The 1931 Yellow River flood (Huang He flood) is generally thought to be the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded, and almost certainly of the twentieth century (when pandemics are discounted). Estimates of the number of people killed in the 1931 flooding range from 850,000 to 4,000,000. Deaths caused by the flooding include but are not limited to drowning, disease, ensuing famines, and droughts.