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(NEXSTAR) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8, among the most powerful in history, occurred off Russia’s coast on Tuesday, triggering global tsunami alerts. But how does it rank against history’s strongest tremors?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has seismogram records dating back to around 1900, with several earthquakes recorded at magnitudes of 9.0 or greater since then.
1. Valdivia Earthquake
The most significant was in 1960 in Biobio, Chile. Known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, the 9.5 magnitude Valdivia quake resulted in approximately 1,655 deaths and left 2 million people homeless, as per the USGS.
2. Great Alaska Earthquake
In 1964, Alaska was hit by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, which led to a tsunami. Together, they claimed at least 130 lives and caused damage exceeding $2 billion, according to the USGS. This event is also known as the Prince William Sound earthquake or Good Friday earthquake.
3. Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake
A 9.1 magnitude earthquake near Sumatra, Indonesia, and the Andaman Islands triggered devastating tsunamis that killed over 280,000 and displaced over 1 million, according to the USGS.
Prior to Tuesday’s earthquake, the 10 largest earthquakes since 1900 were:
- 4. Magnitude 9.1 (2011). Tohoku, Japan
- 5. Magnitude 9.0 (1952). Kamchatka Krai, Russia
- 6. Magnitude 8.8 (2010). Biobo, Chile
- 7. Magnitude 8.8 (1906). Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- 8. Magnitude 8.7 (1965). Alaska
- 9. Magnitude 8.6 (1950) Arunachal Pradesh, India
- 10. Magnitude 8.6 (2012). Sumatra, Indonesia
After the recent quake, tsunami warnings were issued for Alaska, Hawaii, and other coasts stretching southward to New Zealand. The quake struck about 74 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a Russian city of 180,000 people on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Several aftershocks, up to 6.9 in magnitude, were documented.
Several locations advised evacuations, but no major injuries have been reported.
Cars jammed streets and highways in Honolulu as the tsunami alerts coincided with the Tuesday afternoon rush-hour. Warning sirens blared as people moved to higher ground. Hawaii schools canceled after-school and evening activities.
A tsunami of 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) was detected at the Ishinomaki port in northern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. That was the highest measurement so far among several locations around northern Japan.
The Russian areas nearest the quake’s epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula reported damage and evacuations, but no serious injuries.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
