The Largest Recorded Earthquakes In History

By Schwejo

  • North America

    Magnitude: 9.0
    The length of the fault rupture was about 1,000 kilometers long and an average slip of 20 meters.
    The earthquake shaking collapsed houses of the people on Vancouver Island and caused many landslides. The continuing shaking was so violent that many people got sick.

  • Chile

    Magnitude: 8.7
    The Earthquake triggered a major tsunami that flooded the lower parts of Valparaiso. It caused much damage from La Serena to Chillan, while the tsunami destroyeds more than 1000 km of Chile's coastline.

  • Portugal

    Magnitude: 8.7
    The earthquake was followed by fires and a tsunami, which caused near-total destruction of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal and adjoining areas.
    Estimates place the death toll in Lisbon alone between 10,000 and 100,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

  • Peru

    Magnitude: 9.0
    Two huge earthquakes occurred at Arica, Peru (now Chile) that generated catastrophics. The towns of Arica and Arequipa were largely destroyed by the earthquake. In South America, more than 25,000 people were killed from the earthquake and tsunami.

  • Ecuador

    Magnitude: 8.8
    A catastrophic earthquake off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia generated a strong tsunami that killed 500 to 1500 people. It was observed all along the coast of Central America and as far north as San Francisco and west to Japan. The wave arrived in Hilo at about 12.5 hours after the earthquake.
    The range of oscillations in water level was 3.6 m.

  • Russia

    Magnitude: 9.0s

  • Chile

    Magnitude: 9.5

  • Alaska

    Magnitude: 9.2

  • Alaska

    Magnitude: 8.7

  • Indonesia

    Magnitude: 9.2

  • Chilean Coast

    Magnitude: 8.8

  • Japan

    Magnitude: 8.9