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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-02-11 16:34 | 7.2 mwc | 196 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines | 20 km | 3.89, 126.39 |
| 2009-02-09 13:09 | 6.0 mwb | 117 km SSW of Sechura, Peru | 15 km | -6.57, -81.15 |
| 2009-02-02 16:53 | 6.0 mwc | 40 km WNW of Pisco, Peru | 21 km | -13.58, -76.56 |
| 2009-01-22 19:16 | 6.1 mwc | 219 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 147 km | -7.31, 128.57 |
| 2009-01-22 12:40 | 6.1 mwb | New Britain region, Papua New Guinea | 44 km | -5.91, 148.51 |
| 2009-01-21 16:08 | 6.1 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 24 km | -22.69, 171.04 |
| 2009-01-19 02:46 | 6.0 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 35 km | -22.48, 170.81 |
| 2009-01-19 02:35 | 6.6 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 12 km | -22.60, 170.91 |
| 2009-01-18 13:11 | 6.4 mwc | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 33 km | -30.20, -177.95 |
| 2009-01-15 16:49 | 7.4 mwc | east of the Kuril Islands | 36 km | 46.86, 155.15 |
| 2009-01-15 06:27 | 6.7 mwc | 298 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia | 27 km | -22.35, 170.64 |
| 2009-01-13 00:04 | 6.0 mwc | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -13.15, 66.08 |
| 2009-01-08 18:21 | 6.1 mwc | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | 14 km | 10.16, -84.20 |
| 2009-01-06 21:48 | 6.0 mwc | 73 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia | 16 km | -0.66, 133.43 |
| 2009-01-03 21:33 | 7.4 mwc | 86 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia | 23 km | -0.69, 133.30 |
| 2009-01-03 19:23 | 6.6 mwc | 50 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan | 205 km | 36.42, 70.74 |
| 2009-01-03 18:43 | 7.7 mwc | 140 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia | 17 km | -0.41, 132.88 |
| 2008-12-25 02:20 | 6.3 mwc | 11 km SSE of Kiupo, Philippines | 206 km | 5.75, 125.38 |
| 2008-12-24 08:11 | 6.0 mwc | 249 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga | 9 km | -17.29, -171.91 |
| 2008-12-20 09:29 | 6.3 mwc | 148 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan | 19 km | 36.54, 142.42 |
| 2008-12-18 20:50 | 6.0 mwc | 73 km NNW of Valparaíso, Chile | 25 km | -32.47, -72.05 |
| 2008-12-18 20:19 | 6.2 mwc | 46 km W of La Ligua, Chile | 18 km | -32.46, -71.73 |
| 2008-12-10 12:15 | 6.0 mwb | 197 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands | 51 km | -12.34, 166.57 |
| 2008-12-09 16:28 | 6.1 mwc | 83 km ENE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu | 224 km | -15.93, 168.17 |
| 2008-12-09 05:23 | 6.8 mwc | Kermadec Islands region | 18 km | -31.23, -176.92 |
| 2008-12-08 17:39 | 6.3 mwc | southeast Indian Ridge | 11 km | -53.00, 106.82 |
| 2008-12-06 09:55 | 6.4 mwc | 144 km NNW of Maubara, Timor Leste | 398 km | -7.39, 124.74 |
| 2008-11-29 04:59 | 6.0 mwc | Fiji region | 386 km | -18.70, -177.72 |
| 2008-11-24 08:02 | 7.3 mwc | 284 km WSW of Mil’kovo, Russia | 492 km | 54.20, 154.32 |
| 2008-11-22 17:49 | 6.3 mwc | north of Ascension Island | 10 km | -1.23, -13.93 |
| 2008-11-22 15:01 | 6.4 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 57 km | -22.52, 171.20 |
| 2008-11-22 15:01 | 6.3 mwc | 127 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia | 24 km | -4.35, 101.26 |
| 2008-11-21 06:05 | 6.1 mwb | 67 km WNW of Tulagi, Solomon Islands | 118 km | -8.95, 159.55 |
| 2008-11-19 05:11 | 6.3 mwc | 11 km W of Puerto Armuelles, Panama | 32 km | 8.27, -82.97 |
| 2008-11-16 16:02 | 7.4 mww | 135 km NW of Gorontalo, Indonesia | 30 km | 1.27, 122.09 |
| 2008-11-10 00:22 | 6.3 mwc | northern Qinghai, China | 19 km | 37.56, 95.83 |
| 2008-11-08 06:49 | 6.0 mwb | 93 km NNW of Hihifo, Tonga | 121 km | -15.22, -174.23 |
| 2008-11-07 15:04 | 6.2 mwc | Banda Sea | 10 km | -6.71, 129.07 |
| 2008-11-07 06:19 | 6.4 mwc | 105 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 13 km | -14.83, 168.03 |
| 2008-11-04 17:35 | 6.3 mwc | 68 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 206 km | -17.14, 168.46 |
| 2008-11-02 12:48 | 6.1 mwc | 72 km S of Atka, Alaska | 36 km | 51.55, -174.37 |
| 2008-11-01 00:13 | 6.0 mwc | 220 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -3.40, 148.71 |
| 2008-10-30 14:15 | 6.1 mwc | central East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -9.02, -108.25 |
| 2008-10-29 10:32 | 6.4 mwc | 13 km NNW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan | 14 km | 30.60, 67.46 |
| 2008-10-28 22:09 | 6.4 mwc | 23 km NW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan | 15 km | 30.64, 67.35 |
| 2008-10-28 15:00 | 6.0 mwc | 191 km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 18 km | -3.49, 145.87 |
| 2008-10-23 08:04 | 6.3 mwc | 200 km WSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -2.64, 145.57 |
| 2008-10-22 10:55 | 6.4 mwc | 146 km W of Neiafu, Tonga | 233 km | -18.41, -175.35 |
| 2008-10-19 03:10 | 6.9 mwc | 130 km ESE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 29 km | -21.86, -173.82 |
| 2008-10-16 17:41 | 6.7 mwc | 19 km SW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico | 24 km | 14.42, -92.36 |
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…