When and where was the most destructive earthquake known to man?

freddy_krueger

If you mean by the number of people killed.... Near East/Mediterranean on 20 May 1202 - 1,100,000 were killed. Oct 14 03, 2:33 PM

JaneofGaunt

Santorini-Thira...15th century B.C.?? Oct 14 03, 2:54 PM

TheBoyPipe

There have been earthquakes measuring 8.6 in Assam (India, 1950), Gansu (China, 1920) and Colombia (1906). That's according to my guinness book of answers anyway. I imagine it would be difficult to compare ancient earthquakes in terms of actual magnitude. Oct 14 03, 5:41 PM

TheBoyPipe

OK, assuming you're lying about your planet of birth, the largest accurately recorded earthquake on earth was the 1960 Chile quake according to http://www.extremescience.com/GreatestEarthquake.htm, but I was going to say the 1964 Alaska quake and hope you were American. Oct 14 03, 7:06 PM

JaneofGaunt

Glenmorangie - 86 proof! No googling - just re-reading Mary Renault's "The King Must Die" and thought about Santorini's reshaping by earthquake way back yonder. Oct 15 03, 12:27 AM