International Earthquake History

TOP 5 In terms of Magnitude

1. Chile, Magnitude 9.5

The strongest/most powerful earthquake happened in Chile, May 22, 1960 with a record of magnitude
9.5. It is referred as “The Great Chilean Earthquake”. More than 5700 died and almost 2 million have
been injured. Like the other earthquakes, it was followed by tsunami that makes it more devastating.

Paul Fairclough (2011), “The 10 most powerful recorded earthquakes”,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/11/10-most-powerful-earthquakes-history

Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,

https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

2. Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2

Also followed by tsunami, this earthquake took 128 lives and caused about $311 million in property loss.
The shake lasted for about 3 minutes. The tsunami reaches a height of 67 meters.
Paul Fairclough (2011), “The 10 most powerful recorded earthquakes”,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/11/10-most-powerful-earthquakes-history

Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,

https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

3. Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, 2004 - Magnitude 9.1

In total, 227,898 people were killed or missing and presumed dead and approximately 1.7 million has
been displaced by this earthquake. This was triggered by a megathrust as the Indian tectonic plate was
forced beneath the Burmese plate.

Paul Fairclough (2011), “The 10 most powerful recorded earthquakes”,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/11/10-most-powerful-earthquakes-history

Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,

https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

4. Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan, 2011 - Magnitude 9.0

This earthquake killed an estimated 29,000 people and damaged some nuclear reactors. This is also the
largest recorded earthquake on Japan. Aftershocks continue to rock the island of Honshu. The
aftershocks include more than 50 of magnitude 6.0 or greater, and three above magnitude 7.0
Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,
https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

5. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, 1952 - Magnitude 9.0

This is the first ever recorded 9.0 magnitude earthquake. It generates a 43-foot tsunami. Luckily, no lives
was lost but the damaged properties ranges up to $1 million.
Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,
https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

TOP 5 In terms of Casualties

1. Shensi, China, Jan. 23, 1556 Magnitude about 8

This is the deadliest of all earthquakes killing approximately 830,000 people. It covers roughly 500 miles.
The experts think that caused these fatalities are because the people in China at that time lives in a soft,
fragile and erosion prone soil. After this earthquake, the people in China adopted and learned to used
earthquake resistant materials like wood and bamboo.

Daryl Worthington (2015), “Deadliest Earthquake Hits China”

https://www.newhistorian.com/deadliest-earthquake-hits-china/2776/

2. Tangshan, China, July 27, 1976

This earthquake has a magnitude of 7.8 killing about 240,000 people officially but the estimated death
toll is about 655,000.
Jennifer Rosenberg (2017), “Tangshan: The Deadliest Earthquake”
https://www.thoughtco.com/tangshan-the-deadliest-earthquake-1779769

3. Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, 2004 - Magnitude 9.1

In total, 227,898 people were killed or missing and presumed dead and approximately 1.7 million has
been displaced by this earthquake. This was triggered by a megathrust as the Indian tectonic plate was
forced beneath the Burmese plate.

Paul Fairclough (2011), “The 10 most powerful recorded earthquakes”,

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/11/10-most-powerful-earthquakes-history

Live Science Staff (2011), “The 10 biggest Earthquakes in History”,

https://www.livescience.com/30320-worlds-biggest-earthquakes-110412.html

4. 2010 Haiti Earthquake – Magnitude 7.0

The earthquake approximately killed 222,570 people, at least 300,000 people injured and 1.3 million
people displaced. At the time of the quake, 70 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.
Nearly 4,000 schools were damaged or destroyed.
Kathryn Reid (2018), “2010 Haiti earthquake: Facts, FAQs, and how to help”
https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2010-haiti-earthquake-facts