5. Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan
Magnitude: 9.0 Mw
Deaths: 15,870
Date: Mar 11th, 2011
It was an undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan, with the epicenter approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tohoku. It was the most powerful known earthquake ever to have hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern record. This quake – largest ever in Japan – killed an estimated 15,870 people and damaged some nuclear reactors.
6. Kamchatka Earthquakes, Russia
Magnitude: 9.0 Mw
Date: Nov 4th, 1952
The world's first recorded magnitude 9.0 earthquake generated a 43-foot tsunami (13 m) locally.
7. Offshore Maule, Chile
Magnitude: 8.8
Deaths: 525
Date: 27 February 2010
The 2010 Chile earthquake, having a magnitude of 8.8, was intense and shaking lasted for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a seismograph. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano.
