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 5.0
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 · 11/4/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,380
1900 → 2026-11-04
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.0
2026-11-04 06:40 UTC · 207 km ESE of Sarangani, Philippines
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
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 · 11/4/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925-10-23 01:47 | 6.2 mw | 282 km SSW of Jimbaran, Indonesia | 15 km | -11.13, 114.13 |
| 1925-10-22 17:01 | 6.6 mw | 177 km SSW of Pagar Alam, Indonesia | 35 km | -5.55, 102.76 |
| 1925-10-15 12:36 | 6.1 mw | 10 km WNW of Lijiang, China | 15 km | 26.90, 100.12 |
| 1925-10-13 17:40 | 7.1 mw | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | 10.70, -42.28 |
| 1925-10-12 05:44 | 6.3 mw | South Indian Ocean | 10 km | -34.29, 58.24 |
| 1925-10-05 04:08 | 6.3 mw | 24 km SSE of Intipucá, El Salvador | 35 km | 13.00, -87.96 |
| 1925-09-29 16:33 | 6.1 mw | 74 km NNE of The Valley, Anguilla | 15 km | 18.86, -62.85 |
| 1925-09-25 07:45 | 6.1 mw | southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia | 15 km | -6.92, 102.65 |
| 1925-09-05 15:30 | 6.3 mw | 236 km NW of Attu Station, Alaska | 25 km | 54.10, 170.30 |
| 1925-08-31 08:58 | 6.1 mw | 237 km NW of Nagqu, China | 15 km | 33.03, 90.32 |
| 1925-08-29 21:36 | 6.3 mw | 74 km E of Mulegé, Mexico | 15 km | 26.89, -111.23 |
| 1925-08-19 11:07 | 7.0 mw | Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region | 15 km | 55.29, 167.20 |
| 1925-08-14 03:08 | 6.4 mw | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -59.85, 152.40 |
| 1925-08-11 18:41 | 6.0 mw | 22 km S of Constitución, Chile | 35 km | -35.54, -72.38 |
| 1925-08-07 06:47 | 6.3 mw | 23 km N of Aratichanguío, Mexico | 75 km | 18.69, -101.34 |
| 1925-07-17 20:08 | 6.2 mw | 163 km ENE of Nabire, Indonesia | 35 km | -2.93, 136.91 |
| 1925-07-17 02:13 | 6.0 mw | 247 km NE of Fais, Micronesia | 35 km | 11.40, 142.07 |
| 1925-07-07 16:43 | 6.1 mw | 105 km ENE of Parham, Antigua and Barbuda | 15 km | 17.39, -60.82 |
| 1925-07-07 14:05 | 6.0 mw | 165 km NNE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda | 15 km | 18.93, -61.06 |
| 1925-07-07 13:12 | 6.4 mw | 179 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico | 20 km | 19.19, -106.94 |
| 1925-07-04 08:09 | 6.3 mw | 33 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | -6.54, 155.27 |
| 1925-06-29 13:42 | 6.8 mw | The 1925 Santa Barbara, California Earthquake | 10 km | 34.30, -119.80 |
| 1925-06-28 05:14 | 6.6 mw | 68 km ENE of Naze, Japan | 35 km | 28.59, 130.14 |
| 1925-06-28 01:05 | 6.4 mfa | Clarkston Valley, Montana (Aftershock) | — | 46.08, -111.51 |
| 1925-06-28 00:21 | 6.6 mw | The 1925 Clarkston Valley, Montana Earthquake | — | 46.08, -111.51 |
| 1925-06-19 06:50 | 6.3 mw | 171 km S of Vailoatai, American Samoa | 15 km | -15.90, -171.00 |
| 1925-06-14 21:28 | 6.1 mw | 174 km SSW of George Town, Cayman Islands | 10 km | 17.94, -82.23 |
| 1925-06-13 19:22 | 6.1 mw | southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | -33.22, -20.51 |
| 1925-06-12 09:58 | 6.3 mw | 44 km S of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | -4.62, 142.87 |
| 1925-06-11 14:56 | 6.0 mw | 62 km SSW of Abepura, Indonesia | 35 km | -3.08, 140.34 |
| 1925-06-09 12:40 | 7.0 mw | 61 km W of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | -4.12, 143.52 |
| 1925-06-04 11:02 | 6.0 ms | 72 km WSW of Crescent City, California | — | 41.50, -125.00 |
| 1925-06-03 03:33 | 6.9 mw | 108 km ESE of Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe), Indonesia | 15 km | 1.22, 125.92 |
| 1925-06-02 04:18 | 6.1 mw | 151 km SSE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan | 35 km | 41.11, 143.17 |
| 1925-05-28 04:55 | 6.5 mw | South Indian Ocean | 10 km | -36.36, 56.17 |
| 1925-05-26 14:37 | 6.3 mw | 76 km SSW of Yonakuni, Japan | 35 km | 23.83, 122.72 |
| 1925-05-25 15:22 | 6.2 mw | 15 km NNW of Fukuchiyama, Japan | 15 km | 35.43, 135.04 |
| 1925-05-25 02:43 | 6.4 mw | 9 km WSW of Calatrava, Philippines | 35 km | 12.59, 121.99 |
| 1925-05-24 00:24 | 6.3 mw | 19 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan | 15 km | 23.80, 121.63 |
| 1925-05-23 01:09 | 6.6 mw | 12 km ESE of Toyooka, Japan | 15 km | 35.52, 134.95 |
| 1925-05-22 08:40 | 6.1 mw | Izu Islands, Japan region | 35 km | 30.88, 142.21 |
| 1925-05-20 10:04 | 6.2 mw | Izu Islands, Japan region | 35 km | 31.15, 141.73 |
| 1925-05-19 04:23 | 6.6 mw | South Indian Ocean | 10 km | -34.32, 58.00 |
| 1925-05-15 10:57 | 6.3 mw | 7 km SSE of Taltal, Chile | 30 km | -25.47, -70.44 |
| 1925-05-13 22:54 | 6.0 mw | 119 km SW of Port Blair, India | 25 km | 10.77, 92.13 |
| 1925-05-07 13:34 | 6.4 mw | 26 km NE of Cabodiongan, Philippines | 35 km | 12.84, 125.22 |
| 1925-05-07 11:11 | 6.2 mw | 60 km NE of Anito, Philippines | 35 km | 12.85, 125.67 |
| 1925-05-05 22:21 | 6.7 mw | 131 km ESE of Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe), Indonesia | 15 km | 1.11, 126.10 |
| 1925-05-05 10:58 | 6.2 mw | 1 km W of Novallas, Philippines | 15 km | 9.51, 123.11 |
| 1925-05-05 09:06 | 6.8 mw | 5 km NNW of Nalundan, Philippines | 15 km | 9.80, 123.04 |
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 4, 2026 · SHA-256 165ea85a63c3… - 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…