what was the worst earthquake in history

The worst earthquake in recorded history is generally considered the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China, which is estimated to have killed about 830,000 people. It is widely cited as the deadliest earthquake on record, even though the strongest ever measured was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile.

What “worst” means

“Worst” can mean different things:

• Deadliest: the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake, because of the huge loss of life.

• Strongest: the 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake, which is the most powerful ever recorded.

• Most destructive overall: sometimes this depends on damage, tsunami impact, and population density.

Quick scoop

If you mean the deadliest earthquake in history, the answer is the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China. If you mean the largest magnitude , the answer is the 1960 Chile earthquake.

Why it was so devastating

The Shaanxi quake struck a densely populated area, and many people lived in cave dwellings that collapsed easily. That combination helped make it the deadliest earthquake ever documented.

TL;DR: Deadliest = 1556 Shaanxi earthquake; strongest = 1960 Chile earthquake.