The highest earthquake The strongest earthquakes in modern history
Strong earthquakes have occurred throughout human history, with the earliest recorded almost 2,000 years before our era. But it has only been in the last century that our technological abilities have reached the point where the impact of these disasters can be fully measured. Our ability to study earthquakes has made it possible to avoid catastrophic casualties, as in the case of a tsunami, when people have the opportunity to evacuate from a potentially dangerous area. But unfortunately, the warning system does not always work. There are several examples of earthquakes where the most damage was caused by the subsequent tsunami and not by the earthquake itself. People have improved building standards, improved early warning systems, but have not been able to completely protect themselves from disasters. There are many different ways to estimate the strength of an earthquake. Some people are based on the value on the Richter scale, others on the number of deaths and injuries, or even the monetary value of the damaged property. This list of the 12 most powerful earthquakes combines all of these methods in one.
Lisbon earthquake
The great Lisbon earthquake hit the capital of Portugal on November 1st, 1755 and brought great destruction. They were aggravated by the fact that it was All Saints Day and thousands of people came to mass in the church. Churches, like most other buildings, could not withstand the elements and collapsed, killing people. Subsequently, a tsunami hit 6 meters high. Approximately 80,000 died due to fires caused by the destruction. Many famous writers and philosophers have dealt with the Lisbon earthquake in their writings. For example, Emmanuel Kant, who tried to find a scientific explanation for what happened.
California earthquake
A massive earthquake hit California in April 1906. Having gone down in history like the San Francisco earthquake, it caused damage to a much wider area. Downtown San Francisco was destroyed by the huge fire that followed. Initial figures mentioned 700 to 800 deaths, although researchers claim that the real list of victims was more than 3,000 people. More than half of San Francisco's population lost their homes as 28,000 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and fires.
Messina earthquake
One of Europe's biggest earthquakes struck Sicily and southern Italy in the early hours of December 28th, 1908, killing an estimated 120,000 people. The main epicenter of the damage was Messina, which was actually destroyed by the disaster. A 7.5-magnitude earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami that hit the coast. A recent study suggested that the size of the waves was so huge due to an underwater landslide. Much of the damage was due to the poor quality of the buildings in Messina and other parts of Sicily. 
Haiyuan earthquake
One of the deadliest earthquakes on the list occurred in December 1920 with its epicenter at Haiyuan Chinha. At least 230,000 people died. With a force of 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake destroyed almost every home in the region, causing significant damage to major cities like Lanzhou, Taiyuan and Xi'an. Incredibly, the waves from the earthquake were visible even off the coast of Norway. According to a recent study, Haiyuan was the strongest earthquake in China during the 20th century. The researchers also questioned the official death toll, suggesting it could have been over 270,000. This number is 59 percent of the population in the Haiyuan area. The Haiyuan earthquake is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in history. 
Chilean earthquake
A total of 1,655 were killed and 3,000 were injured after a 9.5 magnitude earthquake struck Chile in 1960. Seismologists have called it the strongest earthquake ever recorded. 2 million people were left homeless, and economic losses amounted to $500 million. The force of the earthquake triggered a tsunami, with casualties in places as far away as Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines. In some parts of Chile, waves have moved the ruins of buildings up to 3 kilometers inland. The strong Chilean earthquake of 1960 caused a gigantic tear in the ground, extending for 1,000 kilometers. 
Earthquake in Alaska
On March 27th, 1964 a strong 9.2 earthquake hit the Prince William Sound area in Alaska. As the second strongest recorded earthquake, it resulted in a relatively low number of deaths (192 deaths). However, significant property damage took place in Anchorage, and all 47 states of the United States felt trembling. Due to significant improvements in research technology, the Alaska earthquake has provided scientists with valuable seismic data, allowing much better understanding of the nature of such phenomena. 
Earthquake Kobe
In 1995, Japan was hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever, when a 7.2 magnitude strike hit the Kobe region in south-central Japan. Although it was not the most severe ever observed, the devastating impact was experienced by a significant part of the population - approximately 10 million people living in a densely populated area. A total of 5,000 died and 26,000 were injured. The US Geological Survey estimated damage at $200 billion, with infrastructure and buildings destroyed. 
