Top 10 Most Devastating Earthquakes in the World

Nepal Earthquake 2015 was a powerful earthquake measuring approximately 7.8 or 8.1 magnitude (Mw) that occurred at 11:56 NST on Saturday, April 25, 2015, with the epicenter about 29 km east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal, at a depth of about 15 km. It was the strongest earthquake in Nepal since the 1934 earthquake in the country. Currently, the confirmed death toll is over 8,000, with more than 16,000 people injured due to the earthquake in Nepal and surrounding areas including India, China, and Bangladesh. A second strong aftershock, measuring 7.3 Mw, occurred on May 12, 2015, at 12:35 NST with the epicenter near the border with China between the capital Kathmandu and Everest. Over 65 people were killed, and more than 1,200 were injured in this aftershock.

A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 6.7 Mw occurred on April 26, 2015, in the same region at 12:55 NST, with the epicenter located 17 km south of Kodari, Nepal. The aftershock triggered new avalanches on Mount Everest and was felt in many northern parts of India, including the cities of Kolkata, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, and Assam. The aftershock also caused landslides on the Koshi highway, resulting in traffic jams between Bhedetar and Mulghat. A second major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 Mw occurred at 12:35 pm on May 12, 2015, 18 km southeast of Kodari. The epicenter was near the China-Nepal border between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, with a depth of 18.5 km. This earthquake followed the same fault line with a magnitude of 7.8 earlier to the east. As part of a seismic sequence, this major earthquake was also considered an aftershock. Tremors were also felt in many northern parts of India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and other northern states. In this event, at least 50 people in Nepal lost their lives, and 1,250 were injured. Another 17 people lost their lives in India, and one woman in China.

Indian Ocean Earthquake in 2004, known in the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, occurred under the seabed at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time) on December 26, 2004. The earthquake triggered a series of deadly tsunamis spreading across the Indian Ocean, with waves as high as 30 meters devastating coastal communities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Myanmar, and elsewhere, claiming the lives of 225,000 people in 11 countries. To date, this natural disaster remains one of the deadliest in modern world history. International media and Asian communities refer to it as the Asian Tsunami, while in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK, it is called the Boxing Day Tsunami because it occurred on this holiday.

The initial intensity of the earthquake was measured at 9.0, but later increased to between 9.1 and 9.3. With this intensity, it is the second-largest earthquake ever recorded by seismologists, second only to the 9.5-magnitude earthquake in Chile on May 22, 1960. The Indian Ocean earthquake shook the ground with a force 100 times stronger than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. It had the longest duration ever recorded, lasting from 500 to 600 seconds. Its intensity and spread were large enough to cause our planet to shift at least half an inch, over a centimeter. It also triggered earthquakes in other areas, reaching as far as Alaska. This devastating earthquake originated in the Indian Ocean just north of Simeulue Island, off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The tsunami waves it generated wreaked havoc on the coastal regions of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, and other countries, with waves reaching up to 30 meters high, causing serious damage and fatalities even on the east coast of Africa, where the farthest recorded tsunami-related death was in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 8000 km away from the epicenter, across an entire ocean.

The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake struck Sichuan province in southwestern People's Republic of China, with its epicenter in Mianzhu County, Autonomous Tibetan Prefecture of Kham, Khampa ethnic group, about 90 km west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, at 06:28:01.42 UTC on May 12, 2008. This seismic event had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale according to the China Earthquake Administration and 7.9 Mw according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake affected distant areas such as Beijing (1500 km northeast), Shanghai (1700 km east), Pakistan, Thailand, and Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

This was the most powerful and devastating earthquake in China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, claiming over 250,000 lives. May 17 is considered a miraculous day when rescue workers saved 73 people buried under the rubble after 100 hours, as the chances of survival were extremely rare. After the earthquake, the Chinese government declared a national mourning for three days (May 19, 20, 21) to commemorate the souls of the earthquake victims. During this period, workers were required to wear only black and white attire (men with black ties), recreational activities were prohibited, and logos of Chinese state television channels were limited to black and white. Many mothers gave birth during and after the earthquake, naming their children with names like Ly Chan, Earthquake, Truong Chinh...

The Turkmenistan region, situated in the southwestern part of Central Asia, has long been prone to various natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. In 1948, a 7.3 Richter scale earthquake buried the city of Ashgabat under collapsed stone structures. Despite receiving aid from numerous countries, including Russia, and international rescue teams, the efforts were in vain. The casualties from this earthquake amounted to 110,000. The country officially began organizing a memorial day (Turkmenistan) in 1995. The national commemoration ceremony takes place at the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, attended by the President of Turkmenistan.

