TASS DOSSIER. On September 19, 2017, at 18:14 UTC, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico, followed by 11 aftershocks up to magnitude 4. A total of at least 224 people were reportedly killed.
The editors of TASS-DOSSIER have prepared material about the ten largest earthquakes of the 20th and 21st centuries. When compiling the rating, the officially confirmed number of deaths was taken into account.
On January 12, 2010, at 21:53 UTC, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti. Its hypocenter was located in the sea, 25 km southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 13 km. 316 thousand people died, more than 300 thousand were injured, 1.3 million were left homeless. 97 thousand houses were destroyed, 188 thousand buildings were damaged. The city of Port-au-Prince was almost completely destroyed. Economic damage amounted to $7.9 billion
On July 27, 1976, at 19:42 UTC, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred near the Chinese mining town of Tangshan, Hebei Province, 150 km east of Beijing. According to official data, 242 thousand 769 people died (the media suggested that the real number of victims could reach 800 thousand). Tangshan turned into ruins, destruction was also recorded in Tianjin and Beijing. All roads and about 400 km of railway tracks in the region were damaged, which made it difficult for rescue teams to arrive in the city. Economic damage amounted to $2 billion
On December 26, 2004, at 00:58 UTC, an earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean. Scientists estimate its magnitude to be between 9.1 and 9.3. The hypocenter was located 160 km west of the island of Sumatra, at a depth of 30 km. There was a shift of tectonic plates over 1200 km, the resulting tsunami up to 10 meters high reached the coasts of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India and the east coast of Africa. As a result, according to various estimates, from 225 to 300 thousand people in 14 countries were killed, about 2.2 million were injured. The earthquake and tsunami caused numerous destructions, the economic damage to Thailand is estimated at $5 billion, India - $1.6 billion, the Maldives - at $1.3 billion, Indonesia - $4.5 billion, Sumatra Islands - $675 million On December 16, 1920 at 12:06 UTC, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred in the Chinese province of Gansu. The epicenter was in Haiyuan County. Fluctuations in the earth's crust led to destruction over an area of 67.5 thousand square meters. km, affecting seven provinces and regions. The earthquake was accompanied by numerous landslides and landslides that buried entire villages. Numerous cracks formed on the surface, the largest of which reached 200 km in length. Several rivers changed their course. According to various estimates, the total number of victims of the earthquake was 200-240 thousand people, about 20 thousand people died from the cold, having lost their shelter.
On September 1, 1923, at 2:58 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Japan, known as the Great Kanto Earthquake. The hypocenter was located 90 km southwest of Tokyo in the sea near Oshima Island. Many populated areas, including Tokyo, Yokohama, and Yokosuka, suffered enormous destruction. Fires started in the cities; in Tokyo alone, about 40 thousand people suffocated from smoke in one of the squares. A 12-meter tsunami formed in Sagami Bay, devastating coastal settlements.
In total, about 143 thousand people died, 542 thousand were missing, more than 694 thousand homes were destroyed or burned down. Material losses were estimated at $4.5 billion, which at that time amounted to two of the country's annual budgets and five times higher than Japan's expenses in the Russo-Japanese War. The Great Kanto Earthquake is the most destructive in Japanese history.
On October 5, 1948, at 20:12 UTC, an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 occurred in Ashgabat (Turkmen SSR). As a result, 90-98% of all buildings were destroyed, and the cities of Batir and Bezmein were also severely damaged. In Soviet times, the exact number of victims was not stated; in 2010, the President of Turkmenistan stated that the earthquake claimed the lives of 176 thousand residents of the republic, including 89% of Ashgabat residents. Since 1995, October 6 is celebrated in Turkmenistan as Remembrance Day.