Sumatra and Andaman earthquake
The tsunami that hit all countries of the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 killed at least 230,000 people. It was triggered by a large underwater earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. His strength was measured at 9.1 on the Richter scale. The previous earthquake in Sumatra happened in 2002. This is believed to have been a seismic foreshock, and several aftershocks occurred during 2005. The main reason for the huge number of casualties was the lack of any early warning system in the Indian Ocean capable of detecting the approaching Tsunami. To the shores of some countries, where tens of thousands of people died, a giant wave went for at least several hours. 
Earthquake Kashmir
Jointly administered by Pakistan and India, Kashmir was hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in October 2005. At least 80,000 people died and 4 million were left homeless. Rescue work was hampered by conflicts between the two countries fighting over the territory. The situation was exacerbated by the rapid onset of winter and the destruction of many roads in the region. Eyewitnesses spoke of entire areas of cities literally sliding off the cliffs due to the destructive elements. 
Disaster in Haiti
Port-au-Prince was hit by an earthquake on January 12, 2010, leaving half the population of the capital without their homes. The death toll is still disputed and ranges from 160,000 to 230,000 people. A recent report drew attention to the fact that by the fifth anniversary of the disaster, 80,000 people still live on the street. The impact of the earthquake has brought with it terrible poverty in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Many buildings in the capital were not built in accordance with seismic requirements, and the people of a completely destroyed country did not have any means of subsistence, except for the international assistance provided. 
Tohoku earthquake in Japan
The biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl was caused by a 9-magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Scientists estimate that during the 6-minute earthquake of colossal magnitude, 108 kilometers of the seabed rose to a height of 6 to 8 meters. This caused a large tsunami that damaged the coast of Japan's northern islands. The nuclear power plant at Fukushima was badly damaged and attempts to save the situation are still ongoing. The official death toll is 15,889, although 2,500 people are still missing. Many areas have become uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation. 
Christchurch
The worst natural disaster in New Zealand's history claimed 185 lives on February 22nd, 2011 when Christchurch was hit by a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake. More than half of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the CTV building, which was built in violation of seismic regulations. Thousands of other houses were also destroyed, among them the city's cathedral. The government has declared a state of emergency in the country so that rescue work can proceed as quickly as possible. More than 2,000 people were injured and reconstruction costs exceeded $40 billion. But in December 2013, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce said that three years after the tragedy, only 10 percent of the city had been rebuilt.
The strongest earthquakes throughout the history of mankind caused enormous material damage and caused a huge number of casualties among the population. The first mention of tremors date back to 2000 BC.
And despite the achievements of modern science and the development of technology, no one still can predict the exact time when the elements will strike, so it often becomes impossible to quickly and timely evacuate people.
Earthquakes are natural disasters that kill the most people, much more than, for example, hurricanes or typhoons.
In this rating, we will talk about the 12 most powerful and destructive earthquakes in the history of mankind.
12. Lisbon
November 1, 1755, in the capital of Portugal, the city of Lisbon, there was a strong earthquake, later called the Great Lisbon Earthquake. It was a terrible coincidence that on November 1, All Saints Day, thousands of residents gathered for mass in the churches of Lisbon. These churches, like other buildings throughout the city, could not withstand the powerful shocks and collapsed, burying thousands of unfortunate people under their rubble.
Then a 6-meter tsunami wave poured into the city, covering the survivors, rushing in panic along the streets of the destroyed Lisbon. The destruction and loss of life was enormous! As a result of the earthquake, which lasted no more than 6 minutes, caused by it a tsunami and numerous fires that engulfed the city, at least 80,000 residents of the capital of Portugal died.
Many famous figures and philosophers dealt with this deadly earthquake in their works, for example, Immanuel Kant, who tried to find a scientific explanation for such a large-scale tragedy.
11. San Francisco
On April 18, 1906, at 5:12 am, powerful tremors shook the sleeping San Francisco. The force of the shocks was 7.9 points and as a result of a strong earthquake in the city, 80% of the buildings were destroyed.
