Worldatlas: China is the World's Most Earthquake-Prone Country, Where Does Indonesia Rank?

2020 data from *WorldAtlas* shows that China experiences the highest frequency of earthquakes globally. Between 1900 and 2016, 157 major earthquakes occurred. The majority of these earthquakes struck the southwestern region of the country due to its mountainous terrain.

Fortunately, the areas with the highest earthquake risk are sparsely populated. These regions include Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Yunnan. However, the mountainous topography and transportation challenges would complicate rescue efforts following an earthquake.

Indonesia holds the second position as the most earthquake-prone country worldwide, experiencing a high frequency of seismic activity. Between 1900 and 2016, 113 earthquakes hit the country. This is due to Indonesia's location on the Ring of Fire, where tectonic plate movements trigger frequent earthquakes.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Central Maluku Regency on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, lasting approximately three to five seconds. Despite being located 67 kilometers southeast of Central Maluku at a depth of 10 km, the earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat. According to InaRISK analysis, 17 sub-districts in the regency are categorized as having medium to high earthquake potential, as cited from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) website.

Meanwhile, Iran holds the third position for the frequency of major earthquakes, experiencing 106 earthquakes, followed by Turkey (77), Japan (61), and Peru (44).