The 10 worst earthquakes of 2010

0 CommentsPrint E-mail China.org.cn, November 22, 2010
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"All of a sudden everything was just falling apart ... there was no place to hide." In January, Haiti devastated by a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake and caused an estimated 230,000 deaths, making it the 6th deadliest earthquake in recorded history.

In 2010, earthquakes resulted in nearly 250,000 fatalities. Here are the most significant, according to their magnitude and deaths.

Haiti

Haiti was struck by a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck on January 12, killing up to 230,000 people, and affecting millions. [Full Story]

People walk on a street in earthquake-and-tsunami-devastated Dichato town, some 30 kilometers north of Concepcion, Chile, March 1, 2010. The death toll from the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Chile early Saturday has reached 723, the Chilean government said on Monday. More than 500 people were injured and at least 19 people are still unaccounted for, the National Emergency Office (Onemi) said.[Victor Rojas/Xinhua]

Chile

Chile was ravaged by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake on February 27, ranking it the fifth strongest earthquake since 1900. It caused more than 800 deaths in the region. A tsunami alert was waived over all countries of the Pacific Rim. [Full Story]

People across China light candles to mourn the Yushu earthquake dead and pray for the affected.

China

The magnitude 7.1 quake hits Yushu county in north-west China’s Qinghai Province on April 14, which killed at least 2,200 people and left more than 100,000 homeless. [Full Story]

Sumatra, Indonesia

A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 strikes off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on October 25, which killed 435 and leaving over 110 missing. The earthquake also triggered a substantial localized tsunami. [Full Story]

Turkey

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shoot eastern Turkey’s Elazığ city, and the final death toll was reported at 58, leaving more than 100 injured. [Full Story]

Papua, Indonesia

A 7.0 earthquake struck the coast near Papua, Indonesia on June 16, killing 17 and damaging hundreds of homes. [Full Story]

Baja California, Mexico

A 7.2 magnitude quake rocks Mexico's Baja California on April 4, killing two people and causing tremors as far away as Nevada. [Full Story]

Taiwan

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strike Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s southern city on March 4, resulting in more than 90 injuries and minor damage. [Full Story]

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale hit the sea off Taiwan's Hualien County on Oct.12, 2010. [Full Story]

New Zealand

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has rocked New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch, causing at least two people were seriously injured and widespread damage, including the collapse of some buildings and power outages. [Full Story]

Japan

Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, experienced a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27 at local time. A Pacific wide tsunami warming went into effect immediately after the earthquake news hit. [Full Story]



 

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