Jakarta –
An earthquake is an event of vibration or shaking of the earth’s surface that occurs due to the release of energy from within the earth. Earthquakes can cause damage, death and other disasters such as tsunamis, landslides and fires.
The strength of an earthquake is usually measured on the magnitude scale, which is the logarithm of the seismic wave amplitude recorded by a seismograph. The greater the magnitude, the greater the energy released by the earthquake.
Some earthquakes that occur in the world have very large magnitudes, even exceeding 9 on the Richter scale. Earthquakes with a magnitude above 8 on the Richter scale are called megathrust earthquakes, which occur due to friction between tectonic plates pressing against each other.
Megathrust earthquakes usually occur in subduction zones, which are places where oceanic plates dive beneath continental plates or other oceanic plates.
The following are the 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded in history, based on their magnitude, in the period 1900-2024:
10. Nias Earthquake, Indonesia, 12 September 2007 (M 8.5)
This earthquake was the tenth largest earthquake ever recorded in human history, with a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred off the coast of Nias, Indonesia, and lasted for 2 minutes 50 seconds. This earthquake caused major damage throughout Nias, especially in the cities of Gunungsitoli, Telukdalam, Lahewa and Afulu.
This earthquake killed around 25 people, injured 100 people, and displaced 10,000 people. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami that hit the coast of Nias, Sumatra and Simeulue. This tsunami killed around 10 people, mostly in Nias. This earthquake also caused the island of Nias to shift about 1 meter to the west, and the island of Simeulue about 0.5 meters to the west.
9. Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake, January 31, 1906 (M 8.6)
This earthquake was the ninth largest earthquake ever recorded in human history, with a magnitude of 8.6 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia, and lasted for 10 minutes. This earthquake caused major damage throughout Ecuador and Colombia, especially in the cities of Quito, Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, Tumaco, and Cali.
This earthquake killed around 1,000 people, injured 4,000 people, and displaced 100,000 people. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami that hit the Pacific coast, including Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. This tsunami killed around 500 people, mostly in Colombia and Ecuador. This earthquake also caused significant geographical changes, such as lifting or lowering land up to 5 meters, and the formation of new lakes.
8. Rat Islands Earthquake, Alaska, United States, February 4, 1965 (M 8.7)
This earthquake was the eighth largest earthquake ever recorded in human history, with a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred off the coast of Rat Islands, Alaska, and lasted for 4 minutes 40 seconds.
This earthquake did not cause damage or casualties on land, because its location was far from human settlements. However, this earthquake triggered a tsunami that hit the coast of Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. This tsunami killed about 10 people, mostly in Hawaii. This earthquake also caused significant geographical changes, such as lifting or lowering land up to 10 meters, and shifting islands.
7. Sumatra Earthquake, Indonesia, March 28, 2005 (M 8.6)
This earthquake was the seventh largest earthquake ever recorded in human history, with a magnitude of 8.6 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and lasted for 2 minutes. This earthquake caused major damage throughout Sumatra, especially in the cities of Nias, Sibolga, Padang and Medan.
This earthquake killed around 1,300 people, injured 9,000 people, and displaced 400,000 people. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean coast, including India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar. This tsunami killed around 200 people, mostly in Nias. This earthquake also caused the island of Nias to shift around 2.5 meters to the west, and the island of Simeulue around 1.2 meters to the west.
6. Maule Earthquake, Chile, February 27, 2010 (M 8.8)
This earthquake was the sixth largest earthquake ever recorded in human history, with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred off the coast of Maule, Chile, and lasted for 3 minutes. This earthquake caused major damage throughout Chile, especially in the cities of Concepcion, Talca, Santiago, Valparaiso, and Rancagua. G
These four earthquakes killed around 525 people, injured 12,000 people, and displaced 800,000 people. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami that hit the coast of Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, Russia, the Philippines and Indonesia. This tsunami killed around 200 people, mostly in Chile. This earthquake also caused a shift in the earth’s axis of about 8 centimeters, and accelerated the earth’s rotation by about 1.26 microseconds.
Watch the video “M 5.7 earthquake shakes Banten, felt as far away as Jakarta”
(afr/afr)
2024-03-02 02:15:13
#Biggest #Earthquakes #History #Indonesia
