Next Big Earthquake In The World: After Italy, Which Countries Are At Risk Of Disaster?

While the Umbrian town of Norcia in Italy is still dealing with the damage done by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Wednesday, it may just be the beginning of more disasters to come. On Thursday, the Italian Civil Protection Department reported that the death toll from the quake had grown to 241 people, according to the New York Times.

Countries that lie above the fault lines closest to the Pacific Ring of Fire could be hit with a devastating earthquake similar to the events in Italy, according to Express UK. The ring of fire is an area that has experienced some of the highest number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. About 90 percent of earthquakes in the world occur along this seismically active belt.

Countries that lie on the Ring of Fire include Chile, Japan, Indonesia and New Zealand. Back in 2011, Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude tremor that cost the country tens of billions of dollars and killed over 15,000 people. The doctor who correctly predicted the disaster, Masaaki Kimura, has said a similar earthquake will happen before the end of next year.

Fault lines were also discovered under Turkey and Istanbul. One study revealed that the city has a 60 percent chance of getting hit with an earthquake by 2030. Meanwhile, NASA scientists suspect that that a massive earthquake will strike Los Angeles, California, within the next two years. Experts also fear that Bangladesh, India, which is populated with about 140 million people, will be hit by a 9.0 magnitude quake in the near future.

The United Kingdom may briefly be in the clear of earthquakes for the next few years. Magnitude 5 earthquakes typically occur in Britain every 10 to 20 years with the last one taking place in 2008. The country could be hit again anytime between 2018-2028. However, since it is not located near any major fault lines, very little damage is expected.