New Delhi: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck western China’s mountainous region near the Nepal border. The devastating earthquake has killed over 50 people and injured over 60 people, and has also extensively damaged buildings and infrastructure. As per the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was 93 kilometres northeast of Lobuche in Nepal near the border with Tibet. The tremors have also been been felt in Nepal, Bihar, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and some northeastern states. On this occasion, we will take a look at some of the deadliest earthquakes in history.
Nine deadliest earthquakes in history
1920 Haiyuan earthquake
It took place on December 16, 1920, in China’s Haiyuan. Also known as the 1920 Gansu earthquake, it caused massive destruction in Lijunbu, Haiyuan and Ganyanchi and was assigned the maximum intensity on the Mercalli intensity scale. About 258,707 to 273,407 people died, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in China and disasters in China by death toll.
526 Antioch earthquake
It took place in around later May 526, probably between May 20 and 29. It struck Syria, especially the city of Antioch in the Byzantine Empire and around 250,000 people died. In Antioch, after the earthquake, a fire ravaged the city and destroyed most of the buildings which were standing after the earthquake.
1976 Tangshan earthquake
It was an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude that hit the region around Tangshan in China on July 28, 1976. Within minutes of its impact, 85 per cent of the buildings in Tangshan collapsed or were rendered unusable and most of the highway and railway bridges collapsed or were damaged. While the official report claimed that 242,769 people died and 164,851 people were seriously injured in Tangshan, scholars have later agreed that the death toll could be at least 300,000, which makes it the deadliest earthquake in history.
1139 Ganja earthquake
It was one of the worst earthquakes in history. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.7 and affected the Seljuk Empire and the Kingdom of Georgia located in today’s Azerbaijan and Georgia. The death toll ranged from 230,000 to 300,000 people, but it is disputed.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 to 9.3 struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra. The undersea megathrust earthquake, called the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, triggered a tsunami which devastated communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries, mainly in Indonesia’s Aceh and severely in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Khao Lak in Thailand.
1303 Hongdong earthquake
It took place on September 25, 1303, in the Mongol Empire which was ruled by the Yuan dynasty. The shock was estimated to have a moment magnitude of 7.6. In the towns of Zhaocheng and Hongdong, the quake destroyed every major building and temple and more than half of their population perished. In the Huo county, Shanxi, the quake destroyed every building. In Taiyuan and Pingyang, more than 200,000 people died.
856 Damghan earthquake
It took place on December 22, 856, and had an estimated magnitude of 7.9. The epicenter of the earthquake is estimated to be close Damghan, the then capital of the Persian province of Qumis. Around 200,000 people died and the United States Geological Survey has listed it as one of the deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
2010 Haiti earthquake
A catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 7 struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. By January 24, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. It affected around three million people and death toll estimates range from 100,000 to about 160,000. As per the Haitian government, the death toll range estimates range from 220,000 to 316,000, although these latter figures have been disputed.
1138 Aleppo earthquake
The earthquake was named after Aleppo, a city in northern Syria where the most casualties took place. The area of Aleppo was devastated by the earthquake. It took place on October 11, 1138, and as per the report of Islamic historian Ibn Taghribirdi in the 15th century, 230,000 people died from the quake. However, the figure is most likely based on a historical conflation of this earthquake with earthquakes in November 1137.
This article explores the nine deadliest earthquakes in recorded history, highlighting the catastrophic impact of these natural disasters. From the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake in China to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the article details the immense destruction caused by these seismic events. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