On May 12, 2008, at 6:28 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred in the Sichuan province of China. The epicenter was located in Wenchuan County, 80 km northwest of the provincial capital, Chengdu. The tremors were felt in Beijing (1,500 km from the epicenter) and Shanghai (1,700 km). The earthquake was also felt in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Russia. 87.6 thousand people became victims of the natural disaster, more than 370 thousand were injured. 15 million people were evacuated, more than 5 million were left homeless. In total, more than 45.5 million people were affected in 10 provinces. 5.36 million buildings were completely destroyed, more than 21 million were damaged. Total economic damage is estimated at $86 billion
On October 8, 2005, at 3:50 UTC, an earthquake occurred in South Asia - in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The magnitude was 7.6. The epicenter was located 105 km northeast of the capital of Pakistan. In Pakistan, 86 thousand people were killed and more than 69 thousand people were injured. More than 32 thousand buildings were destroyed. In India, 1.3 thousand people became victims, 6.2 thousand were injured. More than 4 million people lost their homes. The Pakistani government estimated the damage at $5-12 billion. The earthquake was the most destructive in South Asia in the last 100 years. As a result, a 100 km long fault was formed, along which almost all structures were destroyed. Tremors were also felt in China, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
On December 28, 1908, at 4:20 UTC, an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 occurred in the city of Messina on the island of Sicily (Italy). The epicenter was located in the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Apennine Peninsula. The tremors caused a tsunami 6-12 meters high. As a result, the cities of Messina, Reggio Calabria and Palmi and about 20 other settlements were destroyed. 72 thousand people died (40% of the population of Messina and 25% of the inhabitants of Reggio Calabria). This earthquake is considered the strongest in the history of Europe. The crews of the Russian ships Tsesarevich, Slava, Admiral Makarov and Bogatyr, which at that moment were in the port of Augusta in Sicily, took part in clearing the rubble and helping the population.
On May 31, 1970, at 20:23 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred near Peru. The hypocenter was located in the Peru-Chile deep-sea trench in the Pacific Ocean, 25 km east of Chimbote, a major Peruvian fishing port. The tremors caused a glacier to fall from Mount Huascaran (height 6768 m), which caused a giant landslide of stones, ice and mud about 1.5 km long and more than 750 m wide. It fell at a speed of more than 200 km/h on the cities of Yungay, Karaz and Ranrairka, destroying dozens of villages along the way. As a result of the earthquake and landslide, about 70 thousand people were killed or missing, more than 157 thousand were injured, 800 thousand were left homeless. Damage amounted to about $260 million
1902:
- April 18, Guatemala - earthquake followed by heavy rains. About 12.2 thousand people died, about 80 thousand people were left homeless, and the city of Guatemala was flooded.
1905:
- April 4, India - earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale. About 19 thousand people died, the city of Kangra was almost completely destroyed.
- September 8, Italy, Calabria Peninsula - earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. About 5 thousand people died, 25 villages were almost completely destroyed.
1906:
- April 18, USA, California - earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. About 7 thousand people died, the city of San Francisco was partially destroyed.
- August 16, Chile - earthquake measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale. Up to 20 thousand people died, about 100 thousand people were left homeless, the city of Valparaiso was almost completely destroyed, the amount of material damage amounted to about $200 million.
1907:
- January 14, Jamaica - an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing a tsunami. About 1.4 thousand people died, the city of Kingston was almost completely destroyed, and the tsunami destroyed residential and other buildings on the shores of Anotta Bay.
1908:
- December 28, Italy, island of Sicily - earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. According to various sources, from 80 thousand to 250 thousand people died, the city of Messina and 25 nearby settlements were completely destroyed.
1920:
- December 16, China, Gansu province - earthquake measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale. About 220 thousand people died.
1923:
- September 1-3, Japan - earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. About 200 thousand people died, including about 143 thousand in the cities of Yokohama and Tokyo, about 200 thousand people were injured, about 3.5 million people were left homeless. Since then, every year on September 1 - the day of the "Great Kanto Earthquake" - exercises have been held throughout Japan to teach the population adequate behavior during natural disasters.
1939:
- January 24, Chile - earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. About 50 thousand people were killed, about 60 thousand people were injured, almost 700 thousand people were left homeless, and the city of Concepcion was destroyed by 70%.
- December 27, Turkey, Samsun, Sivas and Erzincan provinces - earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. More than 50 thousand people died.
1948:
- October 6, USSR, Turkmen SSR - earthquake with a force of at least 9 points on the Richter scale. About 160 thousand people died, and the cities of Ashgabat, Batir and Bezmein were severely destroyed.
1949:
- August 5, Ecuador - earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale. About 6 thousand people were killed, up to 20 thousand people were injured, almost 100 thousand people were left homeless, the city of Pelileo was completely destroyed, and at least 53 settlements were damaged to a greater or lesser extent.
1950:
- August 15, India, Assam - the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. Seismologists were unable to measure the strength of the earthquake because the instrument scales did not have the corresponding mark (later they began to assign it a force of 9 points on the Richter scale). About 1 thousand people died.
1959:
- October 29, Mexico - an earthquake that caused a tsunami and was accompanied by mudflows. About 5 thousand people died, the village of Minatitlan was completely destroyed, 10 small cargo ships and the Synod passenger ship with the crew and passengers on board sank.
1960:
- February 29, Morocco - an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, causing a tsunami. About 12 thousand people were killed, the port of Agadir was destroyed by 70%.
- May 21-30, Chile - a series of earthquakes measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale. About 5.7 thousand people died, almost 100 thousand people were left homeless, about 20% of the country's industrial complex was completely or partially destroyed, the amount of material damage amounted to about $400 million.
1963:
- July 16, Yugoslavia, Macedonia - earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale. About 2 thousand people were killed, about 3 thousand people were injured, about 178 thousand people were left homeless, and the city of Skopje was completely destroyed.
1964:
- Japan, Honshu Island, Akita, Niigata and Yamagata prefectures - an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. About 500 thousand people were left homeless.
1966:
- April 26, USSR, Uzbek SSR - earthquake measuring 8 points on the Richter scale. According to various sources, from several tens to several thousand people died, about 78 thousand people were left homeless, the city of Tashkent, which was at the epicenter of the earthquake, was completely destroyed.
1970:
- May 31, Peru - earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. About 66.8 thousand people were killed or missing, almost 200 thousand people were injured, and at least 800 thousand people were left homeless.
1972:
- February 4, Guatemala and Honduras - earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. More than 22 thousand people died (in Guatemala alone), about 75 thousand people were injured, and about 1.5 million people were left homeless.
- December, Nicaragua - earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. About 7 thousand people died, almost 200 thousand people were left homeless.
1976:
- February 4, Guatemala - earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. About 22 thousand people died, up to 70 thousand people were injured, and up to 1 million people were left homeless.
- July 28, China - earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale. About 250 thousand people died, the city of Tangshan was completely destroyed.
1977:
- March 4, Romania - earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale. About 1.5 thousand people died, the city of Bucharest was partially destroyed.
1978:
- September 16, Iran - earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale. 25 thousand people died, the city of Tebes, which was at the epicenter of the earthquake, was almost completely destroyed.
1980:
- October 10, Algeria - two tremors measuring 7.5 and 6.5 on the Richter scale. About 6 thousand people were killed, up to 250 thousand people were left homeless, and the city of Al-Asnam was completely destroyed.
1985:
- September 18-19, Mexico - two tremors measuring 8.1 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. About 20 thousand people were killed, up to 40 thousand people were injured, about 31 thousand people were left homeless, and the city of Mexico City was significantly damaged.
1988:
- December 7, USSR, Armenian SSR - earthquake measuring about 7 on the Richter scale. About 25 thousand people were killed, about 17 thousand people were injured, about 514 thousand people were left homeless, the city of Spitak was completely destroyed, the cities of Kirovakan, Leninakan and Stepanakert were partially destroyed.
1990:
- July 21, Iran, Caspian Sea zone - earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. About 50 thousand people were killed, almost 200 thousand people were injured, and up to 500 thousand people were left homeless.
1993:
- September 30, India, Maharashtra state - earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale. Up to 10 thousand people died.
1995:
- May 27, Russian Federation, Sakhalin Island - earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale. About 3 thousand people died, the city of Neftegorsk was almost completely destroyed.
1998:
- May 30, Afghanistan - earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. Up to 5 thousand people died.
1999:
- January 25, Colombia - earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. Up to 1 thousand people died, the cities of Armenia and Pereira were significantly damaged.
- The night of August 16-17, Turkey - an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale (originally estimated at 6.7). More than 14 thousand people died, the city of Izmit, which was at the epicenter of the earthquake, was hit the hardest.
- September 21, Taiwan - earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. About 2.1 thousand people were killed, about 9 thousand people were injured.
year 2001:
- India, Gujarat - earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. Up to 16.5 thousand people were killed, about 68.5 thousand people were injured, about 8.8 thousand villages were damaged to a greater or lesser extent. Echoes of the earthquake were recorded in Nepal and Pakistan.
2003:
- December, Iran, Kerman province - two tremors measuring 6.3 and 5.3 on the Richter scale. At least 40 thousand people were killed, with the cities of Bam and Barawat the worst hit.
2004:
- December 26, the Indian Ocean near the island of Sumarta (Indonesia) - an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, which caused a tsunami. At least 225 thousand people died. The total number of victims was about 2.2 million people.
The earthquake in Chile caused the collapse of 2.5 thousand buildings and partial destruction of urban infrastructure. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated at 8.2 on the Richter scale.
Six people died from the earthquake, including those who died of heart attacks. Over 900 thousand people were evacuated - all from the coastal, most earthquake-prone areas of the country. Then on Thursday, another magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile, followed by about 20 aftershocks.
The history of Chile includes many earthquakes, one of which is considered the most powerful in the entire history of observations.
Great Chilean earthquake
On May 22, 1960, the Chilean city of Valdivia was almost completely destroyed. The disaster, which was later called the “Great Chilean Earthquake,” claimed the lives of about 6 thousand people and made about 2 million people homeless.
Moreover, a large mass of people suffered from a tsunami, the waves of which reached a height of 10 meters and caused significant damage to the city of Hilo in Hawaii, approximately 10 thousand kilometers from the epicenter; the remnants of the tsunami even reached the shores of Japan.
The magnitude of the earthquake, according to various estimates, ranged from 9.3 to 9.5 on the Richter scale. The damage in 1960 prices amounted to about half a billion dollars.
Great Alaska earthquake
On March 27, 1964, the second largest earthquake on record occurred in the northern Gulf of Alaska. The magnitude was 9.1-9.2 on the Richter scale.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the College Fjord; of the major cities, Anchorage, located 120 km west of the epicenter, was the most affected. Valdez, Seward, and Kodiak Island experienced major shoreline changes.
Nine people died directly from the earthquake, but the tsunami also claimed the lives of 190 more people. The waves caused severe damage from Canada to California and Japan.
Such a low number of victims for a disaster of this scale is explained by the low population density in Alaska. The damage in 1965 prices was about $400 million.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake measuring between 9.1 and 9.3 on the Richter scale occurred in the Indian Ocean. This earthquake was the third most powerful in recorded history.
The epicenter of the earthquake was not far from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered one of the most destructive tsunamis in history. The height of the waves exceeded 15 meters, they reached the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand and several other countries.
The tsunami almost completely destroyed coastal infrastructure in the east of Sri Lanka and the northwestern coast of Indonesia. According to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people died. Damage from the tsunami amounted to about $10 billion.
Tsunami in Severo-Kurilsk
On November 5, 1952, 130 kilometers from the coast of Kamchatka, an earthquake occurred, the magnitude of which was estimated at 9 points on the Richter scale.
An hour later, a powerful tsunami reached the coast, which destroyed the city of Severo-Kurilsk and caused damage to a number of other settlements. According to official data, 2,336 people died. The population of Severo-Kurilsk before the tragedy was approximately 6 thousand people. Three waves up to 15-18 meters high hit the city. Damage from the tsunami is estimated at $1 million.
Great East Japan Earthquake
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 to 9.1 on the Richter scale occurred in the east of the island of Honshu, 130 km east of the city of Sendai.
It became one of the strongest earthquakes in the entire known history of Japan. After 10-30 minutes, the tsunami reached the coast of Japan, and 69 minutes later the waves reached Sendai airport. As a result of the tsunami, about 16 thousand people died, about 6 thousand were injured and 2 thousand went missing.
A significant part of the island lost electricity as the earthquake caused the shutdown of 11 power units at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Damage from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami is estimated at $14.5-$36.6 billion.
