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Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)
Magnitude between 8.5 and 9.0. Death toll of 70,000. The earthquake drew attention to political tensions in Portugal and disrupted the country's colonial ambitions. -
Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)
VEI of 6. Death toll of 36,000. This eruption generated the loudest sound ever reported in history. -
Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)
Magnitude of 8.6. Death toll of 165. The waves traveled southward towards Hawaii with an average speed of about 490 miles per hour. -
Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)
Magnitude of 9.5. Death toll of 1,655. The most powerful temblor in recorded history. -
Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)
Magnitude of 9.2. Death toll of 131. The shaking lasted for more than 4 minutes, launching several deadly tsunamis and triggering killer landslides. -
Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)
Magnitude of 7.8. Death toll of 230. The tsunami waves ranged from 5 to 10 meters high. -
Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Papua New Guinea)
Magnitude of 7.0. Death toll of around 2,200. This earthquake caused a large undersea landslide. -
Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)
Magnitude of 9.1. Death toll of 230,000. It is estimated to have released energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. -
Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)
Magnitude of 8.0. Death toll of 192. It was the largest earthquake of 2009. -
Chile Earthquake (Chile)
Magnitude of 8.8. Death toll of 500. 220,000 homes and washed away docks were destroyed. -
Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)
Magnitude of 9.1. Death toll of 18,000. People in Japan felt strong shaking for 3-5 minutes. -
Sulawesi Earthquake (Indonesia)
Magnitude of 6.2. Death toll of 2,000. The earthquake caused major soil liquefaction in areas in and around Palu.