List of disasters in Poland by death toll explained

Listed below are the worst disasters in Poland's history, listed by death toll. This list excludes warfare, the Holocaust and intentional acts of destruction, but may include accidents in which the military, Polish or foreign, was involved (e.g. Osiecznica bus disaster - a collision between a Polish bus and a Soviet Army's truck).

Some of the disasters listed here occurred outside of current Polish borders (e.g. the Smolensk Tu-154 crash) or in times when Poland was not internationally recognized (e.g. during the partitions of Poland), but the predominant number of victims were either Poles or Polish citizens.

Over 100 confirmed deaths

• LOT Polish Airlines Flight 5055, 1987 (9 May), Warsaw, 183 killed
• , 1896, Katowice (then German Empire), 104 killed
• , 1954 (21 March), Chorzów, 103 killed

40 to 99 confirmed deaths

• Smolensk Tu-154 crash, 2010 (10 April), Smolensk, (Russia), 96 killed, including Polish president Lech Kaczyński, his wife and other political and military officials.
• LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007, 1980 (14 March), Warsaw, 87 killed
• 1958 (28 August), Zabrze, 72 killed
• Otłoczyn railway accident, 1980 (19 August), near Brzoza Toruńska, 67 killed
• Katowice Trade Hall roof collapse, 2006 (28 January), Chorzów, 65 killed
• 1928 Poland Derecho, 1928, (4 July), 62 killed
• , 1955 (11 May), Wielopole Skrzyńskie, 58 killed
• 1997 Central European flood, 1997 (July), western Poland, 56 killed
• , 1980 (31 October - 1 November), Górna Grupa, 55 killed
• Sinking of the MS Jan Heweliusz, 1993 (14 January), Baltic Sea (near Rügen Island), 55 killed
• LOT Polish Airlines Flight 165, 1969 (2 April), Polica (near Zawoja), 53 killed
• Rotunda PKO Bank explosion, 1979 (15 February), Warsaw, 49 killed

20 to 39 confirmed deaths

• 1978 Balkan Bulgarian Tupolev Tu-134 crash, 1978 (16 March), Gabare (Bulgaria), 39 Poles killed (out of 73 total fatalities)
• Czechowice-Dziedzice Refinery fire, 1971 (26–27 June), Czechowice-Dziedzice, 37 killed
• 1962 LOT Vickers Viscount Warsaw crash, 1962 (19 December), Warsaw, 33 killed
• PKS Gdańsk bus crash, 1994 (2 May), Gdańsk-Kokoszki, 32 killed
• Wilczy Jar buses tragedy, 1978 (15 November), Wilczy Jar (n. Żywiec-Oczków), 30 killed
• Warsaw Holy Cross Church Stampede, 1881 (25 December), Warsaw, 30 killed
• Grenoble coach crash, 2007 (22 July), Vizille (France), 27 killed
• Julianka rail crash, 1976 (3 November), Julianka (n. Częstochowa), 25 killed
• Osieck rail crash, 1981 (4 June), Osieck, 25 killed
• MS Busko Zdrój, 1985 (8 February), North Sea, 24 killed
• Kamień Pomorski homeless hostel fire, 2009 (13 April), Kamień Pomorski, 23 killed
• Halemba coal mine disaster, 2006, 2006 (22 November), Ruda Śląska, 23 killed
• MS Maria Konopnicka fire in Stocznia Gdańska, 1961 (13 December), 23 killed
• Wojska Polskiego 39 Street gas explosion, 1995 (17 April), Gdańsk, 22 killed
• Mirosławiec air accident crash, 2008 (23 January), Mirosławiec, 20 killed
• MS Kudowa Zdrój, 1983 (20 January), Mediterranean, 20 killed
• Wujek-Śląsk coal mine disaster, 18 September 2009, Ruda Śląska – a methane explosion killed 12 in the coal mine and a further 8 would die in hospital^[1]

