On April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by one of the most destructive earthquakes on the planet, which claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people and turned into ruins many buildings and historical monuments... According to experts, in the coming week, residents of Nepal may experience new aftershocks. In our review of 10 of the most destructive earthquakes that have occurred on Earth over the past century.
1. Valdivia, Chile
This earthquake, which happened in 1960, was the strongest on record, reaching a maximum of 9.5 on the Richter scale. It can be compared to the simultaneous explosion of 1000 atomic bombs... The earthquake was felt not only in Valdivia, but also in the Hawaiian Islands - at a distance of 700 km. The disaster that destroyed Valvidia, Concepcion and Puerto Montt killed 6,000 people. Material damage amounted to more than $ 1 billion.
2. Sumatra, Indonesia
On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake struck the bottom of the Indian Ocean, which caused a huge tsunami. It was the second strongest seismic activity earthquake in the world, with the longest duration of tremors recorded. Even the Maldives and Thailand suffered from its consequences, since more than 5 tsunamis hit the entire coast of the Indian Sea. Killed 225,000 people, and in just the first 10 minutes of the disaster, the damage from it amounted to more than $ 7 billion.
3. Tanshan, China
On July 28, 1976, an earthquake struck the Chinese province of Hebei, leveling the city of Tangshan. 255,000 people died, although the Chinese government initially reported 655,000 deaths. The 8.2 magnitude earthquake lasted only 10 seconds but caused tremendous destruction in the area. Hebei is a region with a very low level earthquake risk, so the buildings in Tangshan were not earthquake resistant. The total damage was 10 billion yuan, or $ 1.3 billion.
4. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, USSR
In the early morning of April 26, 1966, a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Tashkent. The zone of maximum destruction was 10 sq. kilometers. 8 people died, 78 thousand families were left homeless. More than 2 million squares of buildings were destroyed.
5. Port-au-Prince, Haiti
The earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 was 7.0 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the tremors was near Leogan, 25 km west of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. It was recorded by at least 52 tremors that were felt even after 12 days. The earthquake resulted in 316,000 deaths, 300,000 injured and more than a million homeless. Also, 250,000 homes and 30,000 commercial buildings were destroyed.
6. Tohoku, Japan
On March 11, 2011, the east coast of Japan was hit by a magnitude 9.03 earthquake, the worst in the country's history. The earthquake, which is considered one of the five largest in the world, resulted in 15,878 deaths, 6,126 injured and 2,173 missing in 20 prefectures. It also destroyed 129,225 buildings, and the earthquake-triggered tsunami caused severe infrastructure damage and fires in many areas. The Fukushima nuclear power plant was badly damaged, which led to radioactive contamination. As a result, Japan faced the biggest crisis since the Second World War.
7. Ashgabat, USSR
This earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred on October 6, 1948 near Ashgabat. Due to censorship, he was not reported in the media mass media, so there was no information about casualties and destruction. The number of victims is estimated at 110,000, and in Ashgabat 98% of all buildings were destroyed.
8. Sichuan, China
On May 8, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Chinese province of Sichuan. It was so strong that it was felt in neighboring countries as well as in remote Beijing and Shanghai, where buildings swayed from tremors. According to official figures, the death toll was 69,197. 374,176 people were injured and 18,222 are missing. The Chinese government has allocated 1 trillion yuan, or $ 146.5 billion, to rehabilitate areas affected by the earthquake.
9. Kashmir, Pakistan
On October 8, 2005, the disputed region of Pakistan and India, Kashmir was hit by an earthquake of 7.6 on the Richter scale. The disaster killed 85,000 people, injured over 69,000 and left 4 million Kashmiris homeless.
10. Izmit, Turkey
A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Turkey on August 17, 1990. Although it lasted only 3.7 seconds, the city of Izmit was practically reduced to rubble. Officially, there were 17,127 casualties and 43,959 injured, although other sources reported that the actual death toll was 45,000. The earthquake destroyed 120,000 poorly designed homes and severely damaged 50,000 other buildings. More than 300,000 people were left homeless.
Fortunately, despite the time and the elements, today the planet has, which you should definitely visit.
Strong earthquakes have occurred throughout human history, with the earliest recorded nearly 2,000 years BC. But it is only in the last century that our technological capabilities 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. Unfortunately, the warning system does not always work. There are several examples of earthquakes where the greatest 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 fully protect themselves from disasters. There are many different ways estimate the strength of the earthquake. Some people rely on the Richter scale, others on the number of deaths and injuries, or even the monetary value of damaged property.
This list of the 12 most powerful earthquakes brings all of these methods together in one.
Lisbon earthquake
The Great Lisbon Earthquake struck the Portuguese capital on November 1, 1755 and caused great destruction. They were compounded by the fact that it was All Saints Day and thousands of people attended Mass in church. Churches, like most other buildings, could not withstand the elements and collapsed, killing people. Subsequently, a 6 meter high tsunami struck. Roughly 80,000 have died in the devastating fires. Many famous writers and philosophers have dealt with the Lisbon earthquake in their works. For example, Emmanuel Kant, who tried to find scientific explanation what happened 
California earthquake
A major earthquake struck California in April 1906. Entrenched in history as the San Francisco earthquake, it damaged a much wider area. Downtown San Francisco was destroyed by a huge fire that followed. Initial figures cited 700 to 800 deaths, although researchers say the actual death toll was over 3,000. More than half of San Francisco's population lost their homes as 28,000 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and fires. 
Earthquake of messina
One of the most large earthquakes Europe struck Sicily and southern Italy in the early morning of December 28, 1908, killing approximately 120,000 people. The main epicenter of the damage was Messina, which was virtually destroyed by the disaster. The 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. Much 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 an epicenter at Haiyuan Chinha. At least 230,000 people died. With a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake destroyed virtually 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 study Haiyuan was the strongest earthquake in China during the 20th century. Researchers also questioned the official death toll, suggesting there could have been more than 270,000. This number represents 59 percent of the population in the Haiyuan region. The Haiyuan earthquake is considered one of the most destructive natural disasters in history. 
Chilean earthquake
A total of 1,655 were killed and 3,000 were injured following the 9.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile in 1960. Seismologists called it the strongest earthquake ever to occur. 2 million people were left homeless, and economic losses amounted to $ 500 million. The force of the quake caused a tsunami, with casualties in remote locations such as Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines. In parts of Chile, waves have moved the ruins of buildings 3 kilometers inland. The violent Chilean earthquake of 1960 caused a giant rip in the earth, stretching 1,000 kilometers. 
Alaska earthquake
On March 27th, 1964, a strong earthquake at 9.2 am struck the Prince William Sound area of Alaska. As the second strongest recorded earthquake, it resulted in a relatively low number of deaths (192 deaths). Nevertheless, significant property damage took place in Anchorage, and all 47 states of the United States felt the shivers. Due to significant improvements in research technology, the Alaska earthquake provided scientists with valuable seismic data, allowing for a much better understanding of the nature of such phenomena. 
Kobe earthquake
In 1995, Japan was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes when a 7.2-magnitude impact struck the Kobe region in southern central Japan. Although not the most severe ever observed, it was devastating for a large segment of the population - approximately 10 million people living in a densely populated area. A total of 5,000 were killed and 26,000 were injured. The US Geological Survey estimated damage at $ 200 billion, with infrastructure and buildings destroyed. 
Sumatra and the Andaman earthquake
The tsunami that hit all countries of the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 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. It is believed that this was a preliminary seismic shock, and during 2005 there were several aftershocks. The main reason huge amount victims was the lack of any early warning system in Indian Ocean capable of detecting an approaching Tsunami. To the shores of some countries, where tens of thousands of people died, a gigantic wave went for at least several hours. 
Earthquake kashmir
Co-ruled 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 efforts were hampered by conflicts between the two countries fighting over the territory. The situation was aggravated 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 of the capital's population homeless. The death toll is still disputed and ranges from 160,000 to 230,000. A recent report drew attention to the fact that by the fifth anniversary of the disaster, 80,000 people are still living on the streets. The impact of the earthquake resulted in dire poverty in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Many buildings in the capital were not built in accordance with seismic requirements, and the people of the completely destroyed country had no means of livelihood other than international assistance. 
Tohoku earthquake in Japan
The largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl was caused by a 9-point earthquake off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Scientists estimate that in a 6-minute earthquake of colossal force, 108 kilometers of the seabed rose to a height of 6 to 8 meters. This caused great tsunami that damaged the coast northern islands Japan. Nuclear power plant in Fukushima has been badly damaged and attempts to rescue the situation are still ongoing. The official death toll is 15,889, although 2,500 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 22 February 2011 when Christchurch was struck by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake. More than half of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the CTV building, which turned out to be 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 operations go 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 only 10 percent of the city had been rebuilt three years after the tragedy. 