After the first count of the dead, the authorities reported 400 victims, but later their number increased to 3,000 people. However, the main damage to the city was caused not by the earthquake itself, but by the monstrous fire caused by it. As a result, more than 28,000 buildings were destroyed throughout San Francisco, and property damage amounted to more than $ 400 million at the rate of that time.
Many residents themselves set fire to their dilapidated houses, which were insured against fire, but not against earthquakes.
10. Messina
The largest earthquake in Europe was the earthquake in Sicily and Southern Italy, when on December 28, 1908, as a result of the most powerful tremors with a force of 7.5 on the Richter scale, according to various experts, from 120 to 200,000 people died.
The epicenter of the disaster was the Strait of Messina, located between the Apennine Peninsula and Sicily, the city of Messina suffered the most, where there was practically not a single surviving building left. A huge tsunami wave, caused by tremors and reinforced by an underwater landslide, also brought a lot of destruction.
Documented fact: rescuers were able to pull two malnourished, dehydrated, but alive children from the rubble, 18 days after the disaster! Numerous and extensive destruction was caused primarily by the poor quality of buildings in Messina and other parts of Sicily.
Russian sailors of the imperial fleet provided invaluable assistance to the inhabitants of Messina. The ships as part of the training group sailed the Mediterranean and on the day of the tragedy ended up in the port of Augusta in Sicily. Immediately after the tremors, the sailors organized a rescue operation and thanks to their courageous actions, thousands of residents were saved.
9. Haiyuan
One of the deadliest earthquakes in human history was the devastating earthquake that hit Haiyuan County in Gansu Province on December 16, 1920.
Historians estimate that at least 230,000 people died that day. The strength of the tremors was such that entire villages disappeared in the faults of the earth's crust, such large cities as Xi'an, Taiyuan and Lanzhou were very badly damaged. Incredibly, but strong waves formed after the impact of the elements were recorded even in Norway.
Modern researchers believe that the death toll was much higher and totals at least 270,000 people. At that time, it was 59% of the population of Haiyuan County. Several tens of thousands of people died from the cold after their homes were destroyed by the elements.
8. Chile
The earthquake in Chile on May 22, 1960, is considered the strongest earthquake in the history of seismology, the magnitude of the tremors was 9.5 on the Richter scale. The earthquake was so powerful that it caused tsunami waves over 10 meters high, covering not only the coast of Chile, but also causing great damage to the city of Hilo in Hawaii, and some of the waves reached the coast of Japan and the Philippines.
More than 6,000 people died, most of them hit by the tsunami, the destruction was unimaginable. 2 million people were left without housing and shelter, and the amount of damage amounted to more than 500 million dollars. In some areas of Chile, the impact of the tsunami wave was so strong that many houses were blown 3 km inland.
7. Alaska
On March 27, 1964, the most powerful earthquake in American history hit Alaska. The strength of the rumors was 9.2 on the Richter scale and this earthquake became the strongest since the elements struck in Chile in 1960.
129 people died, of which 6 were unfortunate victims of the tremors, the rest were washed away by a huge tsunami wave. The elements caused the greatest destruction in Anchorage, and tremors were registered in 47 US states.
6. Kobe
The earthquake in Kobe, Japan on January 16, 1995 was one of the most devastating in history. Tremors with a force of 7.3 began at 05:46 am local time and continued for several days. As a result, more than 6,000 people died, 26,000 were injured.
The damage done to the infrastructure of the city was simply enormous. More than 200,000 buildings were destroyed, 120 out of 150 berths were destroyed in the port of Kobe, and there was no power supply for several days. The total damage from the impact of the elements amounted to about 200 billion dollars, which at that time was 2.5% of Japan's total GDP.
Not only government services rushed to help the affected residents, but also the Japanese mafia - the yakuza, whose members delivered water and food to the victims of the disaster.
5. Sumatra
On December 26, 2004, the strongest tsunami that hit the coasts of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other countries was caused by a devastating earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the tremors was in the Indian Ocean, near the island of Simeulue, off the northwestern coast of Sumatra. The earthquake was unusually large, there was a shift of the earth's crust at a distance of 1200 km.
The height of the tsunami waves reached 15-30 meters and according to various estimates, from 230 to 300,000 people became victims of the disaster, although it is impossible to calculate the exact number of deaths. Many people were simply washed away into the ocean.
One of the reasons for this number of victims was the lack of an early warning system in the Indian Ocean, with which it was possible to inform the local population about the approaching tsunami.
4. Kashmir
On October 8, 2005, in the Kashmir region, which is under the control of Pakistan, there was the strongest earthquake in South Asia in the last hundred years. The force of the tremors was 7.6 on the Richter scale, which is comparable to the San Francisco earthquake in 1906.
According to official data, 84,000 people died as a result of the disaster, according to unofficial data, more than 200,000. Rescue work was hampered by the military conflict between Pakistan and India in the region. Many villages and villages were completely wiped off the face of the earth, and the city of Balakot in Pakistan was also completely destroyed. In India, 1300 people became victims of the earthquake.
3. Haiti
On January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hit Haiti. The main blow fell on the capital of the state - the city of Port-au-Prince. The consequences were terrible: almost 3 million people were left homeless, all hospitals and thousands of residential buildings were destroyed. The number of victims was simply enormous, according to various estimates from 160 to 230,000 people.
Criminals who escaped from the prison destroyed by the elements poured into the city, cases of looting, robberies and robberies became frequent on the streets. The material damage from the earthquake is estimated at 5.6 billion dollars.
Despite the fact that many states - Russia, France, Spain, Ukraine, the USA, Canada and dozens of others - provided all possible assistance in eliminating the consequences of the Haiti disaster, more than five years after the earthquake, more than 80,000 people still live in impromptu camps for refugees.
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and this natural disaster dealt an irreparable blow to the economy and the standard of living of citizens.
2. Earthquake in Japan
On March 11, 2011, the strongest earthquake in Japanese history struck the Tohoku region. The epicenter was located east of the island of Honshu and the strength of the tremors was 9.1 on the Richter scale.
As a result of the disaster, the nuclear power plant in the city of Fukushima was badly damaged and power units at reactors 1, 2, and 3 were destroyed. Many areas became uninhabitable as a result of radioactive radiation.
After underwater tremors, a huge tsunami wave covered the coast and destroyed thousands of administrative and residential buildings. More than 16,000 people died, 2,500 are still considered missing.
The material damage also turned out to be colossal - more than 100 billion dollars. And given that it may take years to completely restore the destroyed infrastructure, the amount of damage can increase several times.
1. Spitak and Leninakan
There are many tragic dates in the history of the USSR, and one of the most famous is the earthquake that shook the Armenian SSR on December 7, 1988. The most powerful tremors in just half a minute almost completely destroyed the northern part of the republic, capturing the territory where more than 1 million inhabitants lived.
The consequences of the disaster were monstrous: the city of Spitak was almost completely wiped off the face of the Earth, Leninakan was badly damaged, more than 300 villages were destroyed and 40% of the industrial capacities of the republic were destroyed. More than 500 thousand Armenians were left homeless, according to various estimates, from 25,000 to 170,000 people died, 17,000 citizens were left disabled.
111 states and all the republics of the USSR provided assistance in the restoration of destroyed Armenia.
According to the National Earthquake Information Center, which operates on behalf of the US Geological Survey, the Earth experiences at least one very destructive earthquake in excess of magnitude 8 every year, about 18 earthquakes from 7 to 7.9 magnitude, which belong to the category of very strong, 120 strong earthquakes, the strength of which reaches 6–6.9 points, about 800 moderate shocks from 5 to 5.9 points, a little more than 6200 minor earthquakes, with a magnitude of 4–4.9, and about 50 thousand weak earthquakes, which have a score of 3 up to 3.9. But in the history of the Earth there have been such earthquakes that have remained in the history books as the deadliest - they claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and harmed millions. It is about such natural disasters that we will talk today.
