Epicenters of the most destructive earthquakes on the world map. Powerful earthquakes in the world over the past five years (2004–2010). Reference

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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.

The 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 at Indian Ocean

, the place 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.

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 ever famous story 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 ever. natural disaster V 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 carried away large quantity 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. Huge waves caused severe damage around the world, killing 138 people in Japan, 61 people in Hawaii and 32 in the Philippines. The damage in 1960 prices was about half a billion dollars.

The history of mankind remembers a lot of cataclysms, the most dangerous of which, for good reason, are earthquakes. The power of such natural incidents is assessed on the Richter scale. We propose to recall the top 10 most powerful earthquakes in the history of the Earth. It's about about the most devastating seismic hazards that have claimed the lives of millions of people. At the same time, humanity still remembers the dates of terrible events, which were not allowed to be avoided even modern technologies and progress. So, let's get started with the review:

TOP 10 most destructive earthquakes

It is worth noting that the most powerful earthquakes in the history of the world were recorded in Chile. The last of these occurred in 2010. The power of magnetic influence on the Richter scale is estimated at 8.8 points. The epicenter of the threat was in the city of Bio-Bio Concepción. The residents of this locality and the city of Maule suffered the most. A total of 540 people died in Bio-Bio Concepción. In the territory of the second city, 64 people were injured. Approximately 2 million people were left homeless. In total, damage is estimated at $30 billion.

The tsunami that occurred on January 31 in Ecuador immediately hit the entire coast of Central America. A magnitude of 8.8 was recorded in San Francisco. The first wave even reached Japan. Fortunately, we managed to get by with a minimum number of casualties due to the low population density. According to preliminary estimates, 1,500 people were affected and left without homes. Due to the timely response of rescuers, no fatalities were found. However, the damage is estimated at $1.5 million.

One of the most powerful earthquakes in history is considered to be a seismic shock recorded in 1923 near the island of Oshima. As a result of the incident, nearly three hundred thousand buildings in Tokyo and Yokohama were destroyed. Over two days, 356 tremors occurred. As a result, the waves reached a height of 12 meters. The tsunami took the lives of 174 thousand people. About 542 thousand are considered missing. In total, damage is estimated at $4.5 billion.

As a result of this cataclysm, over 820 thousand people died. The number of victims is considered the most serious incident in history. The disaster went down in history due to its duration. The horror lasted for nearly three days. During this time, the entire component of Shaanxi province was destroyed, including 60% of the population of the locality. The epicenter affected three provinces, including Feinan and Huaxian. A magnetic source was recorded in the Wei Valley. It is difficult to assess the damage due to the time span of the events.

In 2011, a magnitude of 9.1 was recorded on the island of Honshu. 130 kilometers from the city of Sendai the most strong earthquake throughout the history of Japan. About 30 minutes later, a powerful tsunami hit the coast of the country, which destroyed 11 nuclear power units in 69 minutes. As a result, 6,000 people died. 2,000 Japanese were missing. In total, the country suffered $36.6 billion in damage. Until today local residents They remember March 11 with horror.

As a result of a powerful earthquake on November 5, 1952, a tsunami reached the city of Severo-Kurilsk. As a result of a seismic phenomenon with a magnitude of 9 points, a powerful tsunami destroyed the entire city. According to rough estimates, the wave took the lives of 2,336 people. At the same time, about 6,000 people are considered missing. The waves reached 18 meters in height. The damage even at that time was $1 million. A total of three waves were observed. The weakest of them reached a height of 15 meters.

On December 26, an underwater earthquake with a scale of 9.3 reached the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The source of the cataclysm was provoked by the most destructive tsunami in human history. Waves of 15 meters destroyed Sri Lanka, southern India and the coast of Indonesia. Even residents of Thailand suffered damage. The tsunami almost completely destroyed the infrastructure of eastern Sri Lanka. According to preliminary estimates, nearly 225 thousand people died. At the same time, another 300 thousand are considered missing. Preliminary estimates put the damage at $10 billion.

This happened in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Power is 9.2 points. The epicenter of the terrible earthquake was recorded 120 kilometers from the western part of Seward. The tremors led to the destruction of Kodiak Island and the city of Valdese. The shock itself killed 9 people. The tsunami killed 190 people. The mortality rate was reduced thanks to the timely detection of the threat. However, California suffered $200 million in damages. Destruction stretched from Canada to California.

