Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2010
| |||
Strongest magnitude | 8.8 Mw ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw ![]() 160,000 deaths | ||
Total fatalities | 164,627 [1] | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
Earthquakes in 2010 resulted in nearly 165,000 fatalities. Most of these were due to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which caused an estimated 160,000 deaths, [2] making it the 8th deadliest earthquake in recorded history. Other deadly quakes occurred in China, Indonesia or Turkey. The 2010 Chile earthquake registered 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, [3] ranking it as the 6th strongest earthquake since 1900. The tsunami associated with the Chile earthquake caused tsunami advisories and warning across the entire Pacific Ocean rim, also known as the Ring of Fire.
Magnitude Ranging Between | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8−9.9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
7−7.9 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 21 |
6−6.9 | 121 | 126 | 140 | 141 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 |
5−5.9 | 1215 | 1171 | 1203 | 1515 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 | 1963 |
Total | 1352 | 1310 | 1358 | 1672 | 1844 | 1865 | 2270 | 1948 | 2057 | 2136 |
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 | 160,000 | 7.0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 13.0 | January 12 |
2 | 2,968 | 6.9 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 17.0 | April 14 |
3 | 711 | 7.8 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 20.6 | October 25 |
4 | 525 | 8.8 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | February 27 |
5 | 58 | 6.1 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | March 8 |
6 | 17 | 7.0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | June 16 |
7 | 11 | 5.6 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 13.0 | April 18 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.8 [4] | 525 [5] | ![]() | February 27 |
2 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | April 6 |
3 | 7.8 | 711 [6] | ![]() | October 25 |
4 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | July 24 |
5 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | June 13 |
5 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | August 10 |
7 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | July 24 |
7 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | December 21 |
9 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | July 18 |
9 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | July 24 |
9 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | December 25 |
12 | 7.2 | 4 | ![]() | April 4 |
12 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | May 27 |
12 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | September 29 |
16 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | January 3 |
16 | 7.1 | 1 | ![]() | August 12 |
18 | 7.0 | 2 | ![]() | September 4 |
19 | 7.0 | 160,000 | ![]() | January 12 |
18 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | February 26 |
18 | 7.0 [7] | 18 [8] | ![]() | June 16 |
19 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | August 4 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw ![]() 160,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 160,010 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 193 |
4.0–4.9 | 618 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [9] | ![]() | 5.4 | 47.0 | IV | The earthquake left 20,000 homeless, and around 1,000 houses were damaged, 98 of which collapsed. [10] | - | - |
2 [11] | ![]() | 6.1 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - |
3 [12] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | V | Foreshock of the January 3 event. It occurred forty-eight minutes before the main shock. | - | - |
3 [13] | ![]() | 7.1 | 10.0 | V | Several people were injured by the 2010 Solomon Islands earthquake , and many were left homeless by a tsunami, which reached heights of between 3 and 7 metres (10 and 23 ft). [14] | 0 | 2 |
5 [15] | ![]() | 6.8 | 13.0 | - | - | - | - |
5 [16] [17] | ![]() | 6.8 | 15.4 | III | Aftershock of the January 3 event. | - | - |
5 [18] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock of the January 3 event. | - | - |
9 [19] | ![]() | 6.2 | 12.0 | V | Aftershock of the January 3 event. | - | - |
9 [20] | ![]() | 6.5 | 29.3 | VII | 2010 Eureka earthquake | 0 | 24 [21] |
10 [22] | ![]() | 5.1 | 65.2 | III | - | 1 [23] | - |
12 [24] | ![]() | 7.0 | 13.0 | IX | The 2010 Haiti earthquake was one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history. | 100,000 to 316,000 [25] | - |
12 [26] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | VII | Aftershock of the January 12 event. It occurred seven minutes after the main shock. | - | - |
17 [27] | ![]() | 4.4 | 26.6 | IV | - | 8 [23] | - |
17 [28] | Drake Passage | 6.3 | 5.0 | II | - | - | - |
17 [29] | ![]() | 5.1 | 10.0 | VI | - | 1 [23] | - |
Strongest magnitude | 8.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.8 Mw ![]() 525 deaths |
Total fatalities | 527 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 20 |
5.0–5.9 | 279 |
4.0–4.9 | 878 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [30] | ![]() | 6.2 | 32.0 | V | - | - | - |
5 [31] | ![]() | 6.2 | 1.0 | - | - | - | - |
6 [32] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.0 | - | - | - | - |
7 [33] | ![]() | 6.3 | 21.0 | IV | - | - | - |
9 [34] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | III | - | - | - |
13 [35] | ![]() | 6.1 | 11.0 | - | - | - | - |
15 [36] | ![]() | 6.2 | 126.0 | IV | - | - | - |
18 [37] | ![]() | 6.9 | 577.7 | - | This earthquake struck near Russia's border with China and North Korea. | - | - |
22 [38] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | - | - | - | - |
26 [39] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.0 | VI | This earthquake caused some damage and two injuries. A tsunami warning was issued for the Okinawa prefecture. [40] | - | 2 |
27 [41] | ![]() | 8.8 | 22.9 | VIII | The 2010 Chile earthquake was the largest event of 2010, and the most significant earthquake to impact Chile since the 1960 Valdivia earthquake. It had a robust aftershock sequence, and tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries. [42] 350 of the 525 deaths that were attributed to this earthquake were caused by a tsunami wave of approximately 24.1 m (79 ft) that struck the coastal town of Constitución. [43] [44] | 525 | - |
27 [45] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | V | The 2010 Salta earthquake was once thought to be an aftershock of the 8.8 event, but it was later deemed to be a separate event. [46] | 2 | Dozens |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 42-57 deaths |
Total fatalities | 43-58 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 22 |
5.0–5.9 | 264 |
4.0–4.9 | 1,262 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [47] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VII | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
4 [48] | ![]() | 6.3 | 21.0 | VI | The 2010 Kaohsiung earthquake caused minor damage and over 90 injuries. [49] | - | 90+ |
4 [50] | ![]() | 6.0 | 24.2 | V | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
4 [51] | ![]() | 6.5 | 176.0 | IV | - | - | |
4 [52] | ![]() | 6.3 | 114.0 | IV | - | - | - |
5 [53] | ![]() | 6.1 | 29.9 | V | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
5 [54] | ![]() | 6.6 | 18.0 | VII | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
5 [55] | ![]() | 6.8 | 26.0 | IV | - | - | - |
7 [56] | ![]() | 6.3 | 18.0 | - | - | - | - |
8 [57] | ![]() | 6.1 | 12.0 | VI | 2010 Elazığ earthquake [49] [58] | 42-57 | 74 |
8 [59] | ![]() | 6.1 | 427.0 | - | - | - | - |
11 [60] | ![]() | 6.9 | 11.0 | VII | The 2010 Pichilemu earthquakes are likely aftershocks of the 8.8 on February 27. Both of them occurred within sixteen minutes of each other. The first earthquake occurred minutes before Sebastián Piñera was sworn in as President of Chile. [61] One person died of a heart attack in Talca, Maule Region. [62] | 1 | - |
11 [63] | ![]() | 7.0 | 18.0 | VII | |||
11 [64] | ![]() | 6.0 | 31.5 | VI | Aftershock of the 2010 Pichilemu earthquakes that occurred eleven minutes after the 7.0 event | - | - |
14 [65] | ![]() | 6.4 | 53.0 | V | - | - | - |
14 [66] | ![]() | 6.5 | 32.0 | VI | - | - | - |
