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 5.0
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 · 10/28/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,222
1900 → 2026-10-28
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.0
2026-10-28 11:47 UTC · Reykjanes Ridge
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
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 · 10/28/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-06 06:22 | 6.4 mwb | 21 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | -6.53, 147.01 |
| 1999-04-05 09:08 | 7.4 mwc | 63 km W of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 150 km | -5.59, 149.57 |
| 1999-04-03 08:10 | 6.0 mwc | 13 km S of Amapala, Honduras | 38 km | 13.17, -87.63 |
| 1999-04-03 04:17 | 6.8 mwc | 6 km SE of Camaná, Peru | 87 km | -16.66, -72.66 |
| 1999-04-02 15:05 | 6.2 mwc | 120 km WSW of Isangel, Vanuatu | 10 km | -19.90, 168.19 |
| 1999-04-01 19:36 | 6.2 mwc | 48 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | -4.36, 152.71 |
| 1999-03-31 03:54 | 6.3 mwc | 245 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10 km | 5.83, -82.62 |
| 1999-03-28 17:05 | 6.6 mwb | 9 km NNW of P?palkoti, India | 15 km | 30.51, 79.40 |
| 1999-03-20 09:47 | 6.9 mwc | 78 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 33 km | 51.59, -177.67 |
| 1999-03-08 11:25 | 6.9 mwc | 123 km SE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia | 57 km | 52.06, 159.52 |
| 1999-03-07 19:35 | 6.1 mwc | 139 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji | 33 km | -15.77, -179.53 |
| 1999-03-05 02:35 | 6.0 mwc | 110 km ESE of Machalí, Chile | 10 km | -34.67, -69.60 |
| 1999-03-04 07:52 | 7.1 mwc | 69 km S of Tabiauan, Philippines | 33 km | 5.40, 121.94 |
| 1999-03-04 04:38 | 6.6 mwc | 110 km SSE of K?h Sef?d, Iran | 33 km | 28.34, 57.19 |
| 1999-02-23 06:27 | 6.2 mwb | 127 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia | 33 km | 0.20, 119.54 |
| 1999-02-22 00:00 | 6.4 mwc | 187 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia | 33 km | -21.45, 169.68 |
| 1999-02-14 20:12 | 6.0 mwb | 89 km NE of Norsup, Vanuatu | 10 km | -15.51, 168.00 |
| 1999-02-13 13:45 | 6.2 mwc | 101 km ENE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -3.56, 144.83 |
| 1999-02-11 13:08 | 6.0 mwc | 27 km WNW of ?uk?mat? Azrah, Afghanistan | 33 km | 34.26, 69.36 |
| 1999-02-06 20:47 | 7.3 mwc | 146 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu | 90 km | -12.85, 166.70 |
| 1999-02-06 16:45 | 6.0 mwc | 66 km N of Namuac, Philippines | 33 km | 19.20, 121.26 |
| 1999-02-03 00:13 | 6.3 mwb | 54 km S of Pangai, Tonga | 33 km | -20.30, -174.36 |
| 1999-01-28 17:24 | 6.4 mwb | 156 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 101 km | -4.58, 153.66 |
| 1999-01-28 07:10 | 6.6 mwc | 18 km WSW of Nikolski, Alaska | 67 km | 52.89, -169.12 |
| 1999-01-25 17:19 | 6.1 mwc | Near Armenia, Colombia | 17 km | 4.46, -75.72 |
| 1999-01-24 07:00 | 6.3 mwc | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -26.46, 74.48 |
| 1999-01-24 06:01 | 6.1 mwc | 37 km NE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 33 km | -21.13, -174.66 |
| 1999-01-23 23:37 | 6.4 mwc | 15 km SSE of Nishinoomote, Japan | 33 km | 30.62, 131.09 |
| 1999-01-19 02:35 | 7.0 mwc | 110 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 114 km | -4.60, 153.24 |
| 1999-01-16 09:44 | 6.0 mwc | Gulf of Alaska | 21 km | 56.23, -147.43 |
| 1999-01-12 07:49 | 6.0 mwc | 135 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 43 km | -5.42, 151.68 |
| 1999-01-05 07:32 | 6.0 mwc | 18 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga | 33 km | -18.50, -174.07 |
| 1998-12-26 23:38 | 6.8 mwc | 131 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 144 km | -21.63, -176.38 |
| 1998-12-26 14:39 | 6.1 mwb | Sulawesi, Indonesia | 33 km | -1.36, 123.64 |
| 1998-12-16 16:45 | 6.2 mwc | 139 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia | 33 km | 1.12, 126.18 |
| 1998-12-15 23:18 | 6.0 mwc | 22 km S of Kushima, Japan | 42 km | 31.29, 131.29 |
| 1998-12-14 18:35 | 6.0 mwc | 25 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 140 km | -15.06, 167.31 |
| 1998-12-14 15:25 | 6.0 mwb | 39 km WSW of Loncopué, Argentina | 138 km | -38.21, -71.03 |
| 1998-12-05 23:47 | 6.6 mwc | 138 km E of Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe), Indonesia | 33 km | 1.25, 126.20 |
| 1998-11-29 13:10 | 7.7 mwc | 264 km ESE of Luwuk, Indonesia | 33 km | -2.07, 124.89 |
| 1998-11-25 17:05 | 6.2 mwb | 111 km WNW of Buala, Solomon Islands | 48 km | -7.86, 158.62 |
| 1998-11-24 22:54 | 6.1 mwb | 119 km WSW of Hihifo, Tonga | 223 km | -16.52, -174.75 |
| 1998-11-19 14:39 | 6.3 mwc | 248 km SSE of Hirara, Japan | 10 km | 22.60, 125.78 |
| 1998-11-18 14:48 | 6.0 mwc | 205 km E of Amahai, Indonesia | 33 km | -3.32, 130.77 |
| 1998-11-15 01:44 | 6.3 mwb | 142 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 149 km | -21.59, -176.50 |
| 1998-11-14 14:03 | 6.0 mwb | 33 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 115 km | -14.95, 167.37 |
| 1998-11-09 04:38 | 7.0 mwc | 278 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 33 km | -6.92, 128.95 |
| 1998-11-09 04:30 | 6.7 mwc | 282 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 33 km | -6.95, 129.02 |
| 1998-11-08 06:25 | 6.4 mwc | 41 km SW of Ende, Indonesia | 33 km | -9.14, 121.42 |
| 1998-10-28 15:25 | 6.6 mwb | 128 km ESE of Tondano, Indonesia | 33 km | 0.84, 125.97 |
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 28, 2026 · SHA-256 5570a63d6fc4… - 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…