Earthquake in Aleppo, Syria, 1138
Earthquake in Syria in 1138one of the most powerful in history
One of the most powerful earthquakes known to mankind, and the fourth largest in terms of the number of victims (according to a rough estimate, over 230,000 deaths). This earthquake had an 8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake occurred in several stages, covering the territories of modern northern Syria and southwestern Turkey, later Iran and Azerbaijan. The peak of destruction came on October 11, 1138, when Aleppo suffered.
After the earthquake, the population of Aleppo recovered only by the beginning of the 19th century.
earthquake in Ganja (now the territory of Azerbaijan), 1139
The magnitude of this earthquake was 11 points. As a result of the disaster, about 230 thousand people died.Mountain collapsed during an earthquake Kapaz and blocked the course of the Akhsu River, which ran through it, as a result of which eight lakes were formed, one of which is the lake Goygol . This lake is currently located on the territoryGoygol Reserve.
Earthquake in Egypt, 1201
The earthquake in Egypt in 1201 killed more than 1 million people
This earthquake is included in the Guinness book as the most destructive. According to chroniclers, the number of victims was 1 million 100 thousand people. There is an opinion that the figures indicated by historians are far from the truth, and there is a rather big possibility that the facts were exaggerated. However, the catastrophe was gigantic in scale, which had a huge impact on the historical development of the region.
Earthquake of Gansu and Shaanxi, China, 1556
The Chinese earthquake in 1556 claimed the lives of 830,000 people
It claimed the lives of approximately 830,000 people - more than any other earthquake in human history.20-meter dips and cracks opened at the epicenter of the earthquake. The destruction affected territories located 500 km from the epicenter. The huge number of victims was due to the fact that most of the population of the province lived in loess caves that collapsed after the first shocks or were flooded mudflows.
Within six months after the earthquake, repeated seismic shocks followed several times a month, but of lesser intensity.
Earthquake in Calcutta, India, 1737
This is the most tragic earthquake in the history of the country.. It claimed the lives of about 300 thousand people.
The Great Kanto Earthquake, Japan, 1923
The number of victims of the earthquake in Japan in 1923 - 4 million people
A strong earthquake of magnitude 8.3 occurred on September 1, 1923 in Japan. The earthquake caused the death of several hundred thousand people and caused significant material damage to the entire state. In terms of the scale of destruction and the number of victims, it is the most destructive in the history of Japan.The official death toll is 174,000, with another 542,000 missing, and over a million left homeless. The total number of victims was about 4 million.
The material damage suffered by Japan from the Kanto earthquake is estimated at 4.5 billion dollars, which at that time amounted to two annual budgets of the country.
Earthquake in Chile, 1960
1960 Chile earthquake one of the strongest in the history of mankind
It was one of the strongest earthquakes in the history of mankind on May 22, 1960 in Chile, the strength of which at the epicenter reached 9.5 points, and the fault was 1000 kilometers. Due to the natural disaster, 1,655 people died, 3,000 people were injured, about 2 million people were left homeless, and losses were inflicted on half a billion dollars. The tsunami resulting from this earthquake reached the coasts of Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii and caused significant damage to coastal settlements.
Earthquake in Ashgabat in the Turkmen SSR, 1948
Earthquake in Ashgabat - the most fatal earthquake in the USSR
The most fatal earthquake in the Soviet Union. It consisted of two strong shocks with an interval of several hours. The incident happened on the night of November 5-6. The force of the natural disaster was approximately 9 points. It took several seconds for the complete destruction of the 130,000th settlement. It is still not clear how many people died that night. Approximately the number of deaths is estimated at 160 thousand people, and this is up to 80% of the total population of the city and its environs.
Earthquake in the Indian Ocean, 2004
An undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that has been hailed as the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. The magnitude of the earthquake was, according to various estimates, from 9.1 to 9.3. The destruction affected Port Elizabeth in South Africa, despite the fact that it was several thousand kilometers from the epicenter. Some coasts had to deal with waves above 20 meters. The huge release of energy that accompanied the collision of tectonic plates caused the displacement of Sumatra and its neighboring islands by several tens of meters. Died, according to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people.
