The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey has risen to 15,383. Is this tragedy included in the 10 most powerful earthquakes in the world. Here's the answer.
Reported by AFP, Thursday (9/2/2023) the M 7.8 earthquake has killed 12,391 people in Turkey and 2,992 people in Syria. The total is 15,338 people.
The Turkish government claimed to be overwhelmed and implemented a disaster emergency response status for 3 months. This tragedy is certainly sad for many people.
Even so, the Turkish earthquake has not yet been included in the 10 deadliest earthquakes in the world. In historical records since 1950, there is still the world's worst earthquake, as reported by Forbes.
This was the worst because of two things, namely the number of victims and the strength of the earthquake. Here's the list:
Advertisements
The 10 Deadliest Earthquakes Since 1950
655,000 fatalities, magnitude 7.8 in Tangshan Province, China (28 July 1976). The Chinese government only reported 242,769 people killed, but the actual data is even higher.
316,000 fatalities, M 7 in Port au Prince, Haiti (12 January 2010). According to government data, 316,000 people died, but estimates are lower at around 220,000.
283,000 fatalities, M 9.1 in Aceh, Indonesia (26 December 2004). This is also the world's third strongest earthquake since 1950.
87,600 fatalities, M 7.9 in Sichuan Province, China (12 May 2008).
86,000 fatalities, M 7.6 in Kashmir, Pakistan (8 October 8 2005). Some estimates of the death toll reached 87 thousand people.
70,000 dead, M 7.9 at Ancash, Peru (31 May 1970). Of the total victims, including 20 thousand missing or presumed dead.
50,000 killed, M 7.4 in Manjil-Rudbar, Iran (20 June 1990). The death toll is between 40 thousand-50 thousand.
34,000 dead, M 6.6 in Bam, Iran (26 December 2003). The official Iranian government data was only released in 2020.
25,000 killed, M 6.8 in Spitak, Armenia (7 December 1988).
23,000 dead, M 7.6 at Los Amates, Guatemala (4 February 1976).
The 10 Strongest Earthquakes in the World Since 1950
Magnitude 9.5, 1,800 dead at Bio-Bio, Chile (22 May 1960). This is the strongest earthquake ever recorded.
M 9,2, 131 fatalities in Prince William Sound, Alaska (27 March 1964).
M 9,1, 283,000 deaths in Aceh, Indonesia and other affected areas (26 December 2004). This is the only one on the list of the deadliest and most powerful earthquakes since 1950.
M 9,1, 15,700 dead in Tohoku, Japan (11 March 2011).
M 9, no casualties in Kamchatka, Russia (4 November 1952)
M 8,8, 523 victims killed in Quirihue, Chile (27 February 2010).
M 8.7, no fatalities at Rat Islands, Alaska (4 February 1985).
M 8,6, 780 victims killed in Tibet (8 August 1950).
M 8,6, 2 fatalities in Sumatra, Indonesia (11 April 2012).
M 8,6, 1,300 deaths in Nias, Indonesia (28 March 2005).