8 Most Disastrous and Deadliest Earthquakes From the Last Decade

While the world is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still risks of other natural disasters that need to be prepared for. People in risk-prone areas also have to prepare for these natural disasters, which can strike any time. Earthquakes are one of those dangerous examples.

And in the last decade, there have been at least eight major seismic incidents that did more than just cause widespread destruction. Thousands of lives were lost and millions worth of properties were damaged in the rubble.

Here are eight of the last decade's most devastating quakes that resulted in worst-case scenarios.

8 most disastrous earthquakes

Philippines - Bohol

Magnitude: 7.2
Death Toll: 222
Damages: 80,000 structures

The Bohol earthquake could not have happened at the worst possible time in the Philippines. It occurred in just a few weeks after the country faced one of the most devastating storms in recent history: Typhoon Haiyan.

China - Yunnan

Magnitude: 6.5
Death Toll: 617
Damages: 680,000 structures

The Ludian county of China's Yunnan province was said to be one of the poorest parts of the country. Housing conditions were particularly terrible and things all came crashing down when an earthquake struck the county in 2014.

(Photo : Photo by moein rezaalizade from Unsplash)

Puerto Rico - Guanica

Magnitude: 6.4
Death Toll: 3
Damages: 8,000 structures

Despite its low death toll, the 2020 earthquake in Guanica was also one that came at the heels of a deadly storm (Hurricane Maria). It also created a massive homeless crisis, leaving thousands of former residents without shelter.

Indonesia - Palu

Magnitude: 7.5
Death Toll: 4,340
Damages: 40,000 structures

The 2018 quake in Palu was a terrifying, geological chain reaction that caused not only a tsunami but also the liquefaction of the ground soil that destroyed much of the city. It also exposed many shortcomings of its tsunami warning system.

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Iran - Iraq Border

Magnitude: 7.3
Death Toll: 600
Damages: 17,000 structures

The deadliest quake in 2017 happened along the Iran-Iraq border. Not only did it destroy thousands of homes, its impact spread across neighbouring regions (including the U.A.E. and Israel).

Japan - Tohoku

Magnitude 9.0
Death Toll: 19,000
Damages: 200,000 structures

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake was the worst ever to be recorded in Japan's history. It not only caused a massive tsunami but also caused the infamous Fukushima nuclear disaster. Ten years later, its surrounding towns remain abandoned.

Nepal - Kathmandu

Magnitude: 7.8
Death Toll: 9,000
Damages: 600,000 structures

The 2015 quake that shook Nepal's capital incurred one of the highest death tolls the country has experienced from any natural disaster. Its affected area also reached as far as China and Bangladesh.

Mexico - Mexico City

Magnitude: 8.1 and 7.1
Death Toll: 225
Damages: 44 (?)

In 2017, Mexico City experienced not just one but two earthquakes within the span of twelve days. The incident also provoked allegations of corruption in the national construction system, citing that many of the collapsed buildings violated safety regulations despite complaints.

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