30.09.2014
Earthquakes are compared to earth tremors. As the earth's crust shifts, cities are destroyed and people die. Many of them will forever be remembered by us for the colossal losses and the enormous number of victims. So,
The most powerful earthquakes.
10.
The world's most powerful earthquakes are shaking Asia. A natural disaster in China, which struck in the winter of 1556, claimed the lives of 830,000 people. Damage from a natural disaster on such a scale as in the provinces of Henan and Shaanxi had never happened before. Its magnitude reached 9 points. The villages that fell within its zone of action were completely destroyed. At the epicenter, 20-meter cracks and failures formed.
9.
The next strongest earthquake occurred in the vastness of China in the summer of 1976 in the North-Eastern part of the country. The epicenter was the city of Tangshan. According to official studies, the magnitude of the disaster was 7.8, and the number of victims reached 200,000. However, the data was greatly underestimated, because other sources established the magnitude at 8.2, and the number of victims between 655,000 and 800,000.
8.
Another incident, which is regarded as a major earthquake, occurred in India. Its epicenter was the city of Calcutta. There is not much information about it, but the death toll reached 300,000.
7.
Underwater tremors of the earth are no less dangerous and destructive for the inhabitants of the earth than underground ones. In 2004, in the Indian Ocean, displacements of the earth's crust brought destruction and death to residents in almost twenty states. Its magnitude reached 9 points. Waves measuring 150 meters in size hit coastal cities with unprecedented force. Various sources estimate the death toll to range from 255,000 to 300,000.
6.
The strongest earthquakes in the world did not spare Japan either. The natural disaster, named after the affected Kanto region, occurred in September 1923. Some sources call it Tokyo after the capital. In addition to the destructive forces of nature, fires played a major role and aggravated the situation. The fire rose up to 60 meters above the gasoline spilled in the port. Due to the destroyed infrastructure, rescuers could not work effectively. The number of victims in this region reached 174,000 people, in total, the number of victims, both physically and economically, reached 4,000,000.
5.
A natural disaster in Ashgabat occurred during the Soviet Union in October 1948 and affected not only the Turkmen people, but also the Russian people. The city was practically destroyed, and from half to two thirds of its inhabitants died, according to estimates from various sources. After calculating the damage caused by the disaster, 110,000 deaths were announced, and in 2010, the country's president announced 176,000 deaths.
4.
The strongest earthquakes in Lisbon claimed 80,000 lives in just 6 minutes. After the tremors, tsunamis and fires followed, which significantly worsened the situation.
3.
The disaster brought further losses to the Chinese province of Sichuan in 2008. The magnitude of the tremors was 8 points, and they were felt not only in Beijing and Shanghai, where buildings began to tremble and the evacuation of the population began, they were felt even in eight neighboring countries. The death toll reaches 69,000.
2.
The Assam earthquake of June 1897 became famous for the vast extent of the destruction it caused. An area of 390 thousand square kilometers was completely turned into ruins, and, in general, the destruction affected an area of 650 thousand square kilometers. The death toll was 1,500 people.
1.
January 2010 darkened the lives of Haitians with another natural disaster. At the moment, official information on the number of deaths has not been announced, despite the significant amount of time that has passed since then. Independent sources estimate that just one of the mass graves that appeared after the disaster contains about 8,000 bodies. The total number of deaths from the rampant disaster, according to unofficial data, can reach hundreds of thousands of Haitians.
Millions of years ago, powerful earthquakes occurred every day on our home planet - the formation of the familiar appearance of the Earth was underway. Today we can say that seismic activity practically does not bother humanity.
However, sometimes violent activity in the bowels of the planet makes itself felt, and tremors lead to the destruction of buildings and the death of people. In today's selection we bring to your attention 10 most destructive earthquakes in modern history.
10. Iran, June 21, 1990
The force of the tremors reached 7.7 points. The earthquake in Gilan province led to the death of 40 thousand people, more than 6 thousand were injured. Significant destruction occurred in 9 cities and about 700 small villages.
9. Peru, May 31, 1970
The worst natural disaster in the country's history claimed the lives of 67 thousand Peruvians. The 7.5-magnitude tremor lasted about 45 seconds. As a result, landslides and floods occurred over a wide area, which led to truly devastating consequences.
