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Deadliest earthquakes of the 21st Century

Written by Jegeon Ryu | Jan 24, 2024 8:51:55 AM

Intro

 

We live with earthquakes. According to the National Earthquake Information Center, there are about 55 earthquakes worldwide every day. That adds up to approximately 20,000 earthquakes in a year. In South Korea, where I live, an average of 70.6 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or higher occur annually (Source: Korea Meteorological Administration). In this content, we'll explore the earthquakes that caused the most casualties each year in the 21st century. Also we’ll be able to identify regions where earthquakes occur frequently and areas vulnerable to earthquakes.

 

 

Animated Map of Deadliest earthquakes of the 21st Century

 

 

The video displays the earthquakes that caused the most fatalities each year, with a world map depicting the Ring of Fire. As shown in the video, deadly earthquakes tend to occur predominantly around the Ring of Fire.

 

 

21st-century earthquakes that have caused the most fatalities each year

 

The table below summarizes the top 5 earthquakes that caused the most fatalities.

 

Year

Event

Magnitude

Location

Depth (km)

Fatalities

2004

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

9.1

Indonesia, Sumatra offshore

30.0

227,898

2010

2010 Haiti earthquake

7.0

Haiti, Léogâne

13.0

92,000 - 316,000

2008

2008 Sichuan earthquake

7.9

China, Sichuan

19.0

87,587

2005

2005 Kashmir earthquake

7.6

Pakistan, Balakot

15.0

87,351

2023

2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes

7.8

Turkey, Syria, Southeastern Anatolia, Aleppo, Idlib

17.9/10.0

59,259

 

Top 5 Deadliest Earthquakes of the 21st Century, causing more than 50,000 fatalities

 

The table below lists the earthquakes that have caused the most fatalities each year from 2001 to 2023 in the 21st century.

 

Year

Event

Magnitude

Location

Depth (km)

Fatalities

2001

2001 Gujarat earthquake

7.7

India, Bhuj

16.0

20,085

2002

2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes

7.4 & 6.1

Afghanistan, Baghlan Province

8.0

1,166

2003

2003 Bam earthquake

6.6

Iran, Bam

10.0

26,271

2004

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

9.1

Indonesia, Sumatra offshore

30.0

227,898

2005

2005 Kashmir earthquake

7.6

Pakistan, Balakot

15.0

87,351

2006

2006 Yogyakarta earthquake

6.4

Indonesia, Yogyakarta

10.0

28,903

2007

2007 Peru earthquake

8.0

Peru, Ica offshore

39.0

519

2008

2008 Sichuan earthquake

7.9

China, Sichuan

19.0

87,587

2009

2009 Sumatra earthquakes

7.6

Indonesia, Padang offshore

90.0

1,115

2010

2010 Haiti earthquake

7.0

Haiti, Léogâne

13.0

92,000 - 316,000

2011

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

9.1

Japan, Sendai offshore

29.0

19,747

2012

2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes

6.4

Iran, East Azerbaijan

9.0

306

2013

2013 Balochistan earthquakes

7.7

Pakistan, Balochistan

15.0

825

2014

2014 Ludian earthquake

6.2

China, Ludian County

10.0

729

2015

2015 Nepal earthquake

7.8

Nepal, Gorkha District

8.2

9,182

2016

2016 Ecuador earthquake

7.8

Ecuador, Esmeraldas

20.6

676

2017

2017 Iran–Iraq earthquake

7.3

IranIraq Iran–Iraq border Region

19.0

630

2018

2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami

7.5

Indonesia, Palu

20.0

4,340

2019

2019 Albania earthquake

6.4

Albania, Durrës

10.0

51

2020

2020 Aegean Sea earthquake

7.0

Greece, Turkey, Aegean Sea

21.0

119

2021

2021 Haiti earthquake

7.2

Haiti, Nippes

10.0

2,248

2022

2022 Afghanistan earthquake

6.0

Afghanistan, Khost

10.0

1,163

2023

2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes

7.8

Turkey, Syria, Southeastern Anatolia, Aleppo, Idlib

17.9/10.0

59,259

 

 

Summary

 

In summary, considering fatalities, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake stands as the most devastating incident, resulting in 227,898 confirmed deaths, followed by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

As you can see from the table, having a higher magnitude does not necessarily mean a higher number of fatalities. The reason for this is that factors such as the distance from the epicenter, population density, structural design, and ground conditions can influence the outcome.

In particular, looking at the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, despite its massive magnitude of 9.1, the number of fatalities was not as high. However, it led to the Fukushima nuclear accident, causing over $360 billion in costs.

 

 

 

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