Approximately half a million earthquakes occur worldwide each year, as estimated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
As for Jordan, the Kingdom has been exposed to a number of earthquakes. Here are some of the most powerful earthquakes in the history of the Kingdom:
1. Jordan Rift Valley earthquake – 1033
A powerful earthquake struck the Jordan Rift Valley. The tremors were felt from southern Turkey to northern Egypt. This earthquake resulted in the complete destruction of the cities of Tabareyya and Jericho. Large parts of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the walls of Jerusalem were also damaged. Additionally, it triggered a tsunami along the Mediterranean coast, leading to the loss of at least 70,000 lives in this catastrophe.
2. The Safed Earthquake – 1837
In 1837, a significant earthquake with a magnitude ranging from 6.5 to 7.0 struck Safed in Palestine. The tremors were so intense that they resulted in 6,000 to 7,000 casualties, impacting Jordanians as well.
3. The Jericho Earthquake – 1927
This earthquake, measuring 6.3 in magnitude, struck near the Damya Bridge in the Jordan Valley, close to the city of Jericho, Palestine. In Jordan alone, it claimed the lives of 100 individuals, with a total of 287 to 500 casualties in both countries.
4. The Gulf of Aqaba Earthquake – 1995
In 1995, the coastal city of Aqaba in Jordan experienced a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3. Witnesses also reported a small tsunami in the area. Eilat in Israel, located nearby, saw damage to fifty buildings, while a total of 9 to 12 fatalities were recorded.
5. The Dead Sea earthquakes – 2004
Five earthquakes hit the Dead Sea in 2004. One of the quakes registered 5.2 on the Richter scale, while the strongest one had a magnitude of 8.3. Every single Jordanian resident felt the earthquakes, but thankfully, no damage or injuries were reported.
6. The 2015 Aqaba Earthquake:
At precisely 6:34 AM Jordan time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale struck the Gulf of Aqaba. It occurred 57 kilometers south of the city of Aqaba and had a depth of 10 kilometers. There were no reported casualties or property damage in the Aqaba and its northern areas due to this tremor.
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