Earthquakes

The Latest

Firefighters inspect collapsed wooden houses in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2024, a day after a major 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Pope sends message of condolence to victims of deadly earthquake in Japan

Jan 2, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The reported 7.6-magnitude quake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the western part of the country, killing more than 50. Read more

A man carries donated bedding on Sept. 13, 2023, past buildings that were ruined in the Sept. 8 earthquake in Ardouz, Morocco.

Catholic leader in Morocco: It may take years to rebuild after earthquake 

Sep 13, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake, which hit near the historic city of Marrakesh Friday night, has killed more than 2,900 people as... Read more

A man looks at the rubble of homes in the village of Talat N’Yaaqoub south of Marrakech in Morocco on Sept. 11, 2023. The quake that struck the country on Sept. 8 killed at least 2,122 people, injured more than 2,400 others, and flattened entire villages.

Pope Francis urges faithful to ‘be close to the people of Morocco’ in wake of earthquake

Sep 11, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The country was hit by a 6.8-magnitude quake overnight on Friday, with the death toll rapidly climbing to upward of... Read more

A woman reacts standing in front of her earthquake-damaged house in the old city in Marrakesh on Sept. 9, 2023. A powerful earthquake that shook Morocco late Sept. 8 killed more than 1,000 people, the government said on Sept. 9, sending terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night.

Major earthquake in Morocco kills more than 1,000

Sep 9, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis offered the country his “prayerful communion in the face of this natural disaster.” Read more

Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California.

Thomas Aquinas College reports minimal damage amid tropical storm, earthquake

Aug 22, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in California as the first such storm to hit the state in 84 years. Read more

The tower of Purísima Concepción Church in Lari, Peru, collapsed following earthquakes in May 2023.

Church tower collapses following earthquakes in southern Peru

Jun 5, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

A tower at a church in southern Peru has collapsed due to a series of earthquakes there in recent days. Read more

Young Salesians in Syria.

How the Salesians are helping youth in Syria, a country in its 12th year of civil war

Mar 16, 2023

By Abel Camasca

March 15 marked the 12th year of civil war in Syria, where bombs, poverty, and earthquakes have destroyed the country. Read more

A pedestrian uses a smartphone as she walks past a collapsed building in Antakya, southern Turkey on Feb. 21, 2023. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake late Feb. 20, 2023, rocked Turkey's southern province of Hatay and northern Syria.

Archbishop asks for prayers following new 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Feb 21, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

Antoine Chahda, the Syrian Catholic archbishop of Aleppo, Syria, asked for prayers after a new 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook Turkey and... Read more

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti with Pope Francis

Vatican archbishop to visit Catholics in Syria and Turkey as they confront earthquake fallout

Feb 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Vatican archbishop will visit Catholics in Syria and Turkey as they continue to help those affected by the result... Read more

Pope Francis at his Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis contributes to earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey

Feb 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Boxes of thermal shirts took sail from the port of Naples, Italy, destined for Turkey, on the morning of Feb.... Read more

Pope Francis delivers the Angelus address on Feb. 12, 2023.

Pope Francis urges support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

Feb 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the people of Turkey and Syria who are suffering after devastating earthquakes killed more than... Read more

Image of the Virgin Mary in the rubble of the Cathedral of Alexandria in Turkey, Feb. 6, 2023.

Statue of Mary untouched in earthquake that demolished cathedral in Turkey

Feb 7, 2023

By CNA Staff

The image of Our Lady was unharmed in the quake that brought down Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Alexandretta... Read more

A Syrian woman and her children warm by a stove at an emergency shelter in the center of the city of Maarat Misrin, in the rebel-held northern part of the northwestern Idlib province Feb. 7, 2023, one day after a deadly earthquake hit Syria and Turkey.

Catholic aid agencies respond after devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Feb 7, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

According to the latest available estimates as of midday Tuesday, the 7.8-magnitude quake ​​has left at least 6,200 people dead... Read more

The earthquake-damaged Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Kravarsko, Croatia. Photo courtesy of Ksenija Abramović/Laudato TV.

Bishop asks Catholics to fast and pray after earthquake strikes Croatia

Dec 30, 2020

A bishop asked Catholics to fast and pray for two days Wednesday after an earthquake struck Croatia.  Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on September 2, 2015.

Pope prays for victims of devastating Papua New Guinea earthquake

Mar 6, 2018

Pope Francis is praying for all those affected by a major earthquake in Papua New Guinea this week, offering his... Read more