8.7-magnitude quake strikes Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula - Revisiting history’s deadliest earthquakes

Japan earthquake (Image: AFP)

A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami up to 4 meters high, prompting evacuations, and causing structural damage, according to Reuters. The quake triggered a tsunami reaching up to four meters (13 feet), prompting widespread evacuations in coastal areas.

Officials confirmed structural damage to several buildings in the region, though details on casualties or the full extent of the destruction are still emerging. Emergency services have been deployed, and residents in high-risk zones have been advised to remain on alert for aftershocks and possible secondary waves.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in history -

1. Chile - The strongest earthquake ever recorded struck Chile on May 22, 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5. It triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami, causing deaths in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines. In Chile, about 1,655 people died and over two million were left homeless. The quake struck at around 15:00 local time and lasted for 10 minutes.

2. Alaska - The "Good Friday Earthquake" struck on March 28, 1964, with a magnitude of 9.2. Lasting four minutes, it claimed 131 lives.

3. Indonesia- A 9.1-magnitude earthquake hit off northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004, triggering a tsunami that devastated 14 countries across Asia and Africa.

4. Japan - On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake near Japan’s east coast killed over 15,000 people and displaced around 130,000. The damage caused exceeded 309 billion US dollars, making it the most expensive natural disaster ever recorded. The resulting tsunami, with waves reaching up to 97 feet in some areas, impacted the entire Pacific region.

5. Russia - A powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on November 4, 1952. Remarkably, it caused no reported fatalities.