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 4.8
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 · 11/1/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,324
1900 → 2026-11-01
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.8
2026-11-01 11:08 UTC · 203 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
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 · 11/1/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950-03-02 17:39 | 6.4 mw | Scotia Sea | 15 km | -60.24, -34.47 |
| 1950-03-01 07:23 | 6.2 mw | southeast Indian Ridge | 15 km | -45.47, 95.80 |
| 1950-02-28 09:21 | 7.7 mw | 100 km SSE of Korsakov, Russia | 329 km | 45.88, 143.49 |
| 1950-02-25 08:51 | 6.3 mw | 111 km SE of Naze, Japan | 25 km | 27.79, 130.41 |
| 1950-02-25 04:47 | 6.1 mw | 142 km WSW of Bayanhongor, Mongolia | 15 km | 45.71, 99.02 |
| 1950-02-12 21:14 | 6.4 mw | 112 km SSW of Suva, Fiji | 20 km | -19.02, 177.91 |
| 1950-02-11 00:22 | 6.1 mw | Prince Edward Islands region | 15 km | -43.09, 41.55 |
| 1950-02-05 00:23 | 6.4 mw | Auckland Islands, New Zealand region | 15 km | -49.02, 164.36 |
| 1950-02-03 01:51 | 6.7 mw | 26 km NNE of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 35 km | 21.85, 100.03 |
| 1950-02-02 22:33 | 6.9 mw | 23 km NNE of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 35 km | 21.82, 100.02 |
| 1950-01-29 23:56 | 6.8 mw | 36 km SSW of Punta Arenas, Chile | 15 km | -53.47, -71.07 |
| 1950-01-10 02:05 | 6.1 mw | northern East Pacific Rise | 15 km | 10.03, -103.96 |
| 1950-01-03 10:06 | 6.3 mw | Off the coast of Aisen, Chile | 15 km | -45.80, -77.08 |
| 1950-01-03 01:51 | 6.5 mw | 6 km NNW of Tabuk, Philippines | 30 km | 17.53, 121.45 |
| 1950-01-02 14:14 | 6.1 mw | 103 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 15 km | -11.24, 165.01 |
| 1949-12-29 02:03 | 7.2 mw | 7 km N of Agbannawag, Philippines | 15 km | 17.44, 121.54 |
| 1949-12-27 22:57 | 6.7 mw | east of the South Sandwich Islands | 10 km | -60.05, -21.76 |
| 1949-12-26 05:23 | 6.9 mw | 130 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji | 15 km | -15.88, -179.56 |
| 1949-12-25 22:24 | 6.3 mw | 2 km ESE of Imaichi, Japan | 10 km | 36.70, 139.71 |
| 1949-12-25 22:17 | 6.3 mw | 3 km ENE of Imaichi, Japan | 10 km | 36.73, 139.72 |
| 1949-12-25 21:40 | 6.4 mw | 46 km SSW of El Naranjo, Mexico | 15 km | 18.74, -104.58 |
| 1949-12-19 23:34 | 6.2 mw | 200 km N of Qalans?yah, Yemen | 15 km | 14.48, 53.77 |
| 1949-12-17 14:07 | 7.6 mw | 109 km SSE of Punta Arenas, Chile | 10 km | -54.00, -70.06 |
| 1949-12-17 05:53 | 7.7 mw | 123 km W of Río Grande, Argentina | 10 km | -53.97, -69.56 |
| 1949-11-27 07:42 | 6.7 mw | 127 km NE of Neiafu, Tonga | 15 km | -17.73, -173.27 |
| 1949-11-20 06:09 | 6.8 mw | 52 km SW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico | 10 km | 28.47, -112.31 |
| 1949-11-13 03:42 | 6.1 mw | 12 km WNW of Sardinal, Costa Rica | 25 km | 10.56, -85.75 |
| 1949-11-07 04:59 | 6.7 mw | 69 km SW of Sola, Vanuatu | 35 km | -14.24, 167.02 |
| 1949-11-02 01:32 | 6.4 mw | 105 km WNW of Nabire, Indonesia | 25 km | -2.88, 134.68 |
| 1949-10-31 00:39 | 6.2 mw | 78 km WSW of Port Alexander, Alaska | 15 km | 56.00, -135.82 |
| 1949-10-21 20:34 | 6.3 mw | 210 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 60 km | -5.53, 153.75 |
| 1949-10-20 11:45 | 6.5 mw | 182 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 60 km | -4.71, 153.87 |
| 1949-10-19 20:00 | 7.2 mw | 155 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 60 km | -5.77, 154.19 |
| 1949-10-07 11:02 | 6.6 mw | Southwest Indian Ridge | 10 km | -33.87, 57.69 |
| 1949-10-04 09:20 | 6.3 mw | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | -0.79, -21.68 |
| 1949-10-01 17:00 | 6.0 mw | 13 km W of Sumbawanga, Tanzania | 15 km | -7.95, 31.49 |
| 1949-09-30 02:58 | 6.4 mw | 283 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 25 km | -23.68, -176.05 |
| 1949-09-27 14:30 | 6.6 mw | 3 km SW of Bear Creek, Alaska | 15 km | 60.15, -149.44 |
| 1949-09-25 14:15 | 6.2 mw | 117 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 20 km | -6.22, 154.42 |
| 1949-09-24 03:17 | 6.2 mw | 140 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | -6.30, 154.21 |
| 1949-09-20 10:55 | 6.3 mw | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 35 km | -29.75, -177.87 |
| 1949-09-19 20:42 | 6.0 mw | southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | -54.21, -2.66 |
| 1949-09-14 18:50 | 7.0 mw | 134 km ESE of Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe), Indonesia | 15 km | 1.04, 126.10 |
| 1949-09-12 08:17 | 6.3 mw | 252 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia | 15 km | -21.80, 170.30 |
| 1949-09-05 02:18 | 6.0 mw | 15 km E of Lubuagan, Philippines | 15 km | 17.34, 121.32 |
| 1949-09-05 01:54 | 6.0 mw | 18 km ESE of Barlig, Philippines | 15 km | 16.99, 121.27 |
| 1949-08-23 19:24 | 6.3 mw | 241 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada | 10 km | 52.42, -132.10 |
| 1949-08-23 14:13 | 6.0 mw | 71 km SSW of Atico, Peru | 25 km | -16.84, -73.79 |
| 1949-08-22 03:01 | 8.0 mw | The 1949 Haida Gwaii, Canada Earthquake | 10 km | 53.67, -133.02 |
| 1949-08-18 12:33 | 6.1 mw | 10 km WNW of Finca Blanco, Panama | 35 km | 8.41, -82.97 |
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 Nov 1, 2026 · SHA-256 f37622130d7b… - 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…