Earthquake in Haiti, 2010
The damage from the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 is estimated at 5.6 billion euros
After the main push magnitude 7 points many repeated aftershocks, 15 of them with a magnitude of more than 5.According to official figures, as of March 18, 2010, the death toll was 222,570 people, and 311,000 people were injured. Material damage is estimated at 5.6 billion euros.
Earthquake off the east coast of Khons Island, Japan, 2011
This is the strongest earthquake in the known history of Japan. The earthquake occurred at a distance of about 70 km from the nearest point on the coast of Japan. An initial estimate showed that it took 10 to 30 minutes for the tsunami waves to reach the first affected areas of Japan. After 69 minutesafter the earthquake, the tsunami flooded Sendai airport.
The official death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is 15,892. The damage from the earthquake in Japan is estimated at 16-25 trillion yen (198-309 billion dollars).
As earthquake statistics show, seismological disasters account for 13% of the total number of natural disasters. Over the past hundred years, about 2,000 aftershocks with a magnitude of 7 or more have occurred in the world. Of these, 65 cases exceeded the 8 mark.
The situation in the world
If you look at the world map, on which seismological activity is displayed with dots, you can notice one pattern. These are some characteristic lines along which tremors are intensely recorded. The tectonic boundaries of the earth's crust are located in these zones. As established by statistics, strong catastrophic earthquakes, entailing the most devastating consequences, occur due to stress in the focus of "grinding" of tectonic plates. 
Earthquake statistics for 100 years show that only on continental tectonic plates (not oceanic) about a hundred seismic catastrophes occurred, in which 1.4 million people died. In total, 130 strong earthquakes were recorded during this period.
The table shows the largest known seismic catastrophes since the 16th century:
| Year | Location of the incident | Destruction and casualties |
| 1556 | China | 830 thousand people became victims. According to current estimates, the earthquake can be assigned the highest score - 12 points. |
| 1755 | Lisbon (Portugal) | The city was completely destroyed, 100 thousand inhabitants died |
| 1906 | San Francisco (USA) | Most of the city was destroyed, 1,500 people became victims (7.8 points) |
| 1908 | Messina (Italy) | The destruction claimed 87 thousand human lives (magnitude 7.5) |
| 1948 | Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) | 175 thousand people died |
| 1960 | Chile | The largest earthquake recorded in the last century. He was rated 9.5 points. Three cities were destroyed. About 10 thousand inhabitants became victims |
| 1976 | Tien Shan (China) | Magnitude 8.2. 242 thousand people died |
| 1988 | Armenia | Several cities and towns were destroyed. More than 25 thousand victims recorded (7.3 points) |
| 1990 | Iran | About 50 thousand inhabitants died (magnitude 7.4) |
| 2004 | Indian Ocean | The epicenter of the earthquake 9.3 points was at the bottom of the ocean, formed claimed the lives of 250 thousand inhabitants |
| 2011 | Japan | An earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 caused the death of more than 15 thousand people and caused enormous economic and environmental consequences not only for Japan, but for the whole world. |
Over 30 years of the end of the 20th century, about 1 million people died in seismic catastrophes. This is about 33 thousand per year. Over the past 10 years, earthquake statistics show an increase in the average annual figure to 45 thousand victims. 
Hundreds of imperceptible oscillations of the earth's surface occur every day on the planet. This is not always associated with the movement of the earth's crust. Human actions: construction, mining, blasting - they all entail vibrations recorded by modern seismographs every second. However, since 2009, the USGS Geological Survey, which collects data on earthquake statistics in the world, has ceased to take into account shocks below 4.5.
Crete
The island is located in a tectonic fault zone, so increased seismological activity there is a frequent phenomenon. Earthquakes in Crete, according to statistics, do not exceed 5 points. With such a force, there are no devastating consequences, and the locals do not pay attention to this shaking at all. On the graph, you can see the number of registered seismic shocks by month with a magnitude above 1 point. It can be seen that in recent years their intensity has increased somewhat. 
