1.The Valdivia Earthquake(1960)
The most powerful earthquake ever recorded occurred on May 22, 1960, in Valdivia, Chile. It caused widespread damage, including landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale, and it struck the southern coast of Chile, near the city of Valdivia.The earthquake caused widespread destruction, including landslides, tsunamis, and fires. The death toll from the earthquake and its aftermath is estimated to be between 490 and 5,700 people. The total cost of the damage is estimated to be between $400 million and $800 million in 1960 dollars, which is equivalent to $3.5 billion to $7 billion in 2023 dollars.
2.The Great Alaska Earthquake(1964)
The Great Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.2 earthquake that struck south-central Alaska on March 27, 1964. It remains the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North American history and the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded globally.The earthquake occurred at 5:36 PM local time and lasted for about 4 minutes. The shaking was felt as far away as Hawaii, and a tsunami was generated that caused damage in Alaska, British Columbia, California, and Hawaii. In total, the earthquake and its aftermath caused 139 deaths and an estimated $311 million in property damage.
3.The Sumatra Earthquake(2004)
The Sumatra earthquake of 2004, also known as the Indian Ocean earthquake, was a massive undersea earthquake that struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26, 2004. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.1–9.3, was the third-largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. The earthquake was caused by the subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Burma Plate, and it occurred approximately 30 km beneath the seafloor. The tsunamis caused widespread destruction and loss of life, with an estimated 227,000 people killed or missing and presumed dead
4.The Tohoku earthquake(2011)
The Tohoku earthquake, also known as the Great East Japan earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan and the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph.The earthquake was caused by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate, and it occurred approximately 70 km offshore from the Tohoku region of Japan. The tsunami waves reached heights of up to 40 meters (130 feet) in some areas, and they caused widespread destruction and loss of life. The disaster caused over 15,000 deaths and approximately $300 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in history.
5.The Kamchatka Earthquake(1952)
The Kamchatka earthquake of 1952 was a powerful earthquake that struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia on November 4, 1952. The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0, making it one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on a seismograph.The earthquake was caused by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, and it occurred approximately 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of Kamchatka. The tsunami waves reached heights of up to 13 meters (43 feet) in some areas, and they caused extensive damage along the coast of Kamchatka and in nearby areas. The earthquake and tsunami caused over 2,000 deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure, buildings, and property.