Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Most powerful and deadly quakes of the past 100 years
Debris from a collapsed wall sits in Oaxaca, Mexico, after an earthquake early Friday, September 8, 2017.
News
September 8, 2017

Most powerful and deadly quakes of the past 100 years

PARIS, France (AFP) — The 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico Thursday is the most powerful to hit the country since 1985 when a quake measured at 8.1 killed around 10,000 people.

These are the world’s most powerful earthquakes in the past 100 years and some of the most deadly. The magnitudes are provided by the US Government’s United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Most powerful

Chile, 1960: 9.5

The most powerful ever recorded, the quake hit Chile’s coast in May, lasting about 10 minutes. Around 5,700 people are killed in Chile; the resulting tsunami leaves 130 dead in Japan and 61 in Hawaii.

Alaska, 1964: 9.2

The largest earthquake recorded in the United States, it strikes the Prince William Sound area in March and unleashes a large tsunami but causes only around 123 deaths.

Japan, 2011: 9.1

This quake triggers a devastating tsunami off north-eastern Japan, leaving some 18,500 people dead, and crippling the Fukushima nuclear power plant in the world’s worst atomic disaster in 25 years.

Indonesia, 2004: 9.1

The earthquake strikes off the coast of Sumatra in December and unleashes a tsunami that kills 220,000 in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

Russia, 1952: 9.0

More than 2,300 people are killed when this quake hits Siberia’s Kamchatka peninsula, causing a tsunami felt as far as Chile and Peru.

Chile, 2010: 8.8

The quake is intense but kills only around 450 people, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific.

China, 1976: 242,000 killed

A quake measured at 7.4 strikes near the industrial city of Tangshan in north-eastern Hebei province. The official death toll is given as 242,000 but is believed to be significantly higher.

China, 1920: up to 235,000 reported killed

This quake, measured at 8.3, hits the Haiyuan county of the northern province of Ningxia and causes aftershocks for several years.

Haiti, 2010: more than 200,000 killed

A 7.0-quake hits in January, destroying thousands of buildings and leaving at least 200,000 people dead.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

6-y-o dies at hospital after sister, parents drown in UK beach outing
Features, International News, Latest News
6-y-o dies at hospital after sister, parents drown in UK beach outing
August 22, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A six-year-old girl from a British-Palestinian family has died in hospital after a seaside drowning tragedy that claime...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US judge strikes down Trump’s 75-country immigrant visa ban
International News, Latest News
US judge strikes down Trump’s 75-country immigrant visa ban
August 22, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A United States (US) federal judge has struck down a government ban on visas to nationals from 75 countries, includi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Man Utd humiliated by Hull in dismal start to Premier League season
Latest News, Sports
Man Utd humiliated by Hull in dismal start to Premier League season
August 22, 2026
KINGSTON UPON HULL, United Kingdom (AFP) — Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on Saturday in a dismal start to the...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fans valued at $1.7m donated to Princess Margaret Hospital
Latest News, News
Fans valued at $1.7m donated to Princess Margaret Hospital
August 21, 2026
ST THOMAS, Jamaica — Patients and staff at the Princess Margaret Hospital in St Thomas can now look forward to a cooler and more comfortable environme...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica to open Nations League campaign at home against Guatemala on Sept 25
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica to open Nations League campaign at home against Guatemala on Sept 25
August 21, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will host their first two games in the fifth edition of the Concacaf Nations League, it was confirmed on Fri...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Shericka Jackson pulls up, falls in 200m at Lausanne Diamond League
Latest News, Sports
Shericka Jackson pulls up, falls in 200m at Lausanne Diamond League
August 21, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Olympic Games and World Championship medallist Shericka Jackson failed to complete the women’s 200m on Friday’s Wanda Di...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Murder suspect Marko “Shella” German shot dead by police in Rollington Town
Latest News, News
Murder suspect Marko “Shella” German shot dead by police in Rollington Town
August 21, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  A man who was being sought in connection with a murder on Wednesday, was shot dead by the police on Waterloo Road in Rollington T...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Market Bag: Lettuce climbs to $1,400 as prices soar at market
August 21, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Lettuce prices surged this week at the Coronation Market in Kingston, with shoppers now paying $1,400 per pound as food costs cont...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct