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The most disastrous earthquake struck in Shanxi, China 1556. It measured about 8 on the Richter scale and killed an estimated 800,000 people. The death toll was so high because the earthquake destroyed a number of soft clay cliffs in which millions of people lived in artificial caves.

China is regularly hit by big quakes because it is the site of one of the most massive crust-shifting events in geologically recent history, the construction of the Himalayan mountain chain. As the Indian tectonic plate slides underneath the Eurasian plate, the Tibetan plateau is lifted up and buckled. The crust behind is stretched and thins. All of this results in sudden earth movements as the crust releases pent up strain.

The earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra last Boxing Day was 10 times stronger than the Chinese quake, measuring 9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami affected many countries and killed 283,106 people, making it the second most devastating earthquake recorded

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Q: Which is the most disastrous earthquake ever occurred?
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How big was the chilean earthquake?

The recent (February 2010) Chilean earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.8. In the past, Chile suffered the worlds most powerful recorded earthquake which occurred on the 22nd of May, 1960 and had a magnitude of 9.5.


What was the most dangerous earthquake?

The world's deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1556 in central China of an 8.0 Magnitude. It struck a region where most people lived in caves carved from soft rock. These caves collapsed during the earthquake, killing an estimated 830,000 people. In 1976 another deadly earthquake struck in Tangshan, China, where more than 250,000 people were killed.


The epicenter of the greatest us earthquake was in what state?

The Good Friday Earthquake on March 27, 1964 had its epicenter near Prince Wiliam Sound, Alaska. It lasted about 5 minutes, and caused 131 deaths, but it may not be true.This earthquake was the 4th most powerful earthquake ever recorded, and the most powerful earthquake to have an epicenter in the United States.


In the 20th century which earthquake has been the most deadliest?

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake is the deadliest


What type of boundary has the most earthquakes with high magnitudes?

Convergent boundaries where large scale thrust faulting occurs tend to have the largest magnitude earthquakes. For wxample the subduction boundary between the Pacific plate and the South American plate was responsible for the largest magnitude earthquake ever recorded (the magnitude 9.5 Valdivia earthquake that occurred in 1960 in Chile).

Related questions

Largest earthquake in world?

The largest earthquake in the world was the 1960 Voldivic earthquake. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. It rated 9.5 on the magnitude scale. It occurred in the afternoon.


Where did Napoleon's most disastrous foreign campaign occurred in?

Russia


In what state has the most destructive earthquake occurred?

California


What year was Japan's earthquake?

It depends on the earthquake you are talking about. Many have occurred in Japan. The most recent is the 2011 earthquake.


When was Russia's last earthquake?

Russia's most recent earthquake was a 4.7 which occurred on April 25, 2011.


What is the most major earthquake in the world?

The largest earthquake recorded by seismometer occurred in Valdivia in Chile in 1960. It had a magnitude of 9.5. The deadliest earthquake was the Shaanxi earthquake which occurred on 23 January 1556 in China killing 830,000 people.


How powerful was the Earthquake in Chile?

The most recent Chilean earthquake mainshock occurred on the 27th of February 2010 and according to the US Geological Survey, rated at 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale. Chile has also suffered earthquakes in the past, including the largest earthquake ever recorded by seismometer which occurred on the 22nd of May, 1960 and had a magnitude of 9.5.


What was the Japanese crisis that took place in 2011?

The Japanese crisis that took place in 2011 was an earthquake and tsunami. It was the most powerful documented earthquake to hit Japan and one of the five most disastrous earthquakes in the world.


What is the most famous earthquake that has ever happened?

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami


Did a earthquake ever occurred near Blacksburg?

There have been some earthquakes which did occur in Southwestern Va in the mid 19th century. The most prevalent occurred in Radford in 1897, followed by some aftershocks in the Pembroke area. These earthquakes were felt in Blacksburg. Two of the most recent ones which occurred happened in April 1975 (actually in Blacksburg), and one which was felt in Blacksburg in 2003 which occurred about 135 miles east.


How big was the chilean earthquake?

The recent (February 2010) Chilean earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.8. In the past, Chile suffered the worlds most powerful recorded earthquake which occurred on the 22nd of May, 1960 and had a magnitude of 9.5.


Is today's earthquake is the worst earthquake in the world ever happened?

No. It is neither the most powerful nor most destructive (in terms of number of deaths). The most powerful earthquake ever was the Valdivian / Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960 (9.5 on Richter scale) and the most destructive was the Shaanxi, China earthquake of 1556 which supposedly killed 850 thousand people. Today's earthquake in comparison was 8.9 on the Richter scale and so far 300 people have been confirmed dead and 500 more missing.