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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-05-05 22:16 | 6.6 mw | 39 km ENE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 27 km | -4.25, 152.62 |
| 1972-05-04 20:40 | 6.2 mw | 16 km WSW of Palaióchora, Greece | 36 km | 35.17, 23.52 |
| 1972-05-04 06:48 | 6.7 mw | 21 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu | 54 km | -15.97, 167.58 |
| 1972-05-02 05:56 | 6.1 mw | Galapagos Triple Junction region | 29 km | 5.18, -100.36 |
| 1972-04-28 22:32 | 7.2 mw | 192 km NW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 403 km | -5.15, 154.19 |
| 1972-04-25 18:30 | 7.3 mw | 18 km W of Harrison, Philippines | 26 km | 13.42, 120.27 |
| 1972-04-24 08:57 | 7.0 mw | 44 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan | 23 km | 23.58, 121.56 |
| 1972-04-24 00:20 | 6.2 mw | Easter Island region | 32 km | -31.53, -111.23 |
| 1972-04-17 09:49 | 6.3 mw | 57 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan | 44 km | 24.15, 122.55 |
| 1972-04-11 01:21 | 6.6 mw | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 18 km | 0.90, -28.25 |
| 1972-04-10 01:06 | 6.6 mw | 50 km SSE of Fīrūzābād, Iran | 10 km | 28.43, 52.79 |
| 1972-04-04 21:43 | 6.8 mw | 122 km N of Metinaro, Timor Leste | 405 km | -7.45, 125.53 |
| 1972-04-02 20:30 | 6.5 mw | 170 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu | 10 km | -13.10, 166.20 |
| 1972-04-02 08:01 | 6.0 mw | 87 km E of Hihifo, Tonga | 9 km | -16.08, -172.99 |
| 1972-04-01 22:51 | 6.4 mw | Auckland Islands, New Zealand region | 10 km | -49.36, 164.00 |
| 1972-03-31 14:36 | 6.1 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 16 km | -55.29, -29.08 |
| 1972-03-30 04:34 | 7.2 mw | south of the Fiji Islands | 502 km | -25.80, 179.68 |
| 1972-03-25 21:59 | 6.2 mw | 34 km E of Nemuro, Japan | 44 km | 43.29, 146.00 |
| 1972-03-25 11:15 | 6.4 mw | 128 km SSW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 30 km | -3.55, 150.18 |
| 1972-03-24 02:38 | 6.4 mw | 77 km ESE of Chignik, Alaska | 70 km | 56.13, -157.19 |
| 1972-03-22 09:27 | 6.8 mw | 257 km SW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia | 140 km | 49.04, 153.59 |
| 1972-03-20 06:33 | 6.4 mw | 6 km N of Saposoa, Peru | 52 km | -6.87, -76.77 |
| 1972-03-19 14:57 | 6.2 mw | 53 km ENE of Misawa, Japan | 71 km | 40.87, 141.98 |
| 1972-03-07 06:45 | 6.6 mw | Kermadec Islands region | 212 km | -28.27, -178.16 |
| 1972-03-01 08:28 | 6.0 mw | 105 km W of Ferndale, California | 11 km | 40.53, -125.50 |
| 1972-03-01 08:04 | 6.0 mw | 47 km SE of Neiafu, Tonga | 10 km | -18.98, -173.70 |
| 1972-02-29 08:42 | 6.0 mw | 195 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan | 57 km | 33.50, 141.09 |
| 1972-02-29 08:23 | 7.2 mw | 193 km SSE of Wada, Japan | 46 km | 33.45, 140.89 |
| 1972-02-25 00:17 | 6.3 mw | South Sandwich Islands region | 29 km | -60.67, -25.70 |
| 1972-02-19 06:59 | 6.1 mw | 131 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 21 km | -11.13, 162.91 |
| 1972-02-14 22:29 | 7.4 mw | 96 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands | 103 km | -11.42, 166.33 |
| 1972-02-09 19:44 | 6.0 mw | 108 km W of Puerto Natales, Chile | 15 km | -51.86, -74.07 |
| 1972-01-28 15:18 | 6.0 mw | 126 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan | 31 km | 21.02, 120.12 |
| 1972-01-28 00:16 | 6.3 mw | 14 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu | 128 km | -19.42, 169.24 |
| 1972-01-26 22:00 | 6.5 mw | 299 km SE of Levuka, Fiji | 655 km | -20.16, -178.88 |
| 1972-01-25 02:41 | 7.1 mw | 110 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan | 27 km | 23.04, 121.97 |
| 1972-01-25 01:06 | 7.3 mw | 167 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan | 27 km | 22.60, 122.28 |
| 1972-01-24 02:55 | 6.1 mw | 145 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu | 51 km | -13.19, 166.41 |
| 1972-01-23 20:17 | 6.9 mw | 138 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu | 56 km | -13.28, 166.43 |
| 1972-01-22 20:50 | 6.3 mw | Vanuatu region | 10 km | -20.41, 172.93 |
| 1972-01-22 12:08 | 6.1 mw | 8 km SW of La Gomera, Guatemala | 60 km | 14.03, -91.11 |
| 1972-01-21 18:18 | 6.1 mw | 129 km NE of Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil | 564 km | -6.75, -71.90 |
| 1972-01-20 10:36 | 6.2 mw | 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan | 213 km | 36.40, 70.76 |
| 1972-01-19 14:00 | 6.4 mw | 110 km WNW of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 23 km | -4.70, 144.94 |
| 1972-01-18 21:08 | 6.1 mw | 110 km WNW of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | -4.75, 144.91 |
| 1972-01-18 20:55 | 6.5 mw | 97 km WNW of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 29 km | -4.86, 144.98 |
| 1972-01-15 19:21 | 6.2 mw | 38 km NNW of Tumxuk, China | 14 km | 40.20, 78.94 |
| 1972-01-12 08:59 | 6.4 mw | 129 km NE of Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil | 568 km | -6.85, -71.80 |
| 1972-01-08 04:27 | 6.4 mw | 119 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan | 13 km | 21.01, 120.29 |
| 1972-01-07 05:25 | 6.0 mw | 188 km WNW of Abepura, Indonesia | 25 km | -2.16, 138.99 |
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…