Massive destruction in Taiwan: 7 worst earthquake-tsunami incidents that have occurred recently in the past years.

What happened in Taiwan?

One of the strongest earthquakes in 25 years hit Taiwan on April 3, 2024, measuring as high as 7.4 on the Richter scale. It triggered a landslide and a tsunami that washed ashore on the southern Yonaguni island of Japan. This has caused widespread chaos and destruction, with four dead and 50 injured.

 Earthquakes that have previously led to tsunamis

Historically, a lot of tsunamis have occurred due to earthquakes with an epicenter or fault line near or on the ocean floor. Usually, it takes an earthquake with a Richter magnitude exceeding 7.5 to produce a destructive tsunami. Here are some of the most destructive earthquakes and tsunamis that have occurred in the last few years.

 1. Iquique, Chile (2014)

A huge 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile on April 1, 2014, that triggered landslides and a tsunami. The earthquake had a depth of 12.5 miles, and the tsunami waves were more than 6 feet and washed ashore on the coast of Pisagua.

2. Lata, Solomon Islands (2013)

A big earthquake of 8.0 magnitude hit off the coast of the Pacific Oceans  Solomon Islands archipelago and caused a local tsunami, which led to the loss of life and property. 

3. Sumatra Earthquake (2012)

A submerged 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Indian Ocean close to Aceh, Indonesia. Strong intraplate shifts were induced by this earthquake, which grew to be the greatest strike-slip earthquake ever observed. This occurred far from inhabited areas, and the tsunami that occurred was not particularly severe; its waves ranged in height from 10 cm to 0.8 meters, or 3.9 inches to 31.4 inches.

4. Tōhoku Earthquake (2011)

 It was a huge underwater earthquake off the coast of Japan. This earthquake led to tsunami waves that went up to a height of 40.5 meters in total. It caused widespread structural destruction in north-eastern Japan.

5. Maule (Chile) Earthquake (2010)

This earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile and Pelluhue. The tremors were felt throughout 3 kilometers and caused destruction in several coastal towns in south-central Chile. The port at Talcahuano was also damaged by the tsunami triggered by the earthquake, leading to many casualties.

 6. Samoa Island and American Samoa (2009)

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Samoa resulted in a significant loss of life, with most of the victims falling into American Samoa and the Pacific island nation of Samoa. 

7. Island of Java, Indonesia (2006)

One of the worst incidents resulted in numerous fatalities, mass evictions, and material ruin. The tsunami that was caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake had its epicenter off the coast of West Java, Indonesia, claimed at least 668 lives.