From Chile to Russia’s Far East: A timeline of most powerful quakes in history

A local resident affected by the tsunami stands next to debris in Carita beach in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, December 24, 2018.

| Photo Credit: Reuters

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil’s Amazon about 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) away. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón. The quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.

In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures of homes and buildings damaged, injures or fatalities.

Here’s a look at some of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, based on data from the US Geological Survey as of June 5, 2025.

Published - July 30, 2025 02:36 pm IST