Biggest earthquakes
The recent earthquake and aftershocks in Japan have once again thrust the destructive power of these natural disasters into the headlines. The following quakes have captured the attention of the world and remind us that Mother Nature is a powerful force.
Japan A 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit near the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, which triggered a destructive tsunami causing warnings to be issued throughout the Pacific region. The death toll continues to climb, and the Japanese government has estimated a steep national damage price tag
Maule, Chile On Feb. 27, 2010, an earthquake measuring 8.8 magnitude shook Maule, Chile. The tremors lasted about three minutes. The number of deaths was originally overestimated.
Haiti An earthquake measuring 7.0 magnitude claimed the lives of 222,570 people in Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. Worldwide relief efforts were launched to aid the 300,000 injured and 1.1 million displaced Haitians.
Eastern Sichuan, China The Great Sichuan Earthquake occurred on May 12, 2008, and measured 8.0 magnitude. How many aftershocks were reported? The loss of human life was reported at 68,000 people, and the Chinese government announced its intention to spend $146.5 billion to rebuild the areas affected by the disaster.
Pakistan A 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit near Muzaffarabad, Pakistan on Oct. 8, 2005. The earthquake was reportedly caused by the rising of a mountain range. The official death toll? More than $5.4 billion in aid was sent from around the world.
Northern Sumatra, Indonesia Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, was struck by an 8.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28, 2005. The earthquake displaced more than 20,000 people and killed 1,346. Some consider this earthquake to have been an aftershock of a major 2004 quake.
Tangshan, China The 7.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Tangshan, China, on July 27, 1976, was the deadliest earthquake in the last four centuries. The quake claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The initial tremor lasted 23 seconds and was followed by an equally powerful aftershock 16 seconds later.
Prince William Sound, Alaska Prince William Sound, Alaska, was the site of the largest recorded earthquake on American soil. The 9.2-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28, 1964, caused an estimated $311 million in property damages. The earthquake, the resulting 27-foot tsunami and an underwater landslide caused approximately 130 deaths.
Valdivia, Chile The 9.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Valdivia, Chile, on May 22, 1960, was the most powerful in recorded history.
San Francisco April 18 will mark the 105th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake that shook San Francisco and nearly destroyed the city. The earthquake and resulting fire caused an estimated 3,000 deaths. The staggering economic impact has been compared to the economic damage from this modern disaster.
