Sure worse has happened before, but definitely if one analyses certain ahadiths you can say it is approaching. However me must not forget that lips of Israfeal are already on the trumpet, so it can happen at a given moment.
Bad things have always occured, however they are happening at a much faster pace with the advance in technology. Society is degrading in terms of culture and value faster than it would have before with all those tragedies.
Its good to be worried about the end of times, keeps everyone in check.