Magnitude: 8.6; 60,000 people killed.
Most of Lisbon's 250,000 inhabitants were at church for All Saints' Day when the
first quake struck at 9:40 a.m. on November 1, 1755. It was followed by an even
more powerful tremor, which sent buildings toppling down on the terrified
populace. Huge waves generated by the quake crashed over the quays, drowning
thousands and causing widespread damage. Fire raged through what was left of the
city, burning for three days. Other countries also experienced a great deal of
destruction in the Lisbon quake and associated tsunamis. For instance,
approximately 10,000 people died in Morocco alone.
Magnitude 8.3; 700 people killed.
Most of San Francisco lay in ruins after movement along 270 miles (430
kilometers) of California's San Andreas fault generated an 8.3 earthquake.
However, it was the post-quake fire, which swept through the city that caused
most of the damage.
Magnitude 8.5; 200,000 people killed.
The Kansu region had been earthquake-free for 280 years before this disastrous
quake struck. A great deal of the damage was due largely to poor soil conditions
throughout the province with intense shock waves causing violent undulations of
surface clay and several landslips. An area 280 miles by 95 miles (450km by
150km) was severely affected by landscape deformation. Ten cities suffered
widespread destruction and heavy casualties.
Magnitude 8.3; 143,000 people killed.
The 1923 earthquake was one of Japan's worst natural disasters. The ground shook
for five minutes as the Sagami Bay Fault ruptured. Thousands of buildings
collapsed and a tsunami measuring 36 feet (11 meters) struck the coast. Most
destructive of all were the resulting fires. A massive firestorm swept through
Tokyo, destroying two thirds of the city's remaining buildings and burning
thousands. A commemoration service is held annually in Tokyo on the anniversary
of the catastrophic event.
Magnitude 5.9; 12,500 people killed.
Although smaller in size seismically than other historical earthquakes, the 1960
Agadir quake still caused tremendous damage. Occuring directly under the town of
Agadir, Morocco, it reduced the town to ruins in seconds. Thousands of people
were buried beneath the vast piles of rubble. Destruction was so wide-spread
that rebuilding was considered out of the question, and the area was abandoned.
Tangshan, China, July 27, 1976
Magnitude 8.0; 255,000 people killed.
This is probably the greatest death toll from an earthquake in the last four
centuries, and the second greatest in recorded history. An additional 800,000
people were reported injured. Damage extended as far as Beijing, but was
particularly extensive in the Tangshan area.
Magnitude 8.1; 9,500 people killed.
Felt by almost 20 million people, this devastating earthquake injured nearly
30,000 people and left more than 100,000 people homeless. Severe damage was
caused in parts of Mexico City, as well as several central Mexico states. In
Mexico City, 412 buildings collapsed and another 3,124 were seriously damaged. A
large percentage of the buildings that were damaged in Mexico City were between
8 and 18 stories high, indicating resonance effects due to the soft soils under
the city.
Magnitude 6.8; 25,000 people killed.
About 19,000 people were injured and 500,000 left homeless in the Leninakan-Spitak-Kirovakan
area of northern Armenia, USSR. More than 20 towns and 342 villages were
affected, 58 of them destroyed completely. Spitak was almost totally destroyed,
and one-quarter of the housing units in Leninakan were destroyed or damaged.
Magnitude 6.8; 60 people killed.
In addition to killing 60 people, this early morning quake injured more than
7,000 people and left 20,000 homeless. More than 40,000 buildings were damaged
in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. Damages were
estimated to be in the range of $20 billion (U.S.).
Magnitude 6.8; 5,530 people killed.
The Great Kobe Quake as it is called, killed 5,530 people, injured another
37,000. There was extensive damage in the Kobe area and on the island of
Awajishima with more than 200,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Total damages
were estimated at US$100 billion.
Magnitude 7.6; 17,000+ people killed.
More than 17,000 people were killed in this massive earthquake and many more
were left homeless since many buildings were uninhabitable. Thousands of
families in the region have been living in tent cities in fields since the quake.
Magnitude 7.6; 2,200+ people killed.
This 1999 quake killed more than 2,200 people and left several thousands more
homeless. Thousands of families in the region have been living in tent cities in
fields.
CHILE EARTHQUAKE 2010:
WHY THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE WASN'T AS STRONG,BUT FAR MORE DEVASTANTING.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The earthquake in Chile was far stronger than the one that struck Haiti last month – yet the death toll in this Caribbean nation is magnitudes higher.
The reasons are simple.
Chile is wealthier and infinitely better prepared, with strict building codes, robust emergency response and a long history of handling seismic catastrophes. No living Haitian had experienced a quake at home when the Jan. 12 disaster crumbled their poorly constructed buildings.
And Chile was relatively lucky this time.
Saturday's quake was centered offshore an estimated 21 miles (34 kilometers) underground in a relatively unpopulated area while Haiti's tectonic mayhem struck closer to the surface – about 8 miles (13 kilometers) – and right on the edge of Port-au-Prince, factors that increased its destructiveness.
"Earthquakes don't kill – they don't create damage – if there's nothing to damage," said Eric Calais, a Purdue University geophysicist studying the Haiti quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey says eight Haitian cities and towns – including this capital of 3 million – suffered "violent" to "extreme" shaking in last month's 7-magnitude quake, which Haiti's government estimates killed some 220,000 people. Chile's death toll was in the hundreds.
By contrast, no Chilean urban area suffered more than "severe" shaking – the third most serious level – Saturday in its 8.8-magnitude disaster, by USGS measure. The quake was centered 200 miles (325 kms) away from Chile's capital and largest city, Santiago.
In terms of energy released at the epicenter, the Chilean quake was 501 times stronger. But energy dissipates rather quickly as distances grow from epicenters – and the ground beneath Port-au-Prince is less stable by comparison and "shakes like jelly," says University of Miami geologist Tim Dixon.
With Love and regards
Reha Uzundere
Chairman
Leader of the world tourism
Citation: Pacific Disaster Center,The Huffington Post
Webmaster: Reha Uzundere
