Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2008
| |||
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw, ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | 7.9 Mw, ![]() | ||
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 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 19.0 | May 12 |
2 | 215 | 6.4 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | October 29 |
3 | 75 | 6.6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 27.6 | October 5 |
4 | 44 | 5.9 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | February 3 |
5 | 41 | 6.1 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | August 30 |
6 | 23 | 6.9 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 8.0 | June 13 |
7 | 13 | 5.8 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | October 11 |
8 | 11 | 5.9 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | May 24 |
9 | 10 | 6.4 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 10.0 | October 6 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.9 | 87,587 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 19.0 | May 12 |
2 | 7.7 | 0 | ![]() | III (Weak) | 632.8 | July 5 |
3 | 7.4 | 3 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | February 20 |
3 | 7.4 | 6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 21.0 | November 16 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | III (Weak) | 632.0 | May 12 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 9 |
7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 28.0 | February 25 |
7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | March 20 |
9 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 16.0 | April 12 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 8.0 | June 30 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 22.0 | July 19 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 36.0 | September 29 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 4.6 Mw ![]() 1 death 6.2 Mw ![]() 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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
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 ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 54 |
Number by magnitude | |
6.0–6.9 | 16 |
5.0–5.9 | 153 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 10 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 138 |
The Aleutian Trench is an oceanic trench along a convergent plate boundary which runs along the southern coastline of Alaska and the Aleutian islands. The trench extends for 3,400 kilometres (2,100 mi) from a triple junction in the west with the Ulakhan Fault and the northern end of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench, to a junction with the northern end of the Queen Charlotte Fault system in the east. It is classified as a "marginal trench" in the east as it runs along the margin of the continent. The subduction along the trench gives rise to the Aleutian Arc, a volcanic island arc, where it runs through the open sea west of the Alaska Peninsula. As a convergent plate boundary, the trench forms part of the boundary between two tectonic plates. Here, the Pacific Plate is being subducted under the North American Plate at a dip angle of nearly 45°. The rate of closure is 7.5 centimetres (3 in) per year.
The Valparaíso earthquake of April 2017 was a strong earthquake that shook the cities of Valparaíso and Santiago on Monday, April 24, 2017, at 18:38 local time. Its epicenter was located off the coast of the Valparaíso Region and had a magnitude of 6.9 Mw. On the scale of Mercalli, the earthquake reached an intensity of VII.
An earthquake occurred off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021, at 10:15 p.m. local time. The large megathrust earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A tsunami warning was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but later cancelled. The mainshock was followed by a number of aftershocks, including three that were of magnitude 5.9, 6.1 and 6.9 respectively.