The 10 Most Destructive Earthquakes in Human History

5) Northridge, California: 1994

This intense earthquake charted at around 6.7 on the Richter scale on January 17th, 1994. Very strong aftershocks measuring up to a 6 were felt hours later. Only 60 people died, but more than 9,000 were injured. All in all the quake cause between $25-$50 billion dollars of damage as many roads and bridges were utterly destroyed throughout the San Fernando Valley.

4) San Francisco, California: 1906

Foreshocks heralded the San Andreas fault earthquake which would devastate the city and cause widespread fire and destruction in the early morning hours of April 18th, 1906. The earthquake destroyed about 500 city blocks and resulted in 3,000 deaths. 400,000 of the city’s residents were left homeless and everyone had to do do their cooking in the street as the widespread fires that occurred directly after the earthquake could not be risked after such a huge loss of life and property.

The shaking only lasted for about a minute, but the earthquake was felt all the way in Nevada. Analysis of the geological events of that day led to more modern earthquake study, which is one of the few silver linings of this natural disaster.