document_title: Lists of earthquakes

question_text: what's the largest earthquake in the united states

question_tokens: what 's the largest earthquake in the united states

text: Lists of earthquakes

text: Lists by period[edit]

text:
Before 1901
1901–2000
2001–present

text: Lists by country[edit]

text:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Argentina

Mendoza Province

Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Azores
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China

Sichuan Province

Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Cyprus
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Georgia (country)
Germany
Greece
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Romania

Vrancea County

Russia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Tajikistan
Taiwan
Tonga
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States

Alaska
California
Hawaii
Illinois
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Washington

Vanuatu
Venezuela
Yemen

text: Lists by region[edit]

text:
Caribbean
Levant
South Asia

text: Largest earthquakes by magnitude[edit]

text: Listed below are all known earthquakes measured or estimated to have a magnitude of 8.5 or above on the moment magnitude or Richter magnitude scale.

text: This list is biased towards recent years due to development and widespread deployment of seismometers. Also, records that were detailed enough to make magnitude estimates (est.) were not generally available before 1900.[3]

text:
Rank
Date
Location
Event
Magnitude

1
000000001960-05-22-0000May 22, 1960
Valdivia, Chile
1960 Valdivia earthquake
9.4–9.6

2
000000001964-03-27-0000March 27, 1964
Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States
1964 Alaska earthquake
9.2

3
000000002004-12-26-0000December 26, 2004
Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
9.1–9.3

4
000000002011-03-11-0000March 11, 2011
Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan
2011 Tōhoku earthquake
9.1[4]

5
000000001952-11-04-0000November 4, 1952
Kamchatka, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
1952 Kamchatka earthquakes
9.0[5]

6
000000001868-08-13-0000August 13, 1868
Arica, Chile (then Peru)
1868 Arica earthquake
8.5–9.0 (est.)

7
000000001700-01-26-0000January 26, 1700
Pacific Ocean, USA and Canada (then claimed by the Spanish Empire and the British Empire)
1700 Cascadia earthquake
8.7–9.2 (est.)

8
000000000869-07-09-0000July 9, 869
Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan
869 Sanriku earthquake
8.9 (est.)

9
000000001762-04-02-0000April 2, 1762
Chittagong, Bangladesh (then Kingdom of Mrauk U)
1762 Arakan earthquake
8.8 (est.)

10
000000001833-11-25-0000November 25, 1833
Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)
1833 Sumatra earthquake
8.8 (est.)

11
000000001906-01-31-0000January 31, 1906
Ecuador – Colombia
1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake
8.8[6]

12
000000002010-02-27-0000February 27, 2010
Offshore Maule, Chile
2010 Chile earthquake
8.8[6]

13
000000001950-08-15-0000August 15, 1950
Assam, India – Tibet, China
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
8.7

14
000000001707-10-28-0000October 28, 1707
Pacific Ocean, Shikoku region, Japan
1707 Hōei earthquake
8.7–9.3 (est.)

15
000000001730-07-08-0000July 8, 1730
Valparaiso, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1730 Valparaiso earthquake
8.7 (est.)[7]

16
000000001755-11-01-0000November 1, 1755
Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal
1755 Lisbon earthquake
8.5–9.0

17
000000001965-02-04-0000February 4, 1965
Rat Islands, Alaska, United States
1965 Rat Islands earthquake
8.7

18
000000001746-10-28-0000October 28, 1746
Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1746 Lima–Callao earthquake
8.6 (est.)

19
000000001787-03-28-0000March 28, 1787
Oaxaca, Mexico (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1787 Mexico earthquake
8.6 (est.)

20
000000001957-03-09-0000March 9, 1957
Andreanof Islands, Alaska, United States
1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake
8.6[6]

21
000000002005-03-28-0000March 28, 2005
Sumatra, Indonesia
2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake
8.6[6]

22
000000002012-04-11-0000April 11, 2012
Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia
2012 Aceh earthquake
8.6

23
000000001575-12-16-0000December 16, 1575
Valdivia, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1575 Valdivia earthquake
8.5 (est.)

