The recent magnitude 8.8 earthquake that shook the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia is tied for the 6th largest earthquake in recorded history. It sparked tsunami warnings across the Pacific, stretching to the west coast of the United States. More than two million people received orders to evacuate. Fortunately, despite the severity of the earthquake, no deaths were reported. But what about the 5 largest earthquakes in recorded history?
5. 1952 Kamchatka, Russia, Earthquake – Magnitude 9
The 1952 Kamchatka quake in Russia was the first ever recorded magnitude 9. The large tsunami that it triggered did over $1 million worth of property damage in Hawaii.
4. 2011 Tลhoku, Japan, Earthquake – Magnitude 9.1
The magnitude 9.1 quake that struck Tลhoku, Japan, in 2011 triggered a devastating tsunami that struck the coast of Japan, leading to the Fukushima nuclear disaster and causing $220 billion in damage. 19,747 people lost their lives due to this disaster.
3. 2004 Sumatra, Indonesia, Earthquake – Magnitude 9.1
The 2004 quake that struck Sumatra, Indonesia, shook for at least 5 minutes. It resulted in a massive tsunami, killing 280,000 people while displacing 1.1 million more. The first waves from the tsunami reached the city of Banda Aceh within 15-20 minutes after the quake.
2. 1964 Alaska, United States – Magnitude 9.2
The 1964 earthquake that shook Alaska, nicknamed the Great Alaskan Quake, was the largest in the recorded history of the United States. It struckย on March 27 and lasted for nearly 3 minutes. The quake caused major structural damage in multiple communities. A massive underwater landslide killed 30 people in the Port of Valdez, while a 27-foot high tsunami killed 23 of the 68 people living in the village of Chenega.
1. 1960 Biobรญo, Chile – Magnitude 9.5
The Valdivia Earthquake that struck Chile on May 22, 1960, was the largest earthquake in recorded history. Two million people were left homeless, at least 3,000 people were injured, and around 1,655 people were killed. Economic damage totaled around $550 million.
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