The strongest earthquakes in human history

During its thousands of years of history, mankind has experienced such earthquakes, which, in their destructiveness, can be attributed to catastrophes of a universal scale. The causes of earthquakes are not fully understood and no one can say with certainty why they occur, where the next catastrophe will be and what strength.

In this article, we have collected the most powerful earthquakes in the history of mankind, measured by magnitude. You need to know about this value that it takes into account the amount of energy released during an earthquake, and is distributed from 1 to 9,5.

10 1976 Tien Shan earthquake | 8,2 points

Although the magnitude of the 1976 Tien Shan earthquake was only 8,2, it can rightfully be considered one of the most destructive earthquakes in human history. According to the official version, this terrible incident claimed the lives of more than 250 thousand people, and according to the unofficial version, the number of deaths is approaching 700 thousand and is quite justified, because 5,6 million houses were completely destroyed. The event formed the basis of the film “Catastrophe”, directed by Feng Xiaogang.

9. Earthquake in Portugal in 1755 | 8,8 points

The earthquake that occurred in Portugal back in 1755 on All Saints’ Day refers to one andз the most powerful and tragic disasters in the history of mankind. Just imagine that in just 5 minutes Lisbon turned into ruins, and almost a hundred thousand people died! But the victims of the earthquake did not end there. The disaster caused a severe fire and tsunami that raged on the coast of Portugal. In general, the earthquake provoked internal unrest, which led to a change in the country’s foreign policy. This catastrophe marked the beginning of seismology. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated at 8,8 points.

8. Earthquake in Chile in 2010 | 9 points

Another devastating earthquake hit Chile in 2010. One of the most destructive and major earthquakes in the history of mankind over the past 50 years brought maximum damage: thousands of victims, millions of people homeless, dozens of destroyed settlements and cities. The Chilean regions of Bio-Bio and Maule suffered the most damage. This catastrophe is significant in that the destruction occurred not only because of the tsunami, but the earthquake itself brought considerable harm, because. its epicenter was on the mainland.

7. Earthquake in North America in 1700 | 9 points

In 1700, strong seismic activity in North America changed the coastline. The disaster occurred in the Cascade Mountains, on the border of the United States and Canada, and according to various estimates was at least 9 points in magnitude. Little is known about the victims of one of the strongest earthquakes in world history. As a result of the disaster, a huge tsunami wave reached the shores of Japan, the destruction of which has been preserved in Japanese literature.

6. Earthquake on the east coast of Japan in 2011 | 9 points

Just a few years ago, in 2011, the east coast of Japan shook from the most powerful earthquake in the history of mankind. In 6 minutes of a 9-point catastrophe, more than 100 km of the seabed was raised by 8 meters in height, and the ensuing tsunami hit the northern islands of Japan. The notorious Fukushima nuclear power plant was partially damaged, which provoked a radioactive release, the consequences of which are still felt. The number of victims is called 15 thousand, but the true numbers are not known.

5. Kemin earthquake in Kazakhstan in 1911 | 9 points

Residents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are difficult to surprise with tremors – these regions are located in the fault zone of the earth’s crust. But the most powerful earthquake in the history of Kazakhstan and all mankind happened in 1911, when the city of Almaty was almost completely destroyed. The catastrophe was called the Kemin earthquake, which is recognized as one of the strongest inland earthquakes of the 200th century. The epicenter of events fell on the valley of the Bolshoy Kemin River. In this area, huge breaks in the relief were formed, with a total length of XNUMX km. In some places, entirely houses that fell into the disaster zone are buried in these gaps.

4. Earthquake on the coast of the Kuril Islands in 1952 | 9 points

Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands are seismically active regions and earthquakes do not surprise them. However, residents still remember the disaster of 1952. One of the most destructive earthquakes that humanity remembers began on November 4 in the Pacific Ocean, 130 km from the coast. Terrible destruction was brought by the tsunami, which was formed after the earthquake. Three huge waves, the height of the largest reached 20 meters, completely destroyed Severo-Kurilsk and damaged many settlements. Waves came with an interval of an hour. The inhabitants knew about the first wave and waited it out on the hills, after which they went down to their villages. The second wave, the largest, which no one expected, brought the greatest damage and claimed the lives of more than 2 thousand people.

3. Earthquake in Alaska in 1964 | 9,3 points

On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, all 47 US states were shaken by an earthquake in Alaska. The epicenter of the disaster was in the Gulf of Alaska, where the Pacific and North American plates meet. One of the strongest natural disasters in human memory, with a magnitude of 9,3, claimed relatively few lives – 9 people died out of 130 victims in Alaska and another 23 lives were claimed by the tsunami that followed the tremors. Of the cities, Anchorage, located 120 kilometers from the epicenter of events, was hit hard. However, destruction swept along the coastline from Japan to California.

2. Earthquake on the coast of Sumatra in 2004 | 9,3 points

Literally 11 years ago, one of the most, perhaps, the strongest recent earthquakes in human history in the Indian Ocean happened. At the very end of 2004, an earthquake of magnitude 9,3 a few kilometers from the coast of the Indonesian city of Sumatra provoked the formation of a monstrous tsunami in strength, which wiped part of the city off the face of the earth. 15-meter waves caused damage to the cities of Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa and southern India. No one names the exact number of victims, but it is estimated that from 200 to 300 thousand people died, and several million more people were left homeless.

1. Earthquake in Chile in 1960 | 9,5 points

The most powerful earthquake in human history occurred in 1960 in Chile. According to expert estimates, it had a maximum magnitude of 9,5 points. The disaster began in the small town of Valdivia. As a result of the earthquake, a tsunami formed in the Pacific Ocean, its 10-meter waves raged along the coast, causing damage to settlements located by the sea. The scope of the tsunami reached such proportions that residents of the Hawaiian city of Hilo, 10 thousand kilometers from Valdivia, felt its destructive power. Giant waves even reached the shores of Japan and the Philippines.