|
| Year |
Location |
Magnitude |
Comment |
|
| 1783 |
Calabria, Italy
|
|
50,000 deaths. One of the world's most destructive earthquakes.
A series of six strong earthquakes, occurring over a two-month period,
caused massive destruction. Their effects were localized;
while some towers were leveled, others nearby sustained only minor damage.
Loss of life and
property was enormous. The earthquakes were the subject of several detailed investigations, including a study by the first appointed "Earthquake Commission."
The Calabrian
earthquakes of 1783 were responsible for a great surge of interest in the
construction of seismic
recording instruments in eighteenth-century Italy.
This was the first earthquake to be investigated scientifically.
|
|
| 1965 |
Rat Islands, Alaska
|
8.7 |
One of the Largest Earthquakes in the World
and
one of the Largest Earthquakes in the United States.
This earthquake caused a tsunami
that was recorded widely across the Pacific.
Minor flooding damage was reported from
Amchitka, and from Shemya where wave heights were
reported to have reached 30 to 35 feet along the
southern shore of the island.
From United States Earthquakes, 1965.
|
|
| 1972 |
Central Italy
|
4.5 |
A series of hundreds of relatively minor
shocks near the Italian town of Ancona on the
Adriatic coast caused wide-spread panic,
some damage, several injuries, and one death.
This was the largest of the shocks.
It sent thousands of people fleeing to the
countryside. Police estimated that only
about 10,000 people from a population
of 100,000 remained in town.
Most people found shelter in tents,
railway coaches, and buses on the
outskirts as shocks continued for
several days. Terrified prisoners were
transferred to jails in other cities.
Damage was reported to 150 buildings
with intensities reaching VIII
on the Mercalli scale toppling roofs
and cracking walls. A schoolteacher
died of a heart attack and several
other people were stricken.
From Significant Earthquakes of the World 1972
and Earthquake Information Bulletin, Volume 4, Number 3.
|
|
| 1975 |
Haicheng, China
|
7.0 |
Heavy damage and casualties reported in
Yingkou-Haicheng area.
From Significant Earthquakes of the World 1975.
2,000 dead. One of the world's deadliest earthquakes.
"One well-known successful earthquake prediction was
for the Haicheng, China earthquake of 1975,
when an evacuation warning was issued the
day before a M 7.3 earthquake.
In the preceding months changes in land elevation
and in ground water levels, widespread reports of peculiar
animal behavior, and many foreshocks had led
to a lower-level warning.
An increase in foreshock activity triggered the evacuation warning.
Unfortunately, most earthquakes do not have such obvious precursors.
In spite of their success in 1975, there was no warning of the 1976
Tangshan earthquake, magnitude 7.6, which caused an
estimated 250,000 fatalities."
From
Earthquake Prediction Information.
|
|
| 1976 |
Guatemala
|
7.5 |
Over 23,000 deaths.
One of the world's deadliest earthquakes.
The earthquake was centered about 160 kilometers northeast
of Guatemala City.
Thousands injured. Damage was extensive. Most adobe type
structures in the outlying areas of Guatemala City
were completely destroyed, leaving thousands homeless.
Transporation was impeded by the many landslides occurring
in the area. Food and water supplies were severely reduced. Some
of the areas were without electricity and communication
for days. The main shock was followed by thousands
of aftershocks, some of the larger ones causing additional loss
of life and damage.
From Significant Earthquakes of the World 1976
and Earthquake Information Bulletin, Volume 8, Number 4.
Damage Photos from the USGS Photographic Library
|
|
| 1997 |
Northeastern Iran
|
6.5 |
At least 88 people killed, nearly 2,000 injured, about 5,500
houses destroyed and 11,000 houses damaged in the
Bojnurd-Shirvan area, Iran. Damage estimated at more
than 30 million U.S. dollars. Felt in many parts of
northeastern Iran, including Esfarayen, Mashhad,
Neyshabur, Quchan, and Sabzevar.
From
Significant Earthquakes of the World 1997
|
|
| 1998 |
Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan
|
5.9 |
10th Anniversary
At least
2,323 people killed, 818 injured, 8,094 houses
destroyed, 6,725 livestock killed and landslides
occurred in the Rostaq area, Afghanistan. Felt at
Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
One of the world's deadliest earthquakes.
|
|
|
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey