List of deadliest earthquakes
| Rank | Fatalities | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 227,898 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami |
| 2 | 160,000 | 2010 Haiti earthquake |
| 3 | 87,587 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake |
| 4 | 87,351 | 2005 Kashmir earthquake |
1960 Valdivia Earthquake
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 1960 Valdivia Earthquake, also known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, is the strongest earthquake ever recorded. It hit the Valdivia town in southern Chile on May 22, 1960, and its magnitude was measured at 9.5.26 December 2004: Indonesia: A magnitude 9.1 quake triggers an Indian Ocean tsunami, killing about 230,000 people in a dozen countries. 26 December 2003: Iran. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits the south-eastern part of the country, causing more than 20,000 deaths. 26 January 2001: India.
What number was the worst earthquake in history : magnitude 9.5
1. Valdivia, Chile 22 May 1960 (magnitude 9.5)
What was the #1 biggest earthquake
Earth Science FAQs – Geology and Tectonics
The biggest earthquake ever recorded, of magnitude 9.5, happened in 1960 in Chile, at a subduction zone where the Pacific plate dives under the South American plate.
What is the deadliest natural disaster in history : 6 of the World's Deadliest Natural Disasters
- Yangtze River Flood (1931)
- Haitian Earthquake (2010)
- Typhoon Nina–Banqiao Dam Failure (1975)
- Tokyo-Yokohama Earthquake (1923)
- Kashmir Earthquake (2005)
- Great Galveston Storm (1900)
If you are able, seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk. Stay away from outer walls, windows, fireplaces, and hanging objects. If you are unable to move from a bed or chair, protect yourself from falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows.
1931 China floods
Ten deadliest natural disasters by highest estimated death toll excluding epidemics and famines
| Death toll (Highest estimate) | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 4,000,000 | 1931 China floods | July 1931 |
| 2,000,000 | 1887 Yellow River flood | September 1887 |
| 655,000 | 1976 Tangshan earthquake | July 28, 1976 |
| 500,000 | 1970 Bhola cyclone | November 13, 1970 |
How bad was the 9.5 earthquake
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.Approximately 1,655 people were killed, 3,000 injured, and about 2-million people were left homeless. No, there has never been a 9.9 earthquake recorded in modern history. The largest earthquake ever recorded was the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960, which had a magnitude of 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale.For comparison, the biggest earthquake, a magnitude 9.5 earthquake off the coast of Chile, registers as 1 x 10^19 joules, or 10 exajoules.
Table ranking "History's Most Deadly Events": Influenza pandemic (1918-19) 20-40 million deaths; black death/plague (1348-50), 20-25 million deaths, AIDS pandemic (through 2000) 21.8 million deaths, World War II (1937-45), 15.9 million deaths, and World War I (1914-18) 9.2 million deaths.
What was the #1 natural disaster : Yangtze River flooding, August 1931
In the period between July and August 1931, China suffered excessive rainfall which, in conjunction with the spring snowmelt in the mountains, led to floods along the Yangtze River which led to what is considered to be the deadliest natural disaster in world history.
What to do if you re in bed during an earthquake : If you are already in bed when an earthquake hits, stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Validation: Validated by one major nighttime earthquake but conditions would apply to other nighttime earthquakes; validation for non-nighttime is based on analysis.
What not to do during earthquake
Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped.
5–7 minutes
It is capable of producing 9.0+ magnitude earthquakes and tsunamis that could reach 30 m (98 ft). The Oregon Department of Emergency Management estimates shaking would last 5–7 minutes along the coast, with strength and intensity decreasing further from the epicenter.It's doubtful that there are any fault lines on Earth big enough to release a magnitude 10 earthquake, but if one happened, you could expect the ground to shake just as hard as a magnitude 9, but for a lot longer – perhaps as much as 30 minutes.
How bad is 10.0 earthquake : If a magnitude 10 earthquake occurred in the subduction zone, it would produce as much energy as the detonation of one million Hiroshima-sized nuclear bombs.