Major earthquakes have occurred throughout human history, with the earliest recorded dating back almost 2,000 BC. But it is only in the last century that our technological capabilities have reached the point where the impact of these disasters can be fully measured. Our ability to study earthquakes has made it possible to avoid catastrophic casualties, such as in the case of a tsunami, when people have the opportunity to evacuate a potentially dangerous area. But unfortunately, the warning system does not always work. There are several examples of earthquakes where the greatest damage was caused by the subsequent tsunami, and not by the earthquake itself. People have improved building standards and improved early warning systems, but they have never been able to completely protect themselves from disasters. There are many in various ways estimate the strength of the earthquake. Some people rely on the Richter scale, others on the number of deaths and injuries, or even the monetary value of the damaged property. This list of the 12 strongest earthquakes combines all of these methods in one.

Lisbon earthquake

The Great Lisbon Earthquake struck the Portuguese capital on November 1, 1755, causing enormous destruction. They were made worse by the fact that it was All Saints' Day and thousands of people attended mass in the church. Churches, like most other buildings, could not withstand the elements and collapsed, killing people. Subsequently, a tsunami 6 meters high hit. An estimated 80,000 died due to fires caused by the destruction. Many famous writers and philosophers dealt with the Lisbon earthquake in their works. For example, Emmanuel Kant, who tried to find scientific explanation what happened.

California earthquake

A major earthquake struck California in April 1906. Etched into history as the San Francisco earthquake, it caused damage to a much wider area. Downtown San Francisco was destroyed by a huge fire that followed. Initial figures mentioned 700 to 800 dead, although researchers claim the actual death toll was more than 3,000. More than half of San Francisco's population lost their homes as 28,000 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and fires.

Messina earthquake

One of Europe's largest earthquakes struck Sicily and southern Italy in the early hours of December 28th, 1908, killing an estimated 120,000 people. The main epicenter of the damage was Messina, which was virtually destroyed by the disaster. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami that hit the coast. A recent study suggested that the size of the waves was so huge because of an underwater landslide. Most of The damage occurred due to the poor quality of buildings in Messina and other parts of Sicily.

Haiyuan earthquake

One of the deadliest earthquakes on the list occurred in December 1920, with its epicenter in Haiyuan Chingya. Died by at least 230,000 people. Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake destroyed almost every home in the region, causing extensive damage. major cities like Lanzhou, Taiyuan and Xi'an. Incredibly, waves from the earthquake were visible even off the coast of Norway. According to a recent study, Haiyuan was the strongest earthquake to hit China during the 20th century. Researchers have also questioned the official death toll, suggesting there may have been more than 270,000. This number represents 59 percent of the population in the Haiyuan area. The Haiyuan earthquake is considered one of the most destructive natural disasters in history.

Chilean earthquake

A total of 1,655 were killed and 3,000 were injured after a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Chile in 1960. Seismologists called it the strongest earthquake ever to occur. 2 million people were left homeless and economic losses amounted to $500 million. The force of the earthquake caused a tsunami, with casualties in places as far away as Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines. In some parts of Chile, waves have moved building ruins 3 kilometers inland. The massive Chilean earthquake of 1960 caused a giant rupture in the ground extending over 1,000 kilometers.

Earthquake in Alaska

On March 27th, 1964, a strong 9.2 earthquake struck the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. As the second most powerful earthquake on record, it caused a relatively low number of deaths(192 dead). However, significant property damage occurred in Anchorage, and tremors were felt in all 47 US states. Due to significant improvements in research technology, the Alaska earthquake has provided scientists with valuable seismic data, allowing them to better understand the nature of such events.

Kobe earthquake

In 1995, Japan was hit by one of its most powerful earthquakes when a magnitude 7.2 shock struck the Kobe region in south-central Japan. Although it was not the worst ever seen, the devastating impact was felt by a significant portion of the population—an estimated 10 million people living in the densely populated area. A total of 5,000 were killed and 26,000 were injured. The US Geological Survey estimated damage at $200 billion, with infrastructure and buildings destroyed.

Sumatra and Andaman earthquake

The tsunami that struck across the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 killed at least 230,000 people. It was caused by a large undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. His strength was measured at 9.1 on the Richter scale. The previous earthquake in Sumatra occurred in 2002. It is believed to have been a seismic pre-shock, with several aftershocks occurring throughout 2005. The main reason huge amount casualties was the lack of any early warning system in the Indian Ocean capable of detecting an approaching Tsunami. A giant wave reached the shores of some countries, where tens of thousands of people died, for at least several hours.

