It is not for nothing that in large cities high-rise buildings are constructed in such a way that they can withstand fluctuations in the earth of average magnitude.
Nevertheless, the consequences of earthquakes are catastrophic: large-scale destruction, destroyed landscapes, thousands of dead and years that the state will take to restore damage.
Today we compiled a review of 10 significant earthquakes that humanity has experienced over the past and current century.
10. Messina earthquake (Sicily, Italy)
In Sicily, there was a historical earthquake of 7.5 points. This is far to the highest rate, but the death toll was unexpectedly huge. Of course, the residents themselves and the authorities of the region were blamed for the loss of life, who allegedly ignored the recommendations on the construction of residential premises.
Messina on the island was destroyed in just a few seconds. The tsunami reached 12 meters. The number of victims exceeded 100 thousand, while about 40 villages and small towns were completely destroyed. Doctors and sailors from Russia provided first aid and helped restore the damage, and a memorial plaque reminds of their contribution.
9. The Great Kanto Earthquake (Japan)
In the country in 1923, the most devastating earthquake in the history of the state occurred, the magnitude of which amounted to 8.3 points. At the epicenter was the small town of Kanto, located 90 meters from the capital. Strong shocks led to the destruction of a number of settlements, fires erupted in the settlements.
About 40 thousand people died from carbon monoxide suffocation and burns in the capital, and the total number of victims averaged 170 thousand. According to other sources, another half a million residents are missing. Within 2 days, more than 350 shocks were recorded. The villages washed away the tsunami waves, reaching a height of 15 meters.
8. Ashgabat earthquake (Turkmenistan, USSR)
In 1948, a seismic activity of 7.3 points was recorded in Turkmenistan, which led to significant damage to the capital and surrounding villages. The death toll in that period was 110 thousand. Eyewitnesses report that on the night before the disaster, strange light flashes were visible in the sky, and the dogs made a loud noise.
The first shock occurred late at night, and in just 10 seconds the city was literally bold from the face of the earth. Some people were saved by the fact that because of the heat, they spent the night on the roofs of houses. As a result of the disaster, the city was cut off from the outside world: the telephone connection was damaged, the electricity was cut off, the transport system froze. Ashgabat was able to rebuild normally only after 5 years and then with one-story rooms.
7. Tanshan Earthquake (China)
A deadly earthquake of 8.2 points claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people (according to various estimates, from 255 to 655 thousand people). The shocks began 150 km from the capital in Tanshan, but the destructive force reached the metropolis and launched a series of aftershocks that buried not only survivors, but also rescuers under the rubble. Villages and small towns were almost obliterated from the face of the earth, and the cracks in the earth resembled frames from the apocalypse.
On the eve of the event there were alarming signs: domestic animals and birds behaved atypically, rodents sought shelter, and the water level in the wells fluctuated noticeably for no objective reason. It took about 10 years to restore Tanshan after the disaster.
6. Spitak earthquake (Armenia, USSR)
The strength of the earthquake shocks in Spitak was 7.2, and in just 30 seconds the city was almost completely destroyed, including the nearby suburbs and villages. On that day, about 40% of the territory of Armenia was shaken, and the total number of victims was 150 thousand wounded and about 25 thousand killed. Half a million inhabitants of the country lost a roof over their heads after the disaster.
According to various versions, the "anger of the earth" was provoked by weapons tests or natural causes. The energy that came to the surface from a fracture of the earth's crust could be equated to the explosion of 10 atomic bombs.
5. Earthquake in Haiti (Haiti)
Just 9 years ago, on January 12, there was a terrible disaster on the island. The strength of the tremors was recorded at 7 points, which led to the complete destruction of the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. The number of victims on that ill-fated day was more than 220 thousand people. Over 800 people are missing.
After the first shocks, repeated ones appeared, while about 15 had a magnitude of 5 points. The catastrophe arose due to the movement of the earth's crust in the contact zone of the North American and Caribbean lithospheric plates. As a result of difficulties with transport communication, the survivors simply died from a shortage of food, fluid and qualified medical care.
4. Indonesia earthquake (Indonesia)
On New Year's Eve 15 years ago, tremors rose in the Indian Ocean. Magnitude was noted at a maximum mark of 9, 3 points, and in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka, huge waves rose to 30 meters in height, which carried everything in its path.
The element claimed the lives of about 300 thousand people, more than 1 million lost their homes, tens of thousands are missing. Tourists who went to celebrate the New Year holidays on the Indian coast, no longer returned home.
3. Earthquake in Bama (Iran)
In our review, this is one of the “weakest” earthquakes, because its strength was about 6.3 points. It happened in the ancient Iranian town of Bama. On the eve of the New Year 16 years ago, about 35 thousand people died, and the city was completely destroyed (about 90% of the premises).
The authorities responded promptly and turned to other states for help. 60 countries took part in the rescue operation, including Russia. The Iranian government made a wise decision not to rebuild the ruins of the ancient Bam, but to build a new one in its place.
2. Sichuan earthquake (China)
And again, China was not lucky with the elements - a powerful earthquake in the Sichuan region reached 7.9 points. Beijing and Shanghai, nearby countries (Mongolia, Thailand, India, and even Russia) also felt the tremors.
As a result, the number of wounded reached 350 thousand, 90 thousand were killed, and as many as 15 million were immediately evacuated! On the ill-fated day, the second push was overtaken, the magnitude of which amounted to 6 points. The total damage from the elements reached 86 billion dollars.
1. The Great East Japan Earthquake
Unlucky keen Honshu 8 years ago shook with powerful shocks with a force of 9 points on Richter. In half an hour, huge tsunamis overtook Japan and literally washed away about 16 thousand people.
2 thousand were missing that day, and 6 people were injured. A huge part of the island was left without electricity - the Fukushima power plant was practically out of order. Damage from the rampant elements ranged from 14 to 36.6 billion dollars.
No matter how far our technological progress has stepped, he still fails to cross nature through his mother. Strong tremors lead to terrible consequences, and even further provoke caving, tsunamis and even landslides in the mountains.