8. China, May 12, 2008
A powerful earthquake in Sichuan province had a magnitude of 7.8 and led to the death of 69 thousand people. About 18 thousand are still considered missing, and more than 370 thousand were injured.
7. Pakistan, October 8, 2005
The earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 killed 84 thousand people. The epicenter of the disaster was located in the Kashmir region. As a result of the earthquake, a gap 100 km long was formed on the surface of the Earth.
6. Türkiye, December 27, 1939
The force of the tremors during this destructive earthquake reached 8 points. Strong tremors continued for about a minute, and then followed by 7 so-called “aftershocks” - weaker echoes of the shaking. As a result of the disaster, 100 thousand people died.
5. Turkmen SSR, October 6, 1948
The force of the tremors at the epicenter of the powerful earthquake reached 10 points on the Richter scale. Ashgabat was almost completely destroyed, and, according to various estimates, from 100 to 165 thousand people became victims of the disaster. Every year on October 6, Turkmenistan celebrates the Day of Remembrance for Earthquake Victims.
4. Japan, September 1, 1923
The Great Kanto Earthquake, as the Japanese call it, almost completely destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama. The force of the tremors reached 8.3 points, as a result of which 174 thousand people died. Damage from the earthquake was estimated at $4.5 billion, which at that time was equal to two of the country's annual budgets.
3. Indonesia, December 26, 2004
A 9.3 magnitude undersea earthquake triggered a series of tsunamis that killed 230,000 people. As a result of the natural disaster, Asian countries, Indonesia and the east coast of Africa were affected.
2. China, July 28, 1976
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.2 killed almost 230 thousand people in the vicinity of the Chinese city of Tangshan. Many international experts believe that official statistics greatly underestimate the death toll, which could be as high as 800,000.
1. Haiti, January 12, 2010
Power the most destructive earthquake in the last 100 years was only 7 points, but the number of human casualties exceeded 232 thousand. Several million Haitians were left homeless, and the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, was almost completely destroyed. As a result, people were forced to survive for many months in conditions of devastation and unsanitary conditions, which led to the outbreak of a number of serious infections, including cholera.
Over its many-thousand-year history, humanity has experienced earthquakes that, in their destructiveness, can be classified as catastrophes on a universal scale. The causes of earthquakes are not fully understood and no one can say with certainty why they occur, where the next catastrophe will be and of what magnitude.
In this article we have collected the strongest earthquakes in human history, measured by magnitude. What you need to know about this value is that it takes into account the amount of energy released during an earthquake and is distributed from 1 to 9.5.
10. Earthquake in Tien Shan 1976 | 8.2 points
Although the magnitude of the 1976 Tien Shan earthquake was only 8.2, it can rightfully be considered one of the most destructive earthquakes in human history. According to the official version, this terrible incident claimed the lives of more than 250 thousand people, but according to the unofficial version, the number of deaths is close to 700 thousand and is completely justified, because 5.6 million houses were completely destroyed. The event formed the basis of the film "Catastrophe", directed by Feng Xiaogang.
9. Earthquake in Portugal in 1755 | 8.8 points
The earthquake that occurred in Portugal back in 1755 on All Saints' Day belongs to one and h the most powerful and tragic disasters in human history. Just imagine that in just 5 minutes Lisbon was turned into ruins, and almost a hundred thousand people died! But the victims of the earthquake did not end there. The disaster caused a huge fire and tsunami that raged along the coast of Portugal. Overall, the earthquake provoked internal unrest, which led to changes in the country's foreign policy. This disaster marked the beginning of seismology. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated at 8.8.
8. Earthquake in Chile in 2010 | 9 points
Another devastating earthquake in Chile occurred in 2010. One of the most destructive and largest earthquakes in human history over the past 50 years has caused maximum damage: thousands of victims, millions of people homeless, dozens of destroyed settlements and cities. The greatest damage occurred in the Chilean regions of Bio-Bio and Maule. This disaster is significant in that the destruction occurred not only because of, but also the earthquake itself caused considerable harm, because its epicenter was on the mainland.
7. Earthquake in North America in 1700 | 9 points
In 1700, severe seismic activity in North America altered the coastline. The disaster occurred in the Cascade Mountains, on the border of the United States and Canada and, according to various estimates, was at least 9 points in magnitude. Little is known about the victims of one of the strongest earthquakes in world history. As a result of the disaster, a huge tsunami wave reached the shores of Japan, the destruction of which is mentioned in Japanese literature.