It seems that natural disasters happen once every hundred years, and our vacation in this or that exotic country lasts only a few days.
The frequency of earthquakes of various magnitudes in the world per year
- 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 8 and above
- 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 | Force | Description |
Not felt | Not felt |
|
Very weak aftershocks | Felt only by very sensitive people |
|
Felt only inside some buildings |
||
Intensive | Feels like a slight vibration of objects |
|
Pretty strong | Feels like sensitive people on the street |
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Felt by everyone on the street |
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Very strong | Cracks may appear in the walls of stone houses |
|
Destructive | Monuments are displaced, houses are badly damaged |
|
Devastating | Severe damage or destruction of houses |
|
Destructive | Cracks in the ground can be up to 1 m wide |
|
Catastrophe | Cracks in the ground can be more than a meter long. Houses are almost completely destroyed |
|
Catastrophe | Numerous cracks in the ground, landslides, landslides. The emergence of waterfalls, the deviation of the flow of rivers. No structure can withstand |
Mexico City, Mexico
One of the most populous 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 in the event of natural disasters.
The tremors of 1985 were the most devastating, with about 10,000 deaths. In 2012, the epicenter of the earthquake was in 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 regions of the country. Despite all this, Mexico City is still an attractive tourist destination due to its picturesque landscapes and numerous monuments of ancient culture.
Concepcion, Chile
Chile's second largest city, Concepcion, located in the heart of the country near Santiago, regularly falls victim to tremors. In 1960, the famous Great Chilean earthquake with the highest magnitude in history, 9.5 magnitude destroyed this popular Chilean resort, as well as Valdivia, Puerto Montt, etc.
In 2010, the epicenter was again located near Concepcion, about one and a half thousand houses were destroyed, and in 2013 the center sank to a depth of 10 km off the coast of central Chile (magnitude 6.6 points). However, today Concepcion is not losing its popularity among both seismologists and tourists.
Interestingly, the elements haunted Concepcion for a long time. At the beginning of its history, it was located in Penko, but due to a series of devastating tsunami 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730, the city was moved slightly south of the former place.
Ambato, Ecuador
Today Ambato attracts travelers with its mild climate, beautiful landscapes, parks and gardens, massive fruit and vegetable fairs. Old buildings from the colonial era are bizarrely combined with new buildings.
Several times this young city, located in the central part of Ecuador, two and a half hours from the capital of Quito, was destroyed by earthquakes. The most powerful aftershocks were in 1949, which razed many buildings to the ground and claimed more than 5,000 lives.
V recent times seismic activity in Ecuador remains: in 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 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 true: the seismic activity in this area is associated with the San Andreas Fault, which runs along the coast The Pacific across the state.
History remembers the most powerful earthquake in 1906, which claimed 1,500 lives. In 2014, the solar one twice managed to survive tremors (with a magnitude of 6.9 and 5.1 points), which affected the city with minor damage to houses and a strong 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 is incredibly developed here.
Tokyo, Japan
It is no coincidence that a Japanese proverb says: "Earthquakes, fires and father are the worst punishments." As you know, Japan is located at the junction of two tectonic strata, the friction of which often causes both small and extremely destructive tremors.
For example, in 2011, the Sendai earthquake and tsunami near Honshu Island (magnitude 9) killed more than 15,000 Japanese. At the same time, the inhabitants of Tokyo are already accustomed to the fact that every year there are several minor earthquakes. Regular fluctuations only impress visitors.
Despite the fact that most of the buildings in the capital were built taking into account possible shocks, in the face of powerful cataclysms, residents are defenseless.
More than once in its history, Tokyo has disappeared from the face of the earth and rebuilt again. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 turned the city into ruins, and 20 years later, rebuilt, it was destroyed by a massive bombing raid by American air forces.
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is as if created for tourists: there are many cozy parks and squares, miniature bridges and tunnels, architectural monuments and unusual museums. People come here to take part in the grandiose festivals "Summer City Program" and admire the panoramas that have become the film 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. of 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 quite common, which, of course, does not in the least frighten those who like to lie on the white sand or swim with a mask and a snorkel in a transparent sea water... Over 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 echoes of vibrations, the epicenters of which are located deep under water, which creates the danger of a tsunami. The tremors in 2013 claimed more than 200 lives and caused serious damage to one of the most popular resorts in Cebu and other cities (magnitude 7.2).
Employees of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology are constantly observing this earthquake-prone area, trying to predict future cataclysms.
