World | natural disaster World's Costliest Natural Disasters The price tag of 2008's earthquake in China? $147B By Polly Davis Doig Posted Mar 20, 2011 4:59 PM CDT Copied People try to find their property among the debris of collapsed buildings in Sichuan Province, on Monday, May 12, 2008. The 7.8 earthquake cost $147 billion. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Chen Xie) See 1 more photo Japan's devastating earthquake has pushed natural disasters back into the headlines again, and the Telegraph runs down the most costly in history: Earthquake in Sichuan, China, 2008: The 7.8-magnitude temblor killed more than 70,000 and left 11 million homeless. Cost: $147 billion. Earthquake in Kobe, Japan, 1995: The city of Kobe alone lost 4,600 of the 6,434 people who died. Cost: $144 billion. Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, 2005: The storm devastated the Big Easy, and killed 1,800. Cost: $137 billion. Earthquake in Irpinia, Italy, 1980: Almost 3,000 died in the quake that devastated a vast area. Cost: $52 billion. Earthquake in California, 1994: The Santa Monica freeway was shut down for three months. Cost: $43 billion. Click for the rest of the list. Read These Next "Admiral Piett" of the Star Wars universe died from COVID. Trump voter who supported mass deportations could be deported herself. Shooter opens fire on Texas Border Patrol Rescuer in floods gets a poignant question. See 1 more photo Report an error