Timeline: Major deadly earthquakes in the past two decades
SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Rescuers work to recover the body of a victim from a collapsed building following an earthquake in rebel-held Idlib, Syria February 6, 2023. White Helmets/via REUTERS
Some of the world’s most deadly earthquakes in the past two decades are listed below, after a 7.8 magnitude quake struck central Turkey and northwest Syria on Monday and killed hundreds of people.
Aug. 14, 2021 – Haiti
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying or damaging about 13,000 homes.
Sept. 28, 2018 – Indonesia
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Sulawesi, resulting in a 1.5 meter tsunami and killing more than 4,300 people.
Nov. 12, 2017 – Iran
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the eastern Kermanshah region, killing more than 400 people. At least six people died in neighboring Iraq.
Sept. 19, 2017 – Mexico
A 7.1 magnitude quake hit central Mexico, killing at least 369 people and causing more devastation in the capital than any temblor since an earthquake in 1985 that killed thousands.
Article continues after this advertisementAug. 24, 2016 – Italy
A 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities east of Rome in central Italy, killing about 300 people.
Article continues after this advertisementApril 16, 2016 – Ecuador
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake hammered Ecuador, killing more than 650 people on the country’s Pacific coast.
Oct 26, 2015 – Afghanistan
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked the Afghan northeast, killing nearly 400 people in the country as well as in northern Pakistan.
Apr 25, 2015 – Nepal
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake ravaged impoverished Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and disrupting the lives of more than eight million.
Aug 3, 2014 – China
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake devastated southwestern China, killing at least 600 people in a remote area of Yunnan province.
Sept 24, 2013 – Pakistan
Twin earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 6.8 magnitude, rattled southwestern Balochistan province, killing at least 825 people.
Aug 11, 2012 – Iran
Two strong quakes, measuring 6.4 magnitude and 6.3 respectively, killed at least 300 people near the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran.
Oct 23, 2011 – Turkey
A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook southeast Turkey, killing more than 600 people.
March 11, 2011 – Japan
A 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan’s northeast, killing about 15,690 people and injuring 5,700. The earthquake also triggered the world’s biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
Feb 22, 2011 – New Zealand
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, killing at least 180 people.
Feb 27, 2010 – Chile
An 8.8 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami in Chile killed more than 500 people, wrecking hundreds of thousands of homes and mangling highways and bridges.
Jan 13, 2010 – Haiti
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince and killed about 316,000 people. The United Nations estimated 80,000 buildings in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas were destroyed.
May 12, 2008 – China
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province, killing about 87,600 people.
Dec 26, 2004 – Asia
A 9.15 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that barreled into Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and many other countries in the region, devastating villages and tourist islands and leaving almost 230,000 dead or missing.
Oct 8, 2005 – Pakistan
A 7.6 magnitude quake northeast of Islamabad killed at least 73,000 people. The quake also rocked Indian Kashmir, killing 1,244 there.
Dec. 26, 2003 – Iran
a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit the southeastern Kerman province and flattened the city of Bam, killing 31,000 people.
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