24
000000001604-11-24-0000November 24, 1604
Arica, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1604 Arica earthquake
8.5 (est.)

25
000000001647-05-13-0000May 13, 1647
Santiago, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1647 Santiago earthquake
8.5 (est.)

26
000000001751-05-24-0000May 24, 1751
Concepción, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1751 Concepción earthquake
8.5 (est.)

27
000000001822-11-19-0000November 19, 1822
Valparaíso, Chile
1822 Valparaíso earthquake
8.5 (est.)

28
000000001835-02-20-0000February 20, 1835
Concepción, Chile
1835 Concepción earthquake
8.5 (est.)

29
000000001861-02-16-0000February 16, 1861
Sumatra, Indonesia
1861 Sumatra earthquake
8.5

30
000000001877-05-09-0000May 9, 1877
Iquique, Chile (then Peru)
1877 Iquique earthquake
8.5 (est.)

31
000000001922-11-10-0000November 10, 1922
Atacama Region, Chile Catamarca Province, Argentina
1922 Vallenar earthquake
8.5[8]

32
000000001938-02-01-0000February 1, 1938
Banda Sea, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)
1938 Banda Sea earthquake
8.5[6]

33
000000001963-10-13-0000October 13, 1963
Kuril Islands, Russia (USSR)
1963 Kuril Islands earthquake
8.5[6]

34
000000002007-09-12-0000September 12, 2007
Sumatra, Indonesia
2007 Sumatra earthquakes
8.5[6]

35
000000001687-10-20-0000October 20, 1687
Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire)
1687 Peru earthquake
8.5 (est.)

36
000000001737-10-17-0000October 17, 1737
Kamchatka, Russia
1737 Kamchatka earthquakes
8.5 (est.)

37
000000001361-08-03-0000August 3, 1361
Pacific Ocean, Shikoku region, Japan
1361 Shōhei earthquake
8.5 (est.)

38
000000001896-06-15-0000June 15, 1896
Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan
1896 Sanriku earthquake
8.5 (est.)

text: Largest earthquakes by country[edit]

text:
This list is a work in progress. Information is likely to be changed.
Please note, multiple countries could have the same earthquake listed, such as the 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake being listed for both Ecuador and Colombia.
Unless otherwise noted, magnitudes are reported on the Moment magnitude scale (Mw).

text:
Country
Magnitude
Date
More information

 Afghanistan
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001921-11-15-000015 November 1921
[9]

 Albania
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001967-11-30-000030 November 1967
[10]

 Algeria
7000710000000000000♠7.1
000000001980-10-10-000010 October 1980
1980 El Asnam earthquake

 Antarctica
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000001998-03-25-000025 March 1998
[11]

 Armenia
7000680000000000000♠6.8 Ms
000000001988-12-07-00007 December 1988
1988 Armenian earthquake

 Argentina
7000750000000000000♠7.5
000000001894-10-27-000027 October 1894
1894 San Juan earthquake

 Australia
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001988-01-22-000022 January 1988
[12]

 Austria
7000550000000000000♠5.5–6.0
000000001590-09-15-000015 September 1590
1590 Neulengbach earthquake

 Azerbaijan
7000690000000000000♠6.9
000000001667-11-25-000025 November 1667
1667 Shamakhi earthquake

 Bangladesh
7000880000000000000♠8.8
000000001762-04-02-00002 April 1762
1762 Arakan earthquake

 Belgium
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001692-09-18-000018 September 1692
Epicentre: Verviers[13]

 Bhutan
7000660000000000000♠6.6
000000001941-01-21-000021 January 1941
[14]

 Bolivia
7000820009999999999♠8.2
000000001994-06-09-00009 June 1994
1994 Bolivia earthquake

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
7000640000000000000♠6.4
000000001969-10-27-000027 October 1969
Banja Luka earthquake

