Most Destructive Known Earthquakes on Record in the World
| Location | Deaths |
| January 23, 1556 China, Shansi | 830,000 |
| October 11, 1737 India, Calcutta | 300,000 |
| August 9, 1138 Syria, Aleppo | 230,000 |
| May 22, 1927 China, near Xining | 200,000 |
| December 22, 856+ Iran, Damghan | 200,000 |
| December 16, 1920 China, Gansu | 200,000 |
| March 23, 893+ Iran, Ardabil | 150,000 |
| September 1, 1923 Japan, Kwanto | 143,000 |
| December 28, 1908 Italy, Messina | 70,000 |
| September, 1290 China, Chihli | 100,000 |
| November, 1667 Caucasia, Shemakha | 80,000 |
| November 18, 1727 Iran, Tabriz | 77,000 |
| November 1, 1755 Portugal, Lisbon | 70,000 |
| December 25, 1932 China, Gansu | 70,000 |
| May 31, 1970 Peru | 66,000 |
| 1268 Asia Minor, Silicia | 60,000 |
| January 11, 1693 Italy, Sicily | 60,000 |
| May 30, 1935 Pakistan, Quetta | 30,000 |
| February 4, 1783 Italy, Calabria | 50,000 |
| June 20, 1990 Iran | 50,000 |
(Source: The
1737 Calcutta Earthquake and Cyclone Evaluated by
Roger Bilham, BSSA, Vol. 84, No. 5, October 1994)
Data compiled from several sources.
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