TASS-DOSIER. On November 12, 2017, a strong earthquake hit the border between Iran and Iraq. One after the other, two strikes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.3, respectively, were recorded. The main blow fell on the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam in western Iran.
As a result, according to preliminary data, more than 350 people died and more than 3,000 were injured.
The TASS-DOSIER editors have prepared material on the ten largest earthquakes of the 20th and 21st centuries. When compiling the rating, the officially confirmed death toll was taken into account.
January 12, 2010 At 21:53 UTC, Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. Its hypocenter was in the sea, 25 km southwest of the capital city of Port-au-Prince, at a depth of 13 km. 316 thousand people died, more than 300 thousand were injured, 1.3 million were left homeless. 97 thousand houses were destroyed, 188 thousand buildings were damaged. The city of Port-au-Prince was almost completely destroyed. The economic damage amounted to $7.9 billion.
July 27, 1976 At 19:42 UTC, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck the Chinese mining town of Tangshan, Hebei Province, 150 km east of Beijing. According to official figures, 242 thousand 769 people died (the media suggested that the real number of victims could reach 800 thousand). Tangshan turned into ruins, destruction was also recorded in Tianjin and Beijing. Everything in the region was damaged car roads and about 400 km of railway track, which made it difficult to arrive in the city rescue teams. The economic damage amounted to $2 billion.
December 26, 2004 at 00:58 UTC, an earthquake hit the Indian Ocean. According to scientists, its magnitude ranged from 9.1 to 9.3. The hypocenter was located 160 km west of the island of Sumatra, at a depth of 30 km. There was a shift of tectonic plates over 1200 km, the resulting tsunami up to 10 meters high reached the coasts of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India and the east coast of Africa. As a result, according to various estimates, from 225 to 300 thousand people died in 14 countries, about 2.2 million were affected. The earthquake and tsunami caused numerous destruction, the economic damage to Thailand is estimated at $5 billion, India - $1.6 billion, Maldives - $1.3 billion, Indonesia - $4.5 billion, Sumatra - $675 million.
December 16, 1920 At 12:06 UTC, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck in the Chinese province of Gansu. The epicenter was in Haiyuan County. fluctuations earth's crust led to destruction on an area of 67.5 thousand square meters. km, affecting seven provinces and regions. The earthquake was accompanied by numerous landslides and collapses, which buried entire villages under them. Numerous cracks formed on the surface, the length of the largest reached 200 km. Several rivers have changed course. According to various estimates, the total number of victims of the earthquake was 200-240 thousand people, about 20 thousand people died from the cold, having lost their homes.
September 1, 1923 At 2:58 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit Japan, dubbed the "Great Kanto Earthquake". The hypocenter was located 90 km southwest of Tokyo in the sea near Oshima Island. Many settlements were subjected to huge destruction, including Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka. Fires broke out in the cities, and in one of the squares in Tokyo alone, about 40,000 people suffocated from smoke. A 12-meter tsunami formed in Sagami Bay, which devastated coastal settlements.
In total, about 143 thousand people died, 542 thousand went missing, more than 694 thousand dwellings were destroyed or burned down. Material losses were estimated at $4.5 billion, which at that time amounted to two annual budgets of the country and five times the cost of Japan in Russo-Japanese War. The "Great Kanto Earthquake" is the most destructive in Japanese history.
October 5, 1948 At 20:12 UTC, an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 occurred in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan SSR). As a result, 90-98% of all buildings were destroyed, and the cities of Batir and Bezmein were also heavily damaged. AT Soviet time the exact number of victims was not called, in 2010 the president of Turkmenistan said that the earthquake claimed the lives of 176 thousand inhabitants of the republic, including 89% of Ashgabat residents. Since 1995, October 6 has been celebrated in Turkmenistan as the Day of Remembrance.
May 12, 2008 At 06:28 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit Sichuan, China. The epicenter was in Wenchuan County, 80 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Chengdu. The tremors were felt in Beijing (1500 km from the epicenter) and Shanghai (1700 km). The earthquake was also felt in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Russia. 87.6 thousand people became victims of the natural disaster, more than 370 thousand were injured. 15 million people were evacuated, more than 5 million were left homeless. In total, more than 45.5 million people were affected in 10 provinces. 5.36 million buildings were completely destroyed, more than 21 million were damaged. The total economic damage is estimated at $86 billion.
October 8, 2005 at 3:50 UTC, an earthquake occurred in South Asia - in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The magnitude was 7.6. The epicenter was located 105 km northeast of the capital of Pakistan. In Pakistan, 86 thousand people died, more than 69 thousand people were injured. More than 32 thousand buildings were destroyed. In India, 1.3 thousand people became victims, 6.2 thousand were injured. More than 4 million people lost their homes. The Pakistani government estimated the damage at $5-12 billion. The earthquake was the most destructive in South Asia in the last 100 years. As a result, a 100 km long fault was formed, along which almost all structures were destroyed. The shocks were also felt in China, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
December 28, 1908 at 4:20 UTC in the city of Messina on the island of Sicily (Italy), an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck. The epicenter was located in the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Apennine Peninsula. Tremors caused a tsunami 6-12 meters high. As a result, the cities of Messina, Reggio Calabria and Palmi and about 20 other settlements were destroyed. 72 thousand people died (40% of the population of Messina and 25% of the inhabitants of Reggio Calabria). This earthquake is considered the strongest in the history of Europe. The crews of the Russian ships "Tsesarevich", "Slava", "Admiral Makarov" and "Bogatyr", which at that moment were in the port of Augusta in Sicily, took part in the analysis of the rubble and assistance to the population.
May 31, 1970 at 20:23 UTC, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near Peru. The hypocenter was located in the Peru-Chile Trench in the Pacific Ocean, 25 km east of Chimbote, a major Peruvian fishing port. A glacier broke off from Huascaran mountain (height 6768 m), which caused a giant landslide of stones, ice and mud, about 1.5 km long and more than 750 m wide. Ranrairka, destroying dozens of villages along the way. As a result of the earthquake and the landslide, about 70 thousand people died or went missing, more than 157 thousand were injured, 800 thousand were left homeless. The damage amounted to about $ 260 million.
30.09.2014
Earthquakes are compared to the trembling of the earth. From the displacement of the earth's crust, cities are destroyed and people die. Many of them will forever be remembered by us for their enormous losses and huge number of victims. So,
The strongest earthquakes
10.
Most strong earthquakes in the world shake Asia. A natural disaster in China that broke out in the winter of 1556 claimed the lives of 830,000. Damage from the elements of such magnitude as in the provinces of Henan and Shaanxi has not happened so far. Its magnitude reached 9 points. The villages that fell into its zone of action were completely destroyed. 20-meter cracks and dips formed in the epicenter.
9.
The next most powerful earthquake occurred in the vastness of China in the summer of 1976 in the North-Eastern part of the country. The epicenter was the city of Tangshan. According to official studies, the magnitude of the disaster was 7.8, and the number of victims reached 200,000. However, the data was greatly underestimated, because other sources set the magnitude at 8.2, and the number of victims was from 655,000 to 800,000.
8.
Another incident, which is regarded as the strongest earthquake, occurred in India. Its epicenter was the city of Kolkata. There is not much information about him, but the death toll has reached 300,000.
7.
Underwater tremors of the earth are no less dangerous and destructive for the inhabitants of the earth than underground ones. In 2004, in the Indian Ocean, displacements of the earth's crust brought devastation and death to residents in almost twenty states. Its magnitude reached 9 points. Waves measuring 150 meters with unprecedented force hit the coastal cities. According to various sources, the death toll ranges from 255,000 to 300,000.
6.
Not bypassed the strongest earthquakes in the world and Japan. The natural disaster, named after the affected region of Kanto, occurred in September 1923. Some sources call it in honor of the capital - Tokyo. Apart from destructive forces nature, big role fires played, which aggravated the situation. The fire rose up to 60 meters above the gasoline spilled in the port. Due to the destroyed infrastructure, rescuers could not work effectively. The number of victims in this region has reached 174,000 people, in general, the number of victims, both physically and in economic terms reached 4,000,000.
5.
The natural disaster in Ashgabat happened at the time Soviet Union in October 1948 and affected not only the Turkmen people, but also the Russian people. The city was practically destroyed, and among the population died from half to two thirds of its inhabitants, according to estimates. various sources. After calculating the damage caused by the elements, 110,000 deaths were announced, and in 2010 the country's president announced 176,000 deaths.
