Documenting some of the worst devastating catastrophes in world history, this book examines the terrible toll they have taken on human life and their impact on society. Colour cross-sectional artworks convey the scale and the human drama of each of the disasters. From massive earthquake to monster cyclone, the text uses an on-the-spot perspective and chronological sequences to take the reader directly to the scene. As well as examining the lessons learned from each catastrophe, the text assesses potential disasters of the future, and our ability to prevent them.