Earth · earthquakes
A year of strong earthquakes
Each spike is a magnitude 5.5+ earthquake of the last twelve months (USGS ComCat); its height follows the magnitude, its colour the depth. Rings mark the strongest. Earthquakes outline the plate boundaries.
- < 70 km (shallow)
- 70–300 km (intermediate)
- > 300 km (deep)
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.0
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,622
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,222
1900 → 2026-10-28
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Current · provisional
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,622
including 100 M ≥ 8
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.0
2026-10-28 11:47 UTC · Reykjanes Ridge
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
1960-05-22 · 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 in the last 30 days of the catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 7 and M ≥ 6 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Current · provisional
Show the data as a table
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
Current · provisional
Show the data as a table
Ten strongest earthquakes in the USGS catalogue (since 1900)
| # | M | Date | Place | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.5 mw | 1960-05-22 | 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) | 25 km |
| 2 | 9.2 mw | 1964-03-28 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake | 25 km |
| 3 | 9.1 mw | 2004-12-25 | 2004 Sumatra - Andaman Islands Earthquake | 30 km |
| 4 | 9.1 mww | 2011-03-11 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | 29 km |
| 5 | 9.0 mw | 1952-11-04 | 89 km ESE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | 22 km |
| 6 | 8.8 mw | 1906-01-31 | 1906 Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake | 20 km |
| 7 | 8.8 mww | 2010-02-27 | 2010 Maule, Chile Earthquake | 23 km |
| 8 | 8.8 mww | 2025-07-29 | 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Earthquake | 35 km |
| 9 | 8.7 mw | 1965-02-04 | 1965 Western Aleutian Islands (Hawadax/Rat Islands) Earthquake | 30 km |
| 10 | 8.6 mw | 1946-04-01 | The 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake | 15 km |
Deadliest earthquakes (NCEI significant earthquake database)
NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · 10/23/26
| # | Year | Place | M | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1556 | CHINA: SHAANXI PROVINCE | 8.0 | 830,000 |
| 2 | 2010 | HAITI: PORT-AU-PRINCE tsunami | 7.0 | 316,000 |
| 3 | 115 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH) tsunami | 7.5 | 260,000 |
| 4 | 525 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH), SAMANDAG | 7.0 | 250,000 |
| 5 | 1976 | CHINA: NE: TANGSHAN | 7.5 | 242,769 |
| 6 | 1920 | CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE tsunami | 8.3 | 235,502 |
| 7 | 1139 | AZERBAIJAN: GYZNDZHA | — | 230,000 |
| 8 | 2004 | INDONESIA: SUMATRA: ACEH: OFF WEST COAST tsunami | 9.1 | 227,899 |
| 9 | 856 | IRAN: DAMGHAN, QUMIS | 7.9 | 200,000 |
| 10 | 893 | ARMENIA: DVIN; IRAN: ARDABIL | — | 150,000 |
Filterable USGS catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-06-15 11:06 | 6.2 mw | near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea | 227 km | -4.99, 145.46 |
| 1993-06-12 18:33 | 6.3 mwb | 87 km ESE of Ozernovskiy, Russia | 44 km | 51.26, 157.69 |
| 1993-06-12 16:26 | 6.1 mwb | 120 km SSW of Nabire, Indonesia | 10 km | -4.38, 135.12 |
| 1993-06-12 03:45 | 6.1 mwb | 134 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 15 km | -11.14, 162.94 |
| 1993-06-08 21:17 | 6.3 mwb | 30 km SE of Calingasta, Argentina | 113 km | -31.56, -69.23 |
| 1993-06-08 11:03 | 7.5 mw | 97 km ESE of Ozernovskiy, Russia | 71 km | 51.22, 157.83 |
| 1993-06-06 11:23 | 6.5 mwb | 112 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | 14 km | 15.82, 146.60 |
| 1993-06-04 08:49 | 6.0 mw | 228 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia | 20 km | 3.73, 128.50 |
| 1993-06-03 07:38 | 6.1 mw | 32 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 152 km | -14.84, 167.30 |
| 1993-05-30 15:08 | 6.1 mwb | 85 km NNW of Ternate, Indonesia | 81 km | 1.55, 127.21 |
| 1993-05-29 04:50 | 6.4 mwb | 253 km NW of Ponta do Sol, Cabo Verde | 12 km | 19.07, -26.48 |
| 1993-05-25 21:16 | 6.2 mwb | 35 km S of Sand Point, Alaska | 37 km | 55.02, -160.51 |
| 1993-05-24 21:51 | 7.0 mwb | 87 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 221 km | -22.67, -66.54 |
| 1993-05-24 21:51 | 6.2 mb | 97 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina | 221 km | -23.24, -66.63 |
| 1993-05-18 08:19 | 6.8 mwb | 77 km SE of Basco, Philippines | 169 km | 19.91, 122.45 |
| 1993-05-17 21:20 | 6.1 mw | 46km E of Big Pine, California | 4 km | 37.16, -117.77 |
| 1993-05-17 14:02 | 6.4 mw | 114 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 17 km | -5.34, 151.98 |
