Liquefaction:

Earthquake waves make the ground move, shaking buildings and causing
poorly designed or weak structures to partially or totally collapse. The ground
shaking weakens soils and foundation materials under structures and causes
dramatic changes in fine-grained soils. During an earthquake, water-saturated
sandy soil becomes like liquid mud, an effect called liquefaction. Liquefaction
causes damage as the foundation soil beneath structures and buildings
weakens. haking may also dislodge large earth and rock masses, producing
dangerous landslides, mudslides, and rock avalanches that may lead to loss
of lives or further property damage.
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
Earthquake Scales: Modified Mercalli and Richter Scales:
The !odified !ercalli and "ichter scales are used to rate and compare the
intensity of earthquakes. The !odified !ercalli scale is somewhat sub#ective,
because the apparent intensity of an earthquake depends on how far away
from its center the observer is located. "ating intensities from $ to %$$, it
describes and rates earthquakes in terms of human reactions and
observations. The "ichter scale measures the motion of the ground &'' km
()' mi* from the earthquake+s epicenter, or the location on the earth+s surface
directly above where the earthquake occurred. The rating scale is logarithmic,
each increase of & on the scale represents a tenfold increase in the motion of
the ground.
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
Historically Significant Earthquakes
Historically Signifcant Earthquakes
Largest Earthquakes on Record in the Contiguous United States
Locatio
n
Dat
e Magnitude
Cascadia Subduction Zone January 26, !"" #$
%e& Madrid, Missouri Dece'ber 6, ( ()
%e& Madrid, Missouri *ebruary !, (2 #(
*ort +e,on, Ca-i.ornia January $, (/! !)$
San *rancisco, Ca-i.ornia 01ri- (, $"6 !)(
2'1eria- 3a--ey, Ca-i.ornia *ebruary 24, ($2 !)(
%e& Madrid, Missouri January 25, (2 !)(
6&ens 3a--ey, Ca-i.ornia March 26, (!2 !)4
Landers, Ca-i.ornia June 2(, $$2 !)5
7ebgen Lake, Montana 0ugust (, $/$ !)5
8ern County, Ca-i.ornia Ju-y 2, $/2 !)5
9est o. Eureka, Ca-i.ornia January 5, $22 !)5
Char-eston, South Caro-ina Se1te'ber , ((6 !)5
Ca-i.ornia:6regon Coast %o;e'ber 25, (!5 !)5
%orth Cascades, 9ashington Dece'ber /, (!2 !)5
9ide-y di<ering 'agnitudes ha;e been co'1uted .or so'e o. these earthquakes= the ;a-ues di<er
according to the 'ethods and data used)
Source> U)S) ?eo-ogica- Sur;ey, %ationa- Earthquake 2n.or'ation Center)
Earthquakes &ith ,""" or More Deaths .ro' $""
Dat
e
Locatio
n
Death
s
Magnitud
e Co''ents
01r) $,
$"2
@ueAa-tenango and San
Marcos, ?uate'a-a
2,"""!)/
Dec)
6,
$"2
+urkestan 4,!""6)4
01r) 2(,
$"5
Ma-aAgirt, +urkey 5,/""!)"
May
2(,
$"5
?o-e, +urkey ,"""/)(
01r) 4,
$"/
8angra, 2ndia $,""" !)/
Jan) 5,
$"6
6< coast o. Es'era-das,
Ecuador
,"""()(
Mar)
6,
$"6
Chia:i, +ai&an ,2/"6)(
01ri-
(,
$"6
San *rancisco, Ca-i.ornia #5,""" !)( Ma,ority o. deaths .ro' resu-ting Bres)
0ug)
!,
$"6
3a-1araiso, Chi-e 2",""" ()2
Jan) 4,
$"!
8ingston, Ja'aica ("" to
,"""
6)/
6ct)
2,
$"!
@aratog C8aratagD,
+a,ikistan C+urkestan,
RussiaD
2,""" ()"
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
Dec)
2(,
$"(
Messina, 2ta-y !2,""" !)2 Deaths .ro' earthquake and tsuna'i)
Jan) 25,
$"$
Si-akhor, 2ran /,""" to
6,"""
!)5
0ug) $,
$2
Mure.te, +urkey 2,(""!)4
6ct) 5,
$4
Eurdur, +urkey 4,"""!)"
