Travel Light

World’s 10 strongest earthquakes

The green planet - 13 days ago - Ellen

While we were partying at home, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake shook South America with its epicenter in Chile. Tsunami created by this quake threatens to wash over the islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Japan and the Philippines in 24-hour time frame. Warnings have been issued to the residents of low-lying areas, particularly those who live along the coastal lines of the Pacific to abandon their places and move to a higher ground. Maybe next time consider those Outer Banks beach rentals or any inland summer getaway. But who’s safe these days?

The Chilean earthquake is the fifth strongest on record since 1900. And there were more devastating quakes than that.

1) May 22, 1960
Southern Chile
Magnitude 9.5
Death toll: 1,655

2) March 28, 1964
Prince William Sound, Alaska
Magnitude 9.2
Death toll: 113

3) December 26, 2004
Northern Sumatra
Magnitude 9.1
Death toll: 227,898

4) November 4, 1952
Kamchatka Peninsula
Magnitude 9.0
Death toll: none

5) February 27, 2010
Maule, Chile
Magnitude 8.8
Death toll: to be determined

6) January 31, 1908
Ecuador
Magnitude 8.8
Death toll: unknown

7) February 4, 1965
Rat Islands, Alaska
Magnitude 8.7
Death toll: no reported deaths

8 ) March 28, 2005
Northern Sumatra
Magnitude 8.6
Death toll: 1,400

9) August 15, 1950
Assam, India and Tibet
Magnitude 8.6
Death toll: 780

10) March 9, 1957
Andreanof Islands, Alaska
Magnitude 8.6
Death toll: none