 Botswana
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000002017-04-03-00003 April 2017
2017 Botswana earthquake

 Brazil
7000760000000000000♠7.6
000000001963-11-09-00009 November 1963
[15]

 British Indian Ocean Territory
7000600000000000000♠6.0
000000001952-04-29-000029 April 1952
[16]

 Bulgaria
7000720000000000000♠7.2[17]
000000001904-04-04-00004 April 1904
see List of earthquakes in Bulgaria

 Burundi
7000530000000000000♠5.3
000000001978-01-29-000029 January 1978
[18]

 Canada
7000870000000099999♠8.7–9.2
000000001700-01-26-000026 January 1700
1700 Cascadia earthquake

 Chile
7000940000000000000♠9.4–9.6
000000001960-05-22-000022 May 1960
1960 Valdivia earthquake

 China
7000860000000000000♠8.6
000000001950-08-15-000015 August 1950
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake

 Cocos Islands
7000790000000000000♠7.9
000000002000-06-18-000018 June 2000
[19]

 Colombia
7000880000000000000♠8.8
000000001906-01-31-000031 January 1906
1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake

 Comoros
7000600000000000000♠6.0
000000001952-04-29-000029 April 1952
[20]

 Costa Rica
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000001991-04-22-000022 April 1991
1991 Limon earthquake

 Croatia
7000630000000000000♠6.3 ML
000000001880-11-09-00009 November 1880
1880 Zagreb earthquake

 Cuba
7000750000000000000♠7.5–7.9 Ms[21][22]
000000001900-06-21-000021 June 1900
List of earthquakes in Cuba[21]

 Cyprus
7000700000000000000♠7.0
000000001222-05-11-000011 May 1222
1222 Cyprus earthquake

 Czech Republic
7000480000000000000♠4.8
000000001985-12-23-000023 December 1985
[23]

 Democratic Republic of the Congo
7000680000000000000♠6.8
000000002005-12-05-00005 December 2005
2005 Lake Tanganyika earthquake

 Denmark
7000440000000000000♠4.4[24][25][26]
000000002010-02-19-000019 February 2010
Jutland

 Djibouti
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000001989-08-20-000020 August 1989
[27]

 Dominican Republic
7000810000000000000♠8.1 Ms
000000001946-08-04-00004 August 1946
1946 Dominican Republic earthquake

 Ecuador
7000880000000000000♠8.8
000000001906-01-31-000031 January 1906
1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake

 Egypt
7000730000000000000♠7.3
000000001995-11-22-000022 November 1995
1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake

 El Salvador
7000800000000000000♠8.0
000000001862-12-19-000019 December 1862
[28]

 Eritrea
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001915-09-23-000023 September 1915
[29]

 Estonia
7000470000000000000♠4.7
000000001976-10-25-000025 October 1976
1976 Osmussaare earthquake

 Ethiopia
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000001919-06-30-000030 June 1919
[30]

 Finland
7000470000000000000♠4.7
000000001898-11-04-00004 November 1898
Tornio, 66.2°N, 25.0°E[31]

 Fiji
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001919-01-01-00001 January 1919
[32]

 France
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001909-06-11-000011 June 1909
1909 Provence earthquake

 Gabon
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001974-09-23-000023 September 1974
[33]

 Germany
7000610000000000000♠6.1
000000001756-02-18-000018 February 1756
1756 Düren earthquake

 Georgia
7000700000000000000♠7.0
000000001991-04-29-000029 April 1991
1991 Racha earthquake

 Ghana
7000640000000000000♠6.4
000000001939-06-22-000022 June 1939
[34]

 Greece
7000850000000000000♠8.5+
000000000365-07-21-000021 July 365
365 Crete earthquake

 Guam
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001993-08-08-00008 August 1993
[35]

 Guatemala
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000001942-08-06-00006 August 1942
1942 Guatemala earthquake

 Guyana
7000530000000000000♠5.3
000000001976-01-22-000022 January 1976
[36]