Leaders of Turkmenistan's government and members of the Cabinet of Ministers lay flowers at the monument. Participants observe a minute of silence to remember the earthquake victims. The only ceremony the president did not attend was the 55th-anniversary commemoration in 2003 when President Niyazov had a common cold. Commemorative events also occur in various regions of the country. For instance, the 2010 ceremony was held in Gypjak. Other memorial actions, especially prayers and Sadaqah, are performed to honor the deceased. The national flag is traditionally lowered to half-mast in Ashgabat and Turkmenistan's provinces. All national TV channels broadcast documentaries and news about the earthquake.

Earthquakes are a natural disaster increasingly occurring worldwide, challenging predictability. Also known as seismic or tremor, an earthquake shakes or displaces the Earth's surface, often caused by the movement of geological faults or fractures in the Earth's crust. The ground is in constant motion, but when stress exceeds the Earth's tolerance, an earthquake occurs. Powerful earthquakes and their aftershocks worldwide have claimed numerous lives, causing severe devastation and pushing many into homelessness, requiring relief efforts. Additionally, this natural disaster destroys infrastructure, transportation, and hinders economic activities.

On May 31, 1970: A powerful 7.9 Richter scale earthquake struck the coastal town of Chimbote, Peru, claiming the lives of 70,000 people and leaving 800,000 homeless. Landslides, along with debris, descended at a speed of 320 km/h from Mount Navado Huascaran, destroying entire villages around. In this catastrophe, the entire ground of Chimbote trembled with terrifying intensity. All rocks and soil from the mountain slid down at a speed comparable to an airplane, wiping out any trace of the populated area. Reading this information, do you feel terrified?

The devastating Kanto Earthquake of 1923 struck the Kanto region of Japan, leading to collapsing homes and triggering massive fires. Most casualties resulted from the extensive fires. At 11:58:32 local time on September 1, 1923, a powerful 7.9 Richter scale earthquake occurred at 35.1 degrees North latitude and 139.5 degrees East longitude, beneath the Sagami Gulf, about 80 km northwest of Tokyo. This earthquake's hallmark was victims perishing not so much from collapsed roofs but mainly due to widespread fires. The earthquake coincided with the Japanese lunchtime when most Japanese were cooking rice. At that time, the majority of Japanese houses were made of wood. The collapsing houses and falling household items triggered fires in many places. Authorities recorded 136 fire outbreaks. Concurrently, a storm was approaching the Noto Peninsula, causing strong winds across the Kanto region, accelerating the spread of fires, lasting for two days. The densely populated neighborhoods and districts in Tokyo (known as shitamachi) suffered enormous human losses. Notably, those seeking refuge in open spaces in Ryogoku were surrounded by flames and perished. The death toll in this area alone reached approximately 40,000 people.

Chaos ensued, giving rise to panic and rumors. In towns and villages surrounding the capital, there were citizen groups called Jikeidan, armed civilian police formed by ordinary people to guard and protect their own communities. These groups arbitrarily interrogated and detained suspected individuals. The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs had to implement martial law to restore order. Subsequently, unfounded rumors emerged that Korean immigrants in Japan at that time were engaging in arson and looting, also falsely claiming they possessed bombs. In this state of emergency, even baseless rumors were enough to incite frenzied violent behaviors. Economically, the damage from the Kanto Earthquake amounted to 6 billion Yen at that time. Many industries ceased operations due to collapsed or burnt-down workshops, causing a wave of unemployment. Japan's economy, still unrecovered from the post-1920 economic crisis, suffered a severe blow from this earthquake. Moreover, the economic situation in Japan had not fully recovered from the post-1920 economic crisis. This dual crisis exacerbated the economic downturn.

The catastrophic Valdivia Earthquake in 1960, Chile (Gran terremoto de Chile) on May 22 is the strongest earthquake ever recorded. Different studies placed it between 9.4 - 9.6 on the Richter scale. It occurred in the evening (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local time) and lasted about 10 minutes. As a result, tsunami waves affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands. The epicenter of this megathrust earthquake was near Lumaco, about 570 km south of the capital Santiago, with Valdivia being the most severely affected city. The tremors caused local tsunami waves, heavily damaging the Chilean coastline, with waves reaching up to 25 meters high. The main tsunami traveled across the Pacific Ocean, devastating Hilo, Hawaii. Waves as high as 10.7 meters were recorded 10,000 km from the epicenter, reaching Japan and the Philippines.

With the epicenter intensity reaching nearly 10 on the Richter scale, scientists list the Chile earthquake as one of the most horrifying disasters on the planet. Not stopping there, a day after the quake, the Volcán Puyehue volcano resumed activity, destroying everything in its path, creating massive smoke columns that led to subsequent dust storms. The death toll and financial losses from this widespread disaster are uncertain. Various estimates of the total casualties from the earthquake and tsunami have been published, ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 deaths. Different sources estimated the financial cost ranging from $400 million to $800 million U.S. dollars (equivalent to $3.39 billion to $6.78 billion today, adjusted for inflation).

