Last month saw a number of major natural disasters occur around the world, from earthquakes to floods, droughts and typhoons.
The geological phenomenon will happen anyway, but one problem is that the onset of a Super El Niño event further increases the risk of extreme weather events around the world.
Here are some of the biggest natural disasters that have occurred over the past month.
Earthquake hits Colombia
This aerial photo shows debris and pieces of collapsed buildings 14 days after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Pereira, Colombia on August 24, 2026. The devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of people in western Colombia on August 10, 2026 caused economic losses of $9.57 billion, President Abelardo de la Espriela announced preliminary estimates on August 18. The death toll stands at 289, with a further 4,187 injured and 143 missing. (Photo by ESTEBAN VEGA LA-ROTTA/AFP via Getty Images)
Esteban Vega Lalotta | Esteban Vega Lalotta AFP | Getty Images
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the most powerful to hit Colombia in decades, struck a coffee-growing region in the early hours of August 10, partially or completely destroying many buildings, killing hundreds and injuring thousands.
Pereira, Colombia – August 10: People gather in the streets after a massive earthquake struck Pereira, Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing at least 18 people and causing damage. The quake was felt in large parts of the country, and authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage and possible additional casualties. (Photo by: Alexis Munera/Anadolu, Getty Images)
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Workers watch the demolition of the damaged María Mercedes Lloreda building, 37 days after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in the Cuarto de Regua district of Cali, Colombia, on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Joaquin SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Joaquin Sarmiento | AFP | Getty Images
Pereira, Colombia – August 10: Residents and rescue workers are conducting search, rescue and evacuation operations in Pereira, Colombia, on August 10, 2026, after a powerful earthquake struck Colombia, killing at least 18 people and causing widespread damage. Preliminary reports indicated that several buildings were destroyed, buildings and roads were damaged, and some public services were temporarily disrupted. Hospitals activated emergency plans to treat the injured and technical teams began assessing damaged buildings as authorities warned residents to avoid dangerous buildings and be on guard for aftershocks. (Photo by: Alexis Munera/Anadolu, Getty Images)
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
nepal flash floods
Rasuwa, Nepal – September 3: Aerial view of houses surrounded by mud, rocks and debris after flash floods in Betravati village, Rasuwa, Nepal, on September 3, 2026. As of September 1, at least 900 people have died and nearly 4,000 are missing in Nepal due to flooding triggered by the Langtang Lirung glacier collapse on August 26, with hundreds more dead and hundreds missing in neighboring Tibet, authorities said. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)
Ritesh Shukla | Getty Images News | Getty Images
A massive glacier collapse in northern Nepal on August 26 sent ice, rock and meltwater into the valley below, causing landslides that swept away or cut off entire villages and damaged roads, bridges and hydropower facilities.
According to the Associated Press, the death toll has exceeded 1,000.
Top Shot – A man looks at debris in the aftermath of a flash flood in Trishuli, Nepal’s Nuwakot district on September 7, 2026. A glacier and mountain collapse occurred on the China-Nepal border on August 26, killing at least 1,398 people and leaving more than 5,500 missing, including about 800 foreigners. (Photo by Pedro PARDO/AFP via Getty Images)
Pedro Pardo | AFP | Getty Images
The aftermath of a flash flood and landslide along the Trishuli River in Nuwakot, Nepal, on August 26, 2026. Flash floods reportedly hit Nepal’s northern border areas after an ice and rock avalanche triggered by an earthquake caused a sudden rise in the Rende River on the Nepal-China border, sending large amounts of water, mud and debris downstream into the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems. The event affected villages in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, washed away houses, roads, bridges, vehicles and other infrastructure, and damaged hydroelectric and power facilities. In Nuwakot, riverside villages including Trishuli Bazaar, Devighat, Betrawati and surrounding areas were damaged, with houses washed away and large amounts of mud and debris deposited across communities. Floods have also disrupted communication and transport routes, and authorities have evacuated vulnerable residents along rivers and issued warnings along the Bhote Kosi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers. The death toll from the disaster has reached 97 people, and at least 384 tourists, including foreigners, soldiers and police personnel are reported missing as search and rescue operations continue. Nepali army, armed police and Nepali police personnel have been dispatched to the affected areas, and rescue operations are also underway on the Chinese side of the border. Authorities continue to assess casualties and the scale of destruction, as access to some affected areas remains difficult due to damaged roads, bridges, heavy sediment and continued risk of flooding. The disaster is said to be one of the most severe sudden floods to hit the Nepal-China border area in recent years. (Photo by Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Null Photo | Null Photo | Getty Images
Top Shot – A woman walks through the remains of a flash flood in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on September 1, 2026. A tidal wave of freezing water and debris caused by a glacier collapse on the China-Nepal border has left at least 939 people dead and nearly 4,500 missing, with Kathmandu warning that reconstruction costs could reach “billions of dollars”. (Photo by Arun SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Arun Sankar | AFP | Getty Images
Flight disruption after Krakatoa eruption
Passengers stand near a Flight Information Display System (FIDS) board that shows multiple flights canceled due to volcano at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, September 7, 2026. The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau prompted authorities to suspend flights at several airports, disrupting major air routes between Java and Sumatra. (Photo credit: Lana Priatna/NurPhoto, Getty Images)
Null Photo | Null Photo | Getty Images
Anak Krakatoa began a series of eruptions on September 4, lasting about 25 hours. The accident wreaked havoc on flight schedules in the region, including at Jakarta’s airport, Southeast Asia’s second-busiest.
Hurricane Lowell in Hawaii
Hawaii is preparing for Hurricane Lowell, forcing schools and government offices to close on Kauai and Niihau. The hurricane is expected to bring damaging winds, the possibility of tornadoes and even dangerous rip currents to some areas.
wildfires in north america
Wildfires have broken out across large swathes of the United States and Canada in recent months, leaving firefighters in both countries scrambling to extinguish them. The Canadian government has announced that wildland fire danger is expected to be higher than normal in September in most of Canada, except for Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Typhoon Sauder in China
Typhoon Saudel has hit southeastern China, with heavy rain continuing every day. Authorities estimate that nearly 600,000 people have been evacuated from high-risk, flood-prone areas in Fujian province, with an additional 128,000 affected in 53 prefectures across Jiangxi province, the Guardian reported.
southwest monsoon in the philippines
The Philippines has also been affected by monsoon flooding, which is expected to continue until Thursday, according to local media reports. A 24-hour weather advisory issued by the country’s civil defense agency also warned of the possibility of flash floods and landslides. The death toll from the monsoon, also known as Habagat, stood at 39 as of September 2, the Manila Bulletin reported, citing the Civil Defense Bureau.
