One Earthquake Killed 830,000 People: The 9 Deadliest Earthquakes in History

Earthquakes have the potential to be some of the most catastrophic events. Caused by a shift in tectonic plates, earthquakes often result in the destruction of buildings, highways, bridges, and more. While there is certainly no way to know about every earthquake that has ever happened, some have proven to be more fatal than others. Here's a look at nine of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.

Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement that takes place along fault lines. This movement results in the release of stored-up energy which produces seismic waves that cause the Earth to move. It's not clear how many fault lines there are in the world, but there are at least 1,000 in the United States. Some of these fault lines move and the results are minimal. It's not uncommon for the ground to calmly shake for a few seconds. While that technically counts as an earthquake, it doesn't register at a magnitude that matters.

It's also not clear how many earthquakes have happened in world history. Since some parts of the world lack access to reporting and seismic measuring equipment, we don't even know with precision how many significant earthquakes happen each year. Moreover, while there are some historical accounts of earthquakes that took place in the 1500s and earlier, many events before modern record-keeping went undocumented entirely.

With that in mind, here's a look at the nine deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.

Shaanxi, China: 1556

Estimated at approximately 8.0 on the Moment Magnitude Scale, the Shaanxi earthquake of January 23, 1556, is the deadliest in recorded history. Historical records and imperial population data account for a total reduction of roughly 830,000 people — though modern geological research suggests that roughly 100,000 died directly from the earthquake itself, with the remainder of the toll attributed to displacement, famine, and plague in the aftermath.

Two factors directly magnified the death toll. First, the population of Shaanxi was densely packed into a relatively small area. Second, the region's housing left people extremely vulnerable: most residents lived in yaodongs — artificial cave dwellings carved into loess hillsides. When the earthquake struck, these structures collapsed and buried entire families alive. Landslides triggered by the quake compounded the destruction across a vast area, with damage recorded across 97 counties in multiple provinces.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: 2010

The Port-au-Prince earthquake of January 12, 2010, remains one of the most devastating disasters of the 21st century — and now, 16 years later, the death toll is still a matter of significant debate. The Haitian government's official figure stands at 316,000, but independent research and academic studies have placed the toll considerably lower, with estimates from various sources ranging from approximately 100,000 to 160,000. The difficulty of counting bodies in a country with destroyed infrastructure, mass graves, and chaotic displacement made a definitive count nearly impossible, and multiple experts have acknowledged the true figure will likely never be known.

As with the 1556 earthquake, a densely packed population living in poorly constructed buildings was the most prominent factor in the widespread death. A depth factor also played a major role: the Port-au-Prince fault line was very shallow, which produced more violent surface shaking than deeper fault ruptures typically generate.

Antakya, Turkey: 115 AD

The deadliest earthquake in Turkey's history took place in the year 115 AD, making it the oldest on our list. Historically known as Antioch, Antakya is the capital of the Hatay Province — the southernmost province in Turkey. The earthquake, which is estimated to have claimed 260,000 lives, occurred along the Eastern Anatolian Fault Zone — the same fault line that produced the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake that again devastated Hatay Province and surrounding areas.

The earthquake also triggered a tsunami that severely damaged the coast of what is now Lebanon. Antakya suffered a second catastrophic earthquake in 525 AD, when another event along the same fault killed an estimated 250,000 people, with aftershocks reportedly felt for months afterward.

Tangshan, China: 1976

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Tangshan, China in July 1976, resulting in 242,769 confirmed deaths. In addition to the catastrophic loss of life, the earthquake caused severe disruptions to power, water, communication, and plumbing systems. The actual human cost was almost certainly higher — the official figure accounts only for deaths caused by building collapses and does not capture those who died from disease or lack of medical care in the aftermath. A 2002 study reported that 85% of buildings in Tangshan suffered extensive damage.

Sumatra, Indonesia: 2004

With a magnitude of 9.1, the Sumatra earthquake of December 26, 2004, is both the strongest on this list and the third-largest earthquake recorded since 1900. The earthquake struck beneath the Indian Ocean off the western coast of northern Sumatra — not on land — and the devastation came primarily from the series of massive tsunamis it generated across the Indian Ocean. Approximately 227,899 people were killed or are missing and presumed dead across 17 countries.

Wave heights varied dramatically by location: in Indonesia's Aceh province — the area closest to the epicenter — waves reached as high as 167 feet (51 meters) and swept several miles inland. The tsunami was so powerful that its effects were felt as far away as Somalia and the east coast of Africa, roughly seven hours after the initial quake.

Damghan Iran: 856 / Gansu, China: 1920

There is too much uncertainty surrounding the magnitude of the Damghan, Iran earthquake of 856 to know exactly how strong it was. However, 200,000 people are recorded as having died — the same number of deaths recorded in Gansu, China, after an 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck in 1920.

According to historical accounts, the damage from the 856 earthquake spanned a stretch of roughly 220 miles, making it one of the most geographically far-reaching earthquakes in recorded history. The Gansu earthquake of 1920 inflicted damage across seven provinces.

Dvin, Armenia: 893

Not much is known about the earthquake that struck Dvin, the capital of medieval Armenia, in 893. Dvin was also the religious center of the region, which contributed to it being the most densely populated area at the time. In addition to an estimated 150,000 deaths, it is believed that only 100 buildings were left standing after the quake — an indication of the near-total destruction of the city.

Tokyo, Japan: 1923

The Great Kantō Earthquake of September 1, 1923, struck the Tokyo-Yokohama region with an estimated magnitude of 7.9–8.0. Death toll estimates vary significantly: older figures cited approximately 142,000 deaths, while modern research based on official disaster records places the total at around 105,000 to 110,000 fatalities. Either figure makes it the deadliest earthquake in Japanese history.

The earthquake leveled more than half of the brick buildings and roughly 10% of the reinforced concrete structures across the Kantō region. The disaster set off a devastating chain of secondary events: a tsunami with a height of nearly 40 feet struck Atami on Sagami Gulf, and widespread fires — sparked by overturned cooking stoves at midday and fanned by typhoon winds — consumed large sections of both Tokyo and Yokohama. Tens of thousands of survivors who gathered at an open depot site in eastern Tokyo were killed when a fire tornado swept through the area.

The Ongoing Threat

According to the USGS, there are roughly 55 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or greater recorded somewhere in the world every day — totaling some 20,000 per year. The vast majority cause little to no damage. Hopefully, these nine earthquakes will hold their positions as the deadliest in history.

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