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 4.7
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 · 10/30/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,287
1900 → 2026-10-30
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.7
2026-10-30 09:45 UTC · 42 km SE of Sykiá, Greece
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
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 · 10/30/26
| # | 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 · 10/30/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978-07-22 09:51 | 6.0 ms | 65 km ENE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 43 km | -4.19, 152.84 |
| 1978-07-17 11:26 | 6.0 mb | 182 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna | 292 km | -14.89, -175.82 |
| 1978-07-02 02:01 | 6.4 ms | 194 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga | 25 km | -15.33, -175.49 |
| 1978-06-24 07:31 | 6.4 ms | 139 km S of Bengkulu, Indonesia | 33 km | -5.06, 102.36 |
| 1978-06-20 18:03 | 6.4 ms | 8 km ESE of Kolchikón, Greece | 3 km | 40.74, 23.23 |
| 1978-06-17 13:11 | 7.0 ms | 206 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga | 33 km | -17.10, -172.26 |
| 1978-06-16 05:57 | 6.0 mb | 4 km WSW of Boston, Philippines | 139 km | 7.86, 126.32 |
| 1978-06-14 10:32 | 6.9 ms | 23 km NNW of Kalawit, Philippines | 24 km | 8.25, 122.40 |
| 1978-06-14 09:34 | 6.3 ms | 93 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | 40 km | 38.32, 142.36 |
| 1978-06-12 06:14 | 7.7 ms | 68 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | 44 km | 38.19, 142.03 |
| 1978-06-11 12:55 | 6.1 ms | 227 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada | 10 km | 49.26, -129.50 |
| 1978-06-11 12:27 | 6.2 ms | 80 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga | 33 km | -15.26, -173.56 |
| 1978-06-04 17:30 | 6.0 mb | 30 km NNE of Gazli, Uzbekistan | 33 km | 40.38, 63.62 |
| 1978-06-03 02:57 | 6.0 ms | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | 33 km | -57.10, -140.89 |
| 1978-05-29 15:20 | 6.0 ms | Off the coast of Aisen, Chile | 33 km | -44.86, -79.41 |
| 1978-05-26 21:58 | 6.8 ms | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 33 km | 24.27, 142.66 |
| 1978-05-24 04:16 | 6.7 ms | 192 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 25 km | 51.23, -179.21 |
| 1978-05-23 05:50 | 6.3 mb | 29 km SW of Makurazaki, Japan | 161 km | 31.06, 130.13 |
| 1978-05-13 05:08 | 6.7 mb | 63 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 160 km | -14.52, 167.32 |
| 1978-04-29 02:21 | 6.2 mb | 71 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands | 46 km | -9.85, 160.45 |
| 1978-04-18 15:27 | 6.0 mb | 191 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines | 128 km | 5.14, 127.41 |
| 1978-04-12 01:42 | 6.6 ms | 94 km SSE of Old Harbor, Alaska | 14 km | 56.42, -152.69 |
| 1978-04-10 18:52 | 6.7 mb | 297 km S of Praya, Indonesia | 33 km | -11.36, 116.68 |
| 1978-04-04 19:11 | 6.1 ms | 85 km NNE of San Ignacio de Tupile, Panama | 35 km | 10.04, -77.95 |
| 1978-04-03 22:40 | 6.0 ms | western Xizang | 27 km | 33.03, 82.28 |
| 1978-04-03 07:48 | 6.2 mb | 155 km ENE of Tual, Indonesia | 33 km | -4.85, 133.92 |
| 1978-03-24 20:05 | 7.1 ms | 23 km ENE of Tyup, Kyrgyzstan | 33 km | 42.84, 78.61 |
| 1978-03-24 18:47 | 7.6 ms | 134 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 44.24, 148.86 |
| 1978-03-23 23:42 | 6.1 mb | North Atlantic Ocean | 20 km | 29.80, -67.40 |
| 1978-03-23 18:12 | 6.8 ms | 176 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 44.34, 149.74 |
| 1978-03-23 02:50 | 6.0 mb | 164 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 50 km | 44.38, 149.58 |
| 1978-03-23 02:15 | 7.5 ms | 55 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 44.93, 148.44 |
| 1978-03-23 00:49 | 6.4 ms | 174 km SSE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 43.86, 148.94 |
| 1978-03-22 23:31 | 6.8 ms | 142 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 46 km | 44.21, 148.97 |
| 1978-03-22 20:34 | 6.6 ms | 151 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 44.14, 149.03 |
| 1978-03-21 23:50 | 6.7 ms | 160 km SSE of Kuril’sk, Russia | 33 km | 44.03, 149.00 |
| 1978-03-19 00:39 | 6.4 ms | 4 km NW of Sabanillas, Mexico | 36 km | 17.03, -99.74 |
| 1978-03-15 21:04 | 6.1 mb | Bonin Islands, Japan region | 263 km | 26.42, 140.56 |
| 1978-03-07 01:48 | 6.9 mb | 244 km SE of Shing?, Japan | 439 km | 32.00, 137.61 |
| 1978-03-07 01:48 | 6.0 mb | 248 km SE of Shing?, Japan | 442 km | 31.96, 137.61 |
| 1978-03-04 13:58 | 6.2 mb | 98 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 78 km | -4.66, 153.10 |
| 1978-03-04 03:46 | 6.3 ms | 62 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 33 km | -21.89, -174.85 |
| 1978-03-03 09:53 | 6.2 ms | 190 km SE of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia | 33 km | 55.10, 164.76 |
| 1978-03-03 09:48 | 6.2 ms | 79 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga | 33 km | -15.29, -173.52 |
| 1978-02-21 06:14 | 6.3 mb | Banda Sea | 510 km | -4.84, 125.41 |
| 1978-02-20 03:36 | 6.1 mb | 37 km SSE of ?funato, Japan | 60 km | 38.78, 141.95 |
| 1978-02-11 00:26 | 6.1 ms | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 33 km | 5.73, -32.90 |
| 1978-02-10 23:05 | 6.6 ms | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 33 km | -30.41, -177.12 |
| 1978-02-10 18:32 | 6.2 ms | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 33 km | -30.07, -177.33 |
| 1978-02-09 23:56 | 6.0 ms | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 33 km | -30.65, -177.54 |
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 30, 2026 · SHA-256 cc1f6109be1e… - 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 30, 2026 · SHA-256 d5b49c593d3a…