Top 10 Cities Most Vulnerable to Earthquakes

The Top Ten
1 Manila, Philippines The capital city of the Philippines, Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with a rich history influenced by various cultures including Spanish, American, and indigenous influences. As a center for commerce, education, and governance, Manila houses several important institutions, including the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest existing university in Asia. Known for its vibrant street life and local markets like Divisoria and Quiapo, the city has a diverse culinary and artistic scene.

Much of Manila is poorly constructed. Fire risk is always high, because candles are often used. Shanty houses would fall down like toy buildings.

2 Tehran, Iran Tehran is the capital of Iran and is located in the northern part of the country at the foot of the Alborz mountain range. It serves as Iran's political, economic, and cultural center. Known for its modern architecture juxtaposed with historical sites, Tehran is home to landmarks like the Golestan Palace and the Azadi Tower. The city has a wide range of museums, art galleries, and parks, making it a hub for intellectual and creative activity in Iran.

The city is in between several fault lines, and the ground is already too dangerous to build on.

3 San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California.

The San Andreas Fault goes right under the city, putting it at ore risk than Los Angeles. Several faults branch off from the San Andreas, including the notorious Hayward fault.

This should totally be number 1. I was in the 1989 earthquake

4 Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city straddles the Bosphorus strait, and lies in both Europe and Asia, with a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous city in Europe, and the world's fifteenth-largest city.

A fault line 30 miles away from Istanbul can create a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. An example of a quake from this fault line is the 1999 Izmit Quake.

5 Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City, or the City of Mexico, is the capital of Mexico and the most populous city in North America.

The 1985 Earthquake killed thousands in the Mexico City area. The city, built on an island in Lake Texcoco, is very vulnerable to effects such as liquefaction. Plus, the 1985 quake took place over 200 miles from the city, so imagine if a larger and closer earthquake takes place.

6 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, officially Tokyo Metropolis, one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, has served as the Japanese capital since 1869. Located at the head of Tokyo Bay, the prefecture forms part of the Kantō region on the central Pacific coast of Japan's main island of Honshu. Tokyo is the political and economic center ...read more.
7 Portland, Oregon Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It is a major port in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.

The city lies close to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which can produce 9.0 earthquakes. Coastal areas of the city would be at risk of a tsunami, leaving thousands of Portlanders with just minutes to evacuate.

8 St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis is an independent city and inland port in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is situated along the western bank of the Mississippi River, which marks Missouri's border with Illinois.

Although one might say that St. Louis is nowhere near the San Andreas Fault, there's actually a seismic zone called the New Madrid Fault. It caused a series of 7.0-8.0 quakes from 1811 to 1812.

9 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles and often abbreviated as L.A., is the largest city in California. It has an estimated population of nearly 4 million, and is the second-largest city in the United States, after New York City, and the third-largest city in North America, after Mexico City and New York City. Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic and cultural diversity, Hollywood entertainment industry, and its sprawling metropolitan area. ...read more.

A city built in such a position that a slight movement can make the entirety of it disappear forever.

10 Santiago, Chile Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, situated in the country's central valley at an elevation of 520 meters above sea level. It serves as a major financial, cultural, and political hub for Chile and South America. With a backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the city offers a unique blend of urban and natural experiences. Santiago is known for its modern transport system, including its extensive metro and bus networks, and its rich cultural landmarks like the National Museum of Fine Arts.

The worst earthquake ever happened here

The Contenders
11 Charleston, South Carolina
12 Taipei, Taiwan
13 Dhaka, Bangladesh Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is a bustling city with a mix of modern and traditional influences. The city's historical sites include Lalbagh Fort and Ahsan Manzil. Dhaka is known for its vibrant markets, like Shankhari Bazar and New Market, offering a variety of goods. The Sadarghat river port is a hub of activity along the Buriganga River. Dhaka University contributes to the city's academic and cultural scene.
14 Port-au-Prince, Haiti
15 Kingston, Jamaica
16 Delhi, India
17 Bucharest, Romania
18 San Juan, Puerto Rico
19 Salt Lake City, Utah
20 Seattle, Washington Seattle is a seaport city on the west coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington.
21 Mumbai, India Mumbai is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai lies on the Konkan coast on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. In 2008, Mumbai was named an alpha world city. It has the highest number of millionaires and billionaires among all cities in India. Mumbai is home ...read more.
22 Focsani, Romania
23 Djibouti City, Djibouti
BAdd New Item