The 10 most powerful recorded earthquakes

Japan's 8.9-magnitude quake is one of the strongest in history

An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earths crust that creates
seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the
frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time.
Determining the largest earthquakes can be a difficult task. Below is the list of all known
10 Strongest earthquakes measured or estimated to have a moment magnitude scale or
Richter magnitude scale of 8.5 and above.
Top 10 Strongest Earthquakes in The History.
1. Valdivia Earthquake, Southern Chile
Magnitude: 9.5 Mw

Deaths: 1,655

Date: May 22nd, 1960

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake or Great Chilean Earthquake of Sunday, 22 May 1960 is to
date the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Earths history, rating 9.5 on the
moment magnitude scale. It occurred in the afternoon and its resulting tsunami affected
southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia,
and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
Approximately 1,655 killed, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550 million damage
in southern Chile; tsunami caused 61 deaths, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths
and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000
damage to the west coast of the United States.
2. Great Alaskan Earthquake
Magnitude: 9.2
Deaths: 141

Date:

Mar 27th, 1964

The 1964 Alaskan earthquake was a megathrust earthquake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST
on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing
structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 143 deaths. It was
the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. and North American history, and the
second most powerful ever measured by seismograph. It had a magnitude of 9.2, at the
time making it the second largest earthquake in recorded history.
The shaking lasted about 4 minutes. Landslides in Anchorage caused heavy damage. Huge
slides occurred in the downtown business section and water mains and gas, sewer,
telephone and electrical systems were disrupted throughout the area.
3. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
Magnitude: 9.1 Mw
Deaths:
227,898

Date: Dec 26th, 2004

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred
at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, 26 December 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of
Sumatra, Indonesia.
The earthquake was caused by subduction and triggered a series of devastating tsunamis
along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing over 230,000
people in fourteen countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30
meters (98 ft) high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.
The tsunami caused more casualties than any other in recorded history, although some
estimates say the death toll from the 2010 Haiti earthquake was larger. The tsunami was
recorded nearly world-wide on tide gauges in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
4. Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan
Magnitude: 9.0 Mw
Deaths: 15,870

Date: Mar 11th, 2011

Great East Japan Earthquake was a magnitude 9.03 (Mw) undersea megathrust
earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on Friday, 11
March 2011,with the epicenter approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of the Oshika
Peninsula of Tohoku and the hypocenter at an underwater depth of approximately 32 km
(20 mi). It was the most powerful known earthquake ever to have hit Japan, and one of the
five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern record. This quake killed an
estimated 15,870 people and damaged some nuclear reactors. This earthquake is the
largest ever recorded in Japan.
This quake caused 15,870 deaths, 6,114 injured, and 2,814 people missing across twenty
prefectures, as well as 129,225 buildings totally collapsed, with a further 254,204
buildings half collapsed, and another 691,766 buildings partially damaged.
5. Kamchatka Earthquakes, Russia
Magnitude: 9.0 Mw
Date: Nov 4th, 1952
The worlds first recorded magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of
Kamchatka in 1952. The quake generated a 43-foot tsunami (13 m) locally. The main
earthquake struck at 16:58 GMT on November 4, 1952. Initially assigned a magnitude of
8.2, the quake was revised to 9.0 Mw and a period of about 17 minutes, in later years. A
large tsunami resulted, causing destruction and loss of life around the Kamchatka
peninsula and the Kuril Islands. Hawaii was also struck, with estimated damages of up to
US$1 million and livestock losses, but no human casualties were recorded.
6. Offshore Maule, Chile
Magnitude: 8.8

Deaths: 525

Date: 27 February 2010

The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February
2010, at 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC), having a magnitude of 8.8, with intense shaking
lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be
recorded by a seismograph. It was felt strongly in six Chilean regions.
The earthquake triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in southcentral Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano.It causes Casualties, 525 killed, 25
missing.
7. Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake
Magnitude: 8.8 Deaths: 1,500 Date: January 31, 1906

The 1906 Ecuador-Colombia earthquake occurred at 15:36 UTC on January 31, off the
coast of Ecuador, near Esmeraldas. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8 and triggered
a destructive tsunami that caused at least 500 casualties on the coast of Colombia.
A catastrophic magnitude 8.8 earthquake ruptured off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia
and generated a strong tsunami that killed 500 to 1,500 people. The tsunami spread along
the coast of Central America, and even stretched to San Francisco and Japan.
The earthquake occurred along the boundary between the Nazca Plate and the South
American Plate. The earthquake is likely to be a result of thrust-faulting, caused by the
subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate.
The coastal parts of Ecuador and Colombia have a history of great megathrust
earthquakes originating from this plate boundary.
8. Rat Islands, Alaska
Magnitude: 8.7

Date: 4 February, 1965

Alaska had been a state for only 7 years when this huge earthquake triggered a tsunami of
over 30 feet (10 meters). Despite its size, the quake caused little damage due to its
remote location at the tip of the Aleutian Islands.
The 1965 Rat Islands earthquake occurred at 05:01 UTC, on 4 February. It had a magnitude
of 8.7 and triggered a tsunami of over 10 m on Shemya Island, but caused very little
damage.
Flooding from the tsunami caused $10,000 worth of damage on Amchitka Island. Minor
damage from the earthquake was recorded on both Attu and Shemya islands in the form of
cracks in runways.
9. Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Magnitude: 8.6 Deaths: 1300 Date: 28 March 2005
Sumatra earthquake was a major earthquake on 28 March 2005, located off the west coast
of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Approximately 1300 people were killed by the earthquake,
mostly on the island of Nias.
The earthquake occurred at 16:09:36 UTC, on 28 March 2005. The earthquake lasted for
about two minutes in total. The quake ruptured below the surface of the Indian Ocean,
where the Indo-Australian Plate is pushing under the Eurasian plate at the Sunda trench,
similar to the 2004 quake.
10. Assam-Tibet
Magnitude: 8.6

Deaths: 780

Date: 1950

In 1950, a massive 8.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Assam Tibet region, killing at least
780 people, injuring thousands, and destroying many buildings. Cracks developed in the

ground and large landslides occurred, and a village slid into a river and was washed away.
Severe damage was also experienced in Assam, India and the vicinity.
The quake struck at the intersection of the most vigorous collision of continental plates on
the planet, where the Indian continental plate smashes into the Eurasian plate and dives
beneath it. The slow-motion crash helped create the massive Himalayas.