The 9 Deadliest Earthquakes in Recorded History
Earthquakes have the potential to be some of the most catastrophic events. Caused by a shift in tectonic plates, earthquakes often result in the destruction of buildings, highways, bridges, and more. While there is certainly no way to know about every earthquake that has ever happened, some have proven to be more fatal than others. Here’s a look at nine of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.
Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement that takes place along fault lines. This movement results in the release of stored-up energy which produces seismic waves that cause the Earth to move. It’s not clear how many fault lines there are in the world, but there are at least 1,000 in the United States. Some of these fault lines move and the results are minimal. It’s not uncommon for the ground to calmly shake for a few seconds. While that technically counts as an earthquake, it doesn’t register on the Richter scale at a magnitude that matters.
It’s also not clear how many earthquakes have happened in world history. Since there are some parts of the world that don’t have access to reporting and seismic measuring, it’s not even known how many earthquakes happen each year. Moreover, while there are some historical accounts of earthquakes that took place in the 1500s and even earlier, it’s unknown how many of these events took place before people knew what was happening.
With that in mind, when looking at the most disastrous recorded earthquakes in world history, you’ll notice a variety of locations. While certain parts of the globe have more fault lines, and, in turn, more earthquakes, no part of the world is exempt from earthquakes. Today, learn more about the nine deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.
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Shaanxi, China: 1556
Measuring 8.0 on the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS), the Shaanxi earthquake of 1556 wasn’t the most powerful earthquake of all time, but it is the deadliest. It is estimated that some 830,000 people lost their lives. Experts agree that there were two factors that contributed directly to the loss of life. First, the population in Shaanxi was densely packed into a relatively small area, at least in comparison to the number of people. Second, the archaic methods of home and building construction left people with little hope of escape.
In ancient China, many people lived in rooms that had been carved into loess cliffs. Loess was a fine, wind-blown dust that settled and hardened. When the 8.0 earthquake began, the dust lost its integrity, and most of the 830,000 deaths were the result of people being trapped under these structures. A third factor may have come into play, although it’s hard to know for sure since the landscape of China has changed so much in the last 600-plus years. While China is still a largely mountainous region, it’s believed that there were even more mountains hundreds of years ago, which led to landslides stemming from the earthquake.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti: 2010
Before delving into the details of the Port-au-Prince earthquake of 2010, it’s important to understand that the death toll is still debated, 14 years after the earthquake brought devastation that is still felt in the area. The Haitian government reported 316,000 deaths, but other outside sources have estimated the death toll anywhere between 70,000 and 220,000. For the sake of our countdown of the world’s deadliest earthquakes, we’re taking the official numbers released by the Haitian government.
Similarly to the 1556 earthquake, a densely packed population living in poorly constructed homes is the most prominent factor in the widespread death. However, there was also a depth factor that scientists believe played a major role. Unlike some of the other fault lines that have resulted in earthquakes, the Port-au-Prince fault line was very shallow, which led to a more violent shaking of the community.
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Antakya, Turkey: 115
The deadliest earthquake in Turkey’s history took place in the year 115, making it the oldest on our list. Historically known as Antioch, Antakya is the capital of the Hatay Province, which is the southernmost province in Turkey. On February 6, 2023, the Hatay Province suffered the most damage in the earthquake that struck Turkey.
There are other parallels between the third-deadliest Earthquake in history and the 2023 earthquake. The 115 earthquake, which claimed 260,000 lives took place along the Eastern Anatolian Fault Zone, which was the same fault line that sparked the 2023 earthquake. As is the case with earthquakes, the Antakya quake of 115 sparked a tsunami, which severely damaged the coast of Lebanon.
Antakya, Turkey also suffered the fourth deadliest earthquake in 525, when a second earthquake happened in the same region just 410 years after the previous one. Not only were 250,000 people killed in the second earthquake, but the aftershocks were so severe that people reported feeling them for months after the initial quake was over.
Tangshan, China: 1976
A 7.8 earthquake struck Tangshan, China in July 1976 resulting in 242,769 deaths. In addition to the catastrophic loss of life, the earthquake led to severe disruptions in some of the services that the Chinese citizens relied on including power, water, communication, and plumbing systems. There is no way to know exactly how many people perished because of preventable diseases and the inability to receive medical care. The figure provided is based solely on the number of people who died in building collapses. A 2002 study on the quake reported that 85% of buildings in Tangshan, China suffered “extensive damage.”
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Sumatra, Indonesia: 2004
With a magnitude of 9.1, the Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake of 2004 is the strongest one on our list. It’s also the third-strongest earthquake ever recorded. While the quake itself didn’t strike the city of Sumatra, it did wreak havoc in the Indian Ocean. As is the case when a fault line shifts underwater, a series of large tsunamis riddled Sumatra, resulting in the death of 227,899 people. The highest waves reached an apex of 40 feet and struck land within minutes of the initial shock, leaving the Indonesian people with no time to react. The 9.1 earthquake was so strong that places as far away as Sri Lanka, India, Somalia, and Thailand suffered water damage.
Damghan Iran: 856 / Gansu, China: 1920
There is too much uncertainty surrounding the magnitude of the Damghan, Iran earthquake of 856 to know exactly how strong it was. However, we do know that 200,000 people died in the earthquake, the same number of deaths that were recorded in Gansu, China after an 8.3 earthquake struck the area.
According to historical accounts of the 856 earthquake, the damage spanned a stretch of 220 miles, making it one of the most far-reaching earthquakes in recorded history. The Gansu earthquake of 1920 inflicted damage on seven provinces.
Dvin, Armenia: 893
Not much is known about the earthquake that struck Dvin, the capital of Armenia, in 893. Dvin was also the religious center of medieval Armenia, which led to it being the most densely populated area. In addition to the 150,000 deaths, a staggering number for the time, it is believed that only 100 buildings were left standing after the quake.
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Tokyo, Japan: 1923
Finally, the 1923 earthquake that struck Japan’s capital, Tokyo, killed 142,807 people. Often referred to as the Great Kanto Earthquake, the earthquake leveled half of the city’s brick buildings and 10% of the buildings that were reinforced with concrete.
To make matters worse, the Gret Kanto Earthquake set off a series of chain reactions, including a tsunami with a height of nearly 40 feet. A series of fires broke out, largely due to the destruction of electrical systems within the buildings. As people worked to extinguish the flames, a large tornado touched down that spread the fire. While this 1923 earthquake was certainly not the deadliest on our list, it is the only one that involved two other natural disasters.
According to the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC), there are roughly 55 earthquakes each day, which translates to some 20,000 earthquakes every year. Most of them cause little to no damage. Hopefully, these nine earthquakes will hold their positions as the deadliest in history.