Yungay Avalanche Disaster 1970

Back in 1962, two American scientists warned that Peru's highest mountain, Huascarán, was unstable and could collapse. Rather than act, the Peruvian government silenced the alarm by threatening the scientists and banning civilians from even talking about it.

Their fears came true in 1970. A massive earthquake struck, triggering a colossal avalanche that buried the town of Yungay (often spelled Yangoy) and killed around 20,000 people. Amid the chaos, a quick-thinking clown saved 300 children attending a circus by leading them to higher ground just moments before the avalanche swallowed the entire town. Out of Yungay's entire population, only about 400 people survived.

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