10 Largest Earthquakes in Recorded History
Earthquakes have a way of changing everything in a moment. When massive tectonic plates grind, slip, or catch against each other, the energy they release can redraw coastlines, send waves across oceans, and rattle entire regions. These major quakes show how powerfully the planet can respond when forces deep underground finally give way.
Valdivia, Chile (1960)
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The Valdivia quake hit Chile with a magnitude of 9.5 and remains the strongest ever measured. Ground movement lasted for minutes and triggered a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific. Coastal towns suffered heavy destruction as families faced flooding, landslides, collapsed structures, and widespread displacement during the chaotic aftermath today.
Prince William Sound, Alaska (1964)
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Anchorage saw major structural failures as roads split and hillsides slid, as this 1964 Alaska quake reached a magnitude of 9.2 and shook the region for nearly five minutes. A tsunami crossed the Pacific and damaged coastal towns. Months of rebuilding followed as scientists reviewed how the Pacific and North American plates slipped.
Sumatra-Andaman, Indonesia (2004)
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The 2004 Sumatra–Andaman quake reached magnitude 9.1 and ruptured a fault hundreds of miles long. Shaking destroyed much of Banda Aceh, and the tsunami that followed devastated ten countries. Waves nearly 30 meters high struck entire coastlines, and close to 300,000 people died as homes, roads, and vital services collapsed.
Tōhoku, Japan (2011)
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In 2011, a powerful offshore earthquake struck when the Pacific Plate pushed beneath the North American Plate. It reached magnitude 9.1 and damaged thousands of structures as the tsunami pushed deep inland. More than 15,000 people died, and the Fukushima Daiichi plant lost its cooling systems, leading to reactor failures with lasting environmental and economic effects.
Kamchatka, Russia (1952)
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Triggering a large tsunami that crossed the Pacific, the 1952 Kamchatka earthquake reached a magnitude of 9.0. Russia’s remote coastline experienced a limited impact due to its low population density. Hawaii absorbed heavy damage as waves tossed boats inland and tore apart piers. Researchers used this event to study subduction behavior in the region.
Maule, Chile (2010)
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A powerful quake off Kamchatka sent a massive tsunami across the Pacific, though Russia’s sparsely populated coast saw limited destruction. Hawaii faced the worst of it as waves hurled boats inland and tore apart piers. The event later became a key case for understanding subduction zone behavior, and researchers confirmed it reached magnitude 9.0.
Ecuador-Colombia (1906)
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A magnitude 8.8 quake struck offshore in 1906 and produced a tsunami that flooded communities along the coasts of Ecuador and Colombia. Fatalities ranged from 500 to 1,500. Waves reached Central America, San Francisco, and Japan. Ships in Honolulu Bay spun when water surged unexpectedly toward the shore that day.
Kamchatka, Russia (1923)
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The 1923 earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula reached a magnitude of 8.4 and struck a remote area with few residents. The Pacific Plate slid beneath the Okhotsk Plate and created a modest tsunami. Records describe a limited structural impact. Even with sparse reports, the event remains one of the larger quakes measured.
Arequipa, Peru (2001)
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Southern Peru shook hard in 2001 when a magnitude 8.4 quake hit near Atico. More than 50,000 homes were damaged. A tsunami swept coastal residents into the ocean, causing many of the 74 deaths. Ground motion reached Bolivia as the Nazca Plate continued to subduct beneath the South American Plate at a slow pace.
Sanriku, Japan (1933)
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The 1933 Sanriku earthquake struck offshore and devastated communities along Honshu’s coast. Entire districts collapsed, and families raced uphill while rescuers navigated wrecked towns. The tsunami caused almost all the destruction as waves neared 100 feet and swept away thousands of homes. It reached magnitude 8.4.