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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-10-05 14:24 | 6.7 mw | Northwest Territories, Canada | 10 km | 62.24, -124.27 |
| 1985-10-04 07:41 | 6.1 mw | Bonin Islands, Japan region | 478 km | 27.56, 139.96 |
| 1985-09-27 08:10 | 6.1 mw | 99 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 33 km | -22.17, -174.61 |
| 1985-09-27 01:39 | 6.7 mw | 21 km SE of Malango, Solomon Islands | 32 km | -9.83, 159.85 |
| 1985-09-26 05:27 | 6.9 mw | south of the Kermadec Islands | 52 km | -34.69, -178.66 |
| 1985-09-20 23:37 | 7.6 mw | 7 km N of Pantla, Mexico | 31 km | 17.80, -101.65 |
| 1985-09-19 11:17 | 8.0 mw | 1985 Michoacan, Mexico Earthquake | 28 km | 18.19, -102.53 |
| 1985-09-15 05:57 | 6.0 mw | 13 km SW of San Juan de los Cues, Mexico | 65 km | 17.97, -97.16 |
| 1985-09-15 00:42 | 6.3 mw | 104 km SE of Nabire, Indonesia | 10 km | -4.13, 136.05 |
| 1985-09-14 23:29 | 6.3 mw | 115 km SE of Nabire, Indonesia | 10 km | -4.09, 136.24 |
| 1985-09-11 18:45 | 6.2 mw | 51 km WSW of Kashgar, China | 15 km | 39.36, 75.41 |
| 1985-09-11 17:20 | 6.0 mw | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | 10 km | -54.39, -132.40 |
| 1985-09-10 04:39 | 6.4 mw | Bonin Islands, Japan region | 501 km | 27.21, 139.85 |
| 1985-09-10 02:07 | 6.5 mw | 29 km SE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -6.39, 149.73 |
| 1985-08-28 18:50 | 6.6 mw | Fiji region | 625 km | -21.01, -178.98 |
| 1985-08-23 10:41 | 7.0 mw | 66 km W of Kashgar, China | 7 km | 39.43, 75.22 |
| 1985-08-21 09:26 | 6.4 mw | 32 km SW of Puerto Santa, Peru | 57 km | -9.16, -78.89 |
| 1985-08-18 13:25 | 6.0 mw | southern East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -55.71, -124.16 |
| 1985-08-12 01:49 | 6.5 mw | 75 km ENE of Namie, Japan | 52 km | 37.77, 141.77 |
| 1985-08-11 22:04 | 6.2 mw | 47 km NW of Carahue, Chile | 33 km | -38.38, -73.50 |
| 1985-08-11 07:59 | 6.3 mw | Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region | 50 km | 54.14, 168.73 |
| 1985-08-10 22:19 | 6.1 mw | 157 km NNW of Fais, Micronesia | 24 km | 11.16, 140.22 |
| 1985-08-09 17:59 | 6.1 mw | 22 km W of Rimus, Philippines | 22 km | 16.90, 120.19 |
| 1985-08-09 04:09 | 6.1 mw | 113 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga | 208 km | -15.32, -174.62 |
| 1985-08-08 14:18 | 6.2 mw | 108 km NNW of Sumenep, Indonesia | 592 km | -6.10, 113.49 |
| 1985-08-04 00:36 | 6.4 mw | 9 km ENE of Malim, Philippines | 36 km | 7.50, 123.50 |
| 1985-08-02 05:46 | 6.4 mw | 76 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan | 120 km | 36.17, 70.78 |
| 1985-07-29 05:54 | 7.4 mw | 75 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan | 99 km | 36.19, 70.90 |
| 1985-07-28 20:59 | 6.4 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 33 km | -60.24, -26.88 |
| 1985-07-27 14:26 | 6.0 mw | Easter Island region | 10 km | -27.01, -113.44 |
| 1985-07-22 07:26 | 6.8 mw | 85 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 49 km | -6.29, 148.78 |
| 1985-07-19 12:34 | 6.0 mw | 41 km SE of Murupara, New Zealand | 52 km | -38.78, 176.97 |
| 1985-07-17 22:25 | 6.0 mw | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -37.16, 78.24 |
| 1985-07-17 17:31 | 6.1 mw | 109 km SE of Atka, Alaska | 33 km | 51.62, -172.92 |
| 1985-07-17 06:09 | 6.0 mw | 68 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 41 km | -4.25, 152.88 |
| 1985-07-10 03:06 | 6.1 mw | West Chile Rise | 10 km | -38.60, -91.62 |
| 1985-07-08 17:37 | 6.3 mw | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -59.73, 149.80 |
| 1985-07-07 09:25 | 6.0 mw | 42 km WNW of Valparaíso, Chile | 31 km | -32.95, -72.07 |
| 1985-07-06 01:37 | 6.3 mw | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 50 km | -29.72, -177.77 |
| 1985-07-03 13:55 | 6.5 mw | 74 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 29 km | -17.24, 167.83 |
| 1985-07-03 02:36 | 7.3 mw | 62 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | -4.44, 152.83 |
| 1985-07-03 01:11 | 6.4 mw | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -54.82, 146.44 |
| 1985-06-30 00:39 | 6.0 mb | 100 km S of Kurchatov, Kazakhstan | 0 km | 49.86, 78.70 |
| 1985-06-23 17:49 | 6.4 mw | 208 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 32 km | -10.94, 163.76 |
| 1985-06-23 11:57 | 6.0 ms | 207 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -10.99, 163.74 |
| 1985-06-23 11:01 | 6.5 mw | 192 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 36 km | -11.01, 163.58 |
| 1985-06-21 02:31 | 6.0 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 47 km | -28.44, -175.95 |
| 1985-06-14 22:57 | 6.0 mb | 99 km SSE of Kurchatov, Kazakhstan | 0 km | 49.89, 78.88 |
| 1985-06-10 13:37 | 6.4 mw | 30 km SSE of Londres, Argentina | 151 km | -27.96, -67.00 |
| 1985-06-06 00:40 | 6.6 mw | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | 0.93, -28.43 |
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…