Sumatra Island, Indonesia
Indonesia is considered to be the most seismically active region in the world. Especially dangerous for last years managed to become - the most western in the archipelago. It is located in the place of a powerful tectonic fault, the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire".
The slab that forms the bottom of the Indian Ocean is "squeezed" under the Asian slab as quickly as a fingernail grows. The accumulating stress 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. More than 300 were seriously affected by two strong earthquakes in 2013 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. An earthquake of 7 points would destroy 90% of Tehran, whose buildings are not designed for such riots of the elements. In 2003, another Iranian city of Bam was destroyed by an earthquake of 6.8.
Today Tehran is familiar to tourists as the largest Asian metropolis with many richest museums and magnificent 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 - oldest city, the center of the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. Here they enjoy a comfortable climate, explore numerous sights, and immerse themselves in 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, etc.
Recent events have reduced the number of visitors to these regions. In 2013, the province experienced a massive magnitude 7 earthquake that affected more than 2 million people and damaged about 186,000 homes.
Residents of Chengdu every year feel the effect of thousands of tremors of varying strength. In recent years Western part China has become especially dangerous in terms of the earth's seismic activity.
What to do in case of an earthquake
- If an earthquake hits you on the street, stay away from the eaves and walls of buildings that may fall. Don't hide near dams, river valleys, and beaches.
- If an earthquake hits you at the hotel, open the doors to freely leave the building after the first series of aftershocks.
- During an earthquake, you must not run out into the street. Falling debris is the cause of many deaths.
- In case of a possible earthquake, it is worth preparing a backpack in advance with everything you need for a few days. A first aid kit should be at 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 clients about an impending disaster. On vacation, be careful, watch the reaction of the local population.
- There may be a lull after the first shock. Therefore, all actions after it must be thoughtful and cautious.
The danger of such natural phenomenon, like an earthquake, is estimated by most seismologists in points. There are several scales by which the strength of seismic shocks is assessed. The scale adopted in Russia, Europe and the CIS countries was developed in 1964. According to data from a 12-point scale, the greatest destructive force is characteristic of an earthquake of 12 points, and such strong aftershocks as "severe catastrophe" are qualified. There are also other methods for measuring the strength of shocks, which take into account fundamentally different moments - the area on which the shocks occurred, the time of "shaking" and other factors. However, no matter how the strength of the tremors is measured, there is natural disasters, which are among the most terrible.
The severity of earthquakes: was it 12 points at least once?
Since the Kamori scale was taken into consideration, and this made it possible to assess natural disasters that have not yet disappeared in the dust of centuries, there have been at least 3 earthquakes of magnitude 12.
- Tragedy in Chile, 1960.
- Destruction in Mongolia, 1957
- Tremors in the Himalayas, 1950.
In the first place of the rating, which contains the most powerful earthquakes in the world, the cataclysm of 1960, known as the "Great Chilean earthquake". The scale of destruction is estimated at the maximum known 12 points, while the magnitude of earth vibrations exceeded 9.5 points. The strongest earthquake in history occurred in May 1960 in Chile, near several cities. Valdivia became the epicenter, where fluctuations reached their maximum, but the population was alerted to the impending danger, since the day before the tremors were felt in the nearby provinces of Chile. Lost in this terrible disaster 10 thousand people are considered, a mass of people was carried away by the outbreak of the tsunami, but experts say that without prior notification there could have been many more victims. By the way, many people were saved due to the fact that a lot of people went to church for Sunday services... At the moment of the beginning of the shaking, people were in the temples, which resisted.
Among the most destructive earthquakes in the world is the Gobi-Altai disaster, which swept across Mongolia on December 4, 1957. As a result of the tragedy, the earth was literally turned inside out: kinks were formed, demonstrating such geological processes that are not visible under normal circumstances. High mountains in the mountain ranges ceased to exist, the peaks collapsed, the usual pattern of the mountains was disrupted.
The tremors in the populated areas were increasing and continued for quite a long time, until they reached 11-12 points. People managed to leave their homes seconds before the complete destruction. The dust flying from the mountains covered the cities of the southern part of Mongolia for 48 hours, the visibility did not exceed several tens of meters.
Another terrible cataclysm, estimated by seismologists at 11-12 points, happened in the Himalayas, in the highlands of Tibet, in 1950. The terrible trail of the earthquake in the form of mudflows and landslides changed the relief of the mountains beyond recognition. With a terrible roar, the mountains formed like paper, and dust clouds spread from the epicenter to a radius of up to 2000 km.
