MORE OF THE WORST EARTHQUAKES

TOHOKU, JAPAN

On March 11, 2011, the east coast of Tohoku in Japan was struck by a

9.03 magnitude earthquake, which was the strongest to ever hit Japan.

Considered one of the top five largest earthquakes in the world, it caused

destruction that claimed 15,878 lives, left 6,126 injured and 2,173 people

missing across 20 prefectures. It also caused the collapse of 129,225

buildings, while the tsunami brought about by the quake, also caused

severe structural damage, fires in many areas and damage to roads

and railways. This was the most difficult crisis Japan had ever faced after

World War II as it did not only inflict damage to lives and properties but

also caused significant damages to four major nuclear power stations.

Debris from the tsunami reached as far as Canada and Hawaii.

KANTO, JAPAN

The Great Kanto earthquake was a magnitude 7.9 disaster that hit the

Kanto plain, a main island of Honshu in Japan on September 1, 1923.

This was once considered the deadliest earthquake in the history of Japan

as it caused ‘the Great Tokyo Fire’ though the duration of the quake was

only between 4 and 10 minutes. However, its record was surpassed by the

2011 Tohuku earthquake at a magnitude of 9.0. The fire alone claimed

the lives of 140,000 people and destroyed 447,000 houses. This does not

include those who died from landslides, tsunamis, and 57 aftershocks,

which had estimated deaths of 93,000 people and 43,500 missing.

ASHGABAT, SOVIET UNION

This earthquake occurred on October 6, 1948 near Ashgabat, USSR with

a magnitude of 7.3. Due to censorship, this was not reported in the

media so there were no reports regarding its casualties or damages.

Due to the secrecy, it was purported that the earthquake was the result of

the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb test. Media sources also vary on the

number of casualties from 10,000 to 176,000 though a correct death toll

was reported in December 9, 1988 as 110,000. The earthquake also caused

the collapse of brick buildings, concrete structures and freight trains.

MESSINA, ITALY

This was a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that claimed the

lives of some 100,000 to 200,000 people in Messina and Reggio in Sicily

and Calabria in southern Italy. The earthquake, which took place on

December 28, 1908, caused the ground to shake for 30 to 40 seconds

and was felt over a 186-mile radius. A 12 metre tsunami also hit the nearby

coasts causing more destruction, including the death of 70,000 residents

with 91% of the structures in Messina destroyed.

CHIHLI, CHINA

The Chihli earthquake happened in September 27, 1290 with the epicentre

near Ningcheng in Inner Mongolia with an estimated magnitude of 6.8.

However, it had a maximum felt intensity of nine on the Mercalli intensity

scale as it claimed the lives of some 100,000 people. It also destroyed

480 storehouses and countless homes in nearby areas, including the

Fengguo Temple in Yingxian.

SICHUAN, CHINA

The Great Sichuan Earthquake occurred on May 8, 2008 with a magnitude

that measured 8.0 and 7.9. It was so great that it was felt in nearby

countries and as far away as Beijing and Shanghai, where buildings

swayed with tremors. Official figures for the damage include 69,197

deaths with 68,636 in Sichuan province, 374,176 injured and

18,222 missing. This was considered as the deadliest earthquake to

hit China after the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, as it left 4.8 million

to 15 million people homeless. The Chinese government appropriated

1 trillion Yuan to rebuild areas ravaged by the great quake.

KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

On October 8, 2005 Kashmir, Pakistan was visited by an earthquake with

a magnitude of 7.6. The disaster had a death toll of 85,000 and more than

69,000 were injured. Considered to be smaller in size than the 1906

San Francisco earthquake, it affected countries in surrounding regions with

14,000 deaths in Jammu with tremors felt in Taijikistan and western China.

It also cost a staggering $5.4 billion in aids from all around the world.

SHEMAKHA, AZERBAIJAN

This was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in November 1667

with its epicentre close to the city of Samaxi, Azerbaijan. It had a maximum

felt intensity of ten and caused the death of 80,000 people. It had a focal

depth of 12 kilometres and an estimated damage of over $25 million.