Jan) 5,
$/
0;eAAano, 2ta-y 52,6" !)"
Jan) 2",
$!
Ea-i, 2ndonesia ,/""
Ju-y 5",
$!
%orth o. Daguan, Funnan,
China
,(""!)/
*eb)
5,
$(
%anGao, ?uangdong
C8&angtungD, China
,"""!)4
Dec)
6,
$2"
7aiyuan, %ingHia C%ing:
hsiaD, China
2"",""" !)( Ma,or .ractures, -ands-ides)
Mar)
24,
$25
%ear Luhuo, Sichuan
CSAech&anD, China
5,/""!)5
May
2/,
$25
+orbat:e 7eydariyeh, 2ran
CIersiaD
2,2""/)!
Se1) ,
$25
8anto C8&antoD, Ja1an 42,("" !)$ ?reat +okyo Bre)
Mar)
6,
$2/
Funnan, China /,(""!)" +a-i.u a-'ost co'1-ete-y destroyed)
Mar) !,
$2!
+ango, Ja1an 5,"2"!)6
May
22,
$2!
?u-ang, ?ansu C8ansuD,
China
4",$"" !)6 Re1orts o. as 'any as 2"",""" ki--ed)
May ,
$2$
8o11eh Dagh, 2ran
CIersiaD
5,(""!)2
May 6,
$5"
Sa-'as, 2ran CIersiaD 2,/""!)2
Ju-y 25,
$5"
2r1inia, 2ta-y ,4""6)/
Mar)
5,
$5
Managua, %icaragua 2,/""6)"
01r) 2!,
$5
ZangeAur Mountains,
0r'enia:0Aerbai,an
border
2,(""/)!
0ug)
",
$5
%ear *uyun C8oktokayD,
Jin,iang CSinkiangD, China
",""" ()"
Mar) 2,
$55
Sanriku, Ja1an 5,"""()4
0ug)
2/,
$55
Sichuan, China $,5""!)/
Jan) /,
$54
Eihar, 2ndia:%e1a- ",!"" ()
01r) 2",
$5/
Miao:-i, +ai&an 5,2!"!)
May @uetta, Iakistan 5",""" !)6 @uetta a-'ost co'1-ete-y destroyed)
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
5",
$5/
Ju-y 6,
$5/
7sin:chu, +ai&an 2,!4"6)/
Jan) 2/,
$5$
Chi--an, Chi-e 2(,""" !)(
Dec)
26,
$5$
ErAincan, +urkey 52,!"" !)(
%o;)
",
$4"
3rancea, Ro'ania ,"""!)5
Dec)
2",
$42
Erbaa, +urkey ,""!)5
Se1)
",
$45
+ottori, Ja1an ,$"!)4
%o;)
26,
$45
Ladik, +urkey 4,"""!)6
Jan) /,
$44
San Juan, 0rgentina (,"""!)4
*eb) ,
$44
?erede, +urkey 2,!$"!)4 Re1orts o. as 'any as /,""" ki--ed)
Jan) 2,
$4/
Mika&a, Ja1an ,$6!)
%o;)
2!,
$4/
Makran Coast, Iakistan 4,"""()"
May
5,
$46
Ustukran, +urkey (4" to
,5""
/)$
%o;)
",
$46
0ncash, Ieru ,4""!)5 Lands-ides, great destruction)
Dec)
2",
$46
%ankaido, Ja1an ,562()
June
2(,
$4(
*ukui, Ja1an 5,!6$!)5
6ct) /,
$4(
USSR C+urk'enistan,
0shgabatD
",""" !)5
Ju-y ",
$4$
8hait, +a,ikistan
C+adAhikistan, USSRD
2,""" !)/
0ug) /,
$4$
0'bato, Ecuador /,"/"6)( Large -ands-ides, to1ogra1hica- changes)
0ug)
/,
$/"
0ssa':+ibet C2ndia:China
borderD
,/26()6 ?reat to1ogra1hica- changes, -ands-ides, Koods)
0ug) 2,
$/
Cosiguina, %icaragua ,"""/)(
Mar)
(,
$/5
Fenice:?onen, +urkey ,"!"!)5
Se1) $,
$/4
6r-eans;i--e, 0-geria ,2/"6)(
Ju-y 2,
$/!
