Cities At Highest risk Of Earthquake In The World

Quito is the only capital city in the world located on the slopes of an active volcano and on the boundary where the Nazca plate moves under the South America plate. So in the event of an earthquake, there’s a high risk of impending volcanic activity too.

Quito, Ecuador

With nearly two million population, Quito is the only major city in the world located on the slopes of an active volcano and it also lies on the boundary where the Nazca Plate moves under the South America plate.

Lima’s earthquakes are caused by the same faults that raised the Andes mountain range and the largest earthquake on record: the 1960 9.5 magnitude quake in southern Chile. Similar to Quito, Lima too lies close to where the Nazca plate goes under the South America plate. Most buildings built before 1970 are not earthquake resistant, but the country has considerably improved its construction standards since.

Lima, Peru

Lima’s earthquakes are caused by the same faults that raised the Andes mountain range. These fault lines are also responsible for the largest earthquake on record: the 9.5 magnitude quake in southern Chile in 1960. Similar to Quito, Lima, it lies close to where the Nazca plate goes under the South America plate. Most buildings built before 1970 are not earthquake resistant, but the country has considerably improved its construction standards since.

Islamabad is highly susceptible to earthquakes and aftershocks originating from the Hindu Kush region. The area is roughly where the India plate goes under the Eurasia plate. The high-density of the city and unplanned construction also make for a dangerous combination in the event of a quake.

Islamabad, Pakistan

Islamabad is highly susceptible to earthquakes and aftershocks originating from the Hindu Kush region. The area is roughly situated where the India plate goes under the Eurasia plate. The high-density of the city and lax construction standards also make for a dangerous combination in the event of a quake.

The capital of one of the most populated countries lies in the same seismic zone as Kathmandu in Nepal. Delhi sits on top of several active fault lines – Mahendragarh Fault, Moradabad Fault, Delhi-Haridwar Ridge Zone, Sohna Fault and Rajasthan Boundary Fault – along with changing soil texture from hard to soft. The damage would be further exaggerated by the high0density of population and the poor construction standards in the city.

Delhi, India

The capital of the second most populated country in the world lies in the same seismic zone as Kathmandu in Nepal. Delhi sits on top of several active fault lines – the Mahendragarh Fault, Moradabad Fault, Delhi-Haridwar Ridge Zone, Sohna Fault and Rajasthan Boundary Fault – along with changing soil texture from hard to soft. The damage would be further exaggerated by the high-density population and poor construction standards in the city.

The entire Himalayan country sits on the boundary between two massive tectonic plates that collide and produce earthquakes. Incidentally, it was the same collisions millions of years ago that led to the formation of the Himalayas.

Kathmandu, Nepal

The entire Himalayan country sits on the boundary between two massive tectonic plates – the Indo-Australian Plate and the Asian Plate – that collide and produce earthquakes. In fact, the same collisions millions of years ago led to the formation of the Himalayas. Haphazard building construction has put thousands of lives at risk, as was seen in April 2015.

The city is located on the boundaries of the highly active Eurasian and African tectonic plates, called the North Anatolian Fault. The area has been quiet for a while but researchers have said the next large earthquake will likely strike five miles west of the city.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is no stranger to earthquakes as it is located on the boundaries of the highly active Eurasian and African tectonic plates, known as the North Anatolian Fault. The area has been quiet for a while but researchers have said the next large earthquake could likely strike five miles west of the city, affecting close to 10 million people.

Apart from being the most populous region of Iran, Tehran also lies near three major fault lines and is built on newer sediment that’s not very stable during an earthquake. When the city was developing, earthquake readiness was also not a focus of their construction practices, leading to poor construction standards. The government, in fact, tried to incentivize people to relocate from the city in 2010 to reduce risks.

Tehran, Iran

Apart from being the most populous region in Iran, Tehran also lies near three major fault lines and is built on relatively new sediment that could prove to be unstable during an earthquake. When the city was developing, earthquake readiness was also not a focus of their construction practices, leading to poor construction standards. The government actually tried to give monetary incentives to people to relocate from the city in 2010 to reduce risks.

Another victim of the Ring of Fire, the San Andreas Fault and the San Jacinto Fault - two of Southern California’s most active faults - pass really close to Los Angeles, increasing the risk of earthquakes substantially. The San Andreas has produced some of the larger earthquakes, but the damage would be significantly less as construction standards make it compulsory for buildings to be retrofitted.

Los Angeles, California

The San Andreas Fault and the San Jacinto Fault – two of Southern California’s most active faults – pass close to Los Angeles, increasing the risk of earthquakes substantially. The two fault lines could rupture together and potentially produce a magnitude 7.5 or greater earthquake. The San Andreas fault has produced some of the larger earthquakes, but the damage would be significantly less as construction standards make it compulsory for buildings to be retrofitted.

On the eastern edge of the Ring of Fire lies the San Andreas Fault that runs is one of the most active faults in the entire Pacific. San Francisco is close to the Cascadia Subduction Zone where the North American Plate slides against the Pacific Plate and the city is also not outfitted to face bigger temblors.

San Francisco, California

California sits on the San Andreas fault line and a recent World Geological Survey found out that the region is more than 99 percent likely to be hit by a strong earthquake in the next 30 years. San Francisco is also close to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the North American Plate slides against the Pacific Plate. The city is highly developed and building codes on new construction must meet strict building codes, but many older homes are not retrofitted to face large seismic activities.

While Manila is at risk because of its position in the Ring of Fire, the city is also at risk of typhoons, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in the aftermath of any major seismic activity. The soft soil increases the chances of the ground going liquid and the city’s current infrastructure is not capable of dealing with a large scale disaster

Manila, Philippines

Earthquakes as strong as a magnitude 6 are common in this region because of Manila's position in the Ring of Fire. The city is also at risk of tsunamis in the aftermath of any major seismic activity. The soft soil could give way during a strong quake and the city’s current infrastructure is not capable of dealing with a large scale disaster.

As if the fact that Jakarta sits on the Ring of Fire in not enough, a little less than half the city is also below sea level. This means that the soft soil underneath will liquefy if a large enough earthquake strikes. The country also is at an increased risk because of its weak infrastructure.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Not only does Jakarta sit on the Ring of Fire, a little less than half the city is also below sea level. This means that the soft soil underneath can potentially liquefy if a large enough earthquake strikes. The country is also at an increased risk because of its weak infrastructure.

While Osaka also sits on the Ring of Fire and is subject to tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and typhoons, all of them would just amplify any natural disaster that struck the region.

Osaka, Japan

Osaka also sits on the Ring of Fire and is also subject to tsunamis and typhoons – catastrophes that have a tendency to amplify one another. Any natural disaster in the region would potentially affect close to 14 million people.

Tokyo is often struck by earthquakes though many are so small they’re barely noticeable. The potential for the city to be struck by a big one are so strong because it sits on the western edge of the notorious Ring of Fire, a boundary where huge slabs of the Earth’s crust meet and continuously keep moving apart, colliding or just sliding next to each other

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is often struck by earthquakes, though many are so small they’re barely noticeable. The potential for the city to be struck by a big one is so strong because it sits on the western edge of the notorious Ring of Fire, a boundary where huge slabs of the Earth’s crust meet and continuously keep moving apart, colliding or just sliding next to each other.

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