2008 Sichuan Earthquake

Also known as the Great Wenchuan Earthquake, this devastating event struck the mountainous Sichuan Province of central China, destroying entire towns and triggering thousands of landslides that blocked rivers and created dangerous quake lakes. The collapse of poorly constructed school buildings killed thousands of children, sparking national outrage over building code enforcement. Nearly 5 million people were left homeless, and the Chinese government mobilized 130,000 troops for the largest disaster relief operation in its history.