earthquakes
Earthquakes can be defined as a natural phenomenon that occurs as a result of the presence of a vibration or group of concussive vibrations of the earth, which are the result of the movement of rock plates. The epicenter of an earthquake is known as the focus, and this may be followed by a group of rebounds called seismic waves.
The Earth has been exposed to many powerful and destructive earthquakes that have greatly affected many countries and cities around the world, so in this article we will talk about the most powerful earthquakes in the world.
Valdivia, the strongest earthquake in the world
The Valdivia earthquake in southern Chile was the earthquake that occurred on May 1960, 1655. The number of victims was about 9.5. To this day, it is considered the strongest earthquake ever in the history of the Earth. It should be noted that its rating reached about XNUMX on the moment scale. It occurred in the afternoon, triggering a subsequent tsunami, which affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and eastern New Zealand, as well as southeastern Australia and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
The most powerful earthquakes in the world
Alaska earthquake
It occurred in 1964 AD, and it was an earthquake that was initially a massive momentum force that crossed south-central Alaska, leading to cracks in the ground, as well as collapses in structures. This earthquake is also considered the strongest earthquake recorded in the history of the United States as well as North America. In addition, it is classified as the second strongest earthquake measured on the seismometer, with a magnitude of about 9.2 on the moment scale.
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It occurred in the Indian Ocean in 2004 AD, and it was a marine earthquake. It should be noted that its epicenter was located off the western coast of Sumatra, in Indonesia. This earthquake occurred due to the subsidence of continental plates. It also triggered a series of devastating tsunami waves along most of the coasts. The land overlooking the Indian Ocean, this earthquake claimed the lives of about 230000 people in about fourteen countries around the world, which qualified it to be one of the most violent natural disasters in recorded history. It is noteworthy that Indonesia was the most affected country, then Sri Lanka and India, And Thailand.
Tohoku earthquake and tsunami
It is an earthquake that reached a magnitude of about 9.03 megawatts. This earthquake was one of the strongest earthquakes that Japan has ever known. In addition, it was classified as one of the five strongest earthquakes in the world in modern history. This earthquake claimed the lives of approximately 15870 people, resulting in Caused damage to some nuclear reactors.
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It is an earthquake with a magnitude of about 9.0 on the magnitude scale, and was centered mainly off the eastern coast of Kamchatka Island in 1952 AD, which led to much damage, destruction, and loss of life throughout the Kamchatka Peninsula as well as the Kuril Islands.
