oct 25  Thunder River Rapids Ride accident at Dreamworld. Road accident  Oatlands, New South Wales  4  2020 Feb 1  Four child pedestrians struck and killed by vehicleOatlands car crash: Children's 'last walk on Earth' |News.com.au Air accident  Mangalore, Victoria  4  2020 Feb 19  A midair collision between a Piper PA-44 Seminole and a Beechcraft D95A killed the two occupants of both aircraft. Road accident  Kew East, Victoria  4  2020 Apr 22 2020 Eastern Freeway truck crash. The loss of control of a refrigerated truck resulted in a multiple vehicle crash that killed four Victoria Police officers who were attending to a motorist for speeding on the Eastern Freeway. The accident is the highest single loss of life in Victoria Police history. Air accident  Deception Bay, near Rothwell, Queensland  4  2021 Dec 19  Rockwell Commander 114 accident. Air accident  Gold Coast Seaway, near Main Beach, Queensland  4  2023 Jan 2  2023 Gold Coast helicopter crash. Midair collision involving two Sea World helicopters. Air accident  Near Lindeman Island, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland  4  2023 Jul 28  Australian Army MRH90 helicopter crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Air accident  Gundaroo, New South Wales  4  2023 Oct 6  Cirrus SR22 accident. Drowning  Phillip Island, Victoria  4  2024 Jan 24  Three people drowned at an unpatrolled beach. A fourth person was taken to hospital in a critical condition where they died the following day. Massacre  Stringybark Creek, near Tolmie, Victoria  3  1878 Oct 26  Three policemen murdered by outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang. Civil unrest  Melbourne CBD, Victoria  3  1923 Nov 2–4  Victorian Police Strike. This event prompted widespread looting and rioting in central Melbourne. Fire/explosion  Port Adelaide, South Australia  3  1924 Apr 26  Three firemen died after the SS City of Singapore, fully loaded with flammable cargo, caught fire and exploded. 10 other people were injured. Air accident  Tambo, Queensland  3  1927 Mar 24  Qantas de Havilland DH-9C crash Motorsport accident  Penrith, New South Wales  3  1938 Jun 13  During 10-mile car race at Penrith Speedway, the lead car lost control and swerved into spectators. Serial killing  Melbourne  3  1942 May  Three Australian women were murdered in Melbourne between 3 and 18 May 1942 by US soldier Eddie Leonski who was convicted and executed in November that year. Air accident  Maroochydore, Queensland  3  1950 Dec 30  A routine shark patrol during the Christmas holidays, crashed into a crowded beach killing 3 children and injuring 14 others. Air accident  Near Sandy Hollow, New South Wales  3  1952 Jan 26  An Auster aircraft crashes four miles from Sandy Hollow, killing three.  Cyclone  Townsville, Queensland  3  1971 Dec  Cyclone Althea. Cyclone and storm surge. Explosion  Near Taroom, Queensland  3  1972 Aug 30  Three people were killed when a burning truck carrying ammonium nitrate exploded on the Fitzroy Developmental Road at Stonecroft Station, north of Taroom. Terrorism  Sydney  3  1978 Feb 13  Sydney Hilton bombing. Bomb explosion outside Sydney Hilton Hotel during the CHOGRM Cyclone  south of Innisfail, Queensland  3  1986 Feb  Category 3 Cyclone Winifred in region from Cairns to Ingham. Construction Accident  Brisbane, Queensland  3  1988 Aug 4  Concrete slab fell from crane at Commonwealth Bank building construction site, crushing pedestrians. Drowning  Mount Field National Park, Tasmania  3  1990 Jul 3  School outdoor excursion. Two students and one teacher drowned whilst crossing creek. Bushfire  Ferny Creek, Victoria  3  1997 Jan 21  3 dead in bushfire lit by arsonist. Drowning  Sandbar Beach, Pacific Palms, New South Wales  3  1998 Dec 15  Young Christian group on beach trip, three drowned when caught in rip current. Flood  Katherine, Northern Territory  3  1998 Jan  Flooding cause by ex-tropical cyclone Les. Severe storm  Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Sydney and central western regions  3  2001 Nov  Air accident  Near Hamilton Island, Queensland  3  2003 Oct 17  CQ Rescue Bell 407 Helicopter on a medical retrieval flight crashed into sea en route to Hamilton Island. Explosion  Near Gladstone, South Australia  3  2006 May 9  Three people killed and two injured when a massive explosion occurred at a munitions factory in the Mid North of South Australia. The blast radius was 100 metres and the explosion was heard up to 70 km away. Road accident/fire  Melbourne  3  2007 Mar 23  Burnley Tunnel Fire. Traffic accident resulting in explosion and fire. Bushfire  Boorabbin National Park, Western Australia  3  2007 Dec 27  Three men were killed and one man injured when a bushfire in the Boorabbin National Park rapidly changed direction while their trucks were attempting to pass the blaze. Air accident  Lake Eyre, South Australia  3  2011 Aug 19  Three men, including journalist Paul Lockyer, were killed when an ABC helicopter crashed whilst filming a documentary on un-usual flooding