10 Most Destructive Earthquakes of the XNUMXth – Early XNUMXst Century

It is not for nothing that high-rise buildings in large cities are built in such a way that they can withstand earth vibrations of medium magnitude.

Nevertheless, the consequences of earthquakes are catastrophic: large-scale destruction, destroyed landscapes, thousands of dead and years that it will take the state to restore the damage.

Today we have compiled a review of 10 significant earthquakes that humanity has experienced over the past and current century.

10 Messina earthquake (Sicily, Italy)

A historic 7,5 magnitude earthquake hit Sicily. This is far from the largest figure, but the number of deaths was unexpectedly huge. Of course, the inhabitants themselves and the authorities of the region were blamed for the human casualties, which allegedly ignored the recommendations for the construction of residential premises.

Messina on the island was destroyed in just a few seconds. Tsunamis reached 12 meters. The number of victims exceeded 100 thousand, while about 40 villages and small towns were completely destroyed. Doctors and sailors from Russia provided first aid and helped restore the destruction, and a memorial plaque commemorates their contribution.

9. Great Kanto Earthquake (Japan)

In 1923, the country was hit by the most devastating earthquake in the history of the state, the magnitude of which was 8,3 points. At the epicenter was the small town of Kanto, located 90 meters from the capital. Strong shocks led to the destruction of a number of settlements, fires blazed in the settlements.

Only from asphyxiation with carbon monoxide and burns in the capital, about 40 thousand people died, and the total number of victims averaged 170 thousand. According to other sources, another half a million inhabitants were missing. More than 2 aftershocks were recorded within 350 days. The villages were washed away by tsunami waves that reached a height of 15 meters.

8. Ashgabat earthquake (Turkmenistan, USSR)

In 1948, seismic activity of 7,3 magnitude was recorded in Turkmenistan, which led to significant damage to the capital and surrounding villages. The death toll during that period was 110. Eyewitnesses report that on the night before the disaster, strange flashes of light were visible in the sky, and dogs made a loud noise.

The first push occurred late at night, and in just 10 seconds the city was literally swept off the face of the earth. Some people were saved by the fact that because of the heat they spent the night on the roofs of houses. As a result of the disaster, the city was cut off from the outside world: telephone communications were damaged, electricity was cut off, and the transport system froze. Normally, Ashgabat was able to rebuild only after 5 years and then with one-story premises.

7. Tanshan earthquake (China)

A deadly earthquake with a magnitude of 8,2 claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people (according to various estimates, from 255 to 655 thousand people). The shocks began 150 km from the capital in Tanshan, but the destructive force reached the metropolis and launched a series of aftershocks, which buried not only the survivors, but also the rescuers under the rubble. Villages and small towns were practically wiped off the face of the earth, and cracks in the ground resembled scenes from the apocalypse.

On the eve of the event, there were alarming signs: domestic animals and birds behaved atypically, rodents were looking for shelter, and the water level in the wells fluctuated markedly without objective reasons. It took about 10 years to restore Tanshan after the disaster.

6. Spitak earthquake (Armenia, USSR)

The magnitude of the earthquake in Spitak was 7,2, and in just 30 seconds the city was almost completely destroyed, including nearby suburbs and towns. On that day, about 40% of the territory of Armenia was subjected to shocks, and the total number of victims was 150 wounded and about 25 killed. Half a million inhabitants of the country lost a roof over their heads after the disaster.

According to various versions, “the wrath of the earth” was provoked by weapons testing or natural causes. The energy that came to the surface from a break in the earth’s crust could be equated to the explosion of 10 atomic bombs.

5. Earthquake in Haiti (Haiti)

Just 9 years ago, on January 12, there was a terrible disaster on the island. The strength of the tremors was recorded at 7 points, which led to the complete destruction of the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. The number of victims on that ill-fated day amounted to more than 220 thousand people. More than 800 people are missing.

After the first shocks, repeated ones appeared, while about 15 had a magnitude of 5 points or more. The catastrophe arose due to the movement of the earth’s crust in the zone of contact between the North American and Caribbean lithospheric plates. As a result of difficulties with transport communications, the survivors simply died from a lack of food, fluids and qualified medical care.

4. Indonesian earthquake (Indonesia)

On the eve of the New Year 15 years ago, tremors rose in the Indian Ocean. The magnitude was noted at a maximum of 9 points, and on the territory of Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka, huge waves rose up to 3 meters in height, which demolished everything in their path.

The elements claimed the lives of about 300 thousand people, more than 1 million lost their homes, tens of thousands are missing. Tourists who went to celebrate the New Year holidays on the Indian coast never returned home.

3. Earthquake in Bam (Iran)

In our review, this is one of the “weakest” earthquakes, because its strength was about 6,3 points. It happened in the ancient Iranian town of Bam. On the eve of the New Year 16 years ago, about 35 thousand people passed away, and the city was completely destroyed (about 90% of the premises).

The authorities reacted promptly and turned to other states for help. 60 countries, including Russia, took part in the rescue operation. The Iranian government made a wise decision not to rebuild the ruins of ancient Bam, but to build a new one in its place.

2. Sichuan earthquake (China)

And again, China was unlucky with the elements – the most powerful earthquake in the Sichuan region reached 7,9 points. Pekin and Shanghai, neighboring countries (Mongolia, Thailand, India and even Russia) also felt the tremors.

As a result, the number of wounded reached 350 thousand, 90 thousand died, and as many as 15 million were immediately evacuated! On the ill-fated day, the second shock also caught up, the magnitude of which was 6 points. The total damage from the elements reached 86 billion dollars.

1. Great East Japan Earthquake

The unfortunate, acute Honshu 8 years ago was shaken by powerful jolts with a force of 9 points according to Richter. In half an hour, a huge tsunami overtook Japan and literally washed away about 16 thousand people.

2 thousand went missing that day, and 6 people were injured. A huge part of the island was left without electricity – the Fukushima power plant was practically out of order. The damage from the rampant elements ranged from 14 to 36,6 billion dollars.

No matter how far our technical progress has stepped, it has not yet been able to cross over mother nature. Strong tremors lead to terrible consequences, and even additionally provoke collapses, tsunamis and even landslides in the mountains.