Great Chinese earthquake
On January 23, 1556, an earthquake occurred that killed 830 thousand people, more than any other earthquake in human history. The disaster went down in history as the “Great Chinese Earthquake.”
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi Province, near the cities of Huaxian, Weinan and Huanin.
At the epicenter of the earthquake, 20-meter holes and cracks opened. The destruction affected areas 500 km away from the epicenter. Some areas of Shaanxi were completely depopulated, in others about 60% of the population died.
Great Kanto Earthquake
On September 1, 1923, an earthquake occurred 90 km southwest of Tokyo in the sea near Oshima Island in Sagami Bay, which eventually became known as the Great Kanto Earthquake.
In just two days, 356 tremors occurred, of which the first were the strongest. The earthquake caused a powerful tsunami, waves reaching 12 meters, they hit the coast and destroyed small settlements.
The earthquake also caused fires in major cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, and Yokosuka. Over 300 thousand buildings were destroyed in Tokyo; in Yokohama, 11 thousand buildings were destroyed by tremors. The infrastructure in the cities was also seriously damaged; out of 675 bridges, 360 were destroyed by fire.
The total number of deaths was 174 thousand, another 542 thousand are listed as missing. The damage is estimated at $4.5 billion, which at that time was twice the country's annual budget.
Tsunami in Ecuador
As a result of powerful tremors, a powerful tsunami arose that hit the entire coast of Central America. The first wave in the north reached San Francisco, and in the west - Japan.
However, due to the low population density, the death toll was minimal - about 1,500 people.
Earthquake in Chile
On February 27, 2010, one of the largest earthquakes in the last half century occurred in Chile. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8.8 on the Richter scale.
The epicenter was located near the city of Bio-Bio Concepción, which is the center of Chile's second largest agglomeration after Santiago. The main damage was suffered by the cities of Bio-Bio and Maule, the number of deaths was 540 and 64 people, respectively.
The earthquake caused a tsunami that hit 11 islands and the coast of Maule, but casualties were avoided because residents hid in the mountains in advance.
The amount of damage is estimated at $15-$30 billion, about 2 million people were left homeless, and about half a million residential buildings were destroyed.
Cascadia earthquake
On January 26, 1700, an earthquake occurred west of Vancouver Island in Canada, the magnitude of which was estimated at 8.7-9.2 on the Richter scale.
There is practically no data on this earthquake, since there were no written records in the region at that time. Only the oral traditions of the American Indians remain.
According to geology and seismology, strong earthquakes in Cascadia occur approximately once every 500 years and are almost always accompanied by a tsunami.
On the morning of April 25, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 occurred in Nepal. As a result, the capital of the country, Kathmandu, was seriously damaged, many houses were destroyed to the ground, and the death toll goes into the thousands. This is the worst natural disaster to hit Nepal in the last 80 years.
Today we will tell you about 10 most powerful earthquakes in recorded history.
10. Assam - Tibet, 1950 - magnitude 8.6
The earthquake killed more than 1,500 people in Tibet and the Indian state of Assam. The natural disaster provoked the formation of cracks in the ground, as well as numerous avalanches and landslides. Some landslides were so large that they blocked the flow of rivers. After some time, when the water nevertheless broke through the obstacle from the mud, the rivers flooded vast areas, demolishing everything in its path. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Tibet, where the Eurasian and Hindustan tectonic plates collide.
9. North Sumatra, Indonesia, 2005 – magnitude 8.6
The earthquake occurred on March 28, 2005, several months after the tsunami completely destroyed the region (see point 3). The natural disaster killed more than 1,000 people and caused serious damage to the region, which has not recovered. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Indian Ocean, where the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates collide.
8. Alaska, USA, 1965 – magnitude 8.7
Despite its strength, the earthquake did not cause serious damage due to the fact that its epicenter is located in a fairly sparsely populated area near the Aleutian Islands. The ten-meter tsunami that followed also did not cause serious damage. The earthquake occurred where the Pacific and North American plates collided.
7. Ecuador, 1906 – magnitude 8.8
On January 31, 1906, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Ecuador. As a result of powerful tremors, a tsunami arose that hit the entire coast of Central America. Due to the low population density, the death toll was relatively small - about 1,500 people.
