What are the 10 deadliest earthquakes in recorded history?

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Nation & World
By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Dec 13, 2018
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Here are the 10 most deadly earthquakes ever recorded:

  1. Shensi, China, Jan. 23, 1556: estimated magnitude of 8.0; 830,000 deaths
  2. Tangshan, China, July 27, 1976: magnitude 7.5; official death toll 255,000 – estimated death toll was as high as 655,000
  3. Aleppo, Syria, Aug. 9, 1138: magnitude is not known; death toll was 230,000
  4. Sumatra, Indonesia, Dec. 26, 2004: magnitude 9.1; 227,898 deaths
  5. Haiti, Jan 12, 2010: magnitude 7.0; death toll estimated at 222,570 people
  6. Damghan, Iran, Dec. 22, 856: magnitude is not known; death toll estimated at 200,000
  7. Haiyuan, Ningxia, China, Dec. 16, 1920; 7.8 magnitude; around 200,000 deaths
  8. Ardabil, Iran, March. 23, 893; magnitude is not known; around 150,000 deaths
  9. Kanto, Japan, Sept. 1, 1923; 7.9 magnitude; 142,800 deaths
  10. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5, 1948; 7.3 magnitude; 110,000 deaths
A man walks through the Balaroa neighborhood in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Oct. 2, 2018, four days after a massive earthquake struck the region. 

Credit: Dita Alangkara

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Credit: Dita Alangkara

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About the Author

Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk