Which earthquakes were the most disastrous in history?
Although some areas of the earth are subjected to earthquakes almost daily, devastating seismic events have occurred over the centuries that have caused victims, displaced people, economic and social damage that cannot always be repaired. Which earthquakes were the most destructive in history?
First, let us clarify the meaning of the word destructive. The scale of destruction of an earthquake depends on many factors, including the earthquake’s magnitude, population density, and earthquake preparedness of affected areas. Listed below are some of the most disastrous seismic events:
history’s most disastrous earthquakes:
- The 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake in China: Often considered the deadliest earthquake in recorded history, it killed roughly 830,000 people.
- The 1755 Lisbon earthquake in Portugal: It hit the city of Lisbon on 1st November 1755, causing devastation and the death of thousands of people. The estimated magnitude was about 8.5 – 9.0.
- 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake in the Indian Ocean: Also known as the Indian Ocean earthquake, it generated one of the biggest tsunamis in modern history, killing an estimated 230,000 people in 14 countries.
- The 1976 Tangshan Earthquake in China: It hit the city of Tangshan in China’s Hebei province, killing around 242,000 people and causing massive property damage.
- The 2010 Haiti Earthquake: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 230,000 people and leaving millions homeless
- The 2011 East Japan Earthquake: A magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit the Tohoku region of Japan, generating a powerful tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident.
- The 2009 L’Aquila Earthquake in Italy: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Abruzzo region of Italy, killing more than 300 people and destroying numerous towns and villages.
- The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck San Francisco, causing severe damage and the deaths of approximately 3,000 – 6,000 people.
- The 1960 Valdivia Earthquake in Chile: The magnitude 9.5 earthquake is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in history, while a series of tsunamis hit the coastline of Chile and other parts of the Pacific. It is estimated to have caused the deaths of around 1,600–6,000 people.
- The 2015 Nepal Earthquake: A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and causing severe damage to infrastructure and historic sites.
It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and that there have been many other devastating earthquakes around the world.
How can you protect yourself from earthquakes?
Preventing earthquake damage is the only way to keep people and building heritage safe. To date, the only way to defend yourself is to intervene on existing buildings beforehand with systematic interventions that can make buildings safe and prevent them from collapsing if an earthquake strikes. In fact, earthquake risk can only be mitigated with seismic restructuring interventions.