%ear Sang Chai,
MaAandaran, 2ran
,2""!)
Dec)
5,
Sahneh, 2ran ,5"!)
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
$/!
*eb)
2$,
$6"
0gadir, Morocco 2,""" to
/,"""
/)! 6ccurred at sha--o& de1th ,ust under city)
May
22,
$6"
+e'uco:3a-di;ia, Chi-e ,6//$)/ +suna'i, ;o-canic acti;ity, Koods) Esti'ated death
to-- as high as /,!"")
Se1) ,
$62
@aA;in, 2ran 2,22/ !)
Ju-y 26,
$65
Sko1,e, Fugos-a;ia ,""6)" 6ccurred at sha--o& de1th ,ust under city)
Mar) !,
$66
East o. Longyao, 7ebei
C7o1ehD, China
,"""!)"
Mar)
22,
$66
7ebei C7o1ehD, China ,"""6)$
0ug)
$,
$66
3arto, +urkey 2,/2$6)(
0ug)
5,
$6(
Dasht:e EayaA, 2ran !,""" to
2,"""
!)5
Ju-y 2/,
$6$
Fang,iang, ?uangdong,
China
5,"""/)$
Jan) 4,
$!"
Funnan Iro;ince, China ",""" !)/
Mar)
2(,
$!"
?ediA, +urkey ,"(66)$
May
5,
$!"
Chi'bote, Ieru !",""" !)$ Massi;e rock s-ide, Koods)
May
22,
$!
+urkey ,"""6)$
01r) ",
$!2
Southern 2ran /,"/4!)
Dec)
25,
$!2
Managua, %icaragua /,"""6)2
May
",
$!4
China 2",""" 6)(
Dec)
2(,
$!4
Iakistan /,5""6)2
*eb) 4,
$!/
7aicheng, China 2,"""!)"
Se1) 6,
$!/
+urkey 2,5""6)!
*eb) 4,
$!6
?uate'a-a 25,""" !)/
May 6,
$!6
%ortheastern 2ta-y ,"""6)/
Ju-y 2!,
$!6
+angshan, China 2//,""" !)/ Esti'ated death to-- as high as 6//,""")
0ug)
6,
$!6
Mindanao, Ihi-i11ines (,"""!)$
%o;)
24,
$!6
+urkey:2ran border region /,"""!)5
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
Mar) 4,
$!!
Ro'ania ,/""!)2
Se1)
6,
$!(
2ran /,""" !)(
6ct)
",
$("
E- 0sna', 0-geria /,"""!)!
%o;)
25,
$("
Southern 2ta-y 5,"""6)/
June
,
$(
Southern 2ran 5,"""6)$
Ju-y 2(,
$(
Southern 2ran ,/""!)5
Dec)
5,
$(2
Fe'en 2,(""6)"
6ct)
5",
$(5
+urkey ,5426)$
Se1)
$,
$(/
MichoacLn, MeHico $,/""
CoMcia-D
()" Esti'ated death to-- as high as 5",""")
6ct)
",
$(6
E- Sa-;ador ,"""/)/
Mar) 6,
$(!
Co-o'bia:Ecuador ,"""!)"
0ug)
2",
$((
%e1a-:2ndia border region ,"""6)(
Dec) !,
$((
S1itak, 0r'enia 2/,""" 6)(
June
2",
$$"
9estern 2ran 4",""" to
/","""
!)4 Lands-ides)
Ju-y 6,
$$"
LuAon, Ihi-i11ine 2s-ands ,62!)! Lands-ides, subsidence, and sandb-o&s)
6ct)
$,
$$
%orthern 2ndia 2,"""!)"
Dec)
2,
$$2
*-ores Region, 2ndonesia 2,/""!)/ +suna'i ran in-and 5"" 'eters= &a;e height 2/
'eters)
Se1)
2$,
$$5
Latur:8i--ari, 2ndia $,!4(6)2
Jan) 6,
$$/
8obe, Ja1an /,/"26)$ Lands-ide, -ique.action)
May
2!,
$$/
Sakha-in 2s-and ,$($!)/
May
",
$$!
