10. Indonesia
Jakarta or commonly known as Indonesia is highly vulnerable to
earthquakes and other natural disasters. Earthquakes have caused immense
damages to the buildings, property as well as human lives in the past
years. Volcanic eruptions are also common in this country. Last year, an
earthquake of magnitude 6.1 Richter scale hit the Northern Sumatra
causing hundreds casualties and 35 fatal deaths.
9. Turkey
Turkey falls within the seismic zone between Eurasian plates, African
and Arabian plates. Majority part of the country lies on the Anatolian
plate. That’s why earthquake can hit any part of the country anytime.
Several earthquakes of Richter scale ranging between 6-7.2 have hit
several states of Turkey in the past. Due to its extreme vulnerability
to earthquakes, it is often reported that the country witnesses
earthquake of mild magnitude every day.
8. Mexico
Mexico has faced several earthquakes in the past and the magnitude of
devastation has been exemplified due to the badly designed structures
of buildings, houses etc. Consequently, several thousand people had lost
their lives due to earthquakes. Mexico primarily falls in one of the
most seismically active area on the surface of the earth as it is
situated atop three seismic plates namely, North American plate, Cocos
plate and Pacific plate. The incidences of volcanic eruptions are also
high due to the movement of tectonic plates. An earthquake measuring 7.2
on the Richter scale hit the nation in 2014 causing several casualties
in the city of Guerrero.
7. El Salvador
El Salvador is prone to earthquakes and other natural calamities.
They have caused several casualties and ruined property as well.
Moreover, the magnitude of earthquakes recorded in the past has been
extremely high on the Richter scale.
6. Pakistan
Pakistan is another earthquake affected country in the world.
Pakistan is geologically situated atop the tectonic plates, namely
Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. While Sindh and Punjab provinces
lie on the edge of Indian plate, Baluchistan lies within the Eurasian
plate. The country has been a victim of several deadly earthquakes
measuring as high as 7.8 on the Richter scale. It has been reported that
thousands of people were rendered homeless and several people were
injured.
5. Philippines
Philippines is a densely populated island that primarily lies on the
edge of the Pacific plate, popularly known as Pacific “Ring of fire”.
Ring of fire is traditionally a seismic hot zone that encircles the
country. Earthquakes measuring high on the Richter scale have caused
deadly volcanic eruptions in the past too. The number of deaths and
injuries have been reported to be extremely high.
4. Ecuador
Ecuador is a land of several active volcanoes and thus their presence
makes it an extremely dangerous place to be in the event of high-
magnitude tremors and quakes. Ecuador lies within the seismic zone
between Nazca plate and South American plate. The main active faults of
the country run parallel to the Andes such as the Pallatanga and
Chingual faults and others are north-south trending reverse faults such
as the Quito fault.
3. India
India has a history of several deadly earthquakes. However, the major
reason for the high frequency and intensity of the earthquakes has been
the Indian plate moving at the rate of 47 mm/year. Due to the movement
of tectonic plates, India has suffered immense damages due to Tsunami
in the southern states. Moreover, the effect of the damages has been
multiplied manifold due to poor structural design, lack of preparedness
and awareness among the civilians. Primarily India has been divided into
five zones on the basis of intensity of the quakes and peak ground
accelerations. The most affected areas including Kashmir, Himalayas and
Rann of Kutch fall in the zone 5.
2. Nepal
Nepal is a seismically active area and thus according to estimates a
citizen in Nepal is two times more likely to be killed in an earthquake
than any other civilian in the world. Quakes measuring as high as 8 on
the Richter scale had hit the country in the past. One such great
disaster to strike Nepal was in 1934 measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale.
1. Japan
Japan has a long history of disastrous earthquakes. It is primarily
situated on the Pacific “Ring of fire”. As a result of the subduction of
the Philippine Sea plate beneath the Amurian plate and Okinawa plate,
Japan has been a victim of several high intensity tremors. One such
deadliest earthquake shook the country on 11 March 2011 which also
proved to be the costliest natural calamity for the state. Consequently,
the Fukushima nuclear accident following the tsunami had attracted
worldwide concerns.
original source- http://lists10.com/10-countries-prone-earthquakes/
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