In addition to the monster quakes in December 2004, below in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top) are some of the noteworthy earthquake events to shake the Earth since the quake in Turkey in August, 1999. 2001 was a quiet year, 2002 was a little rougher although the largest quake didn't kill anyone or cause extensive damage and 2003 was culminated with the Bam quake. And then along came 2004.
USGS compilation of BIG quakes: 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999
Fri. Dec. 26, 2003
brought with it a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in south-eastern Iran which resulted in at least 30,000 deaths. Follow this link for a few more details and links to other resources on this killer earthquake.
Hokkaido, Japan
On Sept 25th, 2003, the largest earthquake of 2003 took place just offshore Japan. It generated a small, localized tsunami, did extensive damage on land, but surprisingly caused no deaths despite Japan's very dense population.This magnitude 8.3 quake was located about 100 kilometers offshore and was the same type of thrust fault that caused the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in December 2004.
Coastal Mexico, Jan. 2003
Two years ago (January 22, 2003) there was a magnitude 7.6 quake on the SW coast of Mexico.
Alaska, Nov. 2002
Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3, 2002 brought with it a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in south-central Alaska which resulted in a few disrupted highways, rock and snow avalanches and shattered lake ice. The lack of casualties and significant damage are directly related to sparse human habitation in the area of the epicenter. The Alaskan Oil Pipeline runs directly across the fault near its maximum offset (more than 20 feet) and survived unbroken due to design features including zig-zags in the pipe to accomodate movement and having the pipeline ride on rails where it crosses the major faults. Start with this link to access many pictures and details about this huge quake.
Let's not Forget Iran
Western Iran was rocked by a magnitude 6.5 quake on June 22, 2002. Several hundred residents of the region were killed. If you are interested, follow the link below.
Afghanistan: As if the Conflict Isn't Enough - A Couple Quakes
The Hindu Kush region in NE Afghanistan was rocked on March 3, 2002 by a moderate depth (250 km) magnitude 7.4 earthquake which killed about 150 people. This is a seismically active area related to the continued northward movement of the Indian subcontinent into Eurasia. Three weeks later a smaller (6.1) shallower (8 km) and much deadlier quake (>1000 people dead) occurred NW of the March 3 quake.
Arequipa Peru dodges disaster by 8.4 quake
A major earthquake occurred near the coast of southern Peru, about 110 miles (175 km) west of Arequipa or about 370 miles (595 km) southeast of Lima at 4:33 PM EDT on Jun 23, 2001. Original reports had the quake just offshore although the USGS page locates the epicenter just inland. Perhaps the shallow nature of the quake accounts for the relatively minor loss of life and property damage.
Seattle Rattled by 6.8 quake
On the moning of Feb 28, 2001, Seattle, Tacoma and the rest of western Washington and northwestern Oregon were shaken by a multi-billion dollar quake that injured several dozen people and is blamed in the death of one. The quake occurred at a depth of roughly 50 km and was caused by minor faulting in the subducting slab of the Juan de Fuca plate. This subduction is also the cause of the volcanic activity that blew the top off Mt. St. Helen in 1980 and that may cause Mt. Ranier to erupt again sometime in the future.
Here is a link from the University of Washington
Earthquake Bulletin from the USGS
Western India rocked by 7.7 quake
Here are some links to reports on the devastating quake that struck India during Jan 2001.
USGS Special Report - very short but a bunch of links.
Link to subregional map with plate boundaries and short geological explanation.
Rough Weekend in El Salvador
Saturday
morning, Jan. 13, 2001 brought with it a
magnitude 7.7 earthquake off the coast of El Salvador which resulted
in more than 800 dead and nearly 5000 injured. The quake was felt from
Mexico City to Columbia.
The major slide that devastated part of Santa Tecla on the outskirts of San Salvador, El Salvador following the January 2001 earthquake. (La Prensa Grafica via AP)
1, 2, 3 Strikes and Still Not Out!
On November 16 and 17, 2000 three major quakes sloshed through the New Ireland and New Britain areas of Papua New Guinea in the SW Pacific. The quakes measured 8.1, 7.7, and 8.0 on the Richter Scale and did remarkably little damage considering their 'Great Quake' classification. Relatively minor tsunamis (incorrectly called 'tidal waves') were generated and caused some property damage on the islands. These waves had nowhere near the impact of the tsunami caused by a quake and underwater landslide that killed more than 3,500 people on the north shore of New Guinea in 1997.
Click here for the official USGS Earthquake Bulletin for these quakes (you will need to scroll to the bottom of the window to link to the data sheets).
Somewhere off the coast of Sumatra
At least 100 people were killed by a magnitude 8.0 quake off the south coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on June 4, 2000. The quake was felt more than 600 km away in Jakarta and Singapore. This was one of the strongest quakes in recent years in this region.
Click here for the official USGS Earthquake Bulletin for this quake (in a new window). This will also take you to a short historical review of large quakes in this area.
California desert dreamin' disturbed
At 2:47 AM (PDT) on October 16, 1999, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred in a remote area of the Mojave Desert. The now named 'Hector Mine' quake produced a 40 km long surface rupture with apparent maximum offsets of up to 5 meters. Damage was minimal since the quake occurred in the desert - an Amtrak train was derailed due to offset tracks.
Click here to see a map of seismic activity in this part of the Mojave.
Click here for the official USGS Earthquake Bulletin for this quake (in a new window).
Mexico City shaken by 7.5 earthquake
Posted 30 Sep 1999. The quake was the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico since 1985
when two massive quakes (8.1 and 7.3 respectively) killed as many as 10,000
people.
The five confirmed fatalities all occurred in Oaxaca, near the quake's
epicenter.
Click
here for the official USGS Earthquake Bulletin for this quake (in
a new window).
Five people were killed when a powerful 7.5 earthquake
rocked Mexico City just before noon on Sept. 30. The quake's epicenter was
located in Oaxaca, a city some 440 kilometers southeast of Mexico City and
60 kilometers north-northwest of Puerto Angel.
Taiwan battered by huge quake
Posted 22 Sep 1999. The earthquake occurred at 2 a.m. local time, when most people were
sleeping. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, it was much larger than
the magnitude 7.3 quake which killed more than 17,000 people in Turkey
in August, 1999.
The initial shaking destroyed buildings, cut off power and set fires
all around Taipei, Taiwan's capital city. Nearly 1,000 aftershocks followed
the initial tremor, leaving residents to spend the night outside for fear
of further collapses.
The bulk of the damage was reported in central Taiwan, near the epicenter,
which was roughly 90 miles south of Taipei.
Click
here for the official USGS Earthquake Bulletin for this quake (in
a new window).
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The most powerful earthquake known to hit Taiwan rocked the island
Sept. 20. Current reports suggest that more than 2,400 people are dead,
2,650 are buried in debris of collapsing buildings, and more than 8,700
are injured. Damage estimated at US$14 billion.
