Top Three Earthquake Zones That Shake the World

March 31, 2025

Myanmar was recently hit by a massive earthquake, leaving hundreds feared dead and causing damage worth billions. This disaster has once again raised concerns about the possibility of an even bigger earthquake, often referred to as “The Big One.” Scientists believe such a quake will happen at some point, but no one knows exactly when or where.

While earthquakes can strike anywhere, some regions are more prone to them. Three major earthquake zones account for most of the world’s quakes: The Ring of Fire, The Alpide Belt, and The Mid-Atlantic Ridge. These areas are where the Earth’s tectonic plates meet and shift, causing frequent seismic activity.

1. The Ring of Fire (Pacific Ocean)

The Ring of Fire is the world’s most active earthquake zone, responsible for 81% of all earthquakes. It forms a 40,000-kilometer (24,900-mile) horseshoe shape around the Pacific Ocean, affecting countries like Chile, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and New Zealand.

Some of the biggest earthquakes in history have occurred in this zone:

• 1960 Chile Earthquake – Magnitude 9.5 (strongest ever recorded)
• 1964 Alaska Earthquake – Magnitude 9.2
• 2011 Japan Earthquake – Magnitude 9.0, triggering a deadly tsunami

The Ring of Fire is also home to over 450 active volcanoes, making it a hotspot for both earthquakes and eruptions.

2. The Alpide Belt (Asia & Europe)

The Alpide Belt stretches 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) from Southeast Asia through the Himalayas, Central Asia, and into Europe. It accounts for 17% of the world’s earthquakes.

Some of the deadliest earthquakes in this region include:

• 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake – Magnitude 9.1, causing a massive tsunami
• 2005 Pakistan Earthquake – Magnitude 7.6, killing over 80,000 people
• 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake – Magnitude 7.8, with over 55,000 deaths

The region’s seismic activity is caused by collisions between the Indian, Arabian, and African tectonic plates with the Eurasian plate.

3. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Atlantic Ocean)

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a 16,000-kilometer (10,000-mile) underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean. Here, tectonic plates are slowly moving apart, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Most earthquakes in this zone happen deep under the ocean, but some islands along the ridge, such as Iceland, the Azores, and St. Helena, experience frequent tremors. Iceland saw earthquakes of magnitude 5.9 and 5.8 in 2008.

Earthquakes Outside These Zones

While most earthquakes occur in these three zones, some unexpected places have also seen major quakes.

• 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, USA
• 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes, Missouri, USA

These events serve as a reminder that earthquakes can happen anywhere, even in regions not typically known for seismic activity.