6. Earthquake on the east coast of Japan in 2011 | 9 points
Just a few years ago, in 2011, the eastern coast of Japan was shaken by the most powerful earthquake in human history. In 6 minutes of a magnitude 9 disaster, more than 100 km of seabed was raised 8 meters in height, and the ensuing tsunami hit the northern islands of Japan. The notorious Fukushima nuclear power plant was partially damaged, which triggered a radioactive release, the consequences of which are still felt today. The number of victims is said to be 15 thousand, but the true numbers are not known.
5. Kemin earthquake in Kazakhstan in 1911 | 9 points
It is difficult to surprise residents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with tremors - these regions are located in a fault zone of the earth's crust. But the most powerful earthquake in the history of Kazakhstan and all of humanity happened in 1911, when the city of Almaty was almost completely destroyed. The disaster was called the Kemin earthquake, which is recognized as one of the most powerful inland earthquakes of the 20th century. The epicenter of events occurred in the valley of the Bolshoy Kemin River. Huge relief gaps with a total length of 200 km formed in this area. In some places, entire houses that fell into the disaster zone are buried in these gaps.
4. Earthquake on the coast of the Kuril Islands in 1952 | 9 points
Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands are seismically active regions and earthquakes do not surprise them. However, residents still remember the disaster of 1952. One of the most destructive earthquakes that humanity remembers began on November 4 in the Pacific Ocean, 130 km from the coast. Terrible destruction was caused by the tsunami that formed after the earthquake. Three huge waves, the height of the largest reaching 20 meters, completely destroyed Severo-Kurilsk and damaged many settlements. The waves came at intervals of an hour. Residents knew about the first wave and waited out it on the hills, after which they went down to their villages. The second wave, the largest, which no one expected, caused the greatest damage and claimed the lives of more than 2 thousand people.
3. 1964 Alaska earthquake | 9.3 points
On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, all 47 US states trembled from the Alaska earthquake. The epicenter of the disaster occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, where the Pacific and North American plates meet. One of the most powerful natural disasters in human memory, with a magnitude of 9.3, claimed relatively few lives - 9 people died out of 130 victims in Alaska and another 23 lives were claimed by the tsunami that followed the tremors. Of the cities, Anchorage, located 120 kilometers from the epicenter of events, was severely damaged. However, destruction swept along the coastline from Japan to California.
2. Earthquake on the shores of Sumatra in 2004 | 9.3 points
Just 11 years ago, one of the most, perhaps, the strongest recent earthquakes in human history occurred in the Indian Ocean. At the very end of 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake several kilometers off the coast of the Indonesian city of Sumatra triggered the formation of a monstrous tsunami that wiped out part of the city from the face of the earth. 15-meter waves caused damage to cities in Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa and southern India. No one gives the exact number of victims, but estimates suggest that between 200 and 300 thousand people died, and several million more people were left homeless.
1. Earthquake in Chile in 1960 | 9.5 points
The most powerful earthquake in human history occurred in 1960 in Chile. According to expert estimates, it had a maximum magnitude of 9.5 points. The disaster began in the small town of Valdivia. As a result of the earthquake, a tsunami was formed in the Pacific Ocean, its 10-meter waves raged along the coast, causing damage to settlements located near the sea. The scope of the tsunami reached such proportions that its destructive force was felt by residents of the Hawaiian city of Hilo, 10 thousand kilometers from Valdivia. Giant waves even reached the shores of Japan and the Philippines.
The danger of such a natural phenomenon as an earthquake is assessed by most seismologists in points. There are several scales by which the strength of seismic shocks is assessed. The scale, adopted in Russia, Europe and the CIS countries, was developed in 1964. According to data from a 12-point scale, the greatest destructive force is typical for an earthquake of 12 points, and such strong tremors are classified as a “severe catastrophe.” There are also other methods for measuring the strength of shocks, which take into account fundamentally different aspects - the area where the shocks occurred, the time of “shaking” and other factors. However, no matter how the strength of tremors is measured, there are natural disasters that are among the most terrible.
The strength of earthquakes: has there ever been a magnitude 12?
