Natural disasters in China water-diversification projects to channel excess water from the Chang Jiang to arid northern regions. China had 3 of the top 10 world's most fatal earthquakes, including the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake that reportedly killed more than 830,000 people, listed as the deadliest earthquakes of all times and the third deadliest natural disaster. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake, with death toll estimated to be between 242,419 and 779,000, is ranked the third deadliest earthquake of all times, and 8th deadliest natural disaster. The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake killed 200,000 to 240,000, ranked the fourth deadliest earthquake and 9th deadliest of all natural disasters. The
Fate to Fatal label, and the Breeders released 2008's "Mountain Battles" with 4AD as a "one-off". For "Fate to Fatal", they considered whether it was worthwhile to negotiate again with 4AD to release it as well. They conferred with friends in the music industry, including Albini, Bob Weston, and former 4AD owner Ivo Watts-Russell, and decided to release the EP themselves independently, on Period Music. On April 21, 2009, they released 1000 copies on vinyl for Record Store Day; they also made the EP available digitally. The Breeders made a music video for the song "Fate to Fatal", co-directed by Lopez and James