 Guinea
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001983-12-22-000022 December 1983
[37]

 Haiti
7000810000000000000♠8.1 Ms
000000001842-05-07-00007 May 1842
1842 Cap-Haïtien earthquake

 Honduras
7000730000000000000♠7.3
000000002009-05-28-000028 May 2009
2009 Honduras earthquake

 Hungary
7000630000000000000♠6.3 ML
000000001763-06-28-000028 June 1763
1763 Komárom earthquake

 Iceland
7000690000000000000♠6.9
000000001963-03-28-000028 March 1963
[38]

 India
7000860000000000000♠8.6
000000001950-08-15-000015 August 1950
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake

 Indonesia
7000910000000000000♠9.1–9.3
000000002004-12-26-000026 December 2004
2004 Boxing Day earthquake

 Iran
7000790000000000000♠7.9 Ms
000000000856-12-22-000022 December 856
856 Damghan earthquake

 Iraq
7000580000000000000♠5.8
000000001980-12-18-000018 December 1980
[39]

 Israel
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001927-07-11-000011 July 1927
1927 Jericho earthquake

 Italy
7000740000000000000♠7.4
000000001693-01-11-000011 January 1693
1693 Sicily earthquake

 Japan
7000910000000000000♠9.1
000000002011-03-11-000011 March 2011
2011 Tōhoku earthquake

 Jordan
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001927-07-11-000011 July 1927
1927 Jericho earthquake

 Kazakhstan
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000001911-01-03-00003 January 1911
1911 Kebin earthquake

 Kenya
7000700000000000000♠7.0
000000001928-01-06-00006 January 1928
[40]

 Kyrgyzstan
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000001911-01-03-00003 January 1911
1911 Kebin earthquake

 Laos
7000690000000000000♠6.9
000000001983-06-24-000024 June 1983
[41]

 Lebanon
7000750000000000000♠7.5
000000000551-07-09-00009 July 551
551 Beirut earthquake

 Libya
7000680000000000000♠6.8
000000001935-04-19-000019 April 1935
[42]

 Macedonia
7000610000000000000♠6.1
000000001963-07-26-000026 July 1963
1963 Skopje earthquake

 Madagascar
7000560000000099999♠5.6
000000001991-04-21-000021 April 1991
[43]

 Malawi
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001989-03-10-000010 March 1989
[44]

 Malaysia
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001976-07-26-000026 July 1976
1976 Sabah earthquake

 Mauritius
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001976-07-26-000026 July 1976
[45]

 Mayotte
7000600000000000000♠6.0
000000001952-04-29-000029 April 1952
[46]

 Mexico
7000860000000000000♠8.6
000000001787-03-28-000028 March 1787
1787 Mexico earthquake

 Micronesia
7000710000000000000♠7.1
000000001929-11-15-000015 November 1929
[47]

 Mongolia
7000840000000000000♠8.4
000000001905-07-23-000023 July 1905
1905 Bolnai earthquake

 Montenegro
7000690000000000000♠6.9
000000001979-04-15-000015 April 1979
1979 Montenegro earthquake

 Morocco
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000002004-02-24-000024 February 2004
2004 Al Hoceima earthquake

 Mozambique
7000700000000000000♠7.0
000000002006-02-22-000022 February 2006
2006 Mozambique earthquake

 Myanmar
7000800000000000000♠8.0
000000001946-09-12-000012 September 1946
[48]

 Namibia
7000510000000099999♠5.1
000000002009-07-31-000031 July 2009
[49]

 Nepal
7000820009999999999♠8.2
000000001505-06-06-00006 June 1505
1505 Lo Mustang earthquake

 Netherlands
7000530000000000000♠5.3
000000001992-04-13-000013 April 1992
1992 Roermond earthquake

 New Zealand
7000830000000000000♠8.3
000000001855-01-23-000023 January 1855
1855 Wairarapa earthquake

 Nicaragua
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000001992-09-02-00002 September 1992
1992 Nicaragua earthquake

 North Korea
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001952-03-19-000019 March 1952
[50]

 Northern Mariana Islands
7000770000000000000♠7.7
000000002016-07-29-000029 July 2016
[51]

 Norway
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000002008-02-21-000021 February 2008
2008 Svalbard earthquake (no)

 Pakistan
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000001945-11-28-000028 November 1945
1945 Balochistan earthquake

 Palau
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001911-08-16-000016 August 1911
[52]

 Panama
7000750000000000000♠7.5
000000001934-07-18-000018 July 1934
[53]

 Papua New Guinea
7000800000000000000♠8.0
000000002000-11-16-000016 November 2000
2000 New Ireland earthquakes

 Paraguay
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000001989-02-28-000028 February 1989
[54]

 Peru
7000860000000000000♠8.6
000000001746-10-28-000028 October 1746
1746 Lima–Callao earthquake

 Philippines
7000830000000000000♠8.3
000000001918-08-15-000015 August 1918
1918 Celebes Sea earthquake

 Poland
7000580000000000000♠5.8
000000001983-08-06-00006 August 1983
near Głogów [55]

 Portugal
7000850000000000000♠8.5–9.0
000000001755-11-01-00001 November 1755
1755 Lisbon earthquake

 Puerto Rico
7000800000000000000♠8.0
000000001787-05-02-00002 May 1787
1787 Boricua earthquake

 Réunion
7000530000000000000♠5.3
000000002007-04-06-00006 April 2007
[56]

 Romania
7000790000000000000♠7.9
000000001802-10-26-000026 October 1802
1802 Vrancea earthquake

 Rwanda
7000590000000000000♠5.9
000000002008-02-03-00003 February 2008
[57]

 Russia
7000900000000000000♠9.0
000000001952-11-04-00004 November 1952
1952 Kamchatka earthquake

 Samoa
7000850000000000000♠8.5
000000001917-06-26-000026 June 1917
1917 Samoa earthquake

 Saudi Arabia
7000620000000000000♠6.2
000000001941-01-11-000011 January 1941
Jizan Region

 Serbia
7000550000000000000♠5.5
000000001998-09-22-000022 September 1998
1998 Mionica earthquake

 Slovenia
7000560000000099999♠5.6
000000001998-04-12-000012 April 1998
[58]

 Solomon Islands
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000002007-04-01-00001 April 2007
2007 Solomon Islands earthquake

 Somalia
7000560000000099999♠5.6
000000001951-07-03-00003 July 1951
[59]

 South Africa
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001969-09-29-000029 September 1969

 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000001929-06-27-000027 June 1929
[60]

 South Korea
7000540000000000000♠5.4
000000002016-09-12-000012 September 2016
2016 Gyeongju earthquake

 South Sudan
7000720000000000000♠7.2
000000001990-05-20-000020 May 1990
[61]

 Spain
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001954-03-29-000029 March 1954
[62]

 Sweden
7000480000000000000♠4.8 ML
000000001986-07-14-000014 July 1986
Skultorp, Västra Götaland[63]

 Switzerland
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000001356-10-18-000018 October 1356
1356 Basel earthquake

 Syria
7000760000000000000♠7.6
000000001202-05-20-000020 May 1202
1202 Syria earthquake

 Taiwan
7000760000000000000♠7.6
000000001999-09-21-000021 September 1999
1999 Jiji earthquake

 Tajikistan
7000750000000000000♠7.5
000000001949-07-10-000010 July 1949
1949 Khait earthquake

 Tanzania
7000730000000000000♠7.3
000000001910-12-13-000013 December 1910
[64]

 Thailand
7000610000000000000♠6.1
000000002014-05-05-00005 May 2014
2014 Mae Lao earthquake

 Tonga
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000001919-04-30-000030 April 1919
[65]

 Trinidad-and-Tobago
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001997-04-22-000022 April 1997
[66]