4.
The strongest earthquakes claimed 80,000 lives in Lisbon in just 6 minutes. After the tremors, tsunamis and fires followed, which greatly aggravated the situation.
3.
The next loss of the Chinese province of Sichuan was brought by the elements in 2008. The magnitude of the shocks was 8 points, and they were felt not only in Beijing and Shanghai, where buildings began to shake and the evacuation of the population began, they were felt even in eight neighboring countries. The death toll reaches 69,000.
2.
The Assam earthquake in June 1897 became famous for the vastness of the territories on which the destruction was made. An area of 390 thousand sq. square kilometers was completely turned into ruins, and, in general, the destruction affected an area of \u200b\u200b650 thousand square kilometers. The death toll was 1500 people.
1.
January 2010 saddened the lives of Haitians with another natural disaster. On the this moment official information The death toll has not yet been released, despite significant amount the time that has passed since then. Independent sources have calculated that only one of the mass graves, which appeared after the disaster, contains about 8,000 bodies. Total number Those who died from the revelry of the elements, according to unofficial data, can reach hundreds of thousands of Haitians.
Strong earthquakes have occurred throughout human history, with the earliest recorded almost 2,000 years before our era. But it has only been in the last century that our technological abilities have reached the point where the impact of these disasters can be fully measured. Our ability to study earthquakes has made it possible to avoid catastrophic casualties, as in the case of a tsunami, when people have the opportunity to evacuate from a potentially dangerous area. But unfortunately, the warning system does not always work. There are several examples of earthquakes where the most damage was caused by the subsequent tsunami and not by the earthquake itself. People have improved building standards, improved early warning systems, but have not been able to completely protect themselves from disasters. There are many various ways assess the strength of an earthquake. Some people go by the value on the Richter scale, others by the number of deaths and injuries, or even the monetary value of the damaged property. This list of the 12 most powerful earthquakes combines all of these methods in one.
Lisbon earthquake
The great Lisbon earthquake hit the capital of Portugal on November 1st, 1755 and brought great destruction. They were aggravated by the fact that it was All Saints Day and thousands of people came to mass in the church. Churches, like most other buildings, could not withstand the elements and collapsed, killing people. Subsequently, a tsunami hit 6 meters high. Approximately 80,000 died due to fires caused by the destruction. Many famous writers and philosophers have dealt with the Lisbon earthquake in their writings. For example, Emmanuel Kant, who tried to find scientific explanation what happened.
California earthquake
A massive earthquake hit California in April 1906. Having gone down in history like the San Francisco earthquake, it caused damage to a much wider area. Downtown San Francisco was destroyed by the huge fire that followed. Initial figures mentioned 700 to 800 deaths, although researchers claim that the real list of victims was more than 3,000 people. More than half of San Francisco's population lost their homes as 28,000 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and fires.
Messina earthquake
One of the most large earthquakes Europe struck Sicily and southern Italy in the early hours of December 28th, 1908, killing approximately 120,000 people. The main epicenter of the damage was Messina, which was actually destroyed by the disaster. A 7.5-magnitude earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami that hit the coast. A recent study suggested that the size of the waves was so huge due to an underwater landslide. Most of The damage was due to the poor quality of buildings in Messina and other parts of Sicily.
Haiyuan earthquake
One of the deadliest earthquakes on the list occurred in December 1920 with its epicenter at Haiyuan Chinha. Perished by at least 230,000 people. With a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake destroyed almost every home in the region, causing significant damage to major cities like Lanzhou, Taiyuan and Xi'an. Incredibly, the waves from the earthquake were visible even off the coast of Norway. According to recent research, Haiyuan was the strongest earthquake in China during the 20th century. The researchers also questioned the official death toll, suggesting it could have been over 270,000. This number is 59 percent of the population in the Haiyuan area. The Haiyuan earthquake is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in history.
Chilean earthquake
A total of 1,655 were killed and 3,000 were injured after a 9.5 magnitude earthquake struck Chile in 1960. Seismologists have called it the strongest earthquake ever recorded. 2 million people were left homeless, and economic losses amounted to $500 million. The force of the quake triggered a tsunami, with casualties in places as far away as Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines. In some parts of Chile, waves have moved the ruins of buildings up to 3 kilometers inland. The strong Chilean earthquake of 1960 caused a gigantic tear in the ground, extending for 1,000 kilometers. 