occurring at Lake Eyre. Wall Collapse  Melbourne, Victoria  3  2013 Mar 28  Three pedestrians killed when a brick wall collapsed in Swanston St in the CBD of Melbourne. Terrorism  Sydney  3  2014 Dec 16  2014 Sydney hostage crisis: The hostage-taker and two hostages were killed. Workplace accident  Oolong, New South Wales  3  2017 Feb 16  Three people died of carbon monoxide poisoning while cleaning the interior of a water tank on a rural property. Fire  Footscray, Victoria  3  2017 Mar 1  Three homeless people died in a fire in a dis-used factory. Air accident  Renmark, South Australia  3  2017 May 30  Three killed in light aircraft crash. Air accident  Mission Beach, Queensland  3  2017 Oct 13  Three skydivers killed. Flood  Townsville, Queensland  3*  2019 Feb 4–8  2019 Townsville flood *At least one additional death occurred after the floods due to flood-borne disease.StormVictoria 32020 Aug 27Winds reaching 158 km/h cause severe damage across Victoria, killing 3 people including a 4-year-old boy. Over 120,000 houses lost power and 101 suburbs were placed under a boil water advisory that was lifted 4 days later. Riot  Young, New South Wales  2*  1861 Jun 30  Lambing Flat riots. Over 3,000 European gold diggers attacked Chinese settlement on gold-fields. *Official death toll was two Chinese killed, but eyewitness accounts claimed that actual death toll possibly as high as 40. Air accident  North Melbourne  2  1943 Sep 4  An RAAF Vultee Vengeance crashed near Macaulay railway station after giving aerial demonstration over Flemington Racecourse. Both crew on board were killed. Air accident  Bluff Downs, Queensland  2  1984 Apr 9  Two RAAF Mirage fighter jets collided in mid-air. Landslide  Coledale, New South Wales  2  1988 Apr 30  20-metre railway embankment collapsed after being undermined by blocked drains following heavy rainfall, destroying a house located below, killing both occupants.Emergency Management Australia. Hazards, Disasters and Survival. EMA Publishing, ACT 1997. p-33. Industrial explosion Longford, Victoria  2  1998 Sep 25  a large explosion at an Esso operated oil and natural gas processing plant was responsible for an almost complete shutdown of Victoria's natural gas supply for weeks thereafter. At 12:25 pm 25 September 1998 the weld on GP905 cracked and the exchanger failed catastrophically instantly killing two people.Longford, Victoria Road accident Longwood exit, Hume Highway, Victoria  2  2001 Dec 10  A trio of students from Walla Walla, New South Wales, stole a car and planned to drive to Melbourne. The group were sighted by police near Benalla and were pursued. The vehicle reached speeds of 200 km/h before crashing into an embankment; Tristram Rich and Joshua French were killed, while Jason Spalding survived. Bushfire  Grampians, Victoria  2  2006 Jan 22  A father and son died in a bushfire in Victoria's west Rail accident  Trawalla, Victoria  2  2006 Apr 28  2 people killed in level-crossing train accident at Trawalla, near Beaufort, Victoria Electrocution  Rainbow, Victoria  2  2010 Mar 16  Father and son killed on their farm whilst moving a windmill which touched overhead power lines. Two other people badly injured.Bushfire  Blue Mountains, NSW  2  2013 Oct 17  A 43-year-old father water-bomber pilot and a 63-year-old man Avalanche  Mount Bogong, Victoria  2  2014 Jul 10  Two snowboarders buried in avalanche. Workplace accident  Wetherill Park, New South Wales  2  2015 Apr 23  Two workers crushed by falling timber inside a shipping container at a truck body manufacturing centre. Bushfire  Yarloop, Western Australia  2  2016 Jan 8  Air accident  Wilton, New South Wales  2  2017 Jul 15  Two skydivers killed.Air Accident  Leigh Creek, South Australia  2  2019 Jul 6  Light aircraft crash. Riot  Brisbane, Queensland  1  1942 Nov 26–27  Battle of Brisbane. Street brawling and rioting between Australian and US military personnel. One Australian soldier was killed, over 20 Australian and US soldiers badly injured. Gas Explosion  Cairns, Queensland  1  1987 Aug 17  40,000-litre LPG storage unit at Cairns gas works exploded, resulting in a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion). Australia's largest ever LPG explosion. Building implosion  Canberra, ACT.  1  1997 Jul 13  Royal Canberra Hospital implosion. Spectator killed by falling debris. Hailstorm  Sydney  1  1999 Apr 14  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). Asphyxiation  Sydney, New South Wales  1  2001 Jan 26  Big Day Out Concert. Teenage girl crushed in mosh pit.Cyclone  Queensland  1  2006 Mar 20  Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry Mine disaster  Beaconsfield, Tasmania  1  2006 Apr 25  Beaconsfield Mine collapseFlood  Mackay, Queensland  1  2008 Feb 16  Multiple storm cells resulted in flash flooding in the city of Mackay on 15 February 2008. The flooding caused millions of dollars of damage, with one person dying due to drowning.Cyclone  Queensland  1  2011 Feb 3  Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi

Significant incidents of Australians being killed overseas
Excludes deaths attributable to war.

 DisasterLocationDeathsDateNotes Terrorism  Kuta, Bali, Indonesia  88  2002 Oct 12  2002 Bali bombings Pandemic  Worldwide  54  2020-21  COVID-19 pandemic (overseas Australian deaths as of August 2021) Missile strike  Hrabove, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine  38  2014 Jul 17  Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Tsunami  Thailand and Sri Lanka  26  2004 Dec 26  2004 Indian Ocean earthquake Air accident  Denpasar, Indonesia  16  1974 Apr 22  Pan Am Flight 812 crashes into a mountain, a total of 107 people were killed. Flood  Saxeten, Switzerland  14  1999 Jul 28  Flash flood hits canyoning expedition Volcanic eruption  Whakaari/White Island, New Zealand  14  2019 Dec 9  2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption Terrorism    11  2001 Sep 11  11 September 2001 attacks. Air accident  Nias Island, Indonesia  9  2005 Apr 2  2005 Nias Island Sea King crash crashes while providing relief services to victims of the 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake Air accident  near Isurava, Papua New Guinea  9  2009 Aug 12  Airlines PNG Flight 4684 Road accident  near Cairo, Egypt  6  2006 Jan 10  Tourist bus crash Air accident  Republic of the Congo  6  2010 Jun 20  2010 Cameroon Aéro Service CASA C-212 Aviocar crash Air accident  Pakse, Laos  6  2013 Oct 16  Lao Airlines Flight 301 Air accident  Southern Indian Ocean (presumed)  6  2014 Mar 8  Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Road accident  Yamuna Highway, Northern India  6  2016 Jan 10  Five members of an Indian-Australian family killed in car accident while travelling between Delhi and Agra, sixth member later died in hospital. Massacre  Balibo, East Timor  5  1975 Oct 16  Balibo Five. Five Australian journalists murdered by Indonesian troops. The Indonesian government claimed that the men were unintentionally killed in a cross-fire but a 2007 inquest ruled that the journalists were deliberately murdered. Air accident  Yogyakarta, Indonesia  5  2007 Mar 7  Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 Tsunami  Samoa  5  2009 Sep 30  2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami Sinking  North Atlantic Ocean  4  1912 Apr 15  Sinking of RMS Titanic. Two other Australians survived. Missile strike  Sea of Japan  4  1983 Sep 1  Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Air accident  near San Francisco  4+  1953 Oct 29  British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Flight 304 crashes on approach to San Francisco. Massacre  Waco, Texas  4    Waco Siege. At least two other Australians were among the small number of survivors. A child belonging to one of the Australian victims was also lost but was listed as a US citizen. Bridge collapse  Ramat Gan, Israel  4  1997 Jul 14  Maccabiah bridge collapse Terrorism  Jimbaran and Kuta, Bali, Indonesia  4  2005 Oct 1  2005 Bali bombings Air accident  Tanjung Kupang, Johor, Malaysia  3  1977 Dec 4  Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 Fire  Manoharpur, Odisha, India  3  1999 Jan 22  Australian missionary Graham Staines and sons killed in arson attack Terrorism  Jakarta, Indonesia  3  2009 Jul 17  JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel bombing Air accident  Misima Island, Papua New Guinea  3  2010 Aug 31  Cessna Citation crashed on landing. One New Zealander also killed.EarthquakeTurkey and Syria32003 Feb 62023 Turkey–Syria earthquake Air accident  Weybridge, United Kingdom  2  1922 Apr 13  Vickers Viking, piloted