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 · 11/5/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,402
1900 → 2026-11-05
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.8
2026-11-05 09:09 UTC · Sea of Okhotsk
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
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 · 11/5/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912-11-28 20:55 | 6.5 ms | 29 km E of Jurm, Afghanistan | 205 km | 36.82, 71.16 |
| 1912-11-19 13:55 | 6.7 mw | 2 km S of San Pedro el Alto, Mexico | 15 km | 19.56, -99.88 |
| 1912-11-08 07:53 | 6.2 mw | 3 km WSW of Irosin, Philippines | 15 km | 12.69, 124.00 |
| 1912-11-07 07:40 | 7.1 mw | 4 km ENE of Karluk, Alaska | 35 km | 57.59, -154.39 |
| 1912-11-03 06:04 | 6.3 mw | 28 km E of Lugu, Taiwan | 25 km | 23.70, 121.03 |
| 1912-10-31 17:23 | 6.8 mw | 281 km S of Colonia, Micronesia | 15 km | 7.01, 137.64 |
| 1912-10-26 09:00 | 7.0 mB | 32 km NNE of Yigo Village, Guam | 180 km | 13.82, 144.95 |
| 1912-10-18 11:54 | 6.7 mw | 8 km SE of Attu Station, Alaska | 20 km | 52.79, 173.28 |
| 1912-09-29 20:51 | 7.6 mw | 245 km E of Melekeok Village, Palau | 15 km | 7.30, 136.86 |
| 1912-09-13 23:31 | 6.7 mw | 30 km SW of Kumbağ, Turkey | 15 km | 40.68, 27.20 |
| 1912-09-11 00:47 | 6.4 mw | 27 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia | 75 km | 4.15, 96.37 |
| 1912-09-01 04:10 | 7.0 mB | 204 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea | 425 km | -4.64, 154.63 |
| 1912-08-18 21:09 | 6.2 ms | Near Flagstaff, Arizona | — | 35.25, -111.72 |
| 1912-08-18 13:19 | 6.5 mB | 201 km SSE of Baubau, Indonesia | 600 km | -7.09, 123.41 |
| 1912-08-17 19:11 | 7.5 mw | 210 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines | 35 km | 3.57, 125.97 |
| 1912-08-10 09:23 | 6.2 mw | 23 km NE of Biga, Turkey | 10 km | 40.40, 27.40 |
| 1912-08-09 01:29 | 7.2 mw | 25 km SE of Malkara, Turkey | 15 km | 40.73, 27.12 |
| 1912-08-06 21:11 | 7.3 mB | 79 km WSW of Sola, Vanuatu | 165 km | -14.06, 166.84 |
| 1912-07-24 23:24 | 6.0 mB | southeast of Shikoku, Japan | 500 km | 30.48, 136.94 |
| 1912-07-24 11:59 | 6.8 mw | 13 km ESE of Huangala, Peru | 35 km | -4.90, -80.49 |
| 1912-07-18 21:16 | 6.3 mw | Easter Island region | 10 km | -30.43, -111.52 |
| 1912-07-09 08:18 | 6.1 mw | 42 km N of Gulu, Uganda | 10 km | 3.16, 32.35 |
| 1912-07-08 21:53 | 6.4 ms | Mount McKinley (Denali) area, Alaska | 0 km | 63.44, -150.50 |
| 1912-07-07 07:57 | 7.2 ms | Mount McKinley (Denali) area, Alaska | 3 km | 63.34, -150.43 |
| 1912-06-17 11:28 | 6.2 ms | Event 50 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-12 12:43 | 6.7 mw | 11 km S of Los Amates, Guatemala | 15 km | 15.16, -89.10 |
| 1912-06-12 07:04 | 6.1 ms | Event 49 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-10 16:06 | 6.8 mw | Event 48 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | 5 km | 58.27, -155.19 |
| 1912-06-09 17:14 | 6.0 ms | Event 43 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 13:00 | 6.6 ms | Event 39 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 10:29 | 6.2 ms | Event 38 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 08:48 | 6.8 ms | Event 37 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 07:36 | 7.0 ms | Event 36 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 06:49 | 6.3 ms | Event 35 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 06:11 | 6.0 ms | Event 33 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-08 04:41 | 6.2 mw | 25 km WSW of Muroran, Japan | 15 km | 42.22, 140.71 |
| 1912-06-07 18:25 | 6.5 ms | Event 21 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-07 12:23 | 6.1 ms | Event 19 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-07 10:35 | 6.3 ms | Event 18 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-06-07 09:56 | 6.3 mw | Event 17 Novarupta-Mount Katmai area, Alaska Peninsula | — | 58.30, -155.00 |
| 1912-05-25 18:01 | 6.0 ms | 3 km WNW of Matca, Romania | 85 km | 45.86, 27.49 |
| 1912-05-23 02:24 | 7.9 mw | 32 km NW of Taunggyi, Myanmar | 15 km | 21.03, 96.86 |
| 1912-05-22 23:08 | 6.2 ms | 58 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan | 205 km | 36.36, 70.65 |
| 1912-05-15 00:04 | 6.5 ms | Kermadec Islands region | 235 km | -28.88, -179.06 |
| 1912-05-11 17:26 | 6.2 mw | Chagos Archipelago region | 10 km | -6.41, 70.78 |
| 1912-05-06 18:59 | 6.8 mw | 67 km E of Selfoss, Iceland | 15 km | 64.04, -19.63 |
| 1912-04-25 10:27 | 6.8 ms | 78 km NNW of Pārūn, Afghanistan | 205 km | 36.11, 70.71 |
| 1912-03-25 04:49 | 6.9 mB | 86 km NE of Isangel, Vanuatu | 255 km | -19.06, 169.94 |
| 1912-03-11 10:17 | 6.5 mw | 247 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada | 15 km | 51.08, -130.51 |
| 1912-02-20 13:03 | 6.1 mw | 28 km N of Maputsoe, Lesotho | 15 km | -28.63, 27.85 |
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 5, 2026 · SHA-256 e808ba4482a1… - 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…