6. Chile, 2010 – magnitude 8.8
On February 27, 2010, one of the largest earthquakes in the last half century occurred in Chile. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8.8 on the Richter scale. The main damage was suffered by the cities of Bio-Bio and Maule, the death toll was more than 600 people.
The earthquake caused a tsunami that hit 11 islands and the coast of Maule, but casualties were avoided because residents hid in the mountains in advance. The amount of damage is estimated at $15-$30 billion, about 2 million people were left homeless, and about half a million residential buildings were destroyed.
5. Kamchatka, Russia, 1952 – magnitude 9.0
On November 5, 1952, 130 kilometers from the coast of Kamchatka, an earthquake occurred, the magnitude of which was estimated at 9 points on the Richter scale. An hour later, a powerful tsunami reached the coast, which destroyed the city of Severo-Kurilsk and caused damage to a number of other settlements. According to official data, 2,336 people died, which was approximately 40% of the population of Severo-Kurilsk. Three waves up to 15-18 meters high hit the city. Damage from the tsunami is estimated at $1 million.
4. Honshu, Japan, 2011 – magnitude 9.0
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred east of the island of Honshu. This earthquake is considered the most powerful in the entire known history of Japan.
The tremors caused a powerful tsunami (up to 7 meters in height), which killed about 16 thousand people. Moreover, an earthquake and a tsunami were the cause of the accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. The total damage from the disaster is estimated at $14.5-$36.6 billion.
3. North Sumatra, Indonesia, 2004 – magnitude 9.1
An undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 caused a tsunami that was considered the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. The magnitude of the earthquake was, according to various estimates, from 9.1 to 9.3. This is the third most powerful earthquake on record.
The epicenter of the earthquake was not far from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered one of the most destructive tsunamis in history. The height of the waves exceeded 15 meters, they reached the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand and several other countries.
Satellite image (before and after the tsunami)
The tsunami almost completely destroyed coastal infrastructure in the east of Sri Lanka and the northwestern coast of Indonesia. According to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people died. Damage from the tsunami amounted to about $10 billion.
2. Alaska, USA, 1964 – magnitude 9.2
The Great Alaska Earthquake is the strongest earthquake in US history, with a magnitude of 9.1-9.2 on the Richter scale and a duration of approximately 3 minutes. The epicenter of the earthquake was in College Fjord, the northern part of the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of more than 20 km. The tremors caused a powerful tsunami, which claimed more lives.
The Great Alaska Earthquake caused destruction in many communities in Alaska. However, the death toll was quite small - only 140 people, and 131 of them died from the tsunami. The waves caused serious damage as far as California and Japan. The damage in 1965 prices was about $400 million.
1. Chile, 1960 – magnitude 9.5
The Great Chilean Earthquake (or Valdivian Earthquake) is the strongest earthquake in the history of observation; its magnitude, according to various estimates, ranged from 9.3 to 9.5. The earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960, its epicenter was located near the city of Valdivia, 435 kilometers south of Santiago. 
The tremors caused a powerful tsunami, the height of the waves reaching 10 meters. The number of victims was about 6 thousand people, and the majority of people died from the tsunami. The huge waves caused severe damage around the world, killing 138 people in Japan, 61 in Hawaii and 32 in the Philippines. The damage in 1960 prices was about half a billion dollars.
The danger of such a natural phenomenon as an earthquake is assessed by most seismologists in points. There are several scales by which the strength of seismic shocks is assessed. The scale, adopted in Russia, Europe and the CIS countries, was developed in 1964. According to data from a 12-point scale, the greatest destructive force is typical for an earthquake of 12 points, and such strong tremors are classified as a “severe catastrophe.” There are also other methods for measuring the strength of shocks, which take into account fundamentally different aspects - the area where the shocks occurred, the time of “shaking” and other factors. However, no matter how the strength of tremors is measured, there are natural disasters that are among the most terrible.
The strength of earthquakes: has there ever been a magnitude 12?
Since the Kamori scale was adopted, and this made it possible to evaluate natural disasters that have not yet disappeared into the dust of centuries, at least 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 12 have occurred.
- Tragedy in Chile, 1960.