15 [67] | ![]() | 6.2 | 14.0 | IV | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
16 [68] | ![]() | 6.7 | 18.0 | V | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
20 [69] | ![]() | 6.6 | 414.6 | - | - | - | - |
25 [70] | ![]() | 6.0 | 16.6 | V | - | - | - |
26 [71] | ![]() | 6.3 | 42.0 | V | - | - | - |
28 [72] | ![]() | 6.0 | 29.9 | IV | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
30 [73] | ![]() | 6.6 | 30.9 | VI | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw , ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.9 Mw , ![]() 2,698 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2,713 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 15 |
5.0–5.9 | 133 |
4.0–4.9 | 750 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [74] | ![]() | 6.0 | 24.0 | VI | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
4 [75] | ![]() | 7.2 | 10.0 | IX | 35,000 people lost their homes in the 2010 Baja California earthquake . | 4 [76] [77] | 254+ |
5 [78] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | - | - | - | - |
6 [79] | ![]() | 7.8 | 31.0 | VII | 2010 Banyak Islands earthquake | 0 | 62 |
7 [80] | ![]() | 6.0 | 23.0 | VI | - | - | - |
10 [81] | ![]() | 6.0 | 273.2 | - | - | - | - |
11 [82] | ![]() | 6.9 | 21.0 | V | - | - | - |
11 [83] | ![]() | 6.3 | 609.8 | III | - | - | - |
13 [84] | ![]() | 6.9 | 17.8 | IX | 2010 Yushu earthquake | 2,698 | 12,135 |
14 [85] | ![]() | 6.1 | 7.6 | VII | Largest aftershock of the 2010 Yushu earthquake. It occurred one hour and thirty-six minutes after the main shock. | - | - |
17 [86] | ![]() | 6.2 | 53.0 | VI | - | - | - |
18 [87] | ![]() | 5.6 | 13.0 | VI | More than 2,000 houses were destroyed in the 2010 Afghanistan earthquake . | 11 | 70+ |
21 [88] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | IV | - | - | - |
23 [89] | ![]() | 6.0 | 32.0 | VI | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - |
24 [90] | ![]() | 6.0 | 27.0 | V | - | - | - |
26 [91] | ![]() | 6.5 | 22.0 | IV | - | - | - |
30 [92] | ![]() | 6.5 | 12.0 | - | Doublet event. The two earthquakes occurred nearly five minutes apart. | - | - |
30 [93] | ![]() | 6.3 | 14.9 | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.3 Mw ![]() 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 125 |
4.0–4.9 | 693 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | |||||||
3 [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 84.0 | - | - | - | - | |
3 [95] | ![]() | 6.3 | 19.0 | VII | Aftershock of the 8.8 on February 27 | - | - | |
5 [96] | ![]() | 6.5 | 27.0 | V | - | - | - | |
6 [97] | ![]() | 6.2 | 37.0 | VI | - | - | - | |
9 [98] | 14 [99] | ![]() | 5.3 | 2.0 | VI | This is the first and largest of three events of the 2010 Beni-Ilmane earthquakes that occurred from May 13 to May 23. | 2 | 43 |
19 [100] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | - | Doublet; the two earthquakes occurred twenty-one minutes apart. | - | - | |
19 [101] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | - | - | - | ||
23 [102] | ![]() | 6.1 | 101.4 | V | - | - | - | |
24 [103] | ![]() | 6.5 | 581.2 | VI | - | - | - | |
25 [104] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | - | - | - | - | |
26 [105] | ![]() | 6.5 | 10.0 | IV | - | - | - | |
27 [106] | ![]() | 7.2 | 31.0 | VI | - | - | - | |
27 [107] | ![]() | 7.2 | 31.0 | VI | Aftershock. It occurred three hours and thirty-four minutes after the main shock. | - | - | |
31 [108] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VI | - | - | - | |
31 [109] | ![]() | 6.5 | 112.0 | V | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 18 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 125 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 15 |
5.0–5.9 | 136 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 15 |
5.0–5.9 | 133 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 135 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 712 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 135 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 137 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 11 deaths |
Total fatalities | 14 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 268 |
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities, and number of scientific studies.