Top 10 Largest Earthquakes in History

Top 10 Largest Earthquakes in History

These largest earthquakes have caused some severe damages to human life and wealth. Smallest/weakest of these 10 earthquake is of magnitude 8.6, which is 6 times stronger than recent Nepal Earthquake (2015) which had a magnitude of 7.8 cause for the death of 3000+ (and counting) deaths. Here are the list of Top 10 Largest magnitude earthquakes.

 10. Assam & Tibet earthquake

Date: 15th August, 1950
magnitude: 8.6
Deaths: 780
This inland earthquake is the reason for death of 780, and injured thousands. Assam earthquake is believed to have an epicenter in Tibet. A large portion of Tibet and Assam was affected by this. Landslide, and building collapse were the main reason behind the fatality.

9. Sumatra earthquake 2005, Indonesia

Date: 28th March, 2005
magnitude: 8.6
Deaths: 1310
Sumatra faced two big earthquakes in a span of just 4 months due to geographically active plate tectonics. The second Sumatra earthquake was less violent compared to boxing day earthquake. Even though the subsequent tsunami killed 1310 in Nias island and Sri Lanka.Sumatra is the only place to face 3 of the Top 15 Largest Earthquakes in Recorded History.

8. Rat Islands earthquake, Alaska

Date: 4th February, 1965
magnitude: 8.7
Deaths: Not recorded
Rat island earthquake of magnitude 8.7 is the only earthquake (in recorded history) to produce tsunami 10m (32 feet) high. The tsunami and earthquake caused little damage due to its remote location. No deaths or injuries were reported for this tsunami.

7. Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake

Date: 31st January, 1906
magnitude: 8.8
Deaths: 1500
1906 Ecuador-Colombia earthquake at the off-coast of Ecuador caused a tsunami which killed 1500 in Ecuador and Columbia. The Tsunami traveled to west coast of US, Hawaii and far Japan. Though it didn’t result in severe damage in far location due to low height.

6. Bio-bio earthquake, Chile

Date: 27th February 2010
magnitude: 8.8
Deaths: 521

Recent 2010 Biobio chile earthquake, subsequent aftershocks and Tsunami combined resulted at least 521 people dead, and several thousand missing. An estimated $30 Billion worth of damage was done by this earthquake. More than 800,000 people were displaced and 1.5 million people were affected by this earthquake.

5. Kamchatka earthquake, Russia

Date: 4th November,1952
magnitude: 9.0
Deaths: 2,336
Kamchatka earthquake was the very first recorded earthquake with magnitude in the scale of 9. Despite originating in nomads-land it generated Severo-Kurilsk tsunami which caused widespread damage and responsible for death of 2336 human being.

4. Tohoku Earthquake, Japan

Date: 11th March, 2011
magnitude: 9.0
Deaths: 15,800
Combined effect of 2011 Tohoku earthquake, after shocks, and Tsunami was so enormous that 15800 people lost their life. This was an undersea mega-thrust earthquake, with epicenter at 70 kilometers east of Tohoku, Japan. With a magnitude of 9.0 it is among the Top 5 Largest Earthquakes in Recorded History. Due to the earthquake Japan had to shut down some nuclear plans to avoid mishaps. economic impacts of this earthquake was huge on Japan’s economy, as this earthquake lead to power shortage.

3. Sumatra Earthquake 2004, Indonesia

Date: 26th December, 2004
magnitude: 9.1
Deaths: 227,900
2004 Sumatra boxing day earthquake is the deadliest earthquake in 21st century. The scale of the disaster caused by this earthquake is enormous. In total 227,900 people were killed and 1.7 million displaced due to the Tsunami caused by Sumatra earthquake in 14 countries. The loss is enormous because countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia are not considered as Tsunami prone zone, and due to that there was no Tsunami warning system. Epicenter of this tsunami was at a depth of 30 km in south-east of Band Aceh, Indonesia.

2. Alaskan Earthquake, Alaska

Date: 27th March, 1964
magnitude: 9.2
Deaths: 128
1964 Alaskan earthquake is the 2nd most powerful earthquake ever measured by seismograph in the world, and largest earthquake in continental America. Due to large inhabited area damage was limited to only 141 human life. Due to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami resulted in destruction of buildings and structures as far as Hawaii. The earthquake lasted for more than 3 minuet.

1. Valdivia Earthquake, Chile

Valdivia Earthquake : Most powerful earthquake in recorded history

Date: 22nd May, 1960
magnitude: 9.5
Deaths: 1655
1960 Valdivia earthquake is the largest earthquake in recorded history. With magnitude of 9.5 Mw, it killed 1655 human lives and responsible for injury of more than 2000 people. Tsunami resulted due to this earthquake traveled the pacific ocean and affected Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Valdivia earthquake and resulting Tsunami left more than 2 million people homeless. This earthquake also had the largest recorded rupture zone (more than 1000 km in diameter).