AWFUL 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

damages to lives and properties, but also caused significant damage

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 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 on 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 lives 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 in 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 has 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 damages 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 is appropriating 1 trillion Yuan or $146.5 billion

to rebuild areas ravaged by the great quake.

KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

The October 8, 2005 Kashmir, Pakistan was visited by an earthquake

with a moment 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 and 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 with an estimated damage

of over $25 million.