Since the Kamori scale was adopted, and this made it possible to evaluate natural disasters that have not yet disappeared into the dust of centuries, at least 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 12 have occurred.
- Tragedy in Chile, 1960.
- Destruction in Mongolia, 1957.
- Tremors in the Himalayas, 1950.
In first place in the ranking, which contains the most powerful earthquakes in the world, is the 1960 cataclysm known as the “Great Chilean Earthquake.” The scale of destruction is estimated at the maximum known 12 points, while the magnitude of the ground vibrations exceeded 9.5 points. The most powerful earthquake in history occurred in May 1960 in Chile, near several cities. The epicenter was Valdivia, where the fluctuations reached a maximum, but the population was warned of the impending danger, since the tremors were felt in nearby provinces of Chile the day before. 10 thousand people are considered dead in this terrible disaster; a lot of people were carried away by the tsunami that began, but experts say that without prior notification there could have been many more victims. By the way, many people were saved due to the fact that the mass of people went to church for Sunday services. At the moment the shaking began, people were in churches that stood.
The most destructive earthquakes in the world include the Gobi-Altai disaster, which swept through Mongolia on December 4, 1957. As a result of the tragedy, the earth was literally turned inside out: fractures formed, demonstrating geological processes that would not be visible under normal circumstances. The high mountains in the mountain ranges ceased to exist, the peaks collapsed, and the usual pattern of the mountains was disrupted.
The tremors in populated areas were increasing and continued for quite a long time until they reached 11-12 points. People managed to leave their houses seconds before complete destruction. Dust flying from the mountains covered the cities of southern Mongolia for 48 hours, visibility did not exceed several tens of meters.
Another terrible cataclysm, estimated by seismologists at 11-12 points, occurred in the Himalayas, in the highlands of Tibet, in 1950. The terrible aftermath of the earthquake in the form of mudflows and landslides changed the relief of the mountains beyond recognition. With a terrible roar, the mountains folded like paper, and dust clouds spread from the epicenter to a radius of up to 2000 km.
Tremors from the depths of centuries: what do we know about ancient earthquakes?
The largest earthquakes that have occurred in recent times are discussed and well covered in the media.
Thus, they are still widely known, the memory of them, of the victims and destruction, is still fresh. But what about earthquakes that occurred a long time ago - a hundred, two hundred or three hundred years ago? Traces of destruction have long been eliminated, and witnesses either survived the incident or died. Nevertheless, historical literature contains traces of the most terrible earthquakes in the world, which occurred a long time ago. Thus, in the chronicles recording the largest earthquakes in the world, it is written that in ancient times tremors occurred much more often than now, and were much stronger. According to one such source, in 365 BC, tremors occurred that affected the entire Mediterranean territory, as a result of which the seabed was exposed before the eyes of eyewitnesses.
Deadly earthquake for one of the Wonders of the World
One of the most famous ancient earthquakes is the destruction of 244 BC. In those days, according to scientists, tremors occurred much more often, but this particular earthquake is especially famous: as a result of the tremors, the statue of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes collapsed. This statue, according to ancient sources, was one of the Eight Wonders of the World. It was a giant beacon in the form of a statue of a man with a torch in his hand. The statue was so huge that a flotilla could sail between its spread legs. The size played a cruel joke on the Colossus: its legs turned out to be too fragile to withstand seismological activity, and the Colossus collapsed.
Iranian earthquake of 856
The death of hundreds of thousands of people as a result of even not very strong earthquakes was common: there were no systems for predicting seismic activity, no warning, no evacuation. Thus, in 856, more than 200 thousand people became victims of tremors in the north of Iran, and the city of Damkhan was wiped off the face of the earth. By the way, the record number of victims from this single earthquake is comparable to the number of earthquake victims in Iran for the rest of the time, until today.
The bloodiest earthquake in the world
The Chinese earthquake of 1565, which destroyed the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, killed more than 830 thousand people. This is an absolute record for the number of human casualties, which has not yet been exceeded. It remained in history as the “Great Jiajing Earthquake” (named after the emperor then in power). Historians estimate its power at 7.9 - 8 points, as evidenced by geological surveys.
