One of the strongest earthquakes ever reached the far east of Russia at dawn on Wednesday, 30, causing waves of tsunami that hit Japan and Alaska and leading people around the Pacific warning or moving to higher land.
Tremor of magnitude 8.8 fired alerts in Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific Islands, with authorities warning that Tsunami’s potential risk can last more than one day. It is the strongest in the world since the 2011, which caused the nuclear disaster of Fukushima, Japan.
Here is a summary of some of the most powerful earthquakes ever registered before this one that has mainly reached Russia, according to the United States Geological Service.
1. Biobío, Chile
A 9.5 magnitude earthquake hit the central region of Chile in 1960. Known as the Valdivia earthquake or the large earthquake of Chile, the largest registered tremor resulted in more than 1,600 deaths in the country, mostly caused by the resulting large tsunami. Thousands of people were injured.
2. Alaska, USA
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In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake shook the Enseada of Prince William in Alaska lasting almost 5 minutes. More than 130 people died in the largest earthquake ever registered in the US and subsequent tsunami.
There were huge landslides and gigantic waves that caused serious flooding. The event was followed by thousands of replicas for weeks after the initial earthquake.
3. Sumatra, Indonesia
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An earthquake of magnitude 9.1 and the resulting tsunami devastated the southeast and southern Asia and East Africa in 2004, killing 230,000 people. Only Indonesia recorded over 167,000 deaths, with entire communities being destroyed.
4. Tohoku, Japan
An earthquake of magnitude 9.1 reached the northeast coast of Japan in 2011, causing a gigantic tsunami that hit the Fukushima nuclear plant. It destroyed the energy and refrigeration systems and caused the melting of three reactors. More than 18,000 people died in the earthquake and tsunami, some of which were never recovered.
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5. Kamchatka, Rúsia
In 1952, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake caused significant damage, but there were no reports of deaths, although tsunami that hit Hawaii with waves of 9.1 meters.
6. Biobío, Chile
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A huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the center of Chile in 2010, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and causing a tsunami. More than 500 people died in the disaster.
7. Emeralds, Ecuador
In 1906, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 and the resulting tsunami killed about 1,500 people. Its effects were felt for miles along the Central America coast and even in San Francisco and Japan.
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8. Alaska, USA
In 1965, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Rat islands in Alaska, causing a 11 meter tsunami. There were some relatively lower damage, including cracks in buildings and on an asphalt track.
9. TIBETE
At least 780 people died when an 8.6 magnitude earthquake hit the region in 1950. Dozens of villages were destroyed, including at least one that slid into a river. There were also large landslides that blocked the Subansiri River in India. When the water finally broke the barrier, it resulted in a deadly wave of 7 meters.
10. Sumatra, Indonesia
In 2012, a strong 8.6 magnitude earthquake hit the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Although the earthquake caused a few damage, it increased the pressure on a failure that was the origin of the devastating 2004 Tsunami.