by Captain Ross Macpherson Smith, crashed on test flight Air accident  Bay of Bengal  2  1935 Nov 8  Lady Southern Cross, piloted by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, crashes en route between Allahabad, India and Singapore Air accident  London, United Kingdom  2  1967 Nov 4  Iberia Airlines Flight 062 crashed while landing at Heathrow Airport Air accident  Los Rodeos, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain  2  1977 Mar 27  KLM and Pan Am jumbos collide on runway (Tenerife airport disaster) Air accident  off Mauritius  2  1987 Nov 28  South African Airways Flight 295 Air accident  Near Hawaii, United States  2  1989 Feb 24  United Airlines Flight 811 between Honolulu and Auckland experiences explosive decompression Terrorism  Roermond, Netherlands  2  1990 May 27  Australian tourists shot by the Provisional IRA, in the mistaken belief they are British military personnel Terrorism  Mumbai, India  2  2008 Nov 26  November 2008 Mumbai attacks Air accident  near Qazvin, Iran  2  2009 Jul 15  Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 Typhoon  The Philippines  2  2013 Nov 8  Typhoon Haiyan Road accident  Narok, Kenya  2  2014 Sep 7  Tourist bus crash. Air accident  Southern Alps, France  2  2015 Mar 24  Germanwings Flight 9525 Murder  Sinaloa, Mexico  2  2015 Nov 20–21  Two Australian surfers murdered. Terrorism  London, Great Britain  2  2017 Jun 3  2017 London Bridge attack Fire  North Kensington, London, United Kingdom  2  2017 Jun 14  Grenfell Tower fire Road accident  Near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe  2  2017 Dec 23  Two Australian tourists killed in car crash.Crowd crushItaewon, Seoul, South Korea22022 Oct 29Seoul Halloween crowd crush Sinking  Zeebrugge, Belgium  1  1987 Mar 6  Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. Terrorism  Lockerbie, Scotland  1  1988 Dec 21  Pan Am Flight 103. Although a resident of South Africa, the victim was an Australian national. Terrorism  Nairobi, Kenya  1  2013 Sep 21-24  Westgate shopping mall attack. Avalanche  Mount Everest, Himalayas  1  2013 Oct 16  Australian tourist killed in avalanche. Terrorism  Tunis, Tunisia  1  2015 Mar 18  Bardo National Museum attack Earthquake  Nepal  1  2015 Apr 25  April 2015 Nepal earthquake. Australian killed below Mt Everest in avalanche triggered by quake. Shooting  Minneapolis, United States  1  2017 Jul 15  Australian murdered by US police officer. Terrorism  Barcelona, Spain  1  2017 Aug 17  2017 Barcelona attacks Avalanche  Tyrol, Austria  1  2019 Jan 10  Teenage boy killed in avalanche in Austrian Alps while skiing. Explosion  Beirut, Lebanon  1  2020 Aug 4  2020 Beirut explosionAir accidentNear Pokhara International Airport, Pokhara, Nepal12023 Jan 15Yeti Airlines Flight 691

Lihi pahi
 Lists of shipwrecks
 Timeline of major crimes in Australia
 List of mass shootings in Australia
 List of massacres of Indigenous Australians
List of natural disasters in Australia
 List of disasters in Antarctica by death toll
 List of disasters in Canada by death toll
 List of disasters in Croatia by death toll
 List of disasters in Great Britain and Ireland by death toll
 List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll
 List of disasters in Poland by death toll
 List of disasters in Sweden by death toll
 List of disasters in the United States by death toll

Kundivihira

External links
Emergency Management Australia Disasters Database
Major bushfires in Victoria (PDF)
The William Booth Memorial Home Fire (Australia's Deadliest Building Fire)

Disasters by death toll

Australia
Disasters
A