This is how this phenomenon was described in the chronicles:
“In the winter of 1556, a catastrophic earthquake occurred in Shaanxi and the provinces around it. Our Hua County has suffered numerous troubles and misfortunes. Mountains and rivers changed their location, roads were destroyed. In some places, the ground unexpectedly rose and new hills appeared, or vice versa - parts of the former hills went underground, floated and became new plains. In other places, mudflows constantly occurred, or the ground split and new ravines appeared. Private houses, public buildings, temples and city walls collapsed with lightning speed and completely.”.
Cataclysm for All Saints' Day in Portugal
A terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 80 thousand Portuguese occurred in Lisbon on November 1, 1755. This cataclysm is not included among the most powerful earthquakes in the world either in terms of the number of victims or the strength of seismic activity. But the terrible irony of fate with which this phenomenon broke out is shocking: the tremors began precisely when people went to celebrate the holiday in church. The temples of Lisbon could not stand it and collapsed, burying a huge number of unfortunates, and then the city was covered by a 6-meter tsunami wave, killing the rest of the people on the streets.
The largest earthquakes in the history of the twentieth century
The ten disasters of the 20th century that claimed the greatest number of lives and brought the most terrible destruction are reflected in the summary table:
| date | Place | Epicenter | Seismic activity in points | Dead (Persons) |
|
| 22 km from Port-au-Prince | |||||
| Tangshan/Hebei Province | |||||
| Indonesia | |||||
| 90 km from Tokyo | |||||
| Turkmen SSR | |||||
| Erzincan | |||||
| Pakistan | |||||
| 25 km from Chimbote |
Tangshan-1976
The Chinese events of 1976 are captured in Feng Xiaogang's film "Disaster". Despite the relative weakness of the magnitude, the disaster claimed a large number of lives; the first shock provoked the destruction of 90% of residential buildings in Tangshan. The hospital building disappeared without a trace; the opening of the earth literally swallowed up the passenger train.
Sumatra 2004, the largest in geographical terms
The 2004 Sumatran earthquake affected several countries: India, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka. The exact number of victims is impossible to calculate, since the main destructive force - the tsunami - carried tens of thousands of people into the ocean. This is the largest earthquake in terms of geography, since its prerequisites were the movement of plates in the Indian Ocean with subsequent tremors over a distance of up to 1600 km. The ocean floor rose as a result of the collision of the Indian and Burmese plates; tsunami waves ran in all directions from the fracture of the plates, which rolled thousands of kilometers and reached the shores.
Haiti 2010, our time
In 2010, Haiti experienced its first major earthquake after almost 260 years of calm. The national fund of the republics received the greatest damage: the entire center of the capital with its rich cultural heritage, all administrative and government buildings were damaged. More than 232 thousand people died, many of whom were carried away by the tsunami waves. The consequences of the disaster were a surge in the incidence of intestinal diseases and an increase in crime: the tremors destroyed prison buildings, which prisoners immediately took advantage of.
The most powerful earthquakes in Russia
In Russia there are also dangerous seismically active regions where an earthquake can occur. However, most of these Russian territories are located far from densely populated areas, which eliminates the possibility of large destruction and casualties.
The largest earthquakes in Russia, however, are also inscribed in the tragic history of the struggle between the elements and man.
Among the most terrible earthquakes in Russia:
- North Kuril destruction of 1952.
- Neftegorsk destruction in 1995.
Kamchatka-1952
Severo-Kurilsk was completely destroyed as a result of tremors and tsunami on November 4, 1952. Unrest in the ocean, 100 km from the coast, brought waves 20 meters high to the city, hour after hour washing the coast and washing away coastal settlements into the ocean. The terrible flood destroyed all buildings and killed more than 2 thousand people.
Sakhalin-1995
On March 27, 1995, the elements took only 17 seconds to wipe out the workers' village of Neftegorsk in the Sakhalin region. More than 2 thousand residents of the village died, accounting for 80% of the residents. Large-scale destruction did not allow the village to be restored, so the settlement became a ghost: a memorial plaque was installed in it telling about the victims of the tragedy, and the residents themselves were evacuated.
A dangerous area in Russia from the point of view of seismic activity is any region at the junction of tectonic plates:
- Kamchatka and Sakhalin,
- Caucasian republics,
- Altai region.
In any of these regions, the possibility of a natural earthquake remains possible, since the mechanism of the generation of tremors has not yet been studied.
