tragedy

A drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.

The genre of such works, and the art of producing them.

A disastrous event, especially one involving great loss of life or injury.

“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas.[…]”

[…] last month's flooding in the Buffalo Creek Valley […]. The tragedy took more than one hundred lives[…]