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 4.6
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 · 10/29/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,258
1900 → 2026-10-29
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.6
2026-10-29 10:38 UTC · Pulau Pulau Tanimbar, Indonesia
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
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 · 10/29/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-02-11 05:12 | 6.0 mw | 26 km NNW of Claveria, Philippines | 24 km | 18.83, 120.98 |
| 1987-02-09 23:59 | 6.5 mw | 297 km NW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 395 km | -19.49, -177.46 |
| 1987-02-09 17:17 | 6.0 mw | 61 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 44 km | -6.00, 147.80 |
| 1987-02-08 17:33 | 7.4 ms | 54 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 55 km | -6.09, 147.69 |
| 1987-02-08 16:48 | 6.2 mw | 126 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia | 17 km | 1.60, 126.59 |
| 1987-02-07 10:57 | 6.2 mw | 84 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 27 km | -5.80, 147.74 |
| 1987-02-06 12:16 | 6.8 mw | 72 km E of Iwaki, Japan | 48 km | 36.99, 141.69 |
| 1987-02-06 11:23 | 6.4 mw | 80 km E of Iwaki, Japan | 36 km | 36.99, 141.79 |
| 1987-01-30 21:29 | 7.0 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 48 km | -60.06, -26.92 |
| 1987-01-29 01:43 | 6.4 mw | 138 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia | 48 km | 1.26, 126.23 |
| 1987-01-24 07:09 | 6.2 mw | 89 km WNW of Aksu, China | 29 km | 41.53, 79.32 |
| 1987-01-14 10:03 | 6.8 mw | 47 km ENE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan | 102 km | 42.56, 142.85 |
| 1987-01-14 08:38 | 6.0 mw | southern East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -50.06, -113.88 |
| 1987-01-13 12:23 | 6.0 mw | 179 km WSW of Bahía Solano, Colombia | 10 km | 5.78, -78.97 |
| 1987-01-09 07:01 | 6.5 mw | 231 km NW of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga | 33 km | -19.47, -176.54 |
| 1987-01-09 05:14 | 6.6 mw | 35 km NW of Miyako, Japan | 68 km | 39.90, 141.68 |
| 1987-01-05 11:11 | 6.8 mw | 64 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska | 33 km | 52.45, -169.38 |
| 1987-01-04 16:52 | 6.3 mw | 229 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10 km | 5.97, -82.60 |
| 1987-01-03 21:04 | 6.7 mw | 92 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 15 km | -15.00, 167.93 |
| 1987-01-03 15:30 | 6.3 mw | 189 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 5 km | -3.44, 146.31 |
| 1987-01-03 14:35 | 6.2 mw | 191 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 5 km | -3.41, 146.23 |
| 1986-12-30 14:32 | 6.0 mw | 71 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | 24 km | -20.40, -174.07 |
| 1986-12-28 19:04 | 6.3 mw | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -38.78, 78.70 |
| 1986-12-25 16:17 | 6.4 mw | Off the coast of Aisen, Chile | 10 km | -44.89, -80.10 |
| 1986-12-22 13:18 | 6.4 mw | Scotia Sea | 10 km | -56.88, -48.76 |
| 1986-12-21 00:10 | 6.5 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 17 km | -28.10, -176.74 |
| 1986-12-20 07:21 | 6.1 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 44 km | -28.18, -176.86 |
| 1986-12-19 02:41 | 6.5 mw | 120 km WSW of Waingapu, Indonesia | 25 km | -9.92, 119.20 |
| 1986-12-07 15:56 | 6.1 mw | 225 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico | 10 km | 18.82, -107.20 |
| 1986-12-07 13:40 | 6.1 mw | 71 km SW of Tomohon, Indonesia | 220 km | 0.85, 124.36 |
| 1986-12-05 05:56 | 6.0 mw | western Indian-Antarctic Ridge | 10 km | -51.26, 139.20 |
| 1986-12-01 11:53 | 6.0 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 33 km | -27.15, -176.38 |
| 1986-12-01 11:30 | 6.1 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 33 km | -27.30, -176.40 |
| 1986-11-30 19:15 | 6.0 mw | 31 km SE of ?funato, Japan | 37 km | 38.85, 141.95 |
| 1986-11-23 00:39 | 6.8 mw | 109 km W of Alianza Cristiana, Peru | 106 km | -3.34, -77.41 |
| 1986-11-21 23:41 | 6.0 mw | 59 km ESE of Shimoda, Japan | 9 km | 34.44, 139.52 |
| 1986-11-14 22:04 | 6.3 ms | 16 km SE of Hualien City, Taiwan | 33 km | 23.87, 121.71 |
| 1986-11-14 20:20 | 7.4 mw | 8 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan | 34 km | 23.90, 121.57 |
| 1986-11-11 17:57 | 6.0 mw | south of Africa | 10 km | -48.68, 31.15 |
| 1986-11-10 23:02 | 6.0 mw | 153 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia | 79 km | 2.41, 126.81 |
| 1986-11-07 18:48 | 6.2 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 33 km | -28.59, -176.41 |
| 1986-10-30 00:28 | 7.2 mw | 157 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 188 km | -21.70, -176.62 |
| 1986-10-25 19:47 | 6.4 mw | 20 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 31 km | -17.66, 168.14 |
| 1986-10-24 04:53 | 6.3 mw | 66 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -10.88, 165.22 |
| 1986-10-24 04:27 | 6.0 mw | 93 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 47 km | -10.99, 164.99 |
| 1986-10-24 01:58 | 6.4 mw | 193 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 52 km | -5.63, 153.88 |
| 1986-10-23 15:23 | 6.5 mw | 49 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 24 km | -11.09, 165.54 |
| 1986-10-23 14:48 | 6.7 mw | 73 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 19 km | -11.04, 165.20 |
| 1986-10-23 02:54 | 6.0 mw | 53 km ENE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea | 127 km | -6.10, 146.31 |
| 1986-10-23 01:18 | 6.2 mw | 43 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu | 160 km | -15.57, 167.56 |
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 29, 2026 · SHA-256 8dc4ba251068… - 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…