noun

a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life.

159 people died in the disaster

catastrophe,calamity,cataclysm,tragedy,act of God,holocaust,accident,mishap,misadventure,mischance,setback,reversal,reverse of fortune,contretemps,stroke of ill luck,problem,difficulty,heavy blow,shock,buffet,adversity,trouble,misfortune,ruin,ruination,tribulation,woe,distress,casualty,bale,mishanter