Representational imageEarthquake As the earthquake of 8.8 magnitude jolted Russia’s Kamchatsky today after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka Pensinsula, let us turn the pages of history and take a look at the most devastating earthquakes in the world.
Earthquakes are caused by the movements of the tectonic plates that collide against each other along the fault line. The ground breaks and shifts shaking the surface of the earth.
Here are the most devastating earthquakes that hit the world:
Biobio, Chile- 9.5 Magnitude
Also called the Valdivia quake it claimed the lives of 1600 majorly from the trailing tsunami. It hit the south-central Chile in 1960.
Alaska, USA- 9.2 magnitude
The aftermath of this quake was devastating with landslides and giant waves followed by massive flooding. It occurred in the year 1964.
Sumatra, Indonesia- 9.1 magnitude
It struck the Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa and reportedly killed 2,30,000 people. Even some communities also disappeared. It occurred in the year 2004.
Tohuku, Japan- 9.1 magnitude
This quake directly shattered the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It claimed 18,000 lives and followed a nuclear disaster as three reactors melted down. It was in 2011.
Kamchatka, Russia- 9.0 magnitude
The Kamchatka Peninsula prone to earthquakes was earlier jolted by the quake in 1952. It is on the fifth rank in the world’s deadliest earthquakes.
The quake that occurred on Wednesday is placed on the sixth rank in the world’s deadliest quakes.