Earthquakes in Italy
The country is located in a zone of seismic activity on the territory of the same tectonic fault as Greece. Earthquake statistics in Italy over the past 5 years show an increase in the number of monthly shocks from 700 to 2000. In August 2016, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred. That day claimed the lives of 295 people, more than 400 were injured.
In January 2017, another earthquake of magnitude less than 6 took place in Italy, and there were almost no victims of the destruction. However, a push has caused in the province of Pescara. The hotel Rigopiano was buried under it, killing 30 people.
There are resources where earthquake statistics are displayed online. For example, the IRIS organization (USA), engaged in the collection, systematization, study and distribution of seismological data, presents a monitor of this type: 
Information is available on the site that displays the presence of earthquakes on the planet at the moment. Here their magnitude is shown, there is information for yesterday, as well as events 2 weeks or 5 years ago. You can consider in more detail the parts of the planet of interest by selecting the appropriate map from the list.
The situation in Russia
According to the statistics of earthquakes in Russia and the OSR (General Seismic Zoning) map, more than 26% of the area in the country is located in seismically hazardous zones. There may be shocks from 7 points. This includes Kamchatka, the Baikal region, the Kuriles, Altai, the North Caucasus and the Sayan Mountains. There are about 3,000 villages, about 100 thermal power plants and hydroelectric power stations, 5 nuclear power plants and enterprises of increased environmental danger.
Krasnodar region
There are about 28 districts of the region in the zone, of which there are approximately 4 million people. Among them is the large resort city of Sochi - according to earthquake statistics, the last seismic activity above 4 points was recorded in the fall of 2016. The Kuban is mostly located in the zone of 8–10 magnitude earthquakes (MSK-64 scale). This is the highest seismic hazard index throughout the Russian Federation.
The reason is the resumption of tectonic processes in 1980. Earthquake statistics in the Krasnodar Territory annually record about 250 seismic shocks of more than 2 points. Since 1973, 130 of them have been a strength of 4 points. Tremors with a magnitude of more than 6 points are recorded once every 5 years, and above 7 - once every 11 years. 
Irkutsk
Due to its location near the Baikal Rift, Irkutsk's earthquake statistics record up to 40 minor shocks every month. In August 2008, seismic activity with a magnitude of 6.2 was recorded. The epicenter was in Lake Baikal, where the indicator reached 7 points. Some buildings cracked, but no significant damage or casualties were recorded. In February 2016, another earthquake of magnitude 5.5 occurred.
Yekaterinburg
Despite the fact that the growth of the Ural Mountains has long ceased, the statistics of earthquakes in Yekaterinburg continues to be replenished with new data. In 2015, a 4.2 magnitude shock was recorded there, no one was injured.
Conclusion
Between the end of 2008 and 2011, there was a decrease in seismic activity on the planet, to a level of less than 2,500 cases per month and a magnitude above 4.5. However, after the earthquake in Japan in 2011, in the period from 2011 to 2016, there is a tendency to increase the activity of tremors around the world by almost 2 times. Earthquake statistics for recent years are as follows:
- tremors from 8 points and above - 1 time / year;
- from 7 to 7.9 points - 17 times / year;
- from 6 to 6.9 - 134 times / year;
- from 5 to 5.9 - 1319 times / year.
Predicting earthquakes is very difficult. Often you can say with certainty where it will happen, but when exactly it will happen is impossible to determine. However, there are biological precursors. On the eve of a strong earthquake, other representatives of the fauna living in this area begin to behave abnormally.
On April 25, 2015, one of the strongest earthquakes in history struck Nepal, claiming thousands of lives and destroying a large number of historical monuments.
This is the seventh major earthquake in the 21st century. Let's try to remember them all.
2003 Iranian Bam earthquake
alex-dfg.livejournal.comOn December 26, 2003, the ancient city of Bam in the province of Kerman, Iran, experienced a devastating earthquake (6.3 points), which killed more than 35 thousand people and injured more than 22 thousand (out of 200 thousand of the population). About 90% of the clay buildings of the historic city were destroyed.