%orthern 2ran ,/6!!)5 4,46" in,ured, 6",""" ho'e-ess)
*eb)
"4,
$$(
7indu 8ush region,
0.ghanistan
2,525/)$ (( in,ured, (,"$4 houses destroyed, 6,!2/ -i;estock
ki--ed)
May
5",
$$(
0.ghanistan:+a,ikistan
border region
4,"""6)6 Many thousands in,ured and ho'e-ess)
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
Ju-y !,
$$(
Ia1ua %e& ?uinea 2,(5!)" +housands in,ured, about $,/"" ho'e-ess, and about
/"" 'issing as a resu-t o. a tsuna'i &ith 'aHi'u'
&a;e heights esti'ated at " 'eters)
Jan) 2/,
$$$
Co-o'bia ,(/6) 6;er !"" 'issing and 1resu'ed ki--ed, o;er 4,!/"
in,ured, and about 2/",""" ho'e-ess)
0ug)
!,
$$$
+urkey !,( !)6 0t -east /",""" in,ured, thousands ho'e-ess)
Da'age esti'ate at U)S)N5 bi--ion to N6)/ bi--ion)
Se1)
2",
$$$
+ai&an 2,4""!)6 6;er (,!"" in,ured, o;er 6"",""" ho'e-ess) Da'age
esti'ate at U)S)N4 bi--ion)
Jan) 26,
2""
?u,arat, 2ndia 2","(/ !)6 66,(56 in,ured, 6"",""" ho'e-ess)
Mar)
2/,
2""2
7indu 8ush Region,
0.ghanistan
,"""6) 4,""" in,ured, ,/"" houses destroyed in the %ahrin
area) 011roHi'ate-y 2",""" 1eo1-e ho'e-ess)
May 2,
2""5
%orthern 0-geria 2,2666)( ",26 in,ured, /",""" ho'e-ess)
Dec)
26,
2""5
Southeastern 2ran 5,""" 6)6 5",""" in,ured, (/O o. bui-dings da'aged or
destroyed in Ea' area)
Dec)
26,
2""4
Su'atra 22!,($( $) +he tsuna'i caused by the earthquake resu-ted in
'ore casua-ties than any other in recorded history)
Mar)
2(,
2""/
%orthern Su'atra,
2ndonesia
,55()6
6ct) (,
2""/
Iakistan (6,""" !)6 6$,""" in,ured and an esti'ated 2)/ 'i--ion 1eo1-e
-e.t ho'e-ess)
May
26,
2""6
2ndonesia /,!4$6)5
Source> United States ?eo-ogica- Sur;ey CUS?SD,
%ationa- Earthquake 2n.or'ation Center)
Largest Earthquakes in the 9or-d by Magnitude Since $""
Locatio
n
Dat
e Magnitude
+e'uco:3a-di;ia, Chi-e May 22, $6" $)/
Irince 9i--ia' Sound, 0-aska March 2(, $64 $)2
2ndian 6cean, near Su'atra, 2ndonesia Dece'ber 26, 2""4 $)
8a'chatka Ieninsu-a, Russia %o;e'ber 4, $/2 $)"
6< the coast o. Ecuador January 5, $"6 ()(
Rat 2s-ands, 0-eutian 2s-ands, 0-aska *ebruary 4, $6/ ()!
