When Earth roars
Strap: From Chile’s 1960 monster quake to Russia’s latest jolt, here’s a look at the world’s most devastating earthquakes
Blurb:
The tremor—among the strongest ever recorded—sparked memories of past megaquakes that have changed the course of history. From nuclear meltdowns to cities swallowed whole, the Earth has delivered shock and awe time and again
OB Bureau
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, shaking the Earth, whipping up tsunami waves, and rattling nerves across the Pacific.
According to the US Geological Survey, the temblor struck about 85 miles off the Kamchatka coast at a depth of nearly 12 miles. While the region is sparsely populated, the quake’s strength triggered panic in the largest nearby city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where terrified residents ran into the streets—some barefoot and in nightclothes.
“There were strong tremors. Cabinets fell over, mirrors smashed, cars rocked in the streets, and balconies visibly shook,” reported Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.
Worse followed. Tsunami waves between 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) were recorded in some parts of Kamchatka, said Sergei Lebedev, the regional minister for emergency situations, speaking to Reuters. Power outages and mobile network failures were also reported in the region’s capital.
The quake’s impact wasn’t limited to Russia. In neighbouring Japan, public broadcaster NHK said a tsunami wave about 30 centimetres (1 foot) high was observed off Hokkaido, the country’s northernmost island. Authorities warned that larger waves could follow, and coastal communities were urged to stay alert or evacuate to higher ground.
This seismic shock comes as one of the strongest earthquakes in recent memory, sparking alerts from Japan to Alaska and reminding the world once again that the Pacific “Ring of Fire” is always awake.
The tremor—among the strongest ever recorded—sparked memories of past megaquakes that have changed the course of history. From nuclear meltdowns to cities swallowed whole, the Earth has delivered shock and awe time and again.
Here’s a look at some of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, according to the US Geological Survey, as of June 2025:
Chile, 1960 – The Big One
Magnitude: 9.5
The most powerful earthquake in recorded history rocked central Chile’s Biobío region, killing over 1,600 people and injuring thousands more. Massive tsunamis followed, some crossing oceans to strike Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines. Known as the Great Chilean Earthquake, its scars still run deep.
Alaska, 1964 – The Ground Shuddered for 5 Mins
Magnitude: 9.2
Prince William Sound was the epicentre of America’s most powerful earthquake. It killed over 130, triggered deadly landslides and a tsunami, and left entire towns splintered. Aftershocks lasted for weeks, rattling nerves and buildings alike.
Indonesia, 2004 – The Day the Sea Rose
Magnitude: 9.1
The underwater earthquake off Sumatra triggered a catastrophic tsunami that swept through Southeast Asia, East Africa, and beyond, killing a staggering 230,000 people. Indonesia bore the brunt, with entire villages vanishing in minutes.
Japan, 2011 – The Fukushima Disaster
Magnitude: 9.1
The Tohoku earthquake unleashed a wall of water that engulfed cities and knocked out the Fukushima nuclear plant, triggering meltdowns in three reactors. Over 18,000 lives were lost, and the nuclear crisis cast a long radioactive shadow.
Russia, 1952 – The Kamchatka Quake
Magnitude: 9.0
The Soviet-era jolt off Kamchatka caused tsunamis that slammed Hawaii with 30-foot waves. Miraculously, no deaths were reported—though the damage stretched across the Pacific.
Chile, 2010 – Déjà Vu in Biobío
Magnitude: 8.8
Fifty years after the record-setter, another massive quake rocked central Chile, shaking Santiago for 90 seconds and unleashing a tsunami. Over 500 people were killed, and the nation reeled once again.
Ecuador, 1906 – The Forgotten Killer
Magnitude: 8.8
A massive undersea earthquake near Esmeraldas and its tsunami killed 1,500 along the coast. Shockwaves reached San Francisco and Japan—a grim reminder that no shore is safe when the ocean stirs.
- Alaska, 1965 – Rat Islands Rattle
Magnitude: 8.7
This quake in the remote Rat Islands triggered a towering 35-foot tsunami. The damage was relatively minor, but nature’s raw power was on full display.
- Tibet, 1950 – The Himalayan Howl
Magnitude: 8.6
Striking what is now Arunachal Pradesh, this quake flattened villages, killed at least 780, and caused massive landslides that temporarily dammed rivers. When those dams burst, they unleashed deadly waves downstream.
- Indonesia, 2012 – The Silent Shifter
Magnitude: 8.6
Though it caused little immediate damage, this undersea earthquake off northern Sumatra unnerved seismologists. It further strained the same fault line responsible for the devastating 2004 disaster.
As Russia’s latest quake sends ripples across oceans and nerves alike, the message is clear: the planet doesn’t whisper when it moves—it roars.
Stay alert. Stay safe. The ground beneath us never sleeps.