Impact

On May 11, 1997, CNN reported on
Some of the world's worst earthquakes this century
Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

May 10, 1997, Iran -

Nearly 2,400 people were killed and thousands injured when an earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude rocked rural areas of eastern Iran. The quake leveled 11 villages and inflicted heavy damage on the towns of Qaen and Birjand near its epicenter.

 

January 17, 1995, Japan -

At least 6,055 people were killed after a strong earthquake ripped through central Japan. Measuring 7.2 magnitude, the earthquake, centered near the port of Kobe, was the biggest quake to hit Japan in half a century.

 

September 30, 1993, India -

Up to 22,000 people were killed in 36 villages destroyed after a series of powerful earthquakes which rocked western and southern India. The first of the five tremors measured 6.4 magnitude. The epicenter was in the region where the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka meet near Latur. Two weeks after the earthquake the number of bodies recovered was just under 10,000 and officials said the true death toll may never be known.

 

July 16, 1990, Philippines -

at least 2,000 killed, 3,500 injured. Magnitude 7.7, epicenter the city of Cabanatuan. About half the deaths were around the tourist center of Baguio. An estimated 148,000 were displaced or made homeless.

 

June 21, 1990, Iran -

50,000 dead, 100,000 injured, The worst recorded disaster in Iran. Registering 7.7 magnitude, devastated Caspian regions of Gilan and Zanjan. Some 500,000 were made homeless.

 

December 7, 1988, Soviet Union -

More than 25,000 killed, 18,000 injured in northwest Armenia. 6.9 magnitude. The town of Spitak almost totally destroyed and Leninakan half-destroyed.

 

September 19, 1985, Mexico -

Between 6,000 and 12,000 killed, 40,000 people injured. 8.1 magnitude. The earthquake hit Mexico City and adjoining region.

 

December 13, 1982, Yemen -

3,000 people killed and 2,000 people injured. 6 magnitude. The earthquake devastated Dhamar province 60 miles southeast of San'a.

 

November 23, 1980, Italy -

2,735 people killed and more than 7,500 injured. 7.2 magnitude. The epicenter was at Eboli but damage was reported over a huge area to Naples. More than 1,500 people were reported missing.

 

October 10, 1980, Algeria -

Provisional figures issued by the United Nations said 2,590 killed. It registered up to 7.3 magnitude. The earthquake centered on the town of El Asnam and left 330,000 people homeless.

 

September 16, 1978, Iran -

25,000 people killed by the earthquake which measured between 7.5 and 7.9 magnitude. It leveled the town of Tabas and many other villages.

 

November 24, 1976, Turkey -

In Van Province 5,291 confirmed dead with more than 5,000 injured. 50,000 people left homeless with the destruction of the town of Muradiye and hundreds of villages.

 

August 16, 1976, Philippines -

An earthquake followed by an 18-foot tidal wave struck and swamped the islands of Mindanao, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi Tawi. 8,000 people were killed and 150,000 people were left homeless.

 

July 28, 1976, China -

The city of Tangshan was devastated by an earthquake which measured 7.8 magnitude. The China Morning Post on May 1, 1977, quoted a report saying 655,237 had died with about 779,000 injured. However the New China News Agency released figures following the inaugural Congress of the Chinese Seismological Society in November 1979 which claimed 242,000 dead and 164,000 injured. This is the 20th century's worst earthquake.

 

February 4, 1976, Guatemala -

A rash of quakes and resulting mudslides caused much destruction just north of Guatemala City. 23,000 people were killed in the quake which measured 7.5 magnitude. 80,000 people were injured and 1.5 million people were made homeless.

 

September 6, 1975, Turkey -

An earthquake devastated the town of Lice and surrounding villages which measured 6.8 magnitude. At least 2,350 people were killed and 3,000 injured.

 

December 28, 1974, Pakistan -

A quake measuring 5.5 magnitude destroyed villages over 100 square miles in the Karakom mountains leaving 5,200 dead and more than 16,000 injured.

 

December 23, 1972, Nicaragua -

A massive earthquake struck Managua measuring 6.5 magnitude. Between 5,000 and 7,000 people were killed.

 

April 10, 1972, Iran -

An earthquake over a 250-mile radius struck southern Iran around Ghir Karzin. 5,374 people were killed.

 

May 31, 1970, Peru -

An earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude struck the towns of Yungay, Huaraz and Chimbote, destroying all three as well as surrounding villages. This resulted in more than 70,000 dead and 600,000 left homeless.

 

March 28, 1970, Turkey -

1,100 people were killed and 3,000 injured when an earthquake struck the town of Gediz in western Anatolia, almost completely destroying the town and surrounding villages.

 

August 31, 1968, Iran -

More than 12,000 people were killed in the northeastern province of Khurasan.

 

September 1, 1962, Iran -

An earthquake struck northwest Iran near Ghazvin resulting in the deaths of 12,000 people and the destruction of more than 300 surrounding villages.

 

May 21, 1960, Chile -

An earthquake struck Santiago and Concepcion, the after effect of which was tidal waves and volcanic eruptions. The Chilean death toll was more than 10,000 dead and missing.

 

April 24, 1960, Iran -

An earthquake measuring 5.75 magnitude struck the southern town of Lar, reducing it to rubble. More than 3,500 people were killed.

 

February 29, 1960, Morocco -

The port of Agadir was destroyed in an earthquake. 12,000 people, out of a population of 40,000, were killed.

 

December 13, 1957, Iran -

A severe earthquake in western Iran killed more than 2,000 people.

 

August 5, 1949, Ecuador --

An area of some 1,500 square miles was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.75 magnitude. 6,000 people were killed and about 100,000 people were made homeless from the area at Ambato and four other towns.

 

October 4, 1948, Iran -

An earthquake measuring 7.3 magnitude killed 3,000 people in Turkmenistan.

 

June 28, 1948, Japan -

An earthquake measuring 7.3 killed 3,769 people at Fukui 28 miles northeast of Kyoto.

 

January 15, 1944, Argentina -

5,000 people were killed in an earthquake that struck San Juan.

 

January 25, 1939, Chile -

Between 25,000 and 30,000 people were killed when an earthquake measuring 8.3 magnitude virtually destroyed the town of Concepcion. The town of Chillan was struck in the same earthquake, causing 10,000 of the casualties.

 

May 13, 1935, India -

30,000 people were killed in an earthquake that struck the hill station of Quetta in British-ruled Baluchistan.

 

September 1, 1923, Japan -

An earthquake estimated at 7.9 magnitude struck Tokyo and Yokahama, leaving 2.5 million people homeless. Floods followed as the rivers Fukuro Chiyo and Takimi burst their banks. At least 142,000 people were killed, although unofficial estimates say as many as 300,000 may have died.

 

December 16, 1920, China -

An earthquake measuring an estimated 8.6 magnitude struck Jiangsu province killing 180,000 people.

 

January 13, 1915, Italy -

The town of Avezzano in central Italy was struck by an earthquake killing 30,000 people.

 

December 28, 1908, Italy -

More than 82,000 people were killed in an earthquake that reduced Messina, Sicily's second town, to rubble. A tidal wave followed, causing more devastation, also to the town of Reggio across the straits.

 

April 4, 1905, India -

19,000 people were killed in an earthquake that struck the province of Lahore. The earthquake, which measured 8.6 magnitude, demolished the towns of Kangra and Dharmsala.