With rescue operations and global aid efforts underway in Myanmar and Thailand, here's a look back at some of the worst earthquakes to strike in recent times.
myanmar earthquake 2025
Myanmar was struck by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday, which tremors felt across India and Thailand.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Myanmar on Friday. The shallow earthquake was accompanied by aftershocks, which caused buildings to collapse in Bangkok, Thailand. Tremors were also felt in parts of India.
On the Richter scale, earthquakes above 7 magnitude are considered major earthquakes. Over 1,600 people have been declared dead due to the damage caused by Friday's earthquake.
With rescue operations and global aid efforts underway in Myanmar and Thailand, here's a look back at some of the worst earthquakes to strike in recent times.
READ | Myanmar Earthquake: Over 1,600 Dead In Burma, 17 In Bangkok; Global Aid Effort Underway
Worst Earthquakes In Recent History
Indian Ocean Earthquake - 2012
On April 12, 2012, an 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Indian Ocean, near Indonesia. The ripples of this earthquake were felt across the islands of Sumatra and Java, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
However, after this 8.6 magnitude earthquake was followed by another of 8.2 magnitude, with aftershocks ranging from 5 to 6 magnitude. A total of 10 people died due to the damage caused, and 12 were injured.
Japan Earthquake - 2011
In March 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 9.1 struck Japan, causing widespread destruction. The massive earthquake also triggered a tsunami which hit within 30 minutes of the earthquake.
The 2011 earthquake was one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded in Japan and the fourth most powerful in the world since 1900.
The tsunami also disabled three nuclear reactors, causing a nuclear disaster in the country.
Nearly 20,000 people were killed due to the disaster. Around 6,000 people were injured, and over 2,500 people remained missing.
Nepal Earthquake - 2015
In April 2015, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck Nepal. This earthquake was also felt in neighbouring countries of India, China and Bangladesh.
The 7.8 magnitude jolt also triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 22 people. The April earthquake was followed by aftershocks ranging from 6.6 to 6.9 magnitude.
On May 12, 2015, another earthquake struck Nepal, near its border with China. As it occurred along the same fault line as the jolt in April, this earthquake was considered one of the aftershocks.
As of May 2016, a total of 459 aftershocks struck the landlocked country above 4 on the Richter Scale. Meanwhile, around 20,000 aftershocks were recorded below 4 magnitude.
This earthquake was the worst natural disaster to hit Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-India earthquake. A total of 8,962 people were killed, and 21,952 were injured across the countries of Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh.
Haiti Earthquake - 2021
In August 2021, Haiti was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2. This earthquake was recorded as one of the deadliest natural disasters and earthquakes of 2021.
This was also the worst disaster to strike the Caribbean nation since the 2010 earthquake. At least 2,248 people were confirmed dead as of September 2021, and over 12,200 were injured.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Earthquake - 2022
In 2022, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan and was recorded as having a "violent" intensity.
As per Bakhtar News Agency, at least 1,150 people were killed due to the earthquakes and the damage caused by them. However, as per the United Nations, a total of 1,039 people were killed and 2,949 were left injured due to the earthquake.
In Pakistan, 10 people died and 25 were injured after the earthquake triggered a landslide in the North Waziristan District of the country.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake 2023
In February 2023, both Turkey and Syria were hit by a severe 7.8 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake was followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor in Turkey.
The tremor left over 50,000 dead and was one of the worst and biggest earthquakes Turkey has seen in nearly a century.
In Turkey, around 53,537 people were killed and 107,213 were injured. Meanwhile, in Syria, the death toll was recorded to be between 5,000 to 8,000 people, and 14,500 people were injured.
Taiwan Earthquake 2024
In April 2024, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Hualien city in Taiwan. This earthquake was followed by three aftershocks above 6 magnitude and was the worst disaster Taiwan had witnessed since the 1999 Jiji earthquake.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings for the island and triggered landslides as well. Around 19 people were killed due to the tremors, and over 1,100 were injured.