Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw, China |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.9 Mw, China 87,587 deaths |
Total fatalities | 88,011 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 12 |
6.0–6.9 | 168 |
5.0–5.9 | 1768 |
Earthquakes in 2008 resulted in about 88,011 fatalities. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was the deadliest with 87,587 fatalities, and also the largest at 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale. Other significant earthquakes struck Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Japan, Colombia, and other parts of China.
Magnitude Ranging Between | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8−9.9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
7−7.9 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 |
6−6.9 | 118 | 145 | 121 | 126 | 140 | 141 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 |
5−5.9 | 1057 | 1335 | 1215 | 1171 | 1203 | 1515 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 |
Total | 1193 | 1495 | 1352 | 1310 | 1358 | 1672 | 1844 | 1865 | 2270 | 1948 | 2057 |
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time. USGS's Website has more information.
For exact dates and live earthquakes please visit USGS's Global Earthquake Search Page and Real-time Earthquake Map or EMSC's Real-time Seismicity.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 87,587 | 7.9 | China, Sichuan | XI (Extreme) | 19.0 | May 12 |
2 | 215 | 6.4 | Pakistan, Balochistan | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | October 29 |
3 | 75 | 6.6 | Kyrgyzstan, Osh | VII (Very strong) | 27.6 | October 5 |
4 | 44 | 5.9 | DR Congo, Lake Kivu | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | February 3 |
5 | 41 | 6.1 | China, Sichuan | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | August 30 |
6 | 23 | 6.9 | Japan, Honshu | IX (Violent) | 8.0 | June 13 |
7 | 13 | 5.8 | Russia, Dagestan | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | October 11 |
8 | 11 | 5.9 | Colombia, El Calvario | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | May 24 |
9 | 10 | 6.4 | China, Tibet | VII (Very strong) | 10.0 | October 6 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.9 | 87,587 | China, Sichuan | XI (Extreme) | 19.0 | May 12 |
2 | 7.7 | 0 | Russia, Sea of Okhotsk | III (Weak) | 632.8 | July 5 |
3 | 7.4 | 3 | Indonesia, Simeulue | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | February 20 |
3 | 7.4 | 6 | Indonesia, Sulawesi | VII (Very strong) | 21.0 | November 16 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | Russia, Sea of Okhotsk | III (Weak) | 632.0 | May 12 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 9 |
7 | 7.2 | 0 | Indonesia, Sumatra | VI (Strong) | 28.0 | February 25 |
7 | 7.2 | 0 | China, Xinjiang | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | March 20 |
9 | 7.1 | 0 | Australia, Macquarie Island | V (Moderate) | 16.0 | April 12 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | VII (Very strong) | 8.0 | June 30 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, Honshu | VIII (Severe) | 22.0 | July 19 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | V (Moderate) | 36.0 | September 29 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw Canada |
---|---|
Deadliest | 4.6 Mw Algeria 1 death 6.2 Mw Indonesia 1 death |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 110 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Indonesia |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 49 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 18 |
5.0–5.9 | 146 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 China |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 147 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 New Caledonia |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 19 |
5.0–5.9 | 163 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 China |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 87,587 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 175 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 South Sandwich Islands |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 23 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 15 |
5.0–5.9 | 166 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Russia |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 124 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 China |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 54 |
Number by magnitude | |
6.0–6.9 | 16 |
5.0–5.9 | 153 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 New Zealand |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 10 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 138 |