 Tunisia
7000550000000000000♠5.5
000000001957-02-20-000020 February 1957
[67]

 Turkey
7000780000000000000♠7.8
000000001939-12-27-000027 December 1939
1939 Erzincan earthquake

 Turkmenistan
7000730000000000000♠7.3
000000001948-10-05-00005 October 1948
1948 Ashgabat earthquake

 Uganda
7000650000000000000♠6.5
000000001952-06-30-000030 June 1952
[68]

 Ukraine
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001927-09-11-000011 September 1927
1927 Crimean earthquakes

 United Kingdom
7000610000000000000♠6.1 ML
000000001931-06-07-00007 June 1931
1931 Dogger Bank earthquake

 United States
7000920000000099999♠9.2
000000001964-03-27-000027 March 1964
1964 Alaska earthquake

 Uruguay
7000550000000000000♠5.5
000000001888-06-05-00005 June 1888
1888 Rio de la Plata earthquake

 Uzbekistan
7000700000000000000♠7.0
000000001984-03-19-000019 March 1984
[69]

 Vanuatu
7000810000000000000♠8.1
000000001920-09-20-000020 September 1920
[70]

 Venezuela
7000760000000000000♠7.6
000000001900-10-29-000029 October 1900
[71]

 Vietnam
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001935-06-01-00001 June 1935
[72]

 Yemen
7000630000000000000♠6.3
000000001982-12-13-000013 December 1982
1982 North Yemen earthquake

 Zambia
7000670000000000000♠6.7
000000001919-05-01-00001 May 1919
[73]

text: Costliest earthquakes[edit]

text: This is a list or major earthquakes by the dollar value of property (public and private) losses directly attributable to the earthquake. Rank values are assigned based on inflation-adjusted comparison of property damage in US dollars. Wherever possible, indirect and socioeconomic losses are excluded. Please note that damage estimates for particular earthquakes may vary through time as more data becomes available.

text:
Rank
Event
Location
Magnitude
Property damage

1
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Japan
9.1[4]
$235 billion[74][75]

2
1995 Great Hanshin earthquake
Japan
6.9
$200 billion[76]

3
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Sichuan, China
8.0
$86 billion[77]

4
1994 Northridge earthquake
Los Angeles, United States
6.7
$13–44 billion

5
1980 Irpinia earthquake
Italy
6.9[78]
$15 billion[78]

6
1976 Tangshan earthquake
Hebei, China
7.8
$10 billion[79]

7
2011 Christchurch earthquake
South Island, New Zealand
6.3[80]
$15–40 billion[81][82]

8
2004 Chūetsu earthquake
Japan
6.8
$28 billion[78][83]

9
1999 İzmit earthquake
Turkey
7.6
$20 billion[78]

10
2010 Chile earthquake
Chile
8.8[84]
$15–30 billion[84]

11
2012 Emilia earthquakes
Italy
6.1[85]
$15.8 billion[86]

12
1999 Jiji earthquake
Taiwan
7.6
$10 billion

13
April 2015 Nepal earthquake
Nepal
7.8
$10 billion to rebuild.[87]

14
1906 San Francisco earthquake
San Francisco, United States
7.7 to 7.9 (est.)[85]
$400 million[85]

15
1923 Great Kantō earthquake
Tokyo, Japan
7.9
$600 million[78]

16
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
California, United States
6.9
$5.6–6 billion

text: Deadliest earthquakes[edit]

text: It has been suggested that this article be merged into List of natural disasters by death toll#52_deadliest_earthquakes. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2016.

text:
Deadliest earthquakes[88]

Rank
Event
Date
Location
Fatalities
Magnitude
Notes

1
1556 Shaanxi earthquake
000000001556-01-23-0000January 23, 1556
Shaanxi, China
820,000–830,000 [89]
8.0
Estimated death toll in Shaanxi, China.

