Taking a look back at some of the deadliest earthquakes helps us realize just how unpredictable and destructive mother nature can be. These quakes occurred in various places across the globe, and the number of lives that were lost was astronomical.
1. Shaanxi, China – 1556
On January 23, 1556; a magnitude 8 earthquake struck the province of Shaanxi, China. With the epicenter about 50-miles from the capital of Shaanxi, this powerful earthquake could be felt up to 500 miles northeast. The aftermath of the quake resulted in landslides, fissures, 60-foot deep crevices, an estimated 830,000 lives lost. A lot of the casualties were due to poorly constructed structures, especially in the city of Huaxian where more than half of the residents were killed.