Tremors from time immemorial: what do we know about earthquakes of antiquity?
The largest earthquakes that have occurred in modern times, discussed and well covered in the media.
Thus, they are still on hearing, the memory of them, of the victims and destruction is still fresh. But what about earthquakes that happened a long time ago - a hundred, two hundred or three hundred years ago? The traces of destruction have long been eliminated, and the witnesses either survived the incident or died. Nevertheless, historical literature contains traces of the most terrible earthquakes in a world that happened a long time ago. So, in the annals recording the largest earthquakes in the world, it is written that in ancient times the tremors happened much more often than now, and were much stronger. According to one such source, in 365 BC, tremors occurred throughout the Mediterranean area, as a result of which, before the eyes of eyewitnesses, the seabed was exposed.
Fatal earthquake for one of the Wonders of the World
One of the most famous ancient earthquakes is the destruction of 244 BC. In those days, according to scientists, tremors happened much more often, but it was this earthquake that is especially famous: as a result of the tremors, the statue of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes collapsed. This statue, according to ancient sources, was one of the eight Wonders of the World. It was a giant lighthouse in the form of a statue of a man with a torch in his hand. The statue was so huge that a flotilla could swim between its legs apart. The dimensions played a cruel joke with the Colossus: the legs turned out to be too fragile in order to withstand seismological activity, and the Colossus collapsed.
Iranian earthquake of 856
The death of hundreds of thousands of people as a result of even not very strong earthquakes was a common occurrence: there were no systems for predicting seismic activity, no warning or evacuation. So, in 856 more than 200 thousand people became victims of aftershocks in the north of Iran, the city of Damkhan was wiped off the face of the earth. By the way, the record number of victims for this one earthquake is comparable to the number of victims of earthquakes in Iran for the rest of the time, before today.
The bloodiest earthquake in the world
China earthquake 1565, which destroyed the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, claimed the lives of more than 830 thousand people. This is an absolute record for the number of human victims, which has not been exceeded until now. In history, it remained as the "Great Jiajing Earthquake" (after the emperor who was then in power). Historians estimate its thickness at 7.9 - 8 points, as evidenced by geological surveys.
This is how this phenomenon was described in the annals:
“In the winter of 1556, a catastrophic earthquake struck Shaanxi and the provinces around it. Our county, Hua, has suffered numerous misfortunes and misfortunes. Mountains and rivers changed their location, roads were destroyed. In some places, the earth suddenly rose, and new hills appeared, or vice versa - parts of the former hills went underground, swam and became new plains. In other places, mudflows constantly descended, or the earth split, and new ravines appeared. Private houses, public buildings, temples and city walls collapsed with lightning speed and completely ".
Cataclysm for All Saints Day in Portugal
Terrible tragedy, which claimed the lives of more than 80 thousand Portuguese, took place in Lisbon on November 1, 1755. In the most powerful earthquakes in the world, this cataclysm is not inscribed either in the number of victims or in the strength of seismic activity. But the terrible irony with which this phenomenon erupted is shocking: the tremors began exactly when people went to celebrate the holiday in the church. The temples of Lisbon could not stand it and collapsed, burying a huge number of unfortunates under them, and then the city was covered by a 6-meter tsunami wave, which killed the rest of the people on the streets.
The largest earthquakes in the history of the twentieth century
Ten catastrophes of the 20th century that carried away the largest number lives and those who brought the most terrible destruction are reflected in the summary table:
| date | A place | Epicenter | Seismic activity in points | Fatalities (people) |
|
| 22 km from Port-au-Prince | |||||
| Tangshan / Hebei Province | |||||
| Indonesia | |||||
| 90 km from Tokyo | |||||
| Turkmen SSR | |||||
| Erzincan | |||||
| Pakistan | |||||
| 25 km from Chimbote |
Tangshan 1976
The events in China in 1976 are captured in Feng Xiaogang's film Catastrophe. Despite the relative weakness of magnitude, the disaster carried away big number lives, the first shock provoked the destruction of 90% of residential buildings in Tangshan. The hospital building disappeared without a trace, the open earth literally swallowed up a passenger train.
Sumatra 2004, the largest in a geographic sense
The 2004 Sumatran earthquake affected several countries: India, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka. The exact number of victims cannot be calculated, since the main destructive force - the tsunami - carried tens of thousands of people into the ocean. This is the largest earthquake in terms of geography, as its prerequisites were plate movement in the Indian Ocean, followed by aftershocks at a distance of up to 1600 km. The ocean floor rose as a result of the collision of the Indian and Burma plates, tsunami waves ran in all directions from the fracture of the plates, which rolled thousands of kilometers and reached the coast.