The Haiyan Earthquake occurred at 12:06 UTC on December 16, 1920, or the 7th day of the 11th month of the Canh Thân year, with the epicenter in Haiyan County, Cam Tuc province (now part of Ninh Ha) in China. The Haiyan Earthquake had a magnitude of 8.5 ML/7.8Mw, the strongest among recorded earthquakes in China and the most powerful earthquake globally until that time. Aftershocks from the Haiyan Earthquake continued for three years. According to official statistics, about 234,117 people lost their lives, making it the third-highest death toll recorded in China. In Haiyan alone, over 73,604 people perished, with the impact felt within 200 km, reaching from the Yellow Sea to the Gulf of Tonkin, from Inner Mongolia to Sichuan. Following the earthquake, Haiyan experienced landslides and ground fissures, exacerbated by local residents living in precarious conditions, making them vulnerable to seismic shocks and causing numerous casualties.

According to contemporary official statistics, Cam Tuc province had 234,117 fatalities, with Haiyan as the epicenter reporting 73,604 deaths. However, the seismic waves did not remain confined within Cam Tuc, affecting neighboring areas severely, so the death toll still needs careful consideration. Moreover, due to the lack of authentic local information, the exact number of casualties cannot be verified. This earthquake ranked fifth globally in terms of casualties, following the Gansu Earthquake, the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, the Ardabil earthquake of 893, and the Aleppo earthquake of 1138. The earthquake reached intensity XII, the highest level on the Mercalli scale, signifying massive destruction. The earthquake-induced landslides caused ground fissures, leading to various geological fractures and changes in the terrain. Local residents, mostly residing on alluvial plains, constructed homes using precarious materials, and the collapse of these structures after the disaster caused significant transformations in the villages of Haiyan. The landslides formed numerous large and small bodies of water, creating barriers between them. During this winter period, as the local residents traditionally resided at elevations above 1000 meters, a portion of the surviving population succumbed to the harsh weather conditions following the earthquake.

The Tianqi Earthquake of 1556 occurred in the Ming Dynasty on the 12th day of the 12th month of the 34th year of Gia Tinh, equivalent to January 23, 1556. Modern scientists, based on historical records, speculate the earthquake's intensity to be between 8.0 and 8.3 Mw. It is the most destructive earthquake in Chinese history and the deadliest earthquake globally. On the 12th day of the 12th month of the 34th year of Gia Tinh (January 23, 1556), simultaneous earthquakes struck Son Tay, Tianqi, and Ha Nam. The earthquake affected more than half of China's territory, extending to Phuc Kien and Luong Quang. The death toll, due to crushing, drowning, starvation, disease, and fire, was reported to be over 830,000. Many casualties resulted from the earthquake itself, a rarity in seismic history. Ninety-seven counties in the provinces of Tianqi, Son Tay, and Ha Nam were affected, with an estimated area of natural disasters covering 280,000 km². A total of 227 districts in five provinces experienced the earthquake. The 34th year of Gia Tinh was the At Mao year in the Can Chi, thus referred to as the 'Gia Tinh At Mao Great Earthquake.' The epicenter was located in the Hoa district of Quan Trung, also known as the 'Hoa district great earthquake.'

Following the earthquake, the phenomenon of the Huanghe River became visible with a lowered water level. Records state that at the hour of the Rat on the 12th day of the 34th year of Gia Tinh, the earthquake from the northwest to the southeast produced a thunder-like sound, cracks in the earth formed gaps wider than one zhang, and water sprayed like a sea wave. All walls collapsed, and the number of deaths in large tombs was immeasurable. By the 17th day, the Huanghe River turned transparent for three days, revealing the riverbed. The author Dian Lu of the Ming Dynasty personally observed the phenomenon of reduced groundwater and ground subsidence in the Quan Trung region. After the earthquake, in the Hoa, Hoa Am, Dai Le, and Dong Quang areas within a few thousand km², all kinds of structures collapsed, resulting in severe casualties. The official residence of Tử Vi in Dai Le and the Tiểu Nhạn tower in Tay An, both relatively large bodies of water, experienced a 'calm and flat ground' due to the earthquake. The water in these lakes dried up. In the vicinity of Dong Quan, the earthquake caused 'many mountains to collapse, Dong Quan Road was blocked, (Huang) He flowed backward,' flowing into Vi Ha. The earthquake also caused Vi Ha to change its course, flowing northward about 5 km. In Tay An, the Cao Tong Dynasty's 15-story Little Swallow tower, influenced by the seismic activity, had its top destroyed, leaving only the lower 13 stories. The Càn district's Càn Tombstone was also completely destroyed.