- Destruction in Mongolia, 1957.
- Tremors in the Himalayas, 1950.
In first place in the ranking, which contains the most powerful earthquakes in the world, is the 1960 cataclysm known as the “Great Chilean Earthquake.” The scale of destruction is estimated at the maximum known 12 points, while the magnitude of the ground vibrations exceeded 9.5 points. The most powerful earthquake in history occurred in May 1960 in Chile, near several cities. The epicenter was Valdivia, where the fluctuations reached a maximum, but the population was warned of the impending danger, since the tremors were felt in nearby provinces of Chile the day before. 10 thousand people are considered dead in this terrible disaster; a lot of people were carried away by the tsunami that began, but experts say that without prior notification there could have been many more victims. By the way, many people were saved due to the fact that the mass of people went to church for Sunday services. At the moment the shaking began, people were in churches that stood.
The most destructive earthquakes in the world include the Gobi-Altai disaster, which swept through Mongolia on December 4, 1957. As a result of the tragedy, the earth was literally turned inside out: fractures formed, demonstrating geological processes that would not be visible under normal circumstances. The high mountains in the mountain ranges ceased to exist, the peaks collapsed, and the usual pattern of the mountains was disrupted.
The tremors in populated areas were increasing and continued for quite a long time until they reached 11-12 points. People managed to leave their houses seconds before complete destruction. Dust flying from the mountains covered the cities of southern Mongolia for 48 hours, visibility did not exceed several tens of meters.
Another terrible cataclysm, estimated by seismologists at 11-12 points, occurred in the Himalayas, in the highlands of Tibet, in 1950. The terrible aftermath of the earthquake in the form of mudflows and landslides changed the relief of the mountains beyond recognition. With a terrible roar, the mountains folded like paper, and dust clouds spread from the epicenter to a radius of up to 2000 km.
Tremors from the depths of centuries: what do we know about ancient earthquakes?
The largest earthquakes that have occurred in recent times are discussed and well covered in the media.
Thus, they are still widely known, the memory of them, of the victims and destruction, is still fresh. But what about earthquakes that occurred a long time ago - a hundred, two hundred or three hundred years ago? Traces of destruction have long been eliminated, and witnesses either survived the incident or died. Nevertheless, historical literature contains traces of the most terrible earthquakes in the world, which occurred a long time ago. Thus, in the chronicles recording the largest earthquakes in the world, it is written that in ancient times tremors occurred much more often than now, and were much stronger. According to one such source, in 365 BC, tremors occurred that affected the entire Mediterranean territory, as a result of which the seabed was exposed before the eyes of eyewitnesses.
Deadly earthquake for one of the Wonders of the World
One of the most famous ancient earthquakes is the destruction of 244 BC. In those days, according to scientists, tremors occurred much more often, but this particular earthquake is especially famous: as a result of the tremors, the statue of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes collapsed. This statue, according to ancient sources, was one of the Eight Wonders of the World. It was a giant beacon in the form of a statue of a man with a torch in his hand. The statue was so huge that a flotilla could sail between its spread legs. The size played a cruel joke on the Colossus: its legs turned out to be too fragile to withstand seismological activity, and the Colossus collapsed.
Iranian earthquake of 856
The death of hundreds of thousands of people as a result of even not very strong earthquakes was common: there were no systems for predicting seismic activity, no warning, no evacuation. Thus, in 856, more than 200 thousand people became victims of tremors in the north of Iran, and the city of Damkhan was wiped off the face of the earth. By the way, the record number of victims from this single earthquake is comparable to the number of earthquake victims in Iran for the rest of the time, until today.
The bloodiest earthquake in the world
The Chinese earthquake of 1565, which destroyed the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, killed more than 830 thousand people. This is an absolute record for the number of human casualties, which has not yet been exceeded. It remained in history as the “Great Jiajing Earthquake” (named after the emperor then in power). Historians estimate its power at 7.9 - 8 points, as evidenced by geological surveys.
