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 4.6
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 · 10/27/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,191
1900 → 2026-10-27
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
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 · 10/27/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.6
2026-10-27 11:01 UTC · 5 km ENE of Tierra y Libertad, Mexico
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
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 · 10/27/26
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 · 10/27/26
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 · 10/27/26
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 · 10/27/26
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 · 10/23/26
| # | 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 · 10/27/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-09-30 06:01 | 6.0 mwc | Scotia Sea | 10 km | -60.32, -33.40 |
| 2003-09-29 00:36 | 6.5 mwc | 58 km S of Kushiro, Japan | 25 km | 42.45, 144.38 |
| 2003-09-27 16:52 | 6.4 mwb | 23 km S of Aktash, Russia | 10 km | 50.09, 87.76 |
| 2003-09-27 09:33 | 7.3 mwb | 29 km S of Aktash, Russia | 16 km | 50.04, 87.81 |
| 2003-09-26 18:38 | 6.0 mwb | 110 km S of Kushiro, Japan | 33 km | 41.99, 144.58 |
| 2003-09-25 19:08 | 7.4 mwc | 119 km ESE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan | 33 km | 41.77, 143.59 |
| 2003-09-25 17:50 | 8.2 mww | 2003 Tokachi-Oki Earthquake | 27 km | 41.82, 143.91 |
| 2003-09-22 02:45 | 6.4 mwb | 2 km SE of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic | 10 km | 19.78, -70.67 |
| 2003-09-21 21:15 | 6.0 mwc | north of Ascension Island | 10 km | -1.01, -14.06 |
| 2003-09-21 16:16 | 6.6 mwb | 16 km SE of Taungdwingyi, Myanmar | 10 km | 19.92, 95.67 |
| 2003-09-12 04:55 | 6.0 mwb | 133 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 50 km | -5.27, 151.50 |
| 2003-09-11 19:58 | 6.0 mwc | 76 km W of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 10 km | -8.20, 156.16 |
| 2003-09-07 11:19 | 6.4 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 33 km | -22.47, 172.12 |
| 2003-09-06 00:08 | 6.1 mwb | central East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -4.62, -106.04 |
| 2003-09-02 16:28 | 6.4 mwb | 101 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga | 10 km | -15.23, -173.22 |
| 2003-08-31 21:08 | 6.2 mwb | 6 km E of Knevichi, Russia | 481 km | 43.39, 132.27 |
| 2003-08-29 22:05 | 6.0 mwb | 32 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 137 km | -14.80, 167.24 |
| 2003-08-28 04:38 | 6.0 mwc | 131 km N of Manatutu, Timor Leste | 409 km | -7.32, 126.05 |
| 2003-08-28 02:48 | 6.2 mwc | southern East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -49.82, -114.81 |
| 2003-08-25 04:28 | 6.0 mwc | 5 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala | 100 km | 14.03, -91.07 |
| 2003-08-21 10:12 | 7.2 mwc | 56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand | 28 km | -45.10, 167.14 |
| 2003-08-14 03:14 | 6.3 mwc | 8 km S of Kanaláki, Greece | 10 km | 39.16, 20.60 |
| 2003-08-11 19:22 | 6.0 mwb | 99 km ENE of Port Blair, India | 100 km | 12.12, 93.53 |
| 2003-08-11 11:40 | 6.0 mwb | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -56.91, 147.61 |
| 2003-08-10 22:19 | 6.0 mwb | 66 km SSE of Tobelo, Indonesia | 10 km | 1.14, 128.15 |
| 2003-08-04 02:37 | 7.6 mwc | Scotia Sea | 10 km | -60.53, -43.41 |
| 2003-07-27 09:41 | 6.0 mwb | 56 km N of Camargo, Bolivia | 345 km | -20.13, -65.18 |
| 2003-07-27 04:25 | 6.8 mwb | 97 km NE of Svetlaya, Russia | 470 km | 47.15, 139.25 |
| 2003-07-27 00:04 | 6.6 mwb | 142 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga | 213 km | -21.08, -176.58 |
| 2003-07-25 20:13 | 6.1 mwc | 7 km NW of Matsushima, Japan | 6 km | 38.42, 141.00 |
| 2003-07-25 07:37 | 6.4 mwb | 168 km NW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 24 km | -1.53, 149.69 |
| 2003-07-22 02:21 | 6.0 mwb | 108 km WSW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 33 km | -15.42, 166.14 |
| 2003-07-21 13:16 | 6.0 mwb | 75 km SSW of Dadukou, China | 10 km | 25.98, 101.29 |
| 2003-07-21 11:53 | 6.4 mwb | 111 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 190 km | -5.48, 148.85 |
| 2003-07-17 17:57 | 6.0 mwc | 241 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico | 10 km | 18.51, -107.13 |
| 2003-07-15 18:27 | 7.6 mwc | Carlsberg Ridge | 10 km | -2.60, 68.38 |
| 2003-07-15 16:46 | 6.5 mwb | 41 km N of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | -3.83, 152.17 |
| 2003-07-03 22:33 | 6.1 mwc | 140 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -5.47, 151.69 |
| 2003-07-03 04:21 | 6.0 mwc | 44 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 10 km | -21.28, -174.52 |
| 2003-07-01 15:00 | 6.0 mwc | 22 km NW of Cabodiongan, Philippines | 33 km | 12.80, 124.90 |
| 2003-07-01 03:52 | 6.0 mwb | 179 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines | 635 km | 4.53, 122.51 |
| 2003-06-28 13:29 | 6.3 mwc | 189 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -3.32, 146.15 |
| 2003-06-26 12:11 | 6.0 mwb | 4 km ENE of Miaga, Philippines | 10 km | 12.25, 123.85 |
| 2003-06-23 10:12 | 6.9 mwc | 291 km SE of Attu Station, Alaska | 20 km | 51.44, 176.78 |
| 2003-06-20 11:30 | 6.8 mwc | 42 km W of Ovalle, Chile | 33 km | -30.61, -71.64 |
| 2003-06-20 04:19 | 7.1 mwc | 105 km E of Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil | 558 km | -7.61, -71.72 |
| 2003-06-16 20:08 | 6.9 mwb | 25 km ESE of Atlasovo, Russia | 175 km | 55.49, 160.00 |
| 2003-06-15 17:24 | 6.5 mwb | 293 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska | 20 km | 51.55, 176.92 |
| 2003-06-12 06:59 | 6.3 mwb | 88 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 186 km | -5.98, 154.76 |
| 2003-06-10 06:40 | 6.0 mwc | 50 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan | 45 km | 23.52, 121.63 |
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 27, 2026 · SHA-256 2a082d988a24… - 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…