Wars, disease and natural disasters have all claimed millions of lives over the course of many hundreds of years.
But on the deadliest day in human history, an estimated 830,000 people died at the hands of a terrible event.
The most destructive incident in history took place on 23 January 1556, in China’s Huazhou District.
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An earthquake rocked the region, demolishing three cities and causing landslides, mudslides and fires that killed hundreds of thousands.
The earthquake - which had a magnitude of between 8.0 and 8.3 - is often referred to as the 'Jiajing Great Earthquake', due to it happening during Emperor Jiajing's reign.
According to the Journal of Geophysical Research, the Huaxian and Weinan regions were greatly impacted.
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"The greatest levels of shaking were experienced in the Huaxian and Weinan regions," the journal reads. "Suggesting that the earthquake ruptured the nearby Huashan and Weinan faults."
On that dreaded day, an estimated 830,000 people died as a result of the disaster.
According to History.com, the earthquake also 'trigged landslides', which contributed to the death toll.
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In a translated quote from local Annals - which are ancient historical documents - records describe what happened.
The Annals reads: "In some places, the ground suddenly rose up and formed new hills, or it sank abruptly and became new valleys.
"In other areas, a stream burst out in an instant, or the ground broke and new gullies appeared. Huts, official houses, temples and city walls collapsed all of a sudden."
It was also recorded that fissures - reaching around 60ft deep - erupted in the ground.
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Following the earthquake, it's reported that the two primary provinces impacted Shaanxi and Shanxi, lost around 60 percent of the population.
One of the main reasons for the high number of deaths was the type of housing people were living in at the time.
Residents lived in caves called Yaodongs, which then collapsed under the force of the earthquake.
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After the disaster, bamboo and wood were used instead to construct homes due to their tremor resistance and ability to take less damage if hit.
But it wasn't just homes that were a problem - as the major cities in the area had many structures built of dense, heavy stone, which caused huge devastation during the earthquake.
The stone buildings crumbled during the disaster, crushing and killing thousands.
Even in the months after the earthquake, the region suffered after shocks for six months, which caused further devastation.
Topics: World News, China
Lucy Devine