The Most Devastating Earthquakes in History

The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China remains the deadliest in history.

With an estimated magnitude of 8.0, it killed around 830,000 people.

The disaster was worsened by the collapse of loess cave dwellings, where many lived.

Entire villages vanished, and the region was left in ruins, marking one of the most tragic natural disasters

ever recorded.

In 1960, Chile experienced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded, reaching a magnitude of 9.5.

The Valdivia earthquake triggered massive tsunamis that traveled across the Pacific, causing destruction as far as Japan.

Entire towns were wiped out, and over 5,000 people lost their lives.

The quake reshaped Chile’s coastline and remains a benchmark for seismic intensity.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, at magnitude 9.1, unleashed a tsunami that devastated 14 countries.

Over 230,000 people perished as waves up to 100 feet high crashed into coastal communities.

Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka were among the hardest hit.

The disaster led to global efforts to improve tsunami warning systems to prevent future tragedies.