Even though scientific advancements have helped reduce the damage that natural disasters like earthquakes can cause, theyโve still had devastating effects worldwide.
Earthquakes are often followed by other disasters like tsunamis and landslides, hampering rescue efforts. Since 1950, many of these seismic events have wreaked havoc globally; these 18 earthquakes are the deadliest.
1. The Haiti Earthquake of 2010
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Haitiโs Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, and killed 300,000 people, according to the Haitian governmentโs official count.
The devastating disaster also left over 300,000 people injured and about one million people without a home.
2. The Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami of 2004
An undersea quake originated off the coast of Sumatra with a magnitude of 9.1 on December 26, 2004. It triggered a massive tsunami that affected 14 countries and claimed around 228,000 lives. The death toll in Indonesia alone reportedly crossed 200,000, particularly in the Aceh province.
3. Valdivia Earthquake of 1960
Widely believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century, the 1960 earthquake that hit Valdivia in Chile recorded a magnitude of 9.5. It also caused a tsunami with waves rising to 80 feet on the Chilean coastline. More than 1,600 people were killed, and approximately 3,000 were injured.
4. Tangshan Earthquake of 1976
In July 1976, the Tangshan region in China was hit by a devastating earthquake that damaged almost 85% of the buildings in the areaโthey either collapsed or became uninhabitable.
The 7.5-magnitude quake is said to have caused more than 240,000 deaths and more than 160,000 serious injuries.
5. TurkeyโSyria Earthquake of 2023
Over 59,000 lives were lost in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria as a result of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2023. According to the AP News, more than 570 aftershocks followed the February 6 quake within 24 hours, including one magnitude 7.5 earthquake near the original epicenter in Turkeyโs Kahramanmaras province.
6. Tลhoku Earthquake of 2011
The Tลhoku earthquake that hit Japan in March of 2011 was so powerful that estimates revealed that the Earth had shifted slightly on its axis. Even more devastating was the massive tsunami that followed, which is said to have caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Official figures released in 2021 placed the number of deaths at 19,759.ย
7. The Sichuan Earthquake of 2008
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Sichuan province in China, which was felt more than 1,500 km away in Beijing and Shanghai. It caused several quake lakes, the largest of which resulted in 1.3 million flood-threatened survivors.
About 10,000 children died โ some after their schools collapsed โ in what Save the Children called the โbiggest disaster for the worldโs children in seven yearsโ, as reported by The Guardian in 2008. The official Chinese government assessment reported that almost 90,000 people were dead, missing, or presumed dead.
8. ManjilโRudbar Earthquake of 1990
The Caspian Sea region in Iran witnessed a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in 1990, which resulted in a death toll of 40,000-50,000 people. Approximately 400,000 people were left homeless in the aftermath, and a 6.5 magnitude aftershock led to a burst dam in Rasht, which adversely affected large areas of farmland.
9. Kashmir Earthquake of 2005
A devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the Pakistan-administered portion of the Kashmir region on October 8, 2005. It also affected what is now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly the North-West Frontier Province or NWFP) and parts of India and Afghanistan. The official death toll reached over 86,000, with almost 1,300 additional deaths reported in India.
10. The Great Peruvian Earthquake of 1970
The 1970 Ancash earthquake and the following landslide led to approximately 70,000 deaths. Widely regarded as the most catastrophic natural disaster in Peruโs history, the earthquake destroyed several buildings, albeit poorly constructed.
11. Bam Earthquake of 2003
A 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit Iran’s Bam in December 2003, destroying nearly 80% of its infrastructure. State television had reported that people were lying outside in the cold waiting for help to arrive because the earthquake had also caused hospitals and other government buildings to collapse. Approximately 41,000 people died in the disaster, as per Iranian officials.
12. Guatemala Earthquake of 1976
While the Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4, 1976, almost 1500 aftershocks continued to be felt throughout February and March.
Over a million people were left homeless, and some of the more significant aftershocks added to the initial reported death toll of 23,000. The quake itself measured 7.5 on the Richter scale.
13. Bhuj Earthquake of 2001
When India was celebrating its 52nd Republic Day on January 26, 2001, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Kutch area. While places throughout northwestern India and parts of Pakistan felt the tremors, Bhuj and other nearby cities in Gujarat suffered the maximum damage.
More than 20,000 people died, and more than 150,000 others were injured in this disaster.
14. ฤฐzmit Earthquake of 1999
On August 17, 1999, an earthquake measuring 7.6 in magnitude struck the North Anatolian fault system near ฤฐzmit, Turkey, and killed more than 17,000 people.
Lasting barely a minute, the tremors from the initial shock and the following moderate aftershocks caused heavy damage in Gรถlcรผk, Derince, Darฤฑca, Sakarya (Adapazarฤฑ), and Istanbul.
15. The Armenian Earthquake of 1988
The devastating Armenian earthquake, also known as the Spitak earthquake, occurred in December 1988. The quake destroyed the town of Spitak in Armenia, reducing several buildings to rubble.
The 6.9-magnitude earthquake, followed by a 5.8 magnitude aftershock, caused at least 25,000 deaths, and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
Only 6 of 78 high-rise apartment blocks in nearby Gyumri reportedly survived the disaster.
16. Agadir Earthquake of 1960
While the 1960 Agadir earthquakeโa moderate 5.9 in magnitudeโlasted for less than 15 seconds, it killed over one-third of the Moroccan cityโs population, approximately 15,000 people.
The cityโs underground water system was also affected, and several fire stations collapsed. As a result, the resources available to tackle the resultant fires in the city were minimal.
17. Tonghai Earthquake of 1970
One of the deadliest earthquakes of that decade, the 1970 Tonghai earthquake, affected Tonghai county in the Yunnan province in China.
The 7.1 Mw earthquake had a Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), and shocks were felt until Hanoi, Vietnam, where people rushed out of their homes in fear.
Only in 1988 did Chinese officials confirm the earthquakeโs death toll to be 10,000.
18. Dasht-e Bayaz Earthquake of 1968
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Iran in 1968 and caused massive damage in the Dasht-e Bayaz region. One of the largest aftershocks that followed registered a magnitude of 6.4 and caused extreme damage to the Ferdows region.
Over the next few weeks, about nine aftershocks hit the area. The shock was felt over an area of 4,00,000 sq. km., and between 7,000 and 12,000 people were killed. The western end of the Dasht-e-Bayaz Fault later ruptured, which resulted in another massive earthquake in the region in 1979.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.