As the number of deaths from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria exceeded 20,000, it is now recorded as the 7th worst earthquake in 20 years. The ranking could rise further as the death toll continues to rise while search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the border region of southern Turkey and northern Syria on Tuesday (local time) on Tuesday set the grim milestone of becoming the seventh deadliest earthquake in 20 years as the death toll exceeded 20,000, according to CNN.
The worst earthquake in 20 years was the Haiti earthquake in January 2010. The magnitude 7 earthquake claimed 222,570 lives. There are also 300,000 injured.
The second was a magnitude 9 earthquake that struck Indonesia in 2004. 165,708 people died.
In 2008, a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China. 87,476 people died and 366,596 were injured.
A magnitude 8 earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 killed 73,338 people. There are 128,309 injured.
The magnitude 9 earthquake that struck Sri Lanka in 2004 claimed 35,399 lives and ranks fifth. 23,176 people were injured.
The sixth was a magnitude 7 earthquake in Iran in 2003. 26,796 people died and 22,628 people were injured.
And this Turkiye-Syria earthquake is currently ranked 7th. However, as the number of deaths continues to rise, the ranking is likely to change. Currently, the number of deaths is tallied at 21,051 (17,674 in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria). There are 78,124 injured (72,879 in Turkiye and 5,245 in Syria).
Japan in 2011 (19,846), India in 2004 (16,389), and Nepal in 2015 (8831) are in the top 10.
Looking at Turkiye itself, it is the strongest earthquake in 84 years. A magnitude 8 earthquake in 1939 killed 32,962 people and injured more than 100,000.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.