Kashmir earthquake

Jointly administered by Pakistan and India, Kashmir was hit by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in October 2005, killing at least 80,000 people and leaving 4 million homeless. Rescue efforts were hampered by conflicts between the two countries fighting over the territory. The situation was aggravated by the rapid onset of winter and the destruction of many roads in the region. Eyewitnesses spoke of entire areas of cities literally sliding off cliffs due to the destructive elements.

Disaster in Haiti

Port-au-Prince was hit by an earthquake on January 12, 2010, leaving half the capital's population without their homes. The death toll is still disputed and ranges from 160,000 to 230,000. A recent report highlighted that as of the fifth anniversary of the disaster, 80,000 people continue to live on the streets. The impact of the earthquake resulted in severe poverty in Haiti, which is the most... poor country in the Western Hemisphere. Many buildings in the capital were not built in accordance with seismic requirements, and the people of the completely destroyed country had no means of subsistence other than the international aid provided.

Tohoku earthquake in Japan

The biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl was caused by a magnitude 9 earthquake near east coast Japan March 11, 2011. Scientists estimate that during the 6-minute earthquake of colossal force, 108 kilometers of the seabed rose to a height of 6 to 8 meters. This caused a large tsunami that caused damage to the coast northern islands Japan. The Fukushima nuclear power plant was badly damaged and efforts to salvage the situation are still ongoing. The official death toll is 15,889 dead, although 2,500 people are still missing. Many areas have become uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation.

Christchurch

The worst natural disaster in New Zealand's history claimed 185 lives on February 22, 2011, when Christchurch was hit by a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake. More than half of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the CTV building, which was built in violation of seismic codes. Thousands of other houses were also destroyed, including the city's cathedral. The government introduced state of emergency in the country so that rescue operations proceed as quickly as possible. More than 2,000 people were injured, and reconstruction costs exceeded $40 billion. But in December 2013, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce said that three years after the tragedy, only 10 per cent of the city had been rebuilt.

We invite you to take a look at the Geological Society of London's report on the most powerful earthquakes of the last 100 years. Armenia, USA, Japan, China, Chile and others - all these countries suffered from natural disasters.

At 5:12 am, a powerful earthquake occurred in San Francisco, the magnitude of which was 7.8 on the Richter scale. Tremors were felt even in the center of Nevada, located inland. As a result of this disaster, almost 80% of the buildings in the city of San Francisco were destroyed, 300,000 people were left homeless, and 3,000 died.

The epicenter of the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 was located in the strait between Sicily and the Apennine Peninsula. As a result of this earthquake, which is considered the strongest European earthquake, the cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria were almost completely destroyed. In Messina, almost half of the inhabitants died. The total number of deaths is estimated at 70-100 thousand people (some sources put the figure up to 200 thousand).

This earthquake of magnitude 8.3 is also called the Great Kanto Earthquake, since the Japanese Kanto province suffered the most from the disaster. Over two days, 356 tremors occurred, and the height of the tsunami in Sagami Bay reached 12 meters. The death toll in that disaster is estimated at 142,800 people.

4. Quetta, Pakistan, 1936.

The earthquake completely destroyed the city's infrastructure, with a death toll of almost 40,000 people and damage estimated at US$25 million.

5. Concepcion, Chile, 1939.

The magnitude of the tremors was 8.3. 28,000 people died and nearly $100 million in damage was incurred.

This city regularly experiences powerful earthquakes. In 1939, the disaster claimed the lives of 36 to 39 thousand people.

The earthquake of magnitude 5.9 lasted only 15 seconds, but the death toll was 15 thousand people, 12 thousand were injured, and 35 thousand were left homeless.

8. Chimbote, Peru, 1970.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake severely damaged the fishing industry, causing unemployment and impoverishment for several years. During the earthquake itself, 67 thousand people died and damage amounted to $550 million.

This earthquake of magnitude 8.2 is considered one of the largest in terms of the number of casualties in the history of observations. Then the disaster claimed more than 650 thousand lives.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed more than 22,000 people and injured 70,000. Damage amounted to $1.1 billion.

This 8.1 magnitude earthquake is considered one of the most destructive earthquakes America. The number of dead then was 9 thousand people, 30 thousand were injured and 100 thousand were left homeless.

The magnitude of the catastrophic Spitak earthquake was 7.2 points. The city of Spitak and 58 other villages were completely destroyed. The death toll was 25 thousand people, and 514 thousand were left homeless. Damage was estimated at $14 billion.