| 1993-05-16 19:44 | 6.6 mw | 89 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga | 21 km | -15.29, -173.33 |
| 1993-05-15 19:52 | 6.9 mw | 151 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 32 km | 51.37, -178.67 |
| 1993-05-15 01:12 | 6.1 mw | 1 km ENE of Ometepec, Mexico | 21 km | 16.70, -98.40 |
| 1993-05-15 01:09 | 6.0 mwb | 2 km SSW of Ometepec, Mexico | 20 km | 16.67, -98.42 |
| 1993-05-13 09:59 | 6.9 mw | 17 km S of Sand Point, Alaska | 32 km | 55.18, -160.46 |
| 1993-05-11 16:26 | 7.0 mwb | 3 km E of Manay, Philippines | 59 km | 7.22, 126.57 |
| 1993-05-06 11:03 | 6.1 mw | 86 km WSW of Tarauacá, Brazil | 573 km | -8.47, -71.48 |
| 1993-05-02 09:26 | 6.4 mwb | South Sandwich Islands region | 13 km | -56.42, -24.49 |
| 1993-04-24 22:07 | 6.0 mw | 94 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga | 33 km | -15.68, -172.96 |
| 1993-04-24 07:54 | 6.3 mw | 60 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji | 599 km | -17.87, 179.85 |
| 1993-04-19 19:01 | 6.8 mw | 253 km N of Tobelo, Indonesia | 24 km | 4.02, 128.20 |
| 1993-04-18 12:10 | 6.3 mw | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | 10 km | -53.96, -133.87 |
| 1993-04-18 07:16 | 6.3 mw | 15 km SE of Lachaqui, Peru | 106 km | -11.65, -76.53 |
| 1993-04-17 18:32 | 6.3 mw | 264 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna | 10 km | -16.60, -177.40 |
| 1993-04-16 12:08 | 6.9 mwb | 195 km E of Levuka, Fiji | 565 km | -17.78, -178.86 |
| 1993-04-05 02:00 | 6.3 mwb | South Sandwich Islands region | 33 km | -59.80, -26.31 |
| 1993-04-02 06:04 | 6.0 mwb | 254 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga | 9 km | -17.37, -171.92 |
| 1993-03-25 06:08 | 6.0 mw | 108 km ESE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan | 34 km | 41.80, 143.47 |
| 1993-03-21 04:04 | 6.3 mwb | 228 km E of Levuka, Fiji | 589 km | -18.04, -178.53 |
| 1993-03-20 13:51 | 6.2 mw | 135 km NNE of Lobujya, Nepal | 12 km | 29.08, 87.33 |
| 1993-03-20 08:20 | 6.3 mwb | South Sandwich Islands region | 116 km | -56.08, -27.80 |
| 1993-03-19 00:48 | 6.0 mw | 93 km NW of Copiapó, Chile | 29 km | -26.74, -70.97 |
| 1993-03-15 15:08 | 6.7 mwb | 93 km NW of Copiapó, Chile | 29 km | -26.71, -70.92 |
| 1993-03-12 13:01 | 6.4 mwb | Fiji region | 10 km | -14.38, -178.25 |
| 1993-03-10 11:39 | 6.5 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 33 km | -59.70, -25.72 |
| 1993-03-09 06:45 | 6.3 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 33 km | -59.62, -25.71 |
| 1993-03-09 00:29 | 6.2 mw | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -55.68, 147.00 |
| 1993-03-06 15:26 | 6.7 mw | 173 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 25 km | -11.06, 163.39 |
| 1993-03-06 09:02 | 6.6 mwb | south of the Fiji Islands | 18 km | -26.54, -177.36 |
| 1993-03-06 04:50 | 6.0 ms | 207 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands | 28 km | -11.02, 163.92 |
| 1993-03-06 02:05 | 7.1 mwb | 178 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands | 20 km | -10.97, 164.18 |
| 1993-03-03 22:14 | 6.0 mw | Fiji region | 14 km | -13.34, 175.01 |
| 1993-03-01 00:39 | 6.2 mwb | 265 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia | 89 km | -3.74, 138.54 |
Method and sources
The USGS ComCat (ANSS) catalogue is read through the FDSN web service, one request per calendar year since 1900 for magnitudes ≥ 4.5; the last two years are re-read on each update because solutions are revised. Magnitudes are those published (mb, Ms, Mw, ml…) and are not converted; depth is the hypocentre depth in km.
Yearly counts are computed on the server from imported events of type “earthquake” (explosions and other types are kept but excluded from counts). Historical earthquakes and their tolls come from the NCEI/WDS significant earthquake database, dated to the year when the day is unknown.
Reading these data
The global catalogue is homogeneous neither in time nor in magnitude: completeness at M 4.5 is only reached after 1973 and still improves afterwards. Magnitudes of different types are not comparable; the great historical earthquakes (e.g. Valdivia 1960, M 9.5) are re-evaluations. No link with solar activity or tides is established; see the Correspondences pages.
SOURCES OF THIS PAGE
- USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service)
-
U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program (2017). Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Comprehensive Catalog of Earthquake Events and Products. Accessed through the FDSN event web service.
· doi:10.5066/F7MS3QZH · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · retrieved on Oct 28, 2026 · SHA-256 5570a63d6fc4… - NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database
-
National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
· doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · retrieved on Oct 23, 2026 · SHA-256 f99e14bcd8f1…