Worst earthquakes of the past 5 decades
Where they hit, how bad they were
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing thousands, triggering avalanches on Mount Everest, and destroying buildings and historic temples in the surrounding area, including the capital city of Kathmandu.
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Major earthquakes are one of the most destructive events in the natural world. They are unpredictable and can kill thousands of people and obliterate homes, buildings and roads in a matter of seconds. Undersea quakes can also trigger tsunamis.
Earthquakes capable of causing widespread damage, injury and death have hit populated areas every year over the past decade. More than three million people were killed in quakes in the 20th century.
These are the major quakes that have hit populated regions over the past five decades:
Worst earthquakes of the past 5 decades
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Estimated death toll |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2015 | Nepal, near Namche Bazaar | 7.3 | More than 30 |
| April 25, 2015 | Nepal, near Kathmandu | 7.8 | More than 8,050 |
|
Aug. 3, 2014 | China, Near Wenping | 6.1 | More than 700 |
| Sept. 24, 2013 | Southwestern Baluchistan, Pakistan | 7.7 | More than 825 |
| April 16, 2013 | Iran | 7.8 | 40 |
| Sept. 5, 2012 | Costa Rica | 7.9 | Tsunami alert |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | Philippines | 7.6 | 1 |
| Aug. 11, 2012 | Northwestern Iran | 6.4 and 6.3 | 306 |
| April 11, 2012 | Indian Ocean | 8.6 | Tsunami alert issued, no major damage |
| Oct. 23, 2011 | Turkey | 7.2 | 603 |
| April 7, 2011 | Japan | 7.1 | 3 |
| March 11, 2011 | Japan | 9.0 | More than 18,000 (9,000 missing) |
| Feb. 27, 2010 | Chile | 8.8 | 524 killed |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | Haiti | 7.0 | 85,000 to 316,000 (gov't estimates) |
| Sept. 30, 2009 | Near Padang, Indonesia | 7.6 | 1,110 |
| April 6, 2009 | Near L'Aquila, Italy | 6.3 | 283 |
| May 12, 2008 | Sichuan province, southwest China | 7.8 | More than 80,000 |
| Sept. 12, 2007 | Sumatra, Indonesia | 8.5 | More than 25 killed |
| Aug. 15, 2007 | Peru | 8.0 | 500 |
| May 27, 2006 | Java, Indonesia | 6.3 | More than 5,500 |
| Oct. 8, 2005 | Pakistan-administered Kashmir | 7.6 | 80,000 |
| March 28, 2005 | Indonesia | 8.7 | More than 1,300 |
| Dec. 26, 2004 | Off the coast of Indonesia | 9.0 | 230,000 (includes tsunami) |
| Dec. 26, 2003 | Bam, Iran | 6.6 | 26,271 |
| June 21, 1990 | Iran | 7.7 | 35,000 |
| Dec. 7, 1988 | Armenia | 6.9 | More than 25,000 |
| Sept. 19, 1985 | Mexico | 8.1 | 9,500 |
| Sept. 16, 1978 | Iran | 7.9 | 15,000 |
| July 28, 1976 | China | 8.2 | 242,000 |
| Feb. 4, 1976 | Guatemala | 7.5 | More than 23,000 |
| Feb. 4, 1965 | Rat Islands, Alaska | 8.7 | Triggers 11-metre-high tsunami |
| March 28, 1964 | Prince William Sound, Alaska | 9.2 | 131 killed, including 128 by a tsunami |
| May 22, 1960 | Southern Chile | 9.5 | More than 1,700 |
| SOURCE: U.S. Geological Survey |