Earthquake in Alaska
On March 27th, 1964 a strong 9.2 earthquake hit the Prince William Sound area in Alaska. As the second strongest recorded earthquake, it resulted in a relatively low number of deaths (192 deaths). However, significant property damage took place in Anchorage, and all 47 states of the United States felt trembling. Due to significant improvements in research technology, the Alaska earthquake has provided scientists with valuable seismic data, allowing much better understanding of the nature of such phenomena. 
Earthquake Kobe
In 1995, Japan was hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever, when a 7.2 magnitude strike hit the Kobe region in south-central Japan. Although it was not the most severe ever observed, the devastating impact was experienced by a significant part of the population - approximately 10 million people living in a densely populated area. A total of 5,000 died and 26,000 were injured. The US Geological Survey estimated damage at $200 billion, with infrastructure and buildings destroyed.
Sumatra and Andaman earthquake
Striking on December 26, 2004 across all countries Indian Ocean the tsunami killed at least 230,000 people. It was triggered by a large underwater earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. His strength was measured at 9.1 on the Richter scale. The previous earthquake in Sumatra happened in 2002. This is believed to have been a seismic foreshock, and several aftershocks occurred during 2005. main reason huge amount casualties was the lack of any early warning system in the Indian Ocean capable of detecting the approaching Tsunami. To the shores of some countries, where tens of thousands of people died, a giant wave went for at least several hours.
Earthquake Kashmir
Jointly administered by Pakistan and India, Kashmir was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in October 2005. At least 80,000 people died and 4 million were left homeless. Rescue work was hampered by conflicts between the two countries fighting over the territory. The situation was exacerbated by the rapid onset of winter and the destruction of many roads in the region. Eyewitnesses spoke of entire areas of cities literally sliding off the cliffs due to the destructive elements.
Disaster in Haiti
Port-au-Prince was hit by an earthquake on January 12, 2010, leaving half the population of the capital without their homes. The death toll is still disputed and ranges from 160,000 to 230,000 people. A recent report drew attention to the fact that by the fifth anniversary of the disaster, 80,000 people still live on the street. The impact of the earthquake has brought with it terrible poverty in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Many buildings in the capital were not built in accordance with seismic requirements, and the people of a completely destroyed country did not have any means of subsistence, except for the international assistance provided. 
Tohoku earthquake in Japan
The biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl was caused by a 9-magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Scientists estimate that during the 6-minute earthquake of colossal magnitude, 108 kilometers of the seabed rose to a height of 6 to 8 meters. It caused big tsunami which caused damage to the coast northern islands Japan. Nuclear power plant at Fukushima was badly damaged and attempts to save the situation are still ongoing. The official death toll is 15,889, although 2,500 people are still missing. Many areas have become uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation.
Christchurch
The worst natural disaster in New Zealand's history claimed 185 lives on February 22nd, 2011 when Christchurch was hit by a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake. More than half of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the CTV building, which was built in violation of seismic regulations. Thousands of other houses were also destroyed, among them the city's cathedral. The government introduced state of emergency in the country so that rescue work can proceed as quickly as possible. More than 2,000 people were injured and reconstruction costs exceeded $40 billion. But in December 2013, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce said that three years after the tragedy, only 10 percent of the city had been rebuilt.
On the morning of April 25, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck Nepal. As a result, the country's capital, Kathmandu, was seriously damaged, many houses were destroyed to the ground, and the death toll is in the thousands. This is the worst natural disaster to hit Nepal in 80 years.
Today we will tell you about Top 10 strongest earthquakes ever recorded.
10. Assam - Tibet, 1950 - magnitude 8.6
More than 1,500 people died as a result of the earthquake in Tibet and the Indian state of Assam. The natural disaster provoked the formation of cracks in the ground, as well as numerous avalanches and landslides. Some landslides were so large that they blocked the flow of rivers. After some time, when the water nevertheless broke through the obstacle from the mud, the rivers flooded vast territories, demolishing everything in their path. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Tibet, where the Eurasian and Hindustan tectonic plates collide.
