List of disasters in New York City by death toll

USNS Comfort passing by Statue of Liberty, March 30, 2020

List of disasters in New York City by death toll

This is a list of disasters in New York City by death toll. The list includes major natural disasters, accidents, and terrorist attacks that have resulted in significant loss of life in the city.

Natural Disasters

1776 Great Fire of New York

The Great Fire of New York (1776) occurred during the American Revolutionary War on September 21, 1776. The fire destroyed a significant portion of the city, and although the exact death toll is unknown, it is estimated that several dozen people perished.

1888 Blizzard

The Blizzard of 1888 (March 11-14, 1888), also known as the Great Blizzard of '88, was one of the most severe recorded blizzards in American history. It resulted in the deaths of over 200 people in New York City.

1911 Heat Wave

The 1911 New York heat wave was a severe heat wave that struck the city in July 1911, resulting in the deaths of approximately 211 people.

Accidents

1904 General Slocum Disaster

The PS General Slocum was a passenger steamboat that caught fire and sank in the East River on June 15, 1904. The disaster resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,021 people, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in American history.

1918 Malbone Street Wreck

The Malbone Street Wreck occurred on November 1, 1918, when a Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company train derailed in a tunnel under Malbone Street (now Empire Boulevard) in Brooklyn. The accident resulted in the deaths of at least 93 people.

1977 New York City Blackout

The New York City blackout of 1977 occurred on July 13-14, 1977, and while it did not result in a high death toll, it led to widespread looting and arson, causing significant damage and chaos in the city.

Terrorist Attacks

1993 World Trade Center Bombing

The 1993 World Trade Center bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The attack resulted in the deaths of 6 people and injured over 1,000 others.

September 11 Attacks

The September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks by the extremist group al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001. The attacks resulted in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and the deaths of 2,753 people in New York City, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in world history.

See Also

• List of disasters in the United States by death toll
• History of New York City
• Emergency management in New York City