Deadliest Earthquakes since 1950

Earthquakes are caused by the movements within the Earth’s crust. There are some of the worst earthquakes in history which shook the world. To know more, here is a timeline of some of the world’s worst earthquakes since 1950 that you should know. Check it out! 

Major Earthquakes in History Since 1950

• March 2, 2016 – The Sumatra earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck in the Indian Ocean, approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia. Tsunami warnings were briefly issued for Indonesia and Australia, but were withdrawn two hours later.
• April 25, 2015 – A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and injured more than 22,000. It destroyed multi-story buildings in Kathmandu, the capital and created landslides in the Himalaya Mountain.
• April 11, 2012 – A massive 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia which triggered tsunami warnings in more than two dozen nations. The earthquake was centered 20 miles beneath the ocean about 270 miles.
• March 11, 2011 – A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of Japan’s Tohoku region. It triggered a massive tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people.
• February 27, 2010 – The 2010 Chile earthquake was a magnitude of 8.8, generating a tsunami which killed 524 people. It occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February at 03:34 local time.
• September 12, 2007 – A magnitude 8.5 earthquake near Southern Sumatra in Indonesia killed at least 25 people.
• March 28, 2005 – At least 1,300 people were killed on the island of Nias. The Simeulue earthquake occurred on 28 March off the West coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. A magnitude-8.6 quake in northern Sumatra in Indonesia kills about 1,300 people.
• December 26, 2004 – Magnitude 9.1 Sumatra Andaman earthquake occurred in Indonesia, along a tectonic subduction zone in which the India Plate, an oceanic plate, is being subducted beneath the Burma microplate, part of the larger Sunda plate. It killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.
• February 4, 1965 – A magnitude 8.7 earthquake strikes Alaska’s Rat Islands, which caused an 11-meter (35 foot) -high tsunami. It killed about 1,300 people.
• March 28, 1964 – On the morning of March 28, 1964, without any warning the largest earthquake struck Alaska’s Prince William Sound. It is a magnitude of 9.2which killed around 131 people, including 128 from a tsunami.
• October 13, 1963 – The Kuril Islands earthquake occurred on October 13, 1963 with a magnitude of 8.5. The quake triggered a tsunami in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.
• May 22, 1960 – One of the most powerful with highest magnitude earthquakes of 9.5 struck southern Chile. It left two million people homeless, injured 3,000 people and killed at least 1,716 people.
• March 9, 1957 – This tsunami’s magnitude was 8.6 near the Andreanof Islands in Alaska. This was the second tsunami from the Aleutian Islands in the 20th century.
• Nov. 4, 1952 – The Kamchatka Tsunami was a 9.0 magnitude. It caused extreme damage to the area and around 10,000 to 15,000 people died.
• Aug. 15, 1950 – A magnitude 8.6 earthquake in Tibet also known as the Assam earthquake, occurred in 150. It killed at least 780 people.