9. North Sumatra, Indonesia, 2005 - magnitude 8.6
The earthquake occurred on March 28, 2005, a few months after the tsunami that completely destroyed the region (see point 3). The natural disaster claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people and caused serious damage to the already unrecovered region. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Indian Ocean, where the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates collide.
8. Alaska, USA, 1965 - magnitude 8.7
Despite its strength, the earthquake did not cause serious damage due to the fact that its epicenter is located in a fairly sparsely populated area near the Aleutian Islands. The ten-meter tsunami that followed did not cause serious damage either. The earthquake occurred at the point where the Pacific and North American plates collided.
7. Ecuador, 1906 - magnitude 8.8
On January 31, 1906, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 occurred off the coast of Ecuador. As a result of powerful tremors, a tsunami arose that hit the entire coast of Central America. Due to the low population density, the death toll was relatively small - about 1,500 people.
6. Chile, 2010 - magnitude 8.8
On February 27, 2010, one of the most major earthquakes over the last half century. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8.8 on the Richter scale. The main damage was suffered by the cities of Bio-Bio and Maule, the death toll was more than 600 people.
The earthquake caused a tsunami that hit 11 islands and the coast of Maule, but there were no casualties because the inhabitants hid in the mountains in advance. The amount of damage is estimated at $15-$30 billion, about 2 million people were left homeless, about half a million residential buildings were destroyed.
5. Kamchatka, Russia, 1952 - magnitude 9.0
On November 5, 1952, an earthquake occurred 130 kilometers from the coast of Kamchatka, the magnitude of which is estimated at 9 points on the Richter scale. An hour later, a powerful tsunami reached the coast, which destroyed the city of Severo-Kurilsk and caused damage to a number of other settlements. According to official figures, 2336 people died, which was approximately 40% of the population of Severo-Kurilsk. Three waves up to 15-18 meters high hit the city. Damage from the tsunami is estimated at $1 million.
4. Honshu, Japan, 2011 - magnitude 9.0
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale struck east of Honshu Island. This earthquake is considered the most powerful ever known history Japan.
Tremors caused the strongest tsunami (up to 7 meters in height), which killed about 16 thousand people. Moreover, the earthquake and tsunami impact were the cause of the accident at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. The total damage from the disaster is estimated at $14.5-$36.6 billion.
3. North Sumatra, Indonesia, 2004 - magnitude 9.1
An undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 triggered a tsunami that was recognized as the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. The magnitude of the earthquake was, according to various estimates, from 9.1 to 9.3. This is the third strongest earthquake in the history of observation.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located not far from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered one of the most destructive tsunamis in history. The height of the waves exceeded 15 meters, they reached the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand and a number of other countries.
Satellite image (before and after the tsunami)
The tsunami almost completely destroyed the coastal infrastructure in the east of Sri Lanka and the northwestern coast of Indonesia. Died, according to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people. The damage from the tsunami amounted to about $10 billion.
2. Alaska, USA, 1964 - magnitude 9.2
Great Alaska Earthquake - strongest earthquake in the history of the United States, its magnitude was 9.1-9.2 on the Richter scale, and the duration was approximately 3 minutes. The epicenter of the earthquake was in College Fjord, the northern part of the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of more than 20 km. The tremors caused a powerful tsunami, which swept away large quantity lives.
The Great Alaska Earthquake caused destruction in many settlements Alaska. However, the death toll was quite small - only 140 people, with 131 of them killed by the tsunami. The waves caused serious damage as far as California and Japan. The damage in 1965 prices amounted to about $400 million.
1. Chile, 1960 - magnitude 9.5
The Great Chilean earthquake (or the Valdivian earthquake) is the strongest earthquake in the history of observation, its magnitude, according to various estimates, was from 9.3 to 9.5. The earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960, its epicenter was located near the city of Valdivia, 435 kilometers south of Santiago. 
The tremors caused a powerful tsunami, the wave height of which reached 10 meters. The number of victims was about 6 thousand people, and the main part of the people died precisely from the tsunami. Huge waves caused severe damage around the world, killing 138 people in Japan, 61 people in Hawaii and 32 people in the Philippines. The damage in 1960 prices amounted to about half a billion dollars.
