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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-02 09:13 | 6.2 mwc | off the coast of Oregon | 10 km | 44.51, -130.08 |
| 2000-05-25 22:30 | 6.0 mwc | 224 km NW of Fais, Micronesia | 33 km | 11.36, 139.24 |
| 2000-05-21 17:58 | 6.0 mwc | 34 km NNE of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | 10 km | 71.19, -8.26 |
| 2000-05-14 18:08 | 6.3 mwc | 80 km ESE of Kendari, Indonesia | 33 km | -4.30, 123.16 |
| 2000-05-12 21:10 | 6.3 mwc | 66 km NNW of P?r?n, Afghanistan | 108 km | 35.98, 70.66 |
| 2000-05-12 16:43 | 7.2 mwc | 75 km N of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 225 km | -23.55, -66.45 |
| 2000-05-08 08:28 | 6.1 mwc | 121 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 502 km | -4.46, 150.00 |
| 2000-05-06 11:44 | 6.3 mwc | 74 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 12 km | -11.30, 165.43 |
| 2000-05-04 18:36 | 6.5 mwc | 229 km E of Levuka, Fiji | 516 km | -17.91, -178.52 |
| 2000-05-04 02:21 | 7.6 mwc | 89 km E of Luwuk, Indonesia | 26 km | -1.10, 123.57 |
| 2000-05-02 13:03 | 6.0 mwc | Mariana Islands region | 55 km | 17.44, 147.52 |
| 2000-04-23 15:01 | 6.1 mwc | 13 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina | 610 km | -28.38, -62.94 |
| 2000-04-23 07:27 | 7.0 mwb | 22 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina | 609 km | -28.31, -62.99 |
| 2000-04-21 02:35 | 6.0 mwc | 115 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 33 km | 51.42, -178.14 |
| 2000-04-18 15:28 | 6.0 mwc | 141 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 221 km | -20.66, -176.47 |
| 2000-04-07 17:08 | 6.3 mwc | 286 km NE of Port Mathurin, Mauritius | 10 km | -18.04, 65.52 |
| 2000-04-03 13:20 | 6.2 mwc | 147 km S of Sarangani, Philippines | 150 km | 4.08, 125.61 |
| 2000-03-28 09:00 | 7.6 mwc | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 127 km | 22.34, 143.73 |
| 2000-03-12 21:21 | 6.3 mwc | 3 km ESE of Plan de Ayala, Mexico | 62 km | 14.98, -92.44 |
| 2000-03-05 22:57 | 6.1 mwc | south of Australia | 10 km | -62.90, 145.64 |
| 2000-03-04 01:24 | 6.4 mwb | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -60.17, 149.87 |
| 2000-03-03 21:22 | 6.6 mwc | 62 km SSW of Ialibu, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -6.82, 143.81 |
| 2000-03-03 21:09 | 6.4 mwb | 211 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 142 km | -7.32, 128.49 |
| 2000-02-29 21:44 | 6.0 mwc | 87 km ESE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 33 km | -18.16, 169.01 |
| 2000-02-29 03:35 | 6.0 mwc | southern East Pacific Rise | 10 km | -50.07, -114.20 |
| 2000-02-28 21:15 | 6.0 mwc | 187 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji | 538 km | -17.59, -178.98 |
| 2000-02-26 17:24 | 6.1 mwc | 7 km SE of Narganá, Panama | 65 km | 9.41, -78.53 |
| 2000-02-26 07:11 | 6.2 mwb | 30 km NNW of Yigo Village, Guam | 132 km | 13.80, 144.78 |
| 2000-02-25 00:43 | 7.1 mwc | Vanuatu region | 33 km | -19.53, 173.82 |
| 2000-02-13 01:57 | 6.0 mwc | 15 km E of Slavyanka, Russia | 514 km | 42.85, 131.57 |
| 2000-02-06 10:33 | 6.6 mwc | 87 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | -5.84, 150.88 |
| 2000-01-28 15:39 | 6.0 mwc | 162 km NNW of Hirara, Japan | 194 km | 26.08, 124.50 |
| 2000-01-28 13:21 | 6.8 mwc | 84 km S of Shikotan, Russia | 61 km | 43.05, 146.84 |
| 2000-01-26 12:26 | 6.3 mwb | 147 km S of Hihifo, Tonga | 33 km | -17.27, -174.00 |
| 2000-01-20 08:41 | 6.1 mwc | 238 km WNW of Bandon, Oregon | 10 km | 43.65, -127.26 |
| 2000-01-19 06:09 | 6.0 mwb | 51 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan | 207 km | 36.37, 70.38 |
| 2000-01-15 11:49 | 6.0 mwc | Fiji region | 633 km | -21.22, -179.26 |
| 2000-01-13 19:07 | 6.2 mwc | 211 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji | 535 km | -17.61, -178.74 |
| 2000-01-09 20:54 | 6.5 mwb | Fiji region | 33 km | -18.82, 174.37 |
| 2000-01-08 15:47 | 7.2 mwc | 117 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga | 183 km | -16.92, -174.25 |
| 2000-01-08 10:59 | 6.4 mwb | 60 km NNE of Antofagasta, Chile | 36 km | -23.17, -70.12 |
| 2000-01-08 00:19 | 6.4 mwc | 15 km SE of Malango, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -9.80, 159.81 |
| 2000-01-06 20:31 | 6.2 mwc | Luzon, Philippines | 33 km | 16.10, 119.48 |
| 2000-01-06 09:42 | 6.1 mwc | 35 km WSW of Elfin Cove, Alaska | 1 km | 58.04, -136.87 |
| 2000-01-05 06:40 | 6.1 mwc | 84 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -11.37, 165.38 |
| 2000-01-01 04:58 | 6.0 mwc | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -60.72, 153.67 |
| 1999-12-29 21:53 | 6.2 mwc | 70 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -11.16, 165.33 |
| 1999-12-29 12:29 | 6.9 mwb | 50 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -10.86, 165.35 |
| 1999-12-28 11:46 | 6.2 mwc | 269 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10 km | 5.61, -82.64 |
| 1999-12-24 21:35 | 6.1 mwc | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -56.37, 147.06 |
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…