Tuesday, September 3, 2013

5 Most Tragic Earthquakes in the History

1#Chile in 1960 with magnitude 9.5    

                

World’s most dreadful earthquake ever recorded was occurred in Valdivia, Chile on May 22, 1960 with the magnitude of 9.5. It was the largest earthquake recorded ever. Approx 1,655 people were killed in a short time after the earthquake took place. Injured people were in thousands and millions were left homeless. Southern child endured a loss of $550 million USD.

          
2#Alaska in 1964 with magnitude 9.2 


2nd largest earthquake was recorded in Prince William sound, Alaska on March 27, 1964 with the magnitude of 9.2. It also gave rise to the tsunami and caused 143 deaths and a damage of $311 million USD. The tremor continued for 3 mins.


3#Sumatra in 2004 with magnitude 9.1


3rd biggest earthquake took place in Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004. Its magnitude was recorded 9.1. 227,898 deaths were recorded and about 1.7 million people were left homeless. Tsunami caused worst calamity in the history and hit 14 countries in Southeast Asia and East Africa.


4#Honshu Japan in 2011 with magnitude 9.0


 On March 11, 2011, a severe earthquake of magnitude 9.0 was recorded near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan. It was the 4th biggest earthquake in the history. The earthquake also generated the Tsunami and killed about 29,000 people and also harmed some Nuclear Reactors. It was the worst earthquake ever recorded in japan. The aftershocks continued on the Island of Honshu. 50 of them were more than 6.0 and 3 were more than 7.0.


5# Peninsula, Russia in 1952 with magnitude 9.0



5th most severe earthquake was recorded at Kamchatka, Peninsula, Russia on November 4, 1952. It had the magnitude of 9.0 and was the worst earthquake in the history before 1960. It also triggered the 43-ft tsunami. The loss of lives were zero but approx $1 million USD property damage was recorded in Hawaii.