It seems that natural disasters happen once every hundred years, and our vacation in one or another exotic country lasts only a few days.
The frequency of earthquakes of different magnitudes in the world per year
- 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or more
- 10 - with a magnitude of 7.0 - 7.9 points
- 100 - with a magnitude of 6.0 - 6.9 points
- 1000 - with a magnitude of 5.0 - 5.9 points
Earthquake intensity scale
Richter scale, points | Strength | Description |
Not felt | Not felt |
|
Very weak kicks | Felt only by very sensitive people |
|
Felt only inside some buildings |
||
intensive | Perceived by the slight vibration of objects |
|
Pretty strong | Felt by sensitive people on the street |
|
Felt by everyone on the street |
||
Very strong | Cracks may appear in the walls of stone houses |
|
destructive | Monuments are being moved, houses are badly damaged |
|
devastating | Severe damage or destruction of houses |
|
Destroying | Cracks in the ground can be up to 1m wide |
|
Catastrophe | Cracks in the ground can reach more than a meter. Houses are almost completely destroyed |
|
Catastrophe | Numerous cracks in the ground, collapses, landslides. The emergence of waterfalls, the deviation of the flow of rivers. No building can withstand |
Mexico City, Mexico
One of the most densely populated cities in the world is known for its insecurity. In the 20th century, this part of Mexico experienced the force of more than forty earthquakes, the magnitude of which exceeded 7 on the Richter scale. In addition, the soil under the city is saturated with water, which makes high-rise buildings vulnerable to natural disasters.
The most devastating were the tremors of 1985, when about 10,000 people died. In 2012, the epicenter of the earthquake fell on the southeastern part of Mexico, but the vibrations were well felt in Mexico City and Guatemala, about 200 houses were destroyed.
2013 and 2014 were also marked by high seismic activity in different parts of the country. Despite all this, Mexico City is still attractive for tourists due to its picturesque landscapes and numerous monuments of ancient culture.
Concepcion, Chile
Chile's second largest city, Concepción, located in the heart of the country near Santiago, regularly becomes a victim of aftershocks. In 1960, the famous Great Chile earthquake with the highest magnitude of 9.5 in history destroyed this popular Chilean resort, as well as Valdivia, Puerto Montt, etc.
In 2010, the epicenter was again located near Concepción, about one and a half thousand houses were destroyed, and in 2013 the focus submerged to a depth of 10 km off the coast of central Chile (magnitude 6.6 points). However, today Concepción does not lose popularity among both seismologists and tourists.
It is interesting that the elements haunt Concepción for a long time. At the beginning of its history, it was located in Penko, but due to a series of destructive tsunami In 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730 the city was moved slightly south of its former location.
Ambato, Ecuador
Today, Ambato attracts travelers with its mild climate, beautiful landscapes, parks and gardens, and massive fruit and vegetable fairs. The old buildings of the colonial era are intricately combined here with new buildings.
Several times this young city, located in the central part of Ecuador, two and a half hours drive from the capital Quito, was destroyed by earthquakes. The most powerful were the aftershocks of 1949, which razed many buildings to the ground and claimed more than 5,000 lives.
AT recent times Ecuador's seismic activity persists: in 2010, an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 occurred southeast of the capital and was felt throughout the country; in 2014, the epicenter moved to the Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador, however, in these two cases there were no casualties.
Los Angeles, USA
Predicting devastating earthquakes in Southern California is a favorite pastime for geoscientists. Fears are justified: the seismic activity in this area is associated with the San Andreas Fault, which runs along the coast Pacific Ocean throughout the state.
History remembers the most powerful earthquake of 1906, which claimed 1500 lives. In 2014, the sunny year managed to survive twice the tremors (magnitude 6.9 and 5.1 points), which affected the city with minor destruction of houses and a severe headache for residents.
True, no matter how much seismologists frighten with their warnings, the “city of angels” Los Angeles is always full of visitors, and the tourist infrastructure here is incredibly developed.
Tokyo, Japan
It is no coincidence that the Japanese proverb says: "Earthquakes, fires and the father are the worst punishments." As you know, Japan is located at the junction of two tectonic layers, the friction of which often causes both small and extremely destructive tremors.
