Messina, Italy Earthquake of 28 December 1908, Mw=7.1
At about 4:20 morning (UTC time) of December 28, 1908, a large earthquake of magnitude Mw=7.1 occurred in Italy and destroyed the cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria with an intensity of about XI. The epicenter of the earthquake was located at the coordination of 38N and 15.349E with a depth of about 15 km. The shaking duration lasted for some 30 to 40 seconds and was distinctly felt in Albania, Montenegro, and the Greek Ionian islands, about 400 km to the east and northeast of the Straits. The 1908 Messina earthquake was followed by a 12-meter tsunami in nearby coasts and widespread fires causing even more devastation. Due to this event, about 40% and 25% of the population of Messina and Reggio were killed respectively and some 60,000-100,000 causalities were reported totally.
Dvin, Armenia Earthquake of 28 December 893, Ms=6
An earthquake with magnitude of Ms=6 occurred in Dvin, Armenia on December 28, 893. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Ararat region at the coordination of 44.6E and 40N. Due to this event, many houses and churches were destroyed and many residents lost their lives in ruins. The city of Devin and surrounding areas were severely damaged where had also faced significant damages due to an earthquake which had happened 30 years earlier. Except of about 100 houses, all others as well as the city’s cathedral were destroyed and 30,000 people were killed. There were also several triggered landslides and aftershocks during a few days later.
The most important worldwide earthquakes (M>7) on this day
| Date | Time | Y | X | Depth | Mw | Region | Refrence |
| 1908/12/28 | 4:20:26 | 38 | 15.349 | 15 | 7 | Sicily, Italy | USGS |
| 1935/12/28 | 2:35:31 | -0.29 | 98.255 | 30 | 7.6 | Kepulauan Batu, Indonesia | USGS |
| 1940/12/28 | 16:37:44 | 18.245 | 147.558 | 15 | 7.7 | Mariana Islands region | USGS |
| 1994/12/28 | 12:19:23 | 40.525 | 143.419 | 26.5 | 7.8 | off the east coast of Honshu, Japan | USGS |