Oddly, fear excavation could result in disaster, causing death to many (6)
I believe the answer is:
famine
'result in disaster causing death to many' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'oddly fear excavation' is the wordplay.
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions).
'excavation' becomes 'mine' (mine is a kind of excavation).
The alternate letters of 'fear' are 'fa'.
'fa'+'mine'='FAMINE'
'could' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for famine that I've seen before include "Extreme lack of food" , "Severe food scarcity" , "Extreme dearth of food" , "Starvation" , "Severe shortage of food for many" .)