The devastating quake that hit Syria and Turkey on February 6 is the fifth worst of the 20th century.
The ten deadliest earthquakes since 2000 are listed here in order of death toll:
2004: Southeast Asia, 230,000 fatalities
A devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Sumatra on December 26 sparked a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in the area, including 170,000 in Indonesia.
Everything in their way was devoured by waves that were 30 meters (100 feet) high and moving at 700 kilometers per hour (435 miles per hour).
2008: Sichuan, 87,000 fatalities
A 7.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked southwest Sichuan province on May 12 left more over 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 students.
When it became known that 7,000 schools were seriously damaged, there was fury. This led to charges of poor building practices, cutting corners, and even probable corruption—especially given how many other neighboring structures stayed solid.
2010: Haiti, 200,000 dead
On January 12, a magnitude 7 earthquake wreaked havoc on Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area.
Over 200,000 people were killed, 1.5 million people were left homeless, and most of Haiti’s fragile infrastructure was destroyed. The earthquake cut the country off from the rest of the world for 24 hours.
The same year, in October, Nepalese peacekeepers who had arrived following the earthquake also brought cholera to Haiti. More than 10,000 people died as a result.
2005: Kashmir, 73,000 killed
More than 73,000 people died in an earthquake on October 8, the majority of them in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province and the region of Kashmir that is under Pakistani administration.
Another 3.5 million people were relocated.
35,000 dead in 2023 in Turkey and Syria
On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that was close to the Syrian border occurred near the Turkish city of Gaziantep.
Entire neighborhoods of cities in southeastern Turkey and the north of war-torn Syria were crushed to rubble by the largest earthquake to strike Turkey in almost a century, which was followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor.
On February 13, the toll hits 35,224.
Java, 2006: 6,000 fatalities
Around 6,000 people were killed on May 26 by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that shook the southern shore of the Indonesian island of Java, close to the city of Yogyakarta.
Around 157,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 420,000 people were left homeless.
2015: 9,000 fatalities in Nepal
The Himalayan nation of Nepal saw avalanches and landslides on April 25 as a result of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that also wrecked schools and hospitals.
Nearly 9,000 individuals are killed by the earthquake, and millions are left homeless. More than a hundred structures are also reduced to ruins, including ancient temples and royal palaces in the Kathmandu valley.
2011, Japan: 18,500 fatalities
On March 11, a powerful 9.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, releasing a massive tsunami.
Communities along the northeastern coast are destroyed by a wall of water traveling at the speed of a jet plane, leaving over 18,500 people dead or missing.
Tens of thousands of people are displaced as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant’s subsequent meltdown, which blankets the surrounding area in radiation and makes some towns uninhabitable for years.
2001: 20,000 fatalities in India
More than 20,000 people were killed on January 26 when a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Gujarat, a state in western India.
Buildings were destroyed throughout the state by the earthquake, and the town of Bhuj, which lies close to the Pakistani border, saw numerous fatalities.
2003: Bam, 31,000 dead (Iran)
At least 31,000 people were killed when a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Iran on December 26 and completely devastated the historic mud-brick city of Bam.
The desert fortress, previously regarded as the largest adobe construction in the world, collapsed, and about 80% of Bam’s infrastructure was destroyed.
