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 · 11/2/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,350
1900 → 2026-11-02
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.7
2026-11-02 07:59 UTC · 100 km SSE of Palekastro, Greece
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
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 · 11/2/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936-07-31 16:41 | 6.1 mw | 28 km NE of Melitón Albáñez Domínguez, Mexico | 15 km | 23.82, -110.20 |
| 1936-07-28 06:52 | 6.0 mw | 61 km SSE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | -3.67, 142.50 |
| 1936-07-28 04:18 | 6.1 mw | 54 km WSW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | -3.67, 143.16 |
| 1936-07-26 06:36 | 6.6 mw | 79 km SSW of Antofagasta, Chile | 35 km | -24.28, -70.77 |
| 1936-07-23 05:20 | 6.0 mw | 135 km SE of Pangai, Tonga | 15 km | -20.83, -173.62 |
| 1936-07-13 10:12 | 7.5 mw | 83 km NNE of Taltal, Chile | 35 km | -24.72, -70.16 |
| 1936-07-05 17:55 | 6.8 mw | 77 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines | 35 km | 6.04, 126.80 |
| 1936-07-03 01:58 | 6.3 mw | 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 35 km | -10.02, 161.00 |
| 1936-06-30 18:26 | 6.1 mw | 113 km E of Q?’en, Iran | 15 km | 33.73, 60.40 |
| 1936-06-30 14:06 | 7.5 mw | 253 km SE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia | 15 km | 51.20, 160.81 |
| 1936-06-15 23:33 | 6.2 mw | 123 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga | 15 km | -15.34, -174.76 |
| 1936-06-09 15:36 | 6.0 mw | 144 km WNW of Pariaman, Indonesia | 35 km | -0.17, 98.90 |
| 1936-06-03 08:15 | 6.1 mw | 123 km WSW of Ferndale, California | 10 km | 40.31, -125.68 |
| 1936-06-03 01:55 | 6.2 mw | 74 km S of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan | 35 km | 41.67, 142.26 |
| 1936-05-28 17:49 | 6.6 mw | northern East Pacific Rise | 10 km | 10.25, -103.58 |
| 1936-05-27 05:19 | 6.9 mw | 28 km WNW of B?glung, Nepal | 15 km | 28.38, 83.32 |
| 1936-05-25 02:02 | 6.3 mw | 154 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | -3.31, 146.70 |
| 1936-05-22 22:21 | 6.0 mw | 215 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia | 35 km | -21.42, 169.96 |
| 1936-05-21 23:15 | 6.2 mw | 21 km SE of Candelaria, Argentina | 15 km | -32.21, -65.68 |
| 1936-05-21 01:50 | 6.2 mw | north of the Solomon Islands | 35 km | -1.40, 154.46 |
| 1936-05-20 02:05 | 6.8 mw | 3 km NNE of Malango, Solomon Islands | 15 km | -9.67, 159.73 |
| 1936-05-19 19:50 | 6.4 mw | Flores region, Indonesia | 70 km | -8.94, 123.81 |
| 1936-05-16 06:05 | 6.8 mw | 92 km SSW of Luocheng, China | 15 km | 28.62, 103.67 |
| 1936-05-11 16:27 | 6.4 mw | 109 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | -5.21, 152.74 |
| 1936-05-05 18:43 | 6.2 mw | 200 km WSW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | -3.02, 149.05 |
| 1936-04-28 04:39 | 6.2 mw | 22 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands | 35 km | -9.60, 160.06 |
| 1936-04-26 22:59 | 6.7 mw | 93 km SSW of Luocheng, China | 15 km | 28.61, 103.66 |
| 1936-04-23 22:14 | 6.1 mw | Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 15 km | 50.12, 179.20 |
| 1936-04-19 08:04 | 6.5 mw | 171 km S of Port Blair, India | 35 km | 10.12, 92.74 |
| 1936-04-19 04:07 | 7.3 mw | 61 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 20 km | -7.66, 156.51 |
| 1936-04-12 20:51 | 6.8 mw | 223 km SSW of Colonia, Micronesia | 15 km | 7.56, 137.60 |
| 1936-04-09 16:02 | 6.1 mw | 72 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands | 35 km | -11.36, 165.98 |
| 1936-04-02 06:16 | 6.4 mw | 85 km S of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | -3.34, 150.86 |
| 1936-04-01 20:10 | 6.7 mw | 217 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines | 35 km | 3.84, 126.66 |
| 1936-04-01 02:09 | 7.8 mw | 161 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines | 35 km | 4.26, 126.38 |
| 1936-03-22 12:16 | 6.3 mw | 62 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 15 km | -8.53, 157.22 |
| 1936-03-21 01:52 | 6.1 mw | Mauritius - Reunion region | 15 km | -17.62, 66.65 |
| 1936-03-20 23:53 | 6.3 mw | 134 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga | 15 km | -14.81, -173.37 |
| 1936-03-10 20:35 | 6.2 mw | 123 km S of Kushiro, Japan | 25 km | 41.87, 144.51 |
| 1936-03-06 14:25 | 6.1 mw | 79 km NE of Kolonga, Tonga | 35 km | -20.56, -174.61 |
| 1936-03-05 06:05 | 6.2 mw | central East Pacific Rise | 15 km | -9.08, -108.53 |
| 1936-03-02 03:19 | 6.7 mw | 126 km S of Kushiro, Japan | 25 km | 41.84, 144.44 |
| 1936-03-01 10:27 | 6.5 mw | southeast Indian Ridge | 10 km | -46.02, 95.98 |
| 1936-02-28 16:15 | 6.1 mw | 184 km N of Sumenep, Indonesia | 15 km | -5.34, 113.97 |
| 1936-02-27 10:03 | 6.4 mw | 109 km N of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 25 km | -7.54, 127.10 |
| 1936-02-22 19:22 | 6.4 mw | off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand | 15 km | -48.96, 164.10 |
| 1936-02-22 15:32 | 7.0 mw | Auckland Islands, New Zealand region | 15 km | -49.15, 164.17 |
| 1936-02-21 16:57 | 6.4 mw | 84 km SE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | -4.58, 144.63 |
| 1936-02-21 06:20 | 6.1 mw | 76 km NNW of Mogok, Myanmar | 15 km | 23.59, 96.36 |
| 1936-02-21 01:07 | 6.0 mw | 6 km NNW of Gose, Japan | 10 km | 34.50, 135.71 |
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 2, 2026 · SHA-256 b884f435dbf0… - 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…