The power of tremors is estimated by the amplitude of oscillations of the earth's crust from 1 to 10 points. Areas in mountainous areas are considered the most earthquake-prone. We present to you the most powerful earthquakes in history.
The worst earthquakes in history
During the earthquake that occurred in Syria in 1202, more than a million people died. Despite the fact that the force of the tremors did not exceed 7.5 points, underground vibrations were felt along the entire length from the island of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea to Armenia.The large number of victims is associated not so much with the strength of the tremors, but with their duration. Modern researchers can judge the consequences of the destruction of the earthquake in the 2nd century only from the surviving chronicles, according to which the cities of Catania, Messina and Ragusa in Sicily were practically destroyed, and the coastal cities of Akratiri and Paralimni in Cyprus were also covered by a strong wave.
Earthquake on the island of Haiti
The 2010 Haiti earthquake killed more than 220,000 people, injured 300,000, and left more than 800,000 missing. Material damage as a result of the natural disaster amounted to 5.6 billion euros. For a whole hour, tremors with a power of 5 and 7 points were observed. 
Despite the fact that the earthquake occurred in 2010, Haitians still need humanitarian assistance and are also rebuilding settlements on their own. This is the second most powerful earthquake in Haiti, the first occurred in 1751 - then the cities had to be rebuilt over the next 15 years.
Earthquake in China
About 830 thousand people died in the magnitude 8 earthquake in China in 1556. At the very epicenter of the tremors in the Weihe River valley, near Shaanxi province, 60% of the population died. The huge number of victims is due to the fact that people in the middle of the 16th century lived in limestone caves, which were easily destroyed even by minor tremors. 
Within 6 months after the main earthquake, so-called aftershocks were repeatedly felt - repeated seismic tremors with a power of 1-2 points. This disaster occurred during the reign of Emperor Jiajing, so it is called the Great Jiajing Earthquake in Chinese history.
The most powerful earthquakes in Russia
Almost a fifth of Russia's territory is located in seismically active areas. These include the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, Kamchatka, the North Caucasus and the Black Sea coast, Baikal, Altai and Tyva, Yakutia and the Urals. Over the past 25 years, about 30 strong earthquakes with an amplitude of more than 7 points have been recorded in the country. 
Earthquake on Sakhalin
In 1995, an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 occurred on Sakhalin Island, as a result of which the cities of Okha and Neftegorsk, as well as several villages located nearby, were damaged. 
The most significant consequences were felt in Neftegorsk, which was 30 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake. Within 17 seconds, almost all houses were destroyed. The damage caused amounted to 2 trillion rubles, and the authorities decided not to restore the settlements, so this city is no longer indicated on the map of Russia.
More than 1,500 rescuers were involved in eliminating the consequences. 2,040 people died under the rubble. A chapel was built and a memorial was erected on the site of Neftegorsk.
Earthquake in Japan
The movement of the earth's crust is often observed in Japan, since it is located in the active zone of the Pacific Ocean volcanic ring. The most powerful earthquake in this country occurred in 2011, the amplitude of the vibrations was 9 points. According to a rough estimate of experts, the amount of damage after the destruction reached 309 billion dollars. More than 15 thousand people were killed, 6 thousand were injured and about 2,500 were missing. 
Tremors in the Pacific Ocean caused a powerful tsunami, the height of the waves was 10 meters. As a result of the collapse of a large flow of water on the coast of Japan, a radiation accident occurred at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. Subsequently, for several months, residents of nearby areas were prohibited from drinking tap water due to its high cesium content.
In addition, the Japanese government ordered TEPCO, which owns the nuclear power plant, to compensate moral damages to 80 thousand residents forced to leave the contaminated areas.
The most powerful earthquake in the world
A powerful earthquake caused by the collision of two continental plates occurred in India on August 15, 1950. According to official data, the strength of the tremors reached 10 points. However, according to the conclusions of the researchers, the vibrations of the earth's crust were much stronger, and the instruments were unable to establish their exact magnitude. 
The strongest tremors were felt in the state of Assam, which was reduced to ruins as a result of the earthquake - more than two thousand houses were destroyed and more than six thousand people were killed. The total area of the territories caught in the destruction zone was 390 thousand square kilometers.
According to the site, earthquakes also often occur in volcanically active areas. We present to you an article about the highest volcanoes in the world.
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