This is how this phenomenon was described in the chronicles:
“In the winter of 1556, a catastrophic earthquake occurred in Shaanxi and the provinces around it. Our Hua County has suffered numerous troubles and misfortunes. Mountains and rivers changed their location, roads were destroyed. In some places, the ground unexpectedly rose and new hills appeared, or vice versa - parts of the former hills went underground, floated and became new plains. In other places, mudflows constantly occurred, or the ground split and new ravines appeared. Private houses, public buildings, temples and city walls collapsed with lightning speed and completely.”.
Cataclysm for All Saints' Day in Portugal
A terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 80 thousand Portuguese occurred in Lisbon on November 1, 1755. This cataclysm is not included among the most powerful earthquakes in the world either in terms of the number of victims or the strength of seismic activity. But the terrible irony of fate with which this phenomenon broke out is shocking: the tremors began precisely when people went to celebrate the holiday in church. The temples of Lisbon could not stand it and collapsed, burying a huge number of unfortunates, and then the city was covered by a 6-meter tsunami wave, killing the rest of the people on the streets.
The largest earthquakes in the history of the twentieth century
The ten disasters of the 20th century that claimed the greatest number of lives and brought the most terrible destruction are reflected in the summary table:
| date | Place | Epicenter | Seismic activity in points | Dead (Persons) |
|
| 22 km from Port-au-Prince | |||||
| Tangshan/Hebei Province | |||||
| Indonesia | |||||
| 90 km from Tokyo | |||||
| Turkmen SSR | |||||
| Erzincan | |||||
| Pakistan | |||||
| 25 km from Chimbote |
Tangshan-1976
The Chinese events of 1976 are captured in Feng Xiaogang's film "Disaster". Despite the relative weakness of the magnitude, the disaster claimed a large number of lives; the first shock provoked the destruction of 90% of residential buildings in Tangshan. The hospital building disappeared without a trace; the opening of the earth literally swallowed up the passenger train.
Sumatra 2004, the largest in geographical terms
The 2004 Sumatran earthquake affected several countries: India, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka. The exact number of victims is impossible to calculate, since the main destructive force - the tsunami - carried tens of thousands of people into the ocean. This is the largest earthquake in terms of geography, since its prerequisites were the movement of plates in the Indian Ocean with subsequent tremors over a distance of up to 1600 km. The ocean floor rose as a result of the collision of the Indian and Burmese plates; tsunami waves ran in all directions from the fracture of the plates, which rolled thousands of kilometers and reached the shores.
Haiti 2010, our time
In 2010, Haiti experienced its first major earthquake after almost 260 years of calm. The national fund of the republics received the greatest damage: the entire center of the capital with its rich cultural heritage, all administrative and government buildings were damaged. More than 232 thousand people died, many of whom were carried away by the tsunami waves. The consequences of the disaster were a surge in the incidence of intestinal diseases and an increase in crime: the tremors destroyed prison buildings, which prisoners immediately took advantage of.
The most powerful earthquakes in Russia
In Russia there are also dangerous seismically active regions where an earthquake can occur. However, most of these Russian territories are located far from densely populated areas, which eliminates the possibility of large destruction and casualties.
The largest earthquakes in Russia, however, are also inscribed in the tragic history of the struggle between the elements and man.
Among the most terrible earthquakes in Russia:
- North Kuril destruction of 1952.
- Neftegorsk destruction in 1995.
Kamchatka-1952
Severo-Kurilsk was completely destroyed as a result of tremors and tsunami on November 4, 1952. Unrest in the ocean, 100 km from the coast, brought waves 20 meters high to the city, hour after hour washing the coast and washing away coastal settlements into the ocean. The terrible flood destroyed all buildings and killed more than 2 thousand people.
Sakhalin-1995
On March 27, 1995, the elements took only 17 seconds to wipe out the workers' village of Neftegorsk in the Sakhalin region. More than 2 thousand residents of the village died, accounting for 80% of the residents. Large-scale destruction did not allow the village to be restored, so the settlement became a ghost: a memorial plaque was installed in it telling about the victims of the tragedy, and the residents themselves were evacuated.
A dangerous area in Russia from the point of view of seismic activity is any region at the junction of tectonic plates:
- Kamchatka and Sakhalin,
- Caucasian republics,
- Altai region.
In any of these regions, the possibility of a natural earthquake remains possible, since the mechanism of the generation of tremors has not yet been studied.
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