In highly respected reference works we read, for instance, of some of the great earthquakes in this generation: China (1920), “one of the most appalling catastrophes in history.” Japan (1923), “the worst disaster in [Japan’s] history.” Pakistan (1935), “one of the greatest earthquakes of history.” El Salvador (1951), “the most destructive quake in El Salvador’s history.” Egypt (1955), “Egypt experienced the worst earthquake in its history.” Afghanistan (1956), “believed to be the worst in the history of the country.” Chile (1960), “No earthquake in history has ever had a greater range than this.” Alaska (1964), “the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America.” Peru (1970), “the worst natural disaster on record in the Western Hemisphere.”

Managua, Nicaragua, was hit by a devastating quake in 1931, then again in 1972.