For example, in 2011, the Sendai earthquake and tsunami near Honshu (magnitude 9) killed more than 15,000 Japanese. At the same time, the people of Tokyo are already accustomed to the fact that several earthquakes of minor magnitude occur every year. Regular fluctuations impress only visitors.
Despite the fact that most of the buildings of the capital were built taking into account possible shocks, in the face of powerful cataclysms, residents are defenseless.
Repeatedly in its history, Tokyo disappeared from the face of the earth and was restored again. The great Kanto earthquake of 1923 turned the city into ruins, and after 20 years, rebuilt, it was destroyed by a large-scale bombing by American air forces.
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, seems to be created for tourists: it has many cozy parks and squares, miniature bridges and tunnels, architectural monuments and unusual museums. People come here to take part in the grandiose Summer City Program festivals and admire the panoramas that became the set of the Hollywood trilogy The Lord of the Rings.
Meanwhile, the city was and remains a seismically active zone, experiencing tremors from year to year. different strength. In 2013, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck just 60 kilometers away, causing power outages in many parts of the country.
In 2014, Wellington residents felt tremors in the northern part of the country (magnitude 6.3).
Cebu, Philippines
Earthquakes in the Philippines are a fairly common occurrence, which, of course, does not in the least frighten those who like to lie on white sand or swim with a mask and snorkel in a transparent sea water. During the year, on average, there are more than 35 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0-5.9 points and one with a magnitude of 6.0-7.9 points.
Most of them are vibration echoes, the epicenters of which are located deep under water, which creates the danger of a tsunami. The tremors of 2013 claimed more than 200 lives, led to serious destruction in one of the most popular resorts of Cebu and in other cities (magnitude 7.2).
Employees of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology are constantly monitoring this seismic zone, trying to predict future cataclysms.
Sumatra Island, Indonesia
Indonesia is considered to be the most seismically active region in the world. Particularly dangerous for last years managed to become - the most western in the archipelago. He is in a place of power tectonic fault, the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire".
The plate that forms the bottom of the Indian Ocean "squeezes" under the Asian plate here as fast as a human fingernail grows. The accumulated tension is released from time to time in the form of tremors.
Medan - The largest city on the island and the third most populous in the country. Two strong earthquakes in 2013 severely affected more than 300 local residents, about 4,000 houses were damaged.
Tehran, Iran
Scientists have been predicting a catastrophic earthquake in Iran for a long time - the whole country is located in one of the most seismically active zones in the world. For this reason, the capital Tehran, where more than 8 million people live, was repeatedly planned to be moved.
The city is located on the territory of several seismic faults. Earthquakes of 7 points would destroy 90% of Tehran, whose buildings are not designed for such violence of the elements. In 2003, another Iranian city of Bam was turned into ruins by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake.
Today, Tehran is familiar to tourists as the largest Asian metropolis with many rich museums and majestic palaces. The climate allows you to visit it at any time of the year, which is not typical for all Iranian cities.
Chengdu, China
Chengdu - ancient city, the center of southwestern China's Sichuan province. Here they enjoy a comfortable climate, see numerous sights, and become imbued with the original culture of China. From here they get along tourist routes to the gorges of the Yangtze River, as well as to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and.
Recent events have reduced the number of visitors to these parts. In 2013, the province experienced powerful earthquake magnitude 7, when more than 2 million people were affected, about 186,000 houses were damaged.
Residents of Chengdu annually feel the effect of thousands of tremors of varying strength. In recent years Western part China has become especially dangerous in terms of seismic activity earth.
What to do in case of an earthquake
- If an earthquake caught you outside, stay away from the eaves and walls of buildings that could fall. Stay away from dams, river valleys and beaches.
- If an earthquake caught you in a hotel, open the doors so that you can safely leave the building after the first series of aftershocks.
- During an earthquake, you can not run out into the street. Many deaths are caused by falling debris from buildings.
- In case of a possible earthquake, it is worth preparing a backpack with everything you need for a few days in advance. Have a first aid kit on hand drinking water, canned food, crackers, warm clothes, washing accessories.
- As a rule, in countries where earthquakes are frequent, all local cellular operators own a system for alerting customers about an approaching disaster. On vacation, be careful, watch the reaction of the local population.
- After the first push, there may be a lull. Therefore, all actions after it should be thoughtful and cautious.