Haiti 2010, our time
The first happened in Haiti in 2010 great earthquake after almost 260 years of silence. The greatest damage was suffered by the national fund of the republics: the entire center of the capital with its rich cultural heritage, all administrative and government buildings were damaged. More than 232 thousand people died, many of whom were carried away by the tsunami waves. The consequences of the disaster were a surge in morbidity intestinal diseases and an increase in crime: tremors destroyed prison buildings, which prisoners immediately took advantage of.
The most powerful earthquakes in Russia
In Russia, there are also dangerous seismically active regions in which an earthquake can occur. However, most of these Russian territories removed from densely populated areas, which excludes the possibility of great destruction and casualties.
The largest earthquakes in Russia, however, are also included in tragic story the struggle of the elements and man.
Among the worst earthquakes in Russia:
- The North Kuril destruction of 1952.
- Neftegorsk destruction of 1995.
Kamchatka-1952
Severo-Kurilsk was completely destroyed as a result of tremors and tsunami on November 4, 1952. Waves in the ocean, 100 km from the coast, bring waves of 20 meters high into the city, hour after hour washing the coast and washing coastal settlements into the ocean. A terrible stream demolished all buildings and killed more than 2 thousand people.
Sakhalin-1995
On March 27, 1995, the disaster took only 17 seconds to wipe out the working village of Neftegorsk in the Sakhalin Region. More than 2 thousand residents of the village died, which accounted for 80% of the residents. Large-scale destruction did not allow the village to be rebuilt, so locality became a ghost: a memorial plate was installed in it, telling about the victims of the tragedy, and the residents themselves were evacuated.
A dangerous area in Russia in terms of seismic activity is any region at the junction tectonic plates:
- Kamchatka and Sakhalin,
- Caucasian republics,
- Altai region.
In any of these regions, the likelihood of a natural earthquake remains, since the mechanism of the origin of tremors has not yet been studied.
On August 26, 1883, during the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano, one of the most destructive earthquakes in history occurred. We decided to recall other strongest and most terrible earthquakes.
Egyptian earthquake of 1201
This event was reflected in the annals of those years, and also included in the Guinness Book as the most destructive. According to chroniclers, about a million people died in Syria. Perhaps the figures given by historians are far from the truth, and it is highly likely that the facts were exaggerated. It is only known for certain that this event led not only to massive destruction, but also to serious geopolitical changes and influenced the life of the entire region. 
Among the most devastating disasters in history is the 1139 Ganja earthquake, which killed about 230,000 people. The strongest shocks with an amplitude of 11 points led to such consequences. Very little is known about this earthquake due to the fact that it happened almost a thousand years ago, and the main source of information is the description of the Armenian historian and poet Mkhitar Gosh. He describes cities falling into ruins and a large number of victims. Taking advantage of the earthquake, the city was attacked by Turkish troops who were looting and killing the survivors of the earthquake. 
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It happened in Shanxi province in 1556. This earthquake claimed the lives of more than 850,000 people, making it one of the most destructive and large-scale in the history of mankind. In the epicenter of the disaster, more than 60% of people died: such huge sacrifices were caused by the fact that a large number of people lived in limestone caves, which easily collapsed even with small tremors. V historical records those years it is said that most of buildings were instantly destroyed, and the amplitude of the tremors was so great that the landscape was constantly changing: new ravines and hills appeared, rivers changed their location. The aftershocks that followed the earthquake, which continued for several months after the tragedy, also brought serious damage. 
The eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883
The eruption of the Krakatoa volcano at the end of the nineteenth century brought enormous destruction. The prohibitive number of victims was avoided only due to the fact that the tsunami hit the not most populated regions of the islands of Java and Sumatra. 40 thousand dead, more than 800 thousand square kilometers the territory near the volcano was covered with ash, which destroyed all life within a radius of several tens of kilometers from Krakatoa. 
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Earthquake in 2010
Three years ago, a terrible tragedy struck in Haiti, from which this small, poor country has not been able to recover to this day. The most powerful earthquake and the tsunami destroyed the entire infrastructure of the islands and forced the people of Haiti to engage in looting and plunder in order to survive in this situation. The crime rate, anarchy, infection and isolation from outside world worsened the situation tenfold. The dead are in the hundreds of thousands, the injured in millions. 
