10 countries most prone to earthquakes

10 countries most prone to earthquakes


Earthquake is trembling and shaking of the earth’s surface that has bought immense devastation to human lives and property. It has indeed ruined the lives of millions of people all over the world and has rendered thousands homeless. Every year several parts of the globe are affected by earthquakes. Moreover, earthquake is also a major cause of tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in several areas causing further damage.

Usually, the entire world is divided into various seismic zones on the basis of intensity or magnitude of earthquakes and tectonic plates. Since there’s no monitoring device to predict earthquake beforehand, it is very important that we are well prepared in the event of any natural calamity. Thus, it becomes essential to know more about the most earthquakes prone countries in the world. Here’s a list of 10 most earthquakes vulnerable countries in the world:

10. Indonesia

indonesia

 

Jakarta or commonly known as Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and other natural disasters. Earthquakes have caused immense damages to the buildings, property as well as human lives in the past years. Volcanic eruptions are also common in this country. Last year, an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 Richter scale hit the Northern Sumatra causing hundreds casualties and 35 fatal deaths.

9. Turkey

turkey

Turkey falls within the seismic zone between Eurasian plates, African and Arabian plates. Majority part of the country lies on the Anatolian plate. That’s why earthquake can hit any part of the country anytime. Several earthquakes of Richter scale ranging between 6-7.2 have hit several states of Turkey in the past. Due to its extreme vulnerability to earthquakes, it is often reported that the country witnesses earthquake of mild magnitude every day.

8. Mexico

mexico

Mexico has faced several earthquakes in the past and the magnitude of devastation has been exemplified due to the badly designed structures of buildings, houses etc. Consequently, several thousand people had lost their lives due to earthquakes. Mexico primarily falls in one of the most seismically active area on the surface of the earth as it is situated atop three seismic plates namely, North American plate, Cocos plate and Pacific plate. The incidences of volcanic eruptions are also high due to the movement of tectonic plates. An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale hit the nation in 2014 causing several casualties in the city of Guerrero.

7. El Salvador

el salvador

El Salvador is prone to earthquakes and other natural calamities. They have caused several casualties and ruined property as well. Moreover, the magnitude of earthquakes recorded in the past has been extremely high on the Richter scale.

6. Pakistan

pakistan

Pakistan is another earthquake affected country in the world. Pakistan is geologically situated atop the tectonic plates, namely Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. While Sindh and Punjab provinces lie on the edge of Indian plate, Baluchistan lies within the Eurasian plate. The country has been a victim of several deadly earthquakes measuring as high as 7.8 on the Richter scale. It has been reported that thousands of people were rendered homeless and several people were injured.

5. Philippines

philippines

Philippines is a densely populated island that primarily lies on the edge of the Pacific plate, popularly known as Pacific “Ring of fire”. Ring of fire is traditionally a seismic hot zone that encircles the country. Earthquakes measuring high on the Richter scale have caused deadly volcanic eruptions in the past too. The number of deaths and injuries have been reported to be extremely high.

4. Ecuador

ecuador

 

Ecuador is a land of several active volcanoes and thus their presence makes it an extremely dangerous place to be in the event of high- magnitude tremors and quakes. Ecuador lies within the seismic zone between Nazca plate and South American plate. The main active faults of the country run parallel to the Andes such as the Pallatanga and Chingual faults and others are north-south trending reverse faults such as the Quito fault.

3. India

india

India has a history of several deadly earthquakes. However, the major reason for the high frequency and intensity of the earthquakes has been the Indian plate moving at the rate of 47 mm/year.  Due to the movement of tectonic plates, India has suffered immense damages due to Tsunami in the southern states. Moreover, the effect of the damages has been multiplied manifold due to poor structural design, lack of preparedness and awareness among the civilians. Primarily India has been divided into five zones on the basis of intensity of the quakes and peak ground accelerations. The most affected areas including Kashmir, Himalayas and Rann of Kutch fall in the zone 5.

2. Nepal

nepal

Nepal is a seismically active area and thus according to estimates a citizen in Nepal is two times more likely to be killed in an earthquake than any other civilian in the world. Quakes measuring as high as 8 on the Richter scale had hit the country in the past. One such great disaster to strike Nepal was in 1934 measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale.

1. Japan

japan

 

Japan has a long history of disastrous earthquakes. It is primarily situated on the Pacific “Ring of fire”. As a result of the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate beneath the Amurian plate and Okinawa plate, Japan has been a victim of several high intensity tremors. One such deadliest earthquake shook the country on 11 March 2011 which also proved to be the costliest natural calamity for the state. Consequently, the Fukushima nuclear accident following the tsunami had attracted worldwide concerns.

 

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  • Jеrrу Thоmрsоn

    I have fantasies about handcuffing the president to his desk and throat-füçkîñg the Indonesian båstárd in the oval office.

  • Hernan Saiva

    Chile has the 1st and 6th largest earthquakes since 1900 (9.5/ 8.8 Mw). Plus, two of the largest earthquakes in the past 5 years. The tremors are pretty frequent here.

  • Chloé Jacomet

    The most seismic country in the world is Chile. This is uncompleted and not reliable information if you missed something as important as that. You just have to check the top 10 most largest earthquakes and you’d noticed.

  • Roberto Uzcategui

    This list without Chile on the top 3 is completely nonsense.

    • Aarón

      Mmmm maybe because you’ve been lied all this time? The first in the workd is Japan, chile is probably 11 or 12 on the list (im a geophysical technician)

      • Andrew

        Better look for another job.

      • Zoe Orive

        The world’s largest earthquake with an instrumentally documented magnitude occurred on May 22, 1960 near Valdivia, in southern Chile. It was assigned a magnitude of 9.5 by the United States Geological Survey. It is referred to as the “Great Chilean Earthquake” and the “1960 Valdivia Earthquake.”

      • James

        Maybe you should study more. Chile is the most seismic country in the world. The largest recorded earthquake was in Chile, and also has several other earthquakes among the most powerful in the world. I lived there for a semester, and often suffer from earthquakes. In fact their standards of construction along with Japan, are the most strict of the world.

  • BLANKKK_

    Where the hell is Chile and New Zealand?

    Chile has a (quite) recent devastating earthquake. And the strongest earthquake ever recorded was off the coast of Chile. Santiago in the future might never look the same again.

    New Zealand is a country which Earthquakes occur regularly (even 4-5 Magnitude Earthquakes) which can pose a big threat, especially to major cities like Auckland or Wellington, and that happend already with Christchurch, two times in a period of less than 5 months.

  • AMG

    In number 10, it says “fatal deaths”. Great english there

  • Athanasios Kakafikas

    What about Greece?