2
1976 Tangshan earthquake
000000001976-07-28-0000July 28, 1976
Hebei, China
242,769–700,000+ [90][91][92]
7.8

3
1920 Haiyuan earthquake
000000001920-12-16-0000December 16, 1920
Ningxia–Gansu, China
273,400[90][93]
7.8
Major fractures, landslides.

4
526 Antioch earthquake
000000000526-05-21-0000May 21, 526
Antioch, Turkey (then Byzantine Empire)
240,000[94]
7.0 [95]
Procopius (II.14.6), sources based on John of Ephesus.

5
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
000000002004-12-26-0000December 26, 2004
Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia
230,210+[96]
9.1–9.3
Deaths from earthquake and resulting tsunami.

6
1138 Aleppo earthquake
000000001138-10-11-0000October 11, 1138
Aleppo, Syria
230,000
Unknown
The figure of 230,000 dead is based on a historical conflation of this earthquake with earthquakes in November 1137 on the Jazira plain and on September 30, 1139 in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja. The first mention of a 230,000 death toll was by Ibn Taghribirdi in the fifteenth century.[97]

7
2010 Haiti earthquake
000000002010-01-12-0000January 12, 2010
Haiti
100,000–316,000
7.0
Estimates vary from 316,000 (Haitian government) to 222,570 (UN OCHA estimate)[98] to 158,000 (Medicine, Conflict and Survival) to between 85,000 and 46,000 (report commissioned by USAID).[99][100]

8
1303 Hongdong earthquake
September 25, 1303
Shanxi, China
200,000 [101]
8.0
Taiyuan and Pingyang were leveled.

9
856 Damghan earthquake
000000000856-12-22-0000December 22, 856
Damghan, Iran
200,000
7.9 Ms

10
893 Ardabil earthquake
000000000893-03-22-0000March 22, 893
Ardabil, Iran
150,000
Unknown
Reports probably relate to the 893 Dvin earthquake, due to misreading of the Arabic word for Dvin, 'Dabil' as 'Ardabil'.[102] This is regarded as a 'fake earthquake'.[103]

11
533 Aleppo earthquake
November 29, 533
Syria
130,000[104]
Unknown

12
1908 Messina earthquake
000000001908-12-28-0000December 28, 1908
Messina, Italy
123,000[105]
7.1
The ground shook for 30 to 40 seconds around 5:20 am, and destruction occurred within a 300 km radius. 91% of structures in Messina were destroyed and ~70,000 residents died. Rescuers searched for weeks, and whole families were pulled out alive days later. A 40-foot (12 m) tsunami struck nearby coasts. Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland also suffered heavy damage.

13
1948 Ashgabat earthquake
000000001948-10-06-0000October 6, 1948
Ashgabat, Turkmen SSR (modern-day Turkmenistan)
10,000–110,000
7.3 Ms

14
1923 Great Kantō earthquake
000000001923-09-01-0000September 1, 1923
Kantō region, Japan
105,385[106]
7.9
This earthquake with an epicenter beneath Izu Ōshima Island in Sagami Bay, shook the Kantō plain on the Japanese island of Honshū at 11:58 am. Shaking duration reported between 4 and 10 minutes, devastating Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka.[107] Shaking slid the 93-ton Great Buddha statue at Kamakura almost two feet forward.[108] Casualty estimates range from 100,000 to 142,800, the latter figure including ~40,000 missing later presumed dead.

15
1290 Chihli earthquake
000000001290-09-27-0000September 27, 1290
Ningcheng, China
100,000[109]
6.8 Ms

16
2005 Kashmir earthquake
000000002005-10-08-0000October 8, 2005
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
86,000–87,351
7.6 Mw
Affecting an area (mostly rugged terrain) of about 30,000 km2 [11,600 sq mi], this earthquake damaged about 6,440 km [4,000 mi] of roads, and 50–70% of services, including power, water and sanitation. Approximately 400,153 houses, 6,298 schools and 796 health facilities were damaged or destroyed (UN 2006). Approximately 138,000 were seriously injured and 3.5 million people were displaced.