The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.1, occurred right before the start of the World Series baseball game, which is why in the United States this earthquake is also called the “World Series earthquake.” Compared to other earthquakes, there were not so many deaths: 68 people. The tremors completely destroyed an entire network of roads, and the total material damage amounted to 6 billion dollars.

The magnitude of the tremors was 7.3. 6,434 people died and damage amounted to $200 million.

Magnitude 7.6, the number of victims was 17,217 people, over 43 thousand were injured. The earthquake sparked a fire at the oil refinery, which took several days to extinguish. Total damage amounted to $25 billion.

The magnitude was 9.1 points. The earthquake produced the deadliest earthquake in modern history, killing nearly 300,000 people. The monstrous earthquake changed the speed of the Earth's rotation, causing the day to become shorter by 2.68 microseconds.

The powerful magnitude was 8.8, the total number of deaths reached almost 800 people. The earthquake caused a tsunami that even reached Australia.

A magnitude of up to 9.1 points is in the entire history of observations. As of March 14, official sources report almost 5,000 deaths, but this figure is not final.

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Every year our planet is subjected to various disasters that destroy entire cities and lead to the death of many people. One of these includes earthquakes, which are called “earth tremors” and are associated with displacement earth's crust. Today we can name the most powerful earthquakes in the world, which simply amazed us with their destructive power and number of victims.

China: great earthquake (1556)

Asian countries are often hit by severe natural disasters. This natural disaster of the mid-16th century, which occurred in the provinces of Shaanxi and Henan, was of such enormous proportions that had not previously been known. This magnitude 9 earthquake, accompanied by the formation of 20-meter cracks, claimed the lives of 830,000 people. Settlements that were located in the disaster zone were completely destroyed.

Earthquake in Kanto (Japan, 1923)

The full power of the 12-magnitude tremors was felt by the Japanese Southern Konto (Tokyo and Yokohama are located here) in 1923. The destructive forces of nature were joined by fires, which greatly aggravated the situation. The flames rose up almost 60 meters - this is how the spilled gasoline burned. As a result of this and because of the destroyed infrastructure, rescuers were unable to organize their work effectively. This disaster killed approximately 170,000 people.

Assam earthquake (India, 1950)

This earthquake, which occurred in Indian Assami, was the most powerful. The element was assigned a magnitude of 9, but eyewitnesses claim that the tremors were much more powerful. This earthquake caused the death of 1,000 people and great destruction. A few years earlier, there was also an earthquake here, which was striking in its scale - an area of ​​390,000 km2 was turned into ruins, and the death toll was 1,500 people.

Earthquake in Chile (1960)

Chilean Valdivia was virtually destroyed by this earthquake, which caused the death of 6,000 people and the loss of shelter over the heads of approximately 2,000,000 people. Most of the population living here suffered from a tsunami caused by tremors, the height of which was at least 10 meters. According to various sources, the strength of the earthquake was 9.3-9.5.

Alaska earthquake (1964)

This earthquake was very destructive in its strength. It was rated 9.2 points. The earthquake itself killed 9 people, but the tsunami it caused led to the death of another 190 people. The tsunami was quite destructive, causing serious destruction in many populated areas from Canada to Japan.

Earthquake in Tangshan (China, 1976)

This is the second natural disaster in China, which is characterized by a terrifying number of victims and great power destruction. The very center of the earthquake was in Tangshan (the city has a population of millions). The tremors were 7.9-8.2 points. The disaster led to colossal destruction, the number of victims was 650,000 people. Another 780,000 were wounded.

Armenian earthquake (1988)

The power of this earthquake, which completely turned the city of Spitak, located at the epicenter of the cataclysm, into ruins, was 10 points. There was a lot of destruction in nearby settlements. The number of victims was approximately 45,000 people.

Underwater tremors in the Indian Ocean (2004)

This underwater earthquake was the third most powerful in the entire history of observing such cataclysms. The underwater tremors that occurred in the Indian Ocean had a force of 9.1-9.3 points. The epicenter was located near the island of Sumatra. This earthquake caused a huge tsunami. Total number The victims of the disaster amounted to about 300,000 people.

Earthquake in China (2008)

And again the territory of China was subjected to a formidable disaster - this time an earthquake of 7.9 points occurred in Sichuan. Tremors were even felt in Shanghai and Beijing. 70,000 people died as a result of this natural disaster.

Earthquake in Japan (2011)

This 9-magnitude earthquake became another natural disaster in Japan with enormous destructive scale. The consequence of the tremors was a tsunami, which damaged nuclear power plant, and this became a threat of radioactive contamination of the environment.