Top 8 The Most Biggest/Deadliest Earthquake In United States

The United States is a large country, much of which lies in active tectonic regions. This makes them prone to shocks, earthquakes, and all the natural disasters that come with them. Hundreds of earthquakes have occurred in the United States throughout human history.

Although many of them were of low magnitude and minor impact, there were several large earthquakes in many parts of the country. Here are some of the biggest earthquakes in the United States, based on magnitude and impact on human life.

TOP 8 BIGGEST EARTHQUAKE IN UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

• Alaska (1964)
• Cascadia earthquake (1700)
• Alaska (1965)
• San Francisco, California (1906)
• Charleston, South Carolina (1886)
• 6.Loma Prieta, California (1989)
• 7.Northridge, California (1994)
• 8.Long Beach, California (1933)

1. Alaska (1964)

Magnitude: 9.2

The Good Friday earthquake, or more commonly known as the Great Alaska Earthquake, is considered one of the strongest earthquakes ever to hit the North American continent. Judging by the magnitude, this quake is her second largest ever recorded in the world. It happened on Good Friday, March 27, 1964.

The magnitude 9.2 quake lasted just under 5 minutes (4 minutes 38 seconds). It caused a tsunami, causing huge cracks in the ground and destroying several buildings.

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131 people died in the earthquake. Property damage from the earthquake is estimated at $116 million (current estimates are around $75 billion).

Original Valdez town sign in Alaska. After the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, the city was rebuilt and relocated.

This sign marks Valdez's hometown in Alaska. After the Good Friday earthquake, the city was rebuilt and moved.

2.Cascadia earthquake (1700)

Magnitude: 8.2 to 9.2

The Cascadia quake affected areas that are now part of Washington, Oregon, and California.

It took place in the Cascadia subduction zone on January 26, 1700, hence the name. The exact magnitude is unknown, but is estimated to be somewhere between 8.2 and 9.2.

One of the main imprints left by the earthquake was a fault line 620 miles long. A tsunami also occurred in the waters near Japan, causing enormous damage. It is difficult to calculate the exact amount of property damage and deaths caused by this earthquake, as it happened so long ago.

3.Alaska (1965)

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Magnitude: 8.7

Almost a year after the Great Alaska Earthquake, on February 4, 1965, another great earthquake struck Alaska. This time a magnitude 8.7 earthquake hit Rat Island in Alaska. The quake also triggered a 32-foot tsunami that hit Shemya Island. The epicenter of the earthquake was the region between the Pacific and North American plates.

The earthquake affected not only North America, but also Japan, Ecuador, Mexico, and Russia. Luckily, it was a remote location, so there was no major damage. The tsunami caused $10,000 in property damage. Earthquake usually be the most deadliest accident usually happen.

4. San Francisco, California (1906)

Magnitude: 7.8

The April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake, while not the largest in the United States, is often considered the most devastating in the United States in terms of casualties and damage.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred along the San Andreas Fault and spanned about 300 miles. 1906 San Francisco earthquake

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake ruptured gas pipelines, started fires, and destroyed about 25,000 buildings.

The quake lasted less than a minute, but the effects were felt as far as the interior of Nevada. According to the most conservative casualty estimates, 700 people died that day. Still, by some estimates, the toll he could reach 3,000.

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The earthquake caused fires and destroyed up to 80% of the city. Property damage from the quake reached him $400 billion in today's money.

5. Charleston, South Carolina (1886)

Magnitude: 7.7

When the Charleston earthquake struck on August 31, 1886, geologists did not have the proper tools to measure seismic activity. However, some estimates put the magnitude of the quake at about 7.7, making it one of the most powerful quakes ever in the United States. Despite being an active tectonic zone, there were almost no earthquakes before or after this earthquake. The tremor lasted for about a minute and caused severe damage to the city of South Carolina. About 60 people died in the earthquake. It is now estimated that more than 2,000 buildings will be destroyed and $166 million in property damage in the Southeastern United States in 2021.

6.Loma Prieta, California (1989)

Magnitude: 6.9

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits Nisene Marks State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was the first earthquake associated with the San Andreas fault in nearly 70 years since the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The main areas affected by the aftershocks were the San Francisco and Oakland areas.

In addition to the casualties and property damage, the earthquake became so famous because it occurred during a World Series game in San Francisco that it became one of the first earthquakes to be televised live.

The quake killed at least 63 people and injured more than 4,000.One of the main causes of property damage caused by the earthquake was a broken underground water pipe that caused the ground to liquefy. . Several buildings, highways and bridges were destroyed because of this. The World Series was on at the time, so the fact that there were very few people on the roads greatly reduced the death toll from the earthquake.

7.Northridge, California (1994)

Magnitude: 6.7

An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 occurred on January 17, 1994. The affected area was on a fault line that had not been identified before the earthquake. The impact lasted only a few seconds, but covered a large area. The effects of the earthquake were also felt in San Diego and Las Vegas. At least 57 people were killed and more than 9,000 injured that day.

The earthquake damaged or completely destroyed over 82,000 residential and commercial buildings. The earthquake was one of the deadliest in the country, leaving at least 125,000 people temporarily homeless. Property damage from the earthquake is estimated at over $20 billion. Garage damage in Northridge, California, 1994

The San Francisco Northridge earthquake caused about $20 billion in damage.

8.Long Beach, California (1933)

Magnitude: 6.4

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit a densely populated area of ??Long Beach. The actual earthquake occurred on the Newport Inglewood Fault off the southeast coast of Long Beach. But the effects of the quake were felt along the Southern California coast. About 120 people died in the earthquake and many were injured.

According to the latest data, property damage was estimated at approximately $837 million. Experts say the death toll could be higher given that there were more than 120 schools in the area affected by the aftershocks. The only saving grace is that it happened while schools were closed, which greatly reduced the impact.

Conclusion

This list includes some of the most powerful quakes in the United States, but it's important to note that many quakes can be greater in magnitude than these. For example, the magnitude of the 1957 Andreyanovsky Islands earthquake was 8.6. However, there were no casualties. There have been many other big earthquakes in the United States, but they were so far away that they didn't do much damage.