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Common collocations with disaster in American Collocation

disaster noun countable/uncountable

US /dɪˈzæstər/

very bad

catastrophic
major
terrible
worst

A relatively small incident was turned into a major disaster when the mine manager insisted on sending men back into the mine.

likely to happen

imminent
impending
looming
potential

Humanitarian agencies are warning of an impending disaster in the city.

caused by weather and other natural events

earthquake
flood
humanitarian
hurricane
natural
quake
tsunami

The devastation caused by this terrible natural disaster is becoming apparent.

affecting the environment

climate-related
ecological
environmental

There is no doubt that the our over-dependence on oil led to this ecological disaster.

causing great human suffering

humanitarian

Following the war and the famine, the country was on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.

involving transport

air
ferry
maritime
rail
shipping
tanker
train

This was the worst rail disaster in Ireland’s history.

at a mine

colliery
mining
pit

82 people were killed in a mining disaster.

suffer a disaster

be affected by
be devastated by
be hit by
experience
face
suffer

There was a massive effort to help the millions of people affected by the disaster.

cause or be a disaster

be
bring
cause
mean
spell

This monopoly spells disaster for the ill and the poor in developing nations.

avoid disaster

avert
avoid
prevent

A guard prevented the men from lighting the fuse, averting potential disaster.

predict disaster

foresee
foretell
portend
predict

Scientists predict environmental disaster if we do not act now.

do something that makes disaster likely

court
invite
risk

By ignoring his generals’ warnings, Napoleon was simply courting disaster.

happen

befall someone/something
engulf someone/something
happen
occur
overtake someone/something
overwhelm someone/something
strike
unfold

Then, the day before the ceremony, disaster struck.

threaten to happen

await someone/something
loom
threaten someone/something

There were concerns that another humanitarian disaster was looming.

According to the report, stored nuclear waste is a disaster waiting to happen.