In recent years, several earthquakes have devastated different parts of the globe. Earthquakes are caused by sudden movement along tectonic plates within the surface of earth. These movements release energy in the form of seismic waves that cause the earth's surface to shake. These geological events disrupt lives and economies, standing as stark reminders of the need for earthquake preparedness. Let's take a look at the top earthquake-prone countries across the world and understand their vulnerabilities.

The World's 10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries

Japan

Japan occupies a precarious position in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc characterized by fault lines and volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean basin. This is the convergence of four tectonic plates: the Pacific, Philippine, Okhotsk, and Eurasian.

The primary reason behind Japan's seismic vulnerability is the collision and subduction of these tectonic slabs. The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate, creating deep ocean trenches and mountain ranges.

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The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggered a devastating tsunami, claiming around 19,759 lives. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, measuring magnitude 7, caused about 273 fatalities.

Turkey

Turkey straddles the Anatolian Plate, which shares borders with two significant fault lines – the North Anatolian and the East Anatolian Faults. This intricate geological setting places Turkey at a crossroads of tectonic plate interactions.

The complex interactions between the Eurasian, African, and Arabian plates in this region generate substantial geological stress. This tension makes it highly susceptible to seismic activity.

The most recent earthquake in February 2023, with a magnitude of 7.8, claimed the lives of 59,259 people. Additionally, the 2020 Aegean Sea earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.0, took about 119 human lives.

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Iran

This Middle Eastern country is situated at the convergence of three major lithospheric plates – the Arabian, Indian, and Eurasian plates. These plates meet at various points across Iran, contributing to the country's complex seismic landscape.

The resultant tectonic forces and stresses in the earth's crust beneath Iran generate frequent seismic events. Notably, Iran is also prone to "intraplate earthquakes," occurring far from plate boundaries due to accumulated stress.

The 2017 Iran-Iraq earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.3, claimed 630 human-lives. Furthermore, the 2003 Bam earthquake, with a level of 6.6, resulted in the tragic deaths of 34 thousand people.

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China

China's extensive territory spans multiple tectonic plate boundaries, including the Eurasian, Philippine, and Indian Ocean plates.

The constant meeting and movement of these plates generate significant geophysical stress. Additionally, China's rugged mountainous terrain can trigger landslides and further contribute to seismic events in nearby regions.

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, was a catastrophic disaster that caused a death toll of 87,587 people. In 2010, the Yushu earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9, resulted in the loss of 2,698 human lives.

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The Philippines

The Philippines occupies a critical position within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate converges with several other tectonic slabs. This location exposes the country to a heightened risk of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.

The region under consideration is marked by the convergence of the Eurasian, Philippine Sea, and Indo-Australian tectonic plates. This is scientifically identified as the Philippine Mobile Belt or the Taiwan-Luzon-Mindoro Mobile Belt. This tectonic zone envelops the entirety of the Philippine Islands and extends southward to encompass the Molucca Sea and eastern Indonesia.

The 2022 Luzon earthquake, with a level of 7.0, resulted in significant damage valued at 1.88 billion Philippine pesos (more than BDT 362 million) [1 Philippine peso = BDT 1.93]. In 2013, the Central Visayas provinces were struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, taking the lives of 222 people.

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Indonesia

Indonesia occupies a unique position, situated within the boundaries of three major tectonic plates – the Indian-Australian, Eurasian, and Pacific plates.

The location of this country is directly exposed to the Ring of Fire. The interaction between these plates, combined with Indonesia's complex geosphere, contributes to its status as one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions.

The 2018 Palu earthquake, measuring 7.5 in magnitude, triggered a devastating tsunami and resulted in the destruction of 4,340 human-lives, displacing half of Palu's population. Furthermore, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, with a magnitude ranging from 9.1 to 9.3, caused a staggering 227,898 fatalities.

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Italy

Italy's seismology is linked to the tectonic boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. Its complex territory comprises mountain ranges, inactive volcanoes, and coastal plains.Italy is positioned above multiple fault lines, including the Eurasian Plate, surrounded by the Aegean Sea Plate, the Adriatic Plate, and the Anatolian Plate. The interactions between these plates generate geological stress that periodically culminates in earthquakes.

Among the most devastating earthquakes, the Messina earthquake of 1908, with a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale, caused around 200,000 fatalities. Additionally, the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9, resulted in the loss of 4,900 human-lives.

Read more: Landslide Safety, Preparedness Tips: Dos and Don'ts

Pakistan

Pakistan's terrain is shaped by its overlap between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces lie on the southern edge of the Eurasian Plate on the Iranian Plateau. In contrast, Sindh, Punjab, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir provinces are situated on the north-western edge of the Indian Plate in South Asia.

The Indian and Eurasian lithospheric plates slide alongside one another along the Chaman Fault, setting off devastating tremors.

The 2005 Azad Kashmir and Balakot earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.6, left a devastating death toll of 87,351. In 2013, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Awaran, Balochistan, claiming 825 human lives.

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Peru

Peru’s location is closely tied to the boundary of two significant lithospheric plates – the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. These plates meet off the Peruvian coast, creating a dynamic and complex topography.

The oceanic Nazca Plate descends beneath the South American Plate in the Peru-Chile subduction zone. This subduction process results in significant subsurface stress.

In 2007, a magnitude 8 earthquake claimed about 595 deaths in Peru, leaving a lasting impact. Additionally, the southern Peru earthquake of 2001, registering a magnitude of 8.4, resulted in the deaths of 145 people.

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India

India's high frequency of earthquakes is attributed to its proximity to the plate boundary zone. The India Plate moves northward at a rate of approximately 4 cm per year and then collides with the southern edge of the Eurasian Plate. This collision makes it one of the largest collision zones on earth. 

This collision makes almost 58 percent of the land vulnerable to earthquakes. It includes Kashmir, north and middle Bihar, the western and central Himalayas, the Rann of Kutch, the north-east Indian region, and the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.

India has witnessed 57 earthquakes between 1990 and 2022. Among these, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, resulted in the deaths of 20,085 people. The 2011 Sikkim earthquake, measuring 6.9 in magnitude, took at least 111 human lives.

Wrap Up

Among the 10 most earthquake-prone countries discussed, Japan, China, and India stand out as the most densely populated. Crowded urban areas are particularly susceptible to infrastructure damage and difficulties in swift evacuation. Japan's exemplary advanced early warning systems and stringent building codes set a crucial standard for other nations to follow. 

Prudent management of urbanization to alleviate stress on the earth's crust now stands as a pressing imperative.

Read more: Post-Earthquake Cautions: Do’s & Don’ts