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A local resident affected by the tsunami stands next to debris in Carita beach in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, December 24, 2018.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake — one of the strongest ever recorded — struck Russia’s Far East early Wednesday (July 30, 2025), triggering small tsunami waves in Japan, Russia, and Alaska and prompting alerts across the Pacific.
Authorities urged residents in coastal areas, from Hawaii to Central and South America, as well as Pacific islands as far as New Zealand, to remain on alert or move to higher ground. Officials warned that the tsunami threat could persist for more than 24 hours.
Here’s a look at some of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, based on data from the US Geological Survey as of June 5, 2025.
Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters in human history. Over centuries, powerful quakes have reshaped landscapes, destroyed cities, and altered human understanding of the Earth’s tectonic forces. By tracing a timeline of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, we can see not only the destruction they caused but also the lessons humanity learned from each seismic event.
1. 1556 – Shaanxi Earthquake, China (Magnitude ~8.0)
The deadliest earthquake in recorded history struck Shaanxi province, China, on January 23, 1556. Although its magnitude is estimated at around 8.0, the destruction was immense due to densely populated settlements and fragile cave dwellings carved into loess cliffs.
Casualties: Over 830,000 deaths – making it the deadliest earthquake ever.
Impact: Entire villages collapsed, rivers shifted, and farmland was destroyed. This tragedy changed Chinese architecture, with many abandoning cave homes for sturdier structures.
2. 1703 – Genroku Earthquake, Japan (Magnitude ~8.2)
On December 31, 1703, Japan was struck by the Genroku Earthquake, which devastated Edo (modern Tokyo) and the surrounding Kanto region.
Casualties: More than 100,000 deaths.
Impact: Edo Castle walls collapsed, and a massive tsunami followed, wiping out coastal communities. It was one of the first quakes in Japan’s recorded history that led to stronger urban planning measures.
3. 1755 – Lisbon Earthquake, Portugal (Magnitude 8.5–9.0)
On November 1, 1755, All Saints’ Day, Lisbon was reduced to ruins by a catastrophic earthquake.
Casualties: Estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000 deaths.
Impact: The quake triggered fires and a tsunami that struck Portugal, Morocco, and even the Caribbean. This disaster influenced Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, who questioned humanity’s place in nature. It also led to modern seismology and urban reconstruction.
4. 1811–1812 – New Madrid Earthquakes, USA (Magnitude ~8.0–8.6)
Between December 1811 and February 1812, a series of massive earthquakes struck near New Madrid, Missouri, shaking much of the central United States.
Casualties: Relatively few deaths (around 500–1,000) due to low population density.
Impact: The Mississippi River reportedly flowed backward for hours, new lakes were formed, and tremors were felt as far as New York and Washington D.C. These quakes remain some of the most powerful in North America’s history.
5. 1906 – San Francisco Earthquake, USA (Magnitude 7.9)
On April 18, 1906, San Francisco was devastated by a powerful earthquake that ruptured along the San Andreas Fault.
Casualties: Around 3,000 deaths.
Impact: Fires caused by broken gas lines destroyed much of the city. This earthquake led to modern seismic studies and urban building codes in California.
6. 1960 – Valdivia Earthquake, Chile (Magnitude 9.5)
The Great Chilean Earthquake, on May 22, 1960, remains the most powerful earthquake ever recorded.
Casualties: Between 1,000 and 6,000 deaths.
Impact: The quake triggered a massive tsunami that affected Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and even reached New Zealand. It permanently altered Chile’s coastline.
7. 1964 – Alaska Earthquake, USA (Magnitude 9.2)
On March 27, 1964, Alaska was rocked by a magnitude 9.2 quake, the most powerful in North American history.
Casualties: Around 130 deaths.
Impact: Anchorage suffered massive destruction, and tsunamis reached California and Japan. This quake gave scientists vital data about plate tectonics and subduction zones.
8. 1976 – Tangshan Earthquake, China (Magnitude 7.5)
On July 28, 1976, northern China was struck by a devastating quake in Tangshan.
Casualties: Around 240,000 deaths, though some estimates go higher.
Impact: Tangshan was nearly leveled. This earthquake is remembered as one of the deadliest of the 20th century and prompted major reforms in China’s disaster response system.
9. 2004 – Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami (Magnitude 9.1–9.3)
On December 26, 2004, one of the most destructive natural disasters in modern history occurred off the coast of Sumatra.
Casualties: More than 230,000 deaths across 14 countries.
Impact: The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that struck Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and East Africa. It led to global humanitarian responses and the establishment of tsunami early-warning systems.
10. 2010 – Haiti Earthquake (Magnitude 7.0)
On January 12, 2010, a shallow but powerful quake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Casualties: More than 220,000 deaths.
Impact: Weak infrastructure amplified destruction. Entire neighborhoods collapsed, leaving millions homeless. The tragedy exposed the vulnerability of poor nations to seismic disasters.
11. 2011 – Tōhoku Earthquake & Tsunami, Japan (Magnitude 9.0)
On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced one of its worst disasters in modern times.
Casualties: Nearly 20,000 deaths.
Impact: The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, making it one of the costliest disasters in history. Japan’s disaster preparedness saved countless lives, but the nuclear fallout continues to shape energy debates worldwide.
12. 2015 – Nepal Earthquake (Magnitude 7.8)
On April 25, 2015, Nepal was shaken by a devastating earthquake near Kathmandu.
Casualties: Around 9,000 deaths and 22,000 injuries.
Impact: Historical monuments collapsed, including UNESCO World Heritage sites. The quake highlighted the vulnerability of mountainous regions and spurred global aid.
Lessons from the Timeline of Earthquakes
Looking at this timeline, several lessons stand out:
Magnitude is not the sole factor. Some quakes below magnitude 8 have caused far more casualties than stronger quakes due to population density and weak infrastructure.
Tsunamis magnify destruction. Events like Chile (1960), Indian Ocean (2004), and Japan (2011) show how seismic sea waves can spread devastation across continents.
Preparedness saves lives. Japan’s 2011 earthquake, though massive, caused fewer deaths than older quakes thanks to strict building codes and early-warning systems.
Geography matters. Earthquakes in remote regions like Alaska had lower casualties compared to densely populated cities like Tangshan or Haiti.
Conclusion
The history of the world’s most powerful earthquakes is both tragic and instructive. From Shaanxi in 1556 to Nepal in 2015, each quake has left scars on humanity, but also spurred advances in science, engineering, and global cooperation. Earthquakes remind us that the Earth is a living, shifting planet — and our ability to prepare for the next operation of nature’s tectonic forces is the best way to reduce future losses.
Published – July 30, 2025 02:36 pm IST