Earthquake history

The deadliest earthquakes in history.

1. Shaanxi, China 800.000+ dead.

2. Ningxia–Gansu, China 273.000 dead

3. Hebei, China, estimated, approximately 650,000, reported 240-255,000

4. Antioch, Turkey, approximately 250,000

Detailed chart, confirmed chart

Date Location Deaths Magnitude
Jan. 23, 1556 Shansi, China 830,000 ~8
July 27, 1976 Tangshan, China 255,0001 7.5
Aug. 9, 1138 Aleppo, Syria 230,000 n.a.
Dec. 26, 2004 off west coast of northern Sumatra 225,000+ 9.0
Jan. 12, 2010 Haiti 222,570 7.0
Dec. 22, 8562 Damghan, Iran 200,000 n.a.
May 22, 1927 near Xining, Tsinghai, China 200,000 7.9
Dec. 16, 1920 Gansu, China 200,000 7.8
March 23, 8932 Ardabil, Iran 150,000 n.a.
Sept. 1, 1923 Kwanto, Japan 143,000 7.9
Oct. 5, 1948 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, USSR 110,000 7.3
Dec. 28, 1908 Messina, Italy 70,000–
100,0003
7.2
Sept. 1290 Chihli, China 100,000 n.a.
May 12, 2008 Eastern Sichuan, China 87,587 7.9
Oct. 8, 2005 Pakistan  80,361 7.6
Nov. 1667 Shemakha, Caucasia  80,000 n.a.
Nov. 18, 1727 Tabriz, Iran  77,000 n.a.
Dec. 25, 1932 Gansu, China  70,000 7.6
Nov. 1, 1755 Lisbon, Portugal  70,000 8.7
May 31, 1970 Peru  66,000 7.9
May 30, 1935 Quetta, Pakistan  30,000–
60,000
7.5
Jan. 11, 1693 Sicily, Italy  60,000 n.a.
12684 Silicia, Asia Minor  60,000 n.a.
June 20, 1990 Iran  50,000 7.7
Feb. 4, 1783 Calabria, Italy  50,000 n.a.

The aftermath of an devastating earthquake in the town of Beichuan