15 to 19 confirmed deaths

• Balaton coach crash, 2002 (1 July), n. Balaton (Hungary), 19 killed
• Halemba coal mine disaster, 1990 (10 January), Ruda Śląska, 19 killed
• Biały Jar avalanche, 1968 (20 March), valley on Sněžka mountain (n. Karpacz), 19 killed
• Nowe Miasto nad Pilica bus crash, 2010 (12 October), Nowe Miasto nad Pilica, 18 killed
• "Mysłowice" coal mine disaster, 1987 (4 February), Mysłowice, 18 killed
• B406/6 trawler explosion in Stocznia Gdańska, 1980 (18 June), Gdańsk, 18 killed
• Motława, 1975 (1 August), Gdańsk, 18 killed
• M/v "Nysa", 1965 (10 January), North Sea, 18 killed
• Polish Air Force An-24 crash, 1973 (28 February), Szczecin airport 18 killed
• Struga 12 street gas explosion, 1976 (1 February), Gdańsk, 17 killed
• Szczekociny rail crash, 2012 (3 March), Szczekociny, killed 16
• Ursus rail crash, 1990 (20 August), Ursus (n. Warsaw), 16 killed
• Radkowice rail crash, 1973 (27 August), Radkowice, 16 killed
• Osiecznica bus crash, 1978 (22 January), n. Osiecznica, 15 killed
• Wyszaka streetcar crash, 1967 (7 December), Szczecin, 15 killed

10 to 14 confirmed deaths

• Brandenburg coach crash, 2010, (26 September), Schönefeld (Germany), 14 killed
• "Kaskada" restaurant fire, 1981 (27 April), Szczecin, 14 killed
• MS Czubatka, 1955 (10 May), North Sea, 14 killed
• Krosno Odrzańskie tornado, 1886 (13 May), Krosno Odrzańskie, 13 killed
• Izbicko level crossing accident, 1960, (6 January), Izbicko, 13 killed
• Storm in Mazury, 2007 (21 August), Mazury (north-eastern Poland), 12 killed
• Jeżewo coach crash, 2005 (30 September), Sikory-Wojciechowięta (n. Stare Jeżewo), 12 killed
• Reptowo rail crash, 1997 (5 May), Reptowo (n. Szczecin), 12 killed
• Bydgoszcz rail crash, 1972 (3 June), Śliesin (n. Bydgoszcz), 12 killed
• MS Cyranka, 1956 (4 October), North Sea, 12 killed
• ČSM-north coal mine disaster, 2018 (20 December), Stonava (n. Karviná), Czechia, 12 killed
• Psie Pole rail crash, 1977 (9 July), Mirków (n. Wrocław), 11 killed (unofficial - 32 killed)
• "Jas-Mos" coal mine disaster, 2002 (10 February), 10 killed
• Ministry of Interior MSWiA helicopter crash, 1991 (10 January), n. Cisna, 10 killed
• Drogomil level crossing accident, 1988 (4 June), Drogomil (n. Bytom Odrzański), 10 killed
• Piła rail crash, 1988 (19 May), Piła, 10 killed
• MS Brda, 1975 (10 January), Hanstholm (Denmark), 10 killed
• "Rokitnica" coal mine disaster, 1971 (23 March), Zabrze, 10 killed
• Agricultural University building collapse, 1966 (22 March), Wrocław, 10 killed

Fewer than 10 confirmed deaths

• Bratoszewice level crossing collision, 30 July 2012, 9 killed^[2]
• 1983 Łódź gas explosion, 7 December 1983, 8 killed
• 2017 Świebodzice tenement collapse, 8 April 2017, 6 killed^[3]
• 2019 Koszalin Escape Room Fire, 4 January, 2019, 5 killed
• 2008 Poland tornado outbreak, 15-16 August 2008, 4 killed
• 2022 missile explosion in Poland, 15 November 2022, 2 killed

See also

• List of disasters in Antarctica by death toll
• List of disasters in Australia by death toll
• List of disasters in Canada by death toll
• List of disasters in Croatia by death toll
• List of disasters in Great Britain and Ireland by death toll
• List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll
• List of disasters in the United States by death toll

Notes and References

1. Web site: Coal mine story - The last relay Photo . TrekEarth . 2010-05-24.
2. News: Nine killed as minibus and train collide in Poland. Agence France-Presse (AFP). BBC News. 2012-07-30. 2012-11-18.
3. Web site: Sześć osób nie żyje, w tym dwoje dzieci. Premier Szydło na miejscu tragedii. 2017-04-08. 2020-11-25. TVN24. pl.