The effects of the earthquake were so massive because many of the houses were made of mud and did not meet local 1989 regulations.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Philip A. McDaniel , via Wikimedia Commons An underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean, which occurred exactly one year after the Iranian one, on December 26, 2004, caused a tsunami, recognized as the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. The magnitude of the earthquake was, according to various estimates, from 9.1 to 9.3. This is the third strongest earthquake in the history of observation.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Indian Ocean, to the north of Simeulue Island, located near the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). The tsunami reached the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Thailand and other countries. The height of the waves exceeded 15 meters. The tsunami caused enormous destruction and a huge number of deaths, even in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 6900 km from the epicenter.
Died, according to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people. The true death toll is unlikely to ever be known, as many people were carried away by the water into the sea.
2008 Sichuan earthquake
By 人神之间 (Own work (Original text: self-made 自己制作)) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons The Sichuan earthquake is a devastating earthquake that occurred on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan Province, China. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8 Mw according to the China Seismological Bureau. The epicenter was recorded 75 km from the capital of Sichuan, the city of Chengdu. The quake was felt in Beijing (1500 km away) and Shanghai (1700 km), where office buildings shook and evacuations began. It was also felt in neighboring countries: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Russia.
The earthquake occurred in the seismically active Longmenshan Fault, which runs along the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, separating it from the Sino-Tibetan Mountains.
Official sources say that as of August 4, 2008, about 70 thousand people died, about 18 thousand people went missing, almost 300 thousand were injured.
2010 Haiti earthquake
By Logan Abassi / UNDP Global [CC BY 2.0 ], undefined On January 12, 2010, a major earthquake hit the island of Haiti. The epicenter was located 22 km southwest of the capital of the Republic of Haiti, Port-au-Prince.
The earthquake in Haiti was the result of the movement of the earth's crust in the contact zone of the Caribbean and North American lithospheric plates. The last time an earthquake of such destructive power occurred in Haiti in 1751.
According to official data, as of March 18, 2010, the death toll was more than 200 thousand people, more than 300 thousand people were injured, and 869 people were missing. Material damage is estimated at 5.6 billion euros.
2010 Chile earthquake
By Atilio Leandro (originally posted to Flickr as San Antonio/Chile) [CC BY-SA 2.0 ], undefined Chile earthquake - a powerful earthquake that occurred on February 27, 2010 off the coast of Chile, causing loss of life, destruction and the formation of a tsunami. One of the largest earthquakes in the last half century. The epicenter of the earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 was located 90 kilometers from the capital of the Bio-Bio Concepción region, the country's second largest agglomeration after Santiago. Less than a thousand people became victims of the disaster.
The earthquake caused a tsunami that hit 11 islands and the coast of Maule, but the number of victims caused by the tsunami is minimal: most of the inhabitants of the coast managed to hide from the tsunami in the mountains.
2011 Japan earthquake
By U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ethan Johnson [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons An earthquake off the east coast of the island of Honshu in Japan, also known as the Great East Japan Earthquake, occurred on March 11, 2011. Its magnitude was up to 9.1. This is the strongest earthquake in the known history of Japan.
The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that wreaked havoc on the northern islands of the Japanese archipelago. The maximum wave height was about 40 meters. The tsunami spread throughout the Pacific Ocean; warnings and evacuations were issued in many coastal countries, including along the Pacific coast of North and South America from Alaska to Chile.
As a result of a natural disaster, an accident occurred at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. Three reactors were damaged to varying degrees and became a source of strong radioactive emissions.
As of September 5, 2012, the official death toll from the earthquake and tsunami was more than 15,000 people, about 3,000 were missing, and more than 6,000 were injured.
2015 Nepal earthquake
By Krish Dulal (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons The 2015 Nepal earthquakes are a series of earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.2Mw and 7.8Mw that occurred on 25 and 26 April 2015. The tremors were felt in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. The aftershocks were also observed on Everest, triggering avalanches that killed more than 80 climbers.
The Nepalese government confirmed the death of more than 4 thousand people, about 7 thousand people were injured. According to media reports, in the neighboring countries of Nepal (India, Bangladesh, China), a total of about 100 people died.
According to preliminary data, thousands of houses were completely destroyed in the country, the damage is estimated at $ 5 billion.