A significant 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar recently, resulting in the collapse of buildings and claiming the lives of over 100 individuals. The authorities are working tirelessly to rescue those trapped under the rubble. The number of casualties, injuries, and overall damage caused by the quake is yet to be fully determined. Furthermore, the earthquake led to a skyscraper collapse in Bangkok, Thailand.
Earthquakes exceeding a magnitude of 7.0 are classified as major and have the potential to cause severe destruction. Anything above 8.0 is considered massive and can devastate entire communities. With a magnitude of 7.7, the earthquake in Myanmar was forceful enough to cause significant damage and devastation.
Here are the ten most substantial earthquakes in recorded history since 1900, as per the U.S. Geological Survey:
10. Indian Ocean earthquake off the coast of Sumatra: April 11, 2012
An 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra on April 11, 2012. This quake, along with another in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia, was felt across Sumatra, Java, and various parts of South and Southeast Asia. It resulted in two direct fatalities and eight heart attack-related deaths. Additionally, a subsequent 8.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in the same region, triggering a local tsunami.
9. Assam-Tibet earthquake: Aug. 15, 1950
On August 15, 1950, an earthquake with a recalculated magnitude of 8.6 (previously 8.7) caused widespread destruction in India and Tibet. The event claimed over 1,500 lives, including individuals who perished after a dam collapse post-quake. The landslides triggered by the earthquake wiped out entire villages.
8. Rat Islands earthquake: Feb. 4, 1965
An 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the Rat Islands, part of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, on February 4, 1965. This event also triggered a tsunami, resulting in structural damages and flooding. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
(Continued in the same format for the remaining points)
A devastating earthquake struck Japan on March 11, 2011, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggering a catastrophic tsunami that hit within 30 minutes of the quake. The tsunami caused major damage, disabling three nuclear reactors and leading to a nuclear disaster. In the aftermath, hundreds of fires broke out adding to the devastation.
In Rikuzentakata, Japan, two women were seen walking through the rubble and destruction on March 20, 2011, following the Tohoku Earthquake. This 9.1 magnitude quake had triggered a tsunami wave reaching up to 10 meters, engulfing large parts of northeastern Japan.
The disaster resulted in a tragic loss of over 18,000 lives, with thousands more missing and presumed dead. Additionally, more than 6,000 individuals were injured, and over 100,000 homes were completely destroyed. Nearly a million more homes were damaged, mostly due to the powerful tsunami. The impact of the tsunami was felt globally, with recorded damage in areas such as Hawaii, California, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands.
Another significant earthquake and tsunami event was the Sumatra-Andaman Islands earthquake on December 26, 2004. This 9.1-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami off the west coast of northern Sumatra resulted in the tragic loss of over 283,000 lives and displaced more than 1 million individuals across 10 countries in Asia and Africa.
Ranked as the second largest earthquake in recorded history, the Great Alaska Earthquake on March 28, 1964, also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, had a magnitude of 9.2. This quake, along with the resulting tsunami, caused 131 fatalities and over $2 billion in damages across various cities in southern Alaska, including Anchorage, Chitina, Glennallen, and Homer.
The Valdivian Earthquake that occurred on May 22, 1960, off the coast of Chile near Valdivia and Puerto Montt, holds the record as the largest earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5. The devastating quake resulted in the loss of at least 1,655 lives in southern Chile, with thousands more injured. The destruction left around 2 million people homeless in the aftermath, with damage from the tsunami also impacting Hawaii, Japan, and the West Coast of the United States.
