Largest Earthquakes in the Past Century

Magnitude 8.8 - Off the coast of Ecuador

Jan 31, 1906

This earthquake off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia generated a strong tsunami that killed 500 to 1500 people. It was observed all along the coast of Central America and as far north as San Francisco and west to Japan.

Magnitude 8.6 - Assam-Tibet

Aug 15, 1950

At least 780 people killed and many buildings collapsed in the Nyingchi-Qamdo-Zhamo (Rima, Zayu) area of eastern Tibet.

Magnitude 9.0 - Off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia

Nov 4, 1952

Although no lives were lost, this earthquake produced tsunamis of over two to 13 meters that reached California, Alaska and Hawaii. Property damage from these waves was estimated at $800,000 to $1,500,000.Although no lives were lost, this earthquake produced tsunamis of over two meters that reached California, Alaska and Hawaii. Property damage from these waves was estimated at $800,000 to $1,500,000.

Magnitude 9.5 - Chile

May 22, 1960

Regarded as the largest earthquake in the World, this earthquake left approximately 1,655 dead, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550 million damage in southern Chile; while its tsunamis caused 61 deaths, $75 million damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000 damage to the west coast of the United States.

Magnitude 9.2 - Prince William Sound, Alaska

Mar 28, 1964

This great earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 128 lives (tsunami 113, earthquake 15), and caused about $311 million in property loss. The maximum wave height of the tsunamis it produced was recorded at 67 meters, hitting the coasts of Alaska, West of United States and Hawaii.

Magnitude 8.7 - Rat Islands, Alaska

Feb 4, 1965

This earthquake generated a tsunami reported to be about 10.7 meters high, causing an estimated loss at in the island at about $10,000.

Magnitude 9.1 - Off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Dec 26, 2004

This is the third largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and is the largest since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake. In total, 227,898 people were killed or were missing and presumed dead and about 1.7 million people were displaced by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 14 countries in South Asia and East Africa.

Magnitude 8.6 - Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Mar 28, 2005

Over 1,300 people died while tsunamis with lenghts of two to three meters pummeled the coasts of Sumatra in Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. .</a>

Magnitude 8.8 - Off the shore of Chile

Feb 27, 2010

This earthquake left at least 523 people dead, 24 missing, about 12,000 injured and 800,000 displaced, affecting almost 1.8 million people in Chile and amassing economic loss estimated at 30 billion US dollars. This also generated tsunamis that reached as far as Washington and California in the United States.

Magnitude 9.0 - Coast of Honshu, Japan

Mar 11, 2011

This quake that battered Japan left 15,703 people dead, 4,647 missing, 5,314 injured, 130,927 displaced and at least 332,395 buildings, 2,126 roads, 56 bridges and 26 railways destroyed or damaged. Tsunamis with a maximum height of 37.88 meters also pounded the entire east coast of Honshu from Chiba to Aomori at Miyako. The total economic loss in Japan was estimated at 309 billion US dollars.Thousands of people were also evacuated in Fukushima due to the dangers its five nuclear plants may bring after it was devastated by the earthquake.