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
1,620
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/24/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,089
1900 → 2026-10-24
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/24/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,620
including 100 M ≥ 8
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/24/26
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.7
2026-10-24 09:48 UTC · 72 km S of Basco, Philippines
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/24/26
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 · 10/24/26
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 · 10/24/26
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 · 10/24/26
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/24/26
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 · 10/24/26
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 · 10/23/26
| # | 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 · 10/24/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-03 21:40 | 6.0 mww | 195 km SW of Nadi, Fiji | 10 km | -19.12, 176.19 |
| 2017-01-03 20:52 | 6.9 mww | 225 km SW of Nadi, Fiji | 12 km | -19.37, 176.05 |
| 2017-01-02 12:14 | 6.3 mww | south of the Fiji Islands | 552 km | -23.25, 179.24 |
| 2016-12-29 21:30 | 6.3 mww | 58 km SSE of Dompu, Indonesia | 79 km | -9.03, 118.66 |
| 2016-12-25 13:22 | 7.6 mww | 41 km SW of Quellón, Chile | 38 km | -43.41, -73.94 |
| 2016-12-24 00:32 | 6.0 mww | 175 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | -5.25, 153.58 |
| 2016-12-20 23:17 | 6.7 mww | 151 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 152 km | -7.51, 127.92 |
| 2016-12-20 11:33 | 6.0 mww | 114 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 10 km | -10.18, 160.91 |
| 2016-12-20 03:21 | 6.4 mww | 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 20 km | -10.18, 161.23 |
| 2016-12-18 12:30 | 6.4 mww | 186 km NW of Iñapari, Peru | 612 km | -9.97, -70.97 |
| 2016-12-18 08:47 | 6.2 mww | 135 km SSW of Colonia, Micronesia | 19 km | 8.37, 137.67 |
| 2016-12-17 10:27 | 6.3 mww | 178 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 8 km | -5.63, 154.02 |
| 2016-12-17 09:51 | 7.9 mww | 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 95 km | -4.50, 153.52 |
| 2016-12-14 01:01 | 6.0 mww | Mariana Islands region | 22 km | 21.29, 144.40 |
| 2016-12-10 15:24 | 6.0 mww | 133 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 143 km | -5.66, 154.47 |
| 2016-12-09 18:10 | 6.9 mww | 92 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 20 km | -10.75, 161.13 |
| 2016-12-08 20:56 | 6.5 mww | 79 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 12 km | -10.84, 161.31 |
| 2016-12-08 16:38 | 7.8 mww | 69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands | 40 km | -10.68, 161.33 |
| 2016-12-08 13:49 | 6.6 mww | 164 km W of Ferndale, California | 8 km | 40.45, -126.19 |
| 2016-12-08 04:15 | 6.0 mww | 58 km SSE of Shihezi, China | 18 km | 43.82, 86.35 |
| 2016-12-06 21:03 | 6.5 mww | 14 km WNW of Reuleuet, Indonesia | 13 km | 5.28, 96.17 |
| 2016-12-05 00:13 | 6.3 mww | 193 km NE of Maumere, Indonesia | 526 km | -7.32, 123.38 |
| 2016-12-01 21:40 | 6.2 mww | 22 km SW of Vilavila, Peru | 12 km | -15.31, -70.83 |
| 2016-11-25 13:24 | 6.6 mww | 122 km N of Murghob, Tajikistan | 17 km | 39.27, 73.98 |
| 2016-11-24 17:43 | 6.9 mww | 156 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 10 km | 11.91, -88.90 |
| 2016-11-21 19:59 | 6.9 mww | 35 km ESE of Namie, Japan | 9 km | 37.39, 141.39 |
| 2016-11-20 19:57 | 6.4 mww | 7 km NNW of Pocito, Argentina | 108 km | -31.62, -68.63 |
| 2016-11-13 23:34 | 6.5 mww | 74 km NE of Amberley, New Zealand | 9 km | -42.61, 173.25 |
| 2016-11-13 12:31 | 6.2 mww | 90 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand | 2 km | -42.31, 173.70 |
| 2016-11-13 10:52 | 6.1 mww | 78 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand | 14 km | -42.18, 173.62 |
| 2016-11-13 10:32 | 6.5 mww | 92 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand | 10 km | -42.32, 173.67 |
| 2016-11-13 10:02 | 7.8 mww | 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand | 15 km | -42.74, 173.05 |
| 2016-11-11 20:42 | 6.1 mww | 24 km ENE of Ishinomaki, Japan | 42 km | 38.50, 141.57 |
| 2016-11-08 03:55 | 6.0 mww | 42 km WNW of Talcahuano, Chile | 20 km | -36.58, -73.56 |
| 2016-11-04 15:20 | 6.3 mww | 21 km SE of Curicó, Chile | 90 km | -35.09, -71.05 |
| 2016-11-01 18:03 | 6.0 mww | 99 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 52 km | -6.10, 148.66 |
| 2016-10-30 05:40 | 6.6 mww | 5 km ESE of Preci, Italy | 8 km | 42.86, 13.10 |
| 2016-10-27 18:32 | 6.0 mww | 88 km WSW of San Antonio, Chile | 13 km | -33.78, -72.53 |
| 2016-10-26 17:18 | 6.1 mww | 2 km NNW of Visso, Italy | 10 km | 42.96, 13.07 |
| 2016-10-26 03:19 | 6.1 mww | 127 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga | 10 km | -15.44, -174.86 |
| 2016-10-21 03:07 | 6.2 mww | 6 km S of Kurayoshi, Japan | 6 km | 35.37, 133.81 |
| 2016-10-18 22:26 | 6.6 mww | 161 km NNE of Pamanukan, Indonesia | 614 km | -4.86, 108.16 |
| 2016-10-17 04:14 | 6.8 mww | 76 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 42 km | -6.00, 148.89 |
| 2016-10-15 06:03 | 6.3 mww | 143 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 442 km | -4.27, 150.36 |
| 2016-09-24 19:28 | 6.9 mww | Fiji region | 596 km | -19.78, -178.24 |
| 2016-09-24 19:07 | 6.4 mww | 118 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga | 202 km | -18.17, -174.98 |
| 2016-09-23 20:53 | 6.3 mww | 36 km SE of Tamisan, Philippines | 65 km | 6.57, 126.49 |
| 2016-09-22 22:14 | 6.2 mww | 142 km ESE of Katsuura, Japan | 10 km | 34.46, 141.64 |
| 2016-09-20 14:21 | 6.1 mww | Izu Islands, Japan region | 9 km | 30.50, 142.05 |
| 2016-09-16 23:20 | 6.0 mww | 52 km NNW of Jayapura, Indonesia | 9 km | -2.08, 140.57 |
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 24, 2026 · SHA-256 10108b8ff56e… - 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 23, 2026 · SHA-256 f99e14bcd8f1…