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Lisbon Earthquake
This earthquake reached a magnitude of 9, killing about 20,000 people. It occurred in Lisbon Portugal, and is known for nearly destroying all of Lisbon and surrounding areas due to its damaging strength. This quake was also combined with tsunamis and fires which magnified the death toll. -
Krakatoa Eruption
The Krakatoa Eruption had a magnitude of 6 killing about 36,000 people. This eruption was located in the Dutch East Indies which in now present day Indonesia. The eruption is known for being one of the deadliest in all modern history. Many people died from the impact of the eruption but many more people died in the tsunamis that followed the eruption. -
Aleutian Islands Earthquake
The Aleutian Earthquake hit a magnitude of 8.1 but it only killed about 160 people due to the lower population density. This earthquake occurred in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. This earthquake was so strong that it affected people in Hawaii as well and the following tsunami reached the U.S.A.'s west coast. -
Great Chilean Earthquake
This earthquake peaked a magnitude of 9.5 killing about 1,600 people. This quake took place along the coast of Chile and it said to be the most powerful earthquake recorded. The resulting tsunami affected several other places on earth such as Hawaii, Japan, & the Philippines. -
Good Friday Earthquake
This earthquake reached a magnitude of 9.2 and killed around 130 people. The disaster took place in Alaska and resulted in a tsunami which was the primary cause of death. The quake lasted about 4.5 minutes and it known for being the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. history. The event gets its name from occurring on the Christian holiday of Good Friday. -
Hokkaido Earthquake
The Hokkaido Earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 resulting in a death toll of 120. This event took place off the west coast of the northern Japanese island Hokkaido. The earthquake resulted in a tsunami minutes later which is known for being one of the largest in Japanese history engulfing the coastline of Okushiri Island and the west coast of Hokkaido. -
Papua New Guinea Quake
The Papua New Guinea Earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.1 resulting in a death toll of about 2,100 people and left more than 6,000 people homeless. This event occurred in the northern coast of the country Papua New Guinea, which is located in the Oceania region. The force of the tsunami waves destroyed most the villages and was the primary cause of deaths. -
Sumatra Earthquake
This earthquake peaked a magnitude of 9.1 and killed about 230,000 people. The earthquake was located off the west coast of Sumatra Indonesia. This earthquake ruptured the greatest fault length of any recorded earthquake spanning a distance of about 900 miles. -
Samoa Earthquake
The Samoa Earthquake reached a magnitude of 8.1 and resulted in the death of about 200 people. This event took place in Samoa in the southern Pacific region affecting surrounded areas such as American Somoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, etc. This earthquake is unique because it occurred near an ocean trench unlike other earthquakes that occur at thrust faults. -
Chile Earthquake
The Chile Earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8 and killed about 700 people. This event occurred in Chile along the west coast of South America. The magnitude of this event was felt as far away as Brazil and Argentina. The cause of this event was due to water pressure being built up between the two plates. The lead to the main event weeks later by hundreds of aftershocks. -
Tohoku Earthquake
The Tohoku Earthquake peaked a magnitude of 9.1 resulting in a death toll of about 20,000 people. This event took place in Tohoku which is located on the northern east coast of Japan. This event was deadly because it was unexpected to receive such an event on the country's east coast. The tsunami occurred due to a earthquake in a subduction zone.