%orthern Su'atra, 2ndonesia March 2(, 2""/ ()6
0ndreano. 2s-ands, 0-eutian 2s-ands, 0-aska March $, $/! ()6
0ssa':+ibet C2ndia:China borderD 0ugust /, $/" ()6
Eanda Sea, 2ndonesia *ebruary , $5( ()/
8a'chatka Ieninsu-a, Russia *ebruary 5, $25 ()/
8uri- 2s-ands 6ctober /, $65 ()/
Chi-e:0rgentina Eorder %o;e'ber , $22 ()/
Source> United States ?eo-ogica- Sur;ey CUS?SD,
%ationa- Earthquake 2n.or'ation Center)
Destructi;e 8no&n Earthquakes in the 9or-d by %u'ber o. Deaths 6;er /","""
Dat
e
Locatio
n
Death
s
Magnitud
e Co''ents
January 25, //6 China, ShaanHi Iro;ince (5",""" #(
Ju-y 2!, $!6 China, +angshan 2//,""" !)/Esti'ated death to-- as high as
6//,"""
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)
0ugust $, 5( Syria, 0-e11o C7a-abD 25","""
Dece'ber 26,
2""4
2ndian 6cean, near Su'atra,
2ndonesia
22!,($( $)Deaths -arge-y .ro' resu-ting
tsuna'i
Dece'ber 22, 0D
(/6
2ran, DP'ghPn 2"","""
Dece'ber 6,
$2"
7aiyuan, %ingHia C%ing:hsiaD, China 2"",""" !)(Ma,or .ractures, -ands-ides
March 25, 0D ($5 2ran, 0rdabQ- /","""
Se1te'ber , $25 Ja1an, 8antR:heiya 42,("" !)$?reat +okyo Bre
6ctober /, $4( USSR C+urk'enistan, 0shgabatD ",""" !)5
Se1te'ber 2!,
2$"
China, Chih-i "","""
6ctober (, 2""/ %orthern Iakistan CMuAa<arPbPdD (6,""" !)6
%o;e'ber, 66! Caucasia C0Aerbai,anD, Sa'aHT
CShe'akhaD
(","""
%o;e'ber (,
!2!
2ran, +abrQA !!,"""
Dece'ber 2(,
$"(
2ta-y, Messina !2,""" !)2Deaths .ro' earthquake and
tsuna'i
May 5, $!" Chi'bote, Ieru !",""" !)$?reat rock s-ide, Koods
%o;e'ber , !// Iortuga-, Lisbon !",""" ()!?reat tsuna'i
January , 6$5 2ta-y, Sici-y 6",""" !)/
26( 0sia Minor, Ci-icia 6","""
Source> United States ?eo-ogica- Sur;ey CUS?SD, %ationa- Earthquake 2n.or'ation Center)
Largest Recorded U)S) Earthquakes
Locatio
n
Dat
e Magnitude
Irince 9i--ia' Sound, 0-aska March 2(, $64 $)2
Cascadia Subduction Zone January 26, !"" #$
Rat 2s-ands, 0-aska *ebruary 4, $6/ ()!
0ndreano. 2s-ands, 0-aska March $, $/! ()6
East o. Shu'agin 2s-ands, 0-aska %o;e'ber ", $5( ()2
Uni'ak 2s-ands, 0-aska 01ri- , $46 ()
%e& Madrid, Missouri Dece'ber 6, ( ()
Fakutat Eay, 0-aska Se1te'ber ", ($$ ()"
%e& Madrid, Missouri *ebruary !, (2 #(
Dena-i *au-t, 0-aska %o;e'ber 5, 2""2 !)$
?u-. o. 0-aska, 0-aska %o;e'ber 5", $(! !)$
0ndreano. 2s-ands, 0-aska May !, $(6 !)$
%ear Ca1e Fakataga, 0-aska Se1te'ber 4, ($$ !)$
8aGu District, 2s-and o. 7a&aii 01ri- 5, (6( !)$
*ort +e,on, Ca-i.ornia January $, (/! !)$
Rat 2s-ands, 0-aska %o;e'ber !, 2""5 !)(
0ndreano. 2s-ands, 0-aska June ", $$6 !)(
San *rancisco, Ca-i.ornia 01ri- (, $"6 !)(
2'1eria- 3a--ey, Ca-i.ornia *ebruary 24, ($2 !)(
%e& Madrid, Missouri January 25, (2 !)(
9ide-y di<ering 'agnitudes ha;e been co'1uted .or so'e o. these earthquakes= the ;a-ues di<er
according to the 'ethods and data used)
Source> U)S) ?eo-ogica- Sur;ey, %ationa- Earthquake 2n.or'ation Center)
Microsoft Encarta 2009. U $$5:2""( Microso.t Cor1oration) 0-- rights reser;ed)
Data Compile By Usman Ahmad, Remote Sensing Analyst (GHA ER Division)