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Lisbon Earthquake, Portugal
With a magnitude of 8.5-9.0 from the earthquake and death toll estimated from 10,000 to 100,000 the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake was devastating for the Kingdom of Portugal. The disaster further increased political tensions and domestic issues, holding back Portugal's ambitions of colonial expansion. -
Krakatoa Eruption, Indonesia
The volcanic eruption measured a 6 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index and the massive tsunami resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 people with waves up to 41m. The sound made from the Krakatoa eruption is the loudest sound in recorded history, clearly heard up to 3,000 miles away -
Aleutian Earthquake, Alaska
The Aleutian Earthquake in the Aleutian Islands occurred with a magnitude of 8.6. The tsunami resulted in the deaths of 165 people and over $26 million in damage. The tsunami not only reached mainland Alaska, but also the islands of Hawaii. -
Great Chilean Earthquake, Chile
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake had a magnitude of 9.5 and resulted in a death toll of approximately 1,655 from the tsunami. The economic damage from the disaster, adjusted for inflation, totaled to be over $2 billion. -
Good Friday Earthquake, Alaska
Striking Alaska with a magnitude of 9.2, the Good Friday Earthquake is the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded, only behind the Great Chilean Earthquake. The disaster resulted in 131 deaths. -
Hokkaido Earthquake, Japan
The Hokkaido earthquake hit the Sea of Japan by the island of Hokkaido with a magnitude of 7.7. This disaster led to the deaths of 239 people. The resulting tsunami was devastating attributing to more than half of the deaths and destroying 558 homes. -
Papua New Guinea Quake, Papua New Guinea
The 1998 Papua New Guinea Earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 7.0. About 2,183 - 2,700 people were killed in the disaster. The tsunami completely leveled the entire villages of Sissano, Warapu, Arop, and Malomo, leaving over 10,000 people displaced. -
Sumatra Earthquake, Indonesia
With a magnitude of 9.1, the Sumatra earthquake was one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded. Along with 227,898 people dead because of the disaster, $15 billion of total damages were suffered. -
Samoa Earthquake, Samoan Islands
Resulting from an undersea earthquake, the Samoa earthquake and following tsunami were disastrous with the earthquake's powerful magnitude of 8.1 and the 160 - 189 casualties that came of the disaster. -
Chile Earthquake, Chile
The magnitude of the 2010 Chile Earthquake was 8.8 and the earthquake event occurred off the coast of central Chile. The disaster was responsible for more than 500 deaths. Intense shaking from the quake persisted for about three minutes creating massive disruption. -
Tohoku Earthquake, Japan
Off the pacific coast of Tohoku, a magnitude 9 undersea earthquake resulted in a massive tsunami. 15,889 deaths were accounted for and an estimated $199 billion in damages were taken. The tsunami also led to the Fukushima nuclear meltdown.
