The World's Deadliest Earthquakes, Including One in Indonesia

Cianjur Regency, West Java, was struck by a 5.6 magnitude (M) earthquake on Monday, November 21, 2022, at 1:21 PM WIB.

Although the magnitude wasn't particularly large, the earthquake's shallow epicenter (approximately 10 km below the surface) caused significant damage in the Cianjur area, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, and forcing thousands to evacuate their damaged homes.

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can claim a vast number of lives, even though their frequency is not as high as other natural disasters like floods. History records 11 of the deadliest earthquakes worldwide, one of which occurred in Indonesia.

According to Our World in Data, the earthquake with the highest death toll occurred in Shannxi, China, in 1556. This earthquake claimed approximately 830,000 lives.

The estimated M8 earthquake was felt in over 97 counties in China and caused damage up to a 520-mile radius from the epicenter. In some areas, approximately 60% of the population is estimated to have died as a result of the earthquake.

The next deadliest earthquake occurred in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2010. The M7 earthquake resulted in 316,000 deaths.

An M7.5 earthquake also struck Antakya, Turkey, in 115, claiming 260,000 lives. Antakya was again struck by an M7 earthquake in 525, resulting in 250,000 deaths.

Next, there was the earthquake in Tangshan, China, in 1976, with a magnitude of M7.5, claiming 242,700 lives. Then, the Ginza earthquake in Azerbaijan in 1139 claimed 230,000 lives. The magnitude of the Ginza earthquake is unknown.

The earthquake that struck Aceh, Indonesia, in 2004 is also recorded as one of the largest disasters. The M9.1 earthquake, followed by a tsunami, claimed 227,900 lives.

The tsunami waves resulting from the Aceh earthquake are estimated to have reached 15-30 meters and impacted many other countries, including Thailand, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

The next largest earthquake occurred in Damghan, Iran, in 856. The M7.9 earthquake claimed 200,000 lives. Similarly, the earthquake in Gansu, China, in 1920, with a magnitude of M8.3, resulted in 200,000 deaths.

Following this, there was the Dvin earthquake in Armenia in 893, the magnitude of which is unknown, but it claimed 150,000 lives. Finally, the earthquake that struck Tokyo, Japan, in 1923 claimed 142,800 lives.