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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-01-04 05:11 | 7.5 mwc | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 101 km | -22.30, 170.91 |
| 1998-01-03 05:10 | 6.3 mwc | southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | -35.47, -16.19 |
| 1998-01-01 05:11 | 6.3 mwc | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 96 km | 23.91, 141.91 |
| 1997-12-27 19:11 | 6.2 mwc | southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | -55.78, -4.22 |
| 1997-12-22 09:03 | 6.1 mwc | 28 km SSW of Pasaco, Guatemala | 59 km | 13.74, -90.32 |
| 1997-12-22 01:05 | 7.2 mwc | 117 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 179 km | -5.50, 147.87 |
| 1997-12-18 14:02 | 6.1 mwb | 11 km WSW of Sensuntepeque, El Salvador | 182 km | 13.84, -88.74 |
| 1997-12-17 04:51 | 6.3 mwc | 53 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan | 207 km | 36.39, 70.77 |
| 1997-12-17 03:38 | 6.6 mwc | Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 20 km | 51.19, 178.87 |
| 1997-12-16 10:48 | 6.0 mwc | 46 km SSW of Barra de Tecoanapa, Mexico | 10 km | 16.11, -98.85 |
| 1997-12-11 06:56 | 6.4 mwb | 22 km WSW of Roncesvalles, Colombia | 178 km | 3.93, -75.79 |
| 1997-12-07 16:56 | 6.2 mwb | 176 km S of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia | 33 km | 54.66, 162.88 |
| 1997-12-06 09:59 | 6.1 mwc | 228 km ESE of Mil’kovo, Russia | 33 km | 53.97, 161.91 |
| 1997-12-05 17:48 | 6.4 mwc | 220 km ENE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | 33 km | 53.75, 161.75 |
| 1997-12-05 10:26 | 7.8 mwc | 156 km S of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia | 33 km | 54.84, 162.04 |
| 1997-12-04 13:56 | 6.0 mwc | 33 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala | 81 km | 13.64, -90.66 |
| 1997-11-28 21:53 | 6.7 mwc | 97 km NE of Sandia, Peru | 586 km | -13.74, -68.79 |
| 1997-11-25 11:14 | 7.0 mwc | 97 km NW of Gorontalo, Indonesia | 24 km | 1.24, 122.54 |
| 1997-11-21 10:23 | 6.1 mwc | 42 km SW of Saiha, India | 54 km | 22.21, 92.70 |
| 1997-11-18 12:07 | 6.6 mwc | 22 km SW of Lithakiá, Greece | 33 km | 37.57, 20.66 |
| 1997-11-15 17:59 | 7.0 mwc | 34 km ESE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu | 123 km | -15.14, 167.38 |
| 1997-11-15 06:05 | 6.1 mwc | 19 km NNW of Shibetsu, Japan | 161 km | 43.81, 145.02 |
| 1997-11-14 20:38 | 6.0 mwb | 36 km SSW of Eresós, Greece | 18 km | 38.86, 25.80 |
| 1997-11-10 22:06 | 6.2 mwb | Izu Islands, Japan region | 86 km | 31.19, 140.49 |
| 1997-11-09 21:56 | 6.5 mwb | 13 km NNE of San Sebastián, El Salvador | 176 km | 13.85, -88.81 |
| 1997-11-08 09:02 | 7.5 mwc | western Xizang | 33 km | 35.07, 87.32 |
| 1997-11-03 18:17 | 6.1 mwc | 298 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste | 216 km | -6.74, 129.02 |
| 1997-11-03 18:17 | 6.2 mwb | 16 km S of Ovalle, Chile | 45 km | -30.74, -71.22 |
| 1997-10-28 05:15 | 7.2 mwc | 51 km N of Barranca, Peru | 112 km | -4.37, -76.68 |
| 1997-10-17 13:02 | 6.0 mwc | Fiji region | 579 km | -20.89, -178.84 |
| 1997-10-17 07:55 | 6.2 mwc | west of Macquarie Island | 10 km | -57.54, 147.97 |
| 1997-10-15 01:11 | 6.4 mwc | 99 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 22 km | 51.43, -177.88 |
| 1997-10-14 23:03 | 7.1 mwc | 36 km SW of Monte Patria, Chile | 58 km | -30.93, -71.22 |
| 1997-10-14 07:53 | 7.8 mwb | 192 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | 167 km | -22.10, -176.77 |
| 1997-10-13 11:39 | 6.4 mwc | 47 km SSE of Koróni, Greece | 24 km | 36.38, 22.07 |
| 1997-10-10 16:45 | 6.0 mwc | 115 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -9.32, 158.73 |
| 1997-10-06 18:52 | 6.1 mwc | 120 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands | 33 km | -9.30, 158.69 |
| 1997-10-06 10:30 | 6.5 mwb | 18 km E of Talisay, Philippines | 106 km | 9.79, 125.78 |
| 1997-10-05 16:04 | 6.3 mwc | South Sandwich Islands region | 274 km | -59.74, -29.20 |
| 1997-09-30 04:27 | 6.2 mwb | Izu Islands, Japan region | 10 km | 31.96, 141.88 |
| 1997-09-26 13:48 | 6.0 mwc | 207 km SSE of Ambon, Indonesia | 254 km | -5.38, 128.99 |
| 1997-09-26 07:40 | 6.0 mwc | 3 km SSE of Nocera Umbra, Italy | 10 km | 43.08, 12.81 |
| 1997-09-25 12:20 | 6.0 mwc | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -13.76, 66.25 |
| 1997-09-20 14:11 | 7.0 mwc | Kermadec Islands region | 30 km | -28.68, -177.62 |
| 1997-09-17 12:50 | 6.0 mwc | 162 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia | 33 km | 2.11, 126.60 |
| 1997-09-15 11:05 | 6.2 mwb | 23 km ESE of Barcelona, Philippines | 51 km | 8.10, 126.64 |
| 1997-09-10 10:57 | 6.1 mwb | 58 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | 10 km | -21.35, -174.39 |
| 1997-09-04 02:23 | 6.8 mwc | south of the Fiji Islands | 625 km | -26.57, 178.34 |
| 1997-09-03 04:22 | 6.1 mwc | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | 10 km | -55.19, -128.99 |
| 1997-09-02 10:13 | 6.8 mwb | 24 km SW of Roncesvalles, Colombia | 199 km | 3.85, -75.75 |
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…