Over its history of many thousands, mankind has experienced such earthquakes that, 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 will the next disaster be and what kind of force.
In this article we have collected the most powerful earthquakes in the history of mankind, measured by magnitude. About this value, you need to know that it takes into account the amount of energy released during the earthquake, and is distributed from 1 to 9.5.
10. The Tien Shan earthquake of 1976 | 8.2 points
Although the magnitude of the 1976 Tien Shan earthquake amounted to only 8.2 points, it can rightfully be considered one of the most destructive earthquakes in the history of mankind. This terrible incident claimed the lives of more than 250 thousand people according to the official version, and unofficially, the death toll is close to 700 thousand and is quite justified, because 5.6 million houses were completely destroyed. The event formed the basis of the film "Disaster", shot by Feng Xiaogang.
9. The earthquake in Portugal in 1755 | 8.8 points
The earthquake that occurred in Portugal back in 1755 on All Saints Day refers to one ands the most powerful and tragic catastrophes 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 catastrophe caused a severe fire and tsunami, which 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 disaster laid the foundation for seismology. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated at 8.8 points.
8. The earthquake in Chile in 2010 | 9 points
Another destructive earthquake in Chile happened in 2010. One of the most destructive and major earthquakes in the history of mankind over the past 50 years has caused maximum damage: thousands of victims, millions of homeless people, dozens of destroyed settlements and cities. The greatest damage occurred in the Chilean areas of Bio Bio and Maule. This catastrophe is significant because the destruction occurred not only due to the tsunami, but the earthquake itself caused considerable harm, because its epicenter fell on the mainland.
7. Earthquake in North America in 1700 | 9 points
In 1700, the coastline was changed as a result of strong seismic activity in North America. The catastrophe 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 is still mentioned 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 the 9-point catastrophe, more than 100 km of the seabed was raised 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
It is difficult to surprise the inhabitants of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with tremors - these regions are located in the zone of the earth's crust fault. But the most powerful earthquake in the history of Kazakhstan and all of humanity 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 most powerful intracontinental earthquakes of the 20th century. The epicenter of the events fell on the valley of the Bolshoi Kemin River. In this area, huge relief gaps were formed with a total length of 200 km. In some places, in these gaps, the whole house buried in the disaster zone is buried.
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 devastating earthquakes that mankind remembers began on November 4 in the Pacific Ocean, 130 km from the coast. Terrible destruction was caused by the tsunami that formed after the earthquake. Three huge waves, the height of the largest reached 20 meters, was completely destroyed Severo-Kurilsk and caused damage to many settlements. The waves arrived at intervals of an hour. Residents knew about the first wave and waited for it in the hills, after which they went down to their villages. The second wave, the largest one that no one expected, caused the greatest damage and claimed the lives of more than 2 thousand people.
3. Alaska earthquake in 1964 | 9.3 points
On March 27, 1964, all 47 US states trembled on Good Friday from the earthquake in Alaska. The epicenter of the disaster occurred in the Alaskan Gulf, where the Pacific and North American plates meet. One of the most severe natural disasters in the memory of mankind with a magnitude of 9.3 points claimed relatively few lives - 9 people out of 130 victims in Alaska died and 23 more died in the tsunami that followed the tremors. Anchorage, located 120 kilometers from the epicenter of events, was badly damaged from the cities. However, destruction swept along the coastline from Japan to California.
2. Earthquake on the shores of Sumatra in 2004 | 9.3 points
Literally 11 years ago, one of, 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 points a few kilometers from the shores of the Indonesian city of Sumatra provoked the formation of a monstrous tsunami in strength, which wiped out part of the city from the face of the earth. 15-meter waves caused damage to the cities of Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa and southern India. Nobody names the exact number of victims, but it is estimated that 200 to 300 thousand people died, several million more were left homeless.
1. The 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 catastrophe began in the small town of Valdivia. As a result of an earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, a tsunami formed, its 10-meter waves raged along the coast, causing damage to settlements located by the sea. The magnitude of the tsunami reached such proportions that its destructive power was felt by the inhabitants of the Hawaiian city of Hilo 10 thousand kilometers from Valdivia. Giant waves even reached the shores of Japan and the Philippines.