This is the 8422nd most frequent German word.
katastrophe
Catastrophe; disaster; a sudden and severe event causing great damage or suffering.
Used as a noun to describe a disastrous event.
Die Überschwemmung war eine Katastrophe für die Stadt.
The flood was a catastrophe for the city.
Used metaphorically to describe a potentially problematic situation.
Es wäre eine Katastrophe, wenn wir den Zug verpassen.
It would be a catastrophe if we miss the train.
Used in a negative construction to emphasize the lack of disastrous conditions in contrast to the positive outcome.