catastrophe

Noun

• a sudden violent change in the earth's surface

• a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
  • lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system
    
  • his policies were a disaster
    

• an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
  • the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity
    
  • the earthquake was a disaster
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  cataclysm , disaster , calamity , tragedy