Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury, or damage.

Earthquake activity in 1988 was relatively low, with only 11 major events and none of magnitude 8.0+ occurring.

Nevertheless, extremely destructive events took place in Burma, Nepal, China and Armenia.

Burma saw two deadly earthquakes just a few months apart with the latter (on the Chinese border) claiming the lives of nearly a thousand.

Early this year, Australia was also struck by an unusual series of strong earthquakes.