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Tangshan, China (1976) - This 8.2 magnitude, 2.2 gigaton earthquake only lasted 10 seconds but caused an immense amount of damage. Around 225,000 people lost their lives in the disaster.

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Valdivia, Chile (1960) - The 1960 earthquake in Valdivia reached 9.5 on the Richter scale and left more than 6,000 people dead, as well as causing thousands of dollars in damage.

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Shaanxi, China (1556) - With a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale, this earthquake killed 830,000 people.

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Sumatra, Indonesia (2004) - This earthquake hit the Indian Ocean and registered a magnitude of 9.3 on the Richter scale. The quake generated a massive tsunami, which caused a devastating wave of destruction that left more than 225,000 people dead.

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Aleppo, Syria (1138) - This quake reached 8.5 on the Richter scale and was one of the worst disasters of the era. More than 230,000 people are thought to have died.

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Haiyuan County, China (1920) - This earthquake struck on December 16, 1920, in China's Ningxia Province, with a magnitude of between 7.8 and 8.5 on the Richter scale. According to reports, between 200,000 and 240,000 people died.

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Port-au-Prince, Haiti (2010) - This earthquake hit 7 on the Richter scale. The disaster had catastrophic consequences, leaving 316,000 people dead, 300,000 wounded, and one million people homeless.

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Xining, China (1927) - The city of Xining suffered a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on May 22, 1927. At least 40,000 people died, though according to some reports the number was higher.

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Damghan, Iran (856) -

This devastating earthquake hit on December 22, 856 CE, killing 200,000 people and sending shock waves that could be felt in neighboring cities.

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Tohoku, Japan (2011) - Considered one of the five most destructive earthquakes of all time, it was responsible for 15,878 deaths and left 6,126 wounded and 2,173 missing. After the earthquake, an enormous tsunami hit the Japanese coast.

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Kanto, Japan (1923) - This is the deadliest earthquake in Japan's history. With a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale, it killed 93,000 people and left 44,000 missing.

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Ashgabat, Soviet Union (1948) - At 7.3 on the Richter scale, this earthquake caused 110 fatalities and a huge wave of destruction.

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Messina, Italy (1908) - This 7.1-magnitude quake was accompanied by a tsunami, which killed 200,000 people in the south of Italy.

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Chihli, China (1290) - Researchers estimate that this earthquake in China had a magnitude of around 9 on the Richter scale and resulted in the death of around 100,000 people.

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Sichuan, China (2008) - This huge earthquake in Sichuan happened on May 8, 2008, and measured 8 on the Richter scale. The quake caused the death of more than 80,000 people, and resulted in more than US$146.5 billion in damage.

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Kashmir, Pakistan (2005) - With a magnitude of 7.6, this disaster in Pakistan resulted in an estimated 85,000 deaths and left more than 69,000 people wounded.

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Shamakhi, Azerbaijan (1667) -

Studies have estimated the earthquake to have had a magnitude of 6.9 and caused the deaths of more than 80,000 people.

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Tabriz, Iran (1721) - Destroying mosques and schools, this earthquake in Iran killed more than 80,000 people and practically leveled the entire city.

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Lisbon, Portugal (1755) - Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was between 8.5 and 9 on the Richter scale. The ensuing chaos caused a deadly combination of fires and a tsunami that killed more than 100,000 people.

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Yungay, Peru (1970) - This 8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was the worst natural disaster to ever hit Peru, affecting three million people and causing 75,000 deaths. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Sicily, Italy (1693) - Considered the most devastating earthquake in Italian history, it registered at a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale. It destroyed 70 cities, killing 60,000 people in southern Italy.

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Rudbar, Iran (1990) - This quake destroyed 700 villages in the north of Iran and cost US$200 million in damage, killing 40,000 people and injuring 60,000, as well as leaving 500,000 people homeless.

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Izmit, Turkey (1999) - This 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit northern Turkey and lasted just 3.7 seconds. The quake caused the deaths of 17,000 people and left 44,000 wounded.

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Kathmandu, Nepal (2015) -

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, affecting a region between the capital of Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara. The devastation caused the deaths of 5,000 people and left 10,000 wounded.

See also: Deadliest avalanches in history

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