One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s far east early on Wednesday, generating tsunami waves that reached the coasts of Japan and Alaska and prompting warnings for people in Pacific regions to seek higher ground.
The quake, measuring 8.8 in magnitude, triggered alerts in Hawaii, North and Central America, and Pacific islands stretching south toward New Zealand.
Below is a look at some of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history, based on data from the US Geological Survey.
1. Biobío, Chile
In 1960, a 9.5-magnitude earthquake—the most powerful ever recorded—struck central Chile. Known as the Valdivia or Great Chilean earthquake, it led to over 1,600 deaths, many from the resulting tsunami. Thousands were injured.
2. Alaska
A 9.2-magnitude quake shook Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1964, lasting nearly five minutes. Over 130 people died in the strongest recorded earthquake in the US, followed by a destructive tsunami, landslides, and severe flooding. Aftershocks continued for weeks.
3. Sumatra, Indonesia
In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Africa, killing 230,000 people. Indonesia alone recorded over 167,000 fatalities, with entire communities erased.
4. Tohoku, Japan
A 9.1-magnitude quake off Japan’s northeast coast in 2011 triggered a massive tsunami, damaging the Fukushima nuclear plant and causing reactor meltdowns. Over 18,000 people died, with some bodies never recovered.
5. Kamchatka, Russia
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake in 1952 caused major destruction but no reported deaths, despite generating a tsunami with 9.1-meter (30ft) waves in Hawaii.
6. Biobío, Chile
In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude quake rocked central Chile, shaking the capital for over a minute and unleashing a tsunami. More than 500 people lost their lives.
7. Esmeraldas, Ecuador
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 1906 killed between 500 and 1,500 people, with effects felt along Central America’s coast and as far as San Francisco and Japan.
8. Alaska
An 8.7-magnitude quake hit Alaska’s Rat Islands in 1965, producing 11-meter (35ft) tsunami waves. Damage was relatively minor, including cracks in buildings and an asphalt runway.
9. Tibet
At least 780 people died when an 8.6-magnitude quake struck in 1950, destroying dozens of villages—one sliding into a river. Landslides blocked India’s Subansiri River; when the barrier broke, a 7-meter (23ft) wave followed.
10. Sumatra, Indonesia
In 2012, an 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck the region, though it caused fewer casualties compared to earlier events in the area.
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