Strange Coincidences of Earthquakes All Over the World: Facts

Story:

Is it a Coincidence???

China Earthquake
26th July 1976
Gujrat Earthquake
26 January 2001
Tsunami in Indian Ocean
26th Dec 2004
Mumbai attack 26/11
26th November 2008
Taiwan earthquake
26th July 2010
Japan Earthquake
26th February 2010
Now Nepal earthquake
26th April 2015.
Why is it Always “26” ?
Is it a mere Coincidence or A Timely Reminder From God..Need to Think on it Seriously!!!
The Rhodes earthquake 26 June 1926
North America earthquake 26 Jan 1700
Yugoslavia earthquake 26 July 1963
Merapi volcanic eruption 26 Oct 2010
Bam , Iran earthquake 26
Dec 2003 ( 60,000 dead )
Sabah Tidal waves 26 Dec
1996 ( 1,000 dead )
Turkey earthquke 26 Dec
1939 ( 41,000 dead )
Kansu , China earthquake 26 Dec 1932 ( 70,000 dead )
Portugal earthquake 26 Jan 1951 ( 30,000 dead )
Krakatau volcanic eruption 26 Aug 1883 ( 36,000 dead )
Aceh Tsunami 26 Dec 2004
Tasik earthquake 26
June 2010
China Earthquake 26 July 1976
Taiwan earthquake 26 July 2010
Japan Earthquake 26 feb 2010
Mentawai Tsunami 26 October 2010
Gujarat Earthquake 26 Jan 2001
China Earthquake 26 July 1976
Taiwan earthquake 26 July 2010
Japan Earthquake 26 feb 2010
Mumbai attack 26/11
Mumbai floods 26 July 2005
Now Nepal earthquake 26 April 2015.
Why is it Always “26” ?

Is it just a Coincidence?
This news is Amazing! And scary too!

Analysis:

A message shared widely through emails and social networking websites lists an amazing and scary set of natural calamity ‘coincidences’ that seem to have happened around the world — on 26th date of a month. The message also raises a question whether it is a reminder from God to humans to think seriously about protecting nature and mother earth. Certainly, man has to protect nature and mother earth, but the set of ‘coincidences’ listed in the story are mixture of hoax and facts and the claim on the whole is a hoax.

Incorrect Dates

Apart from some correct mention of dates of natural tragedies on 26th around the world, there are some incorrect attributions. The China Earthquake that is said to have occurred on 26th July 1976 actually happened on 28th of July, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Reportedly, the day before the earthquake, well water in a village outside of Tangshan (City in China) rose and fell 3 times. And in another village, Gas began to spout out of a well on 12 July, which increased on 25th and 26th of July. The Taiwan Earthquake said to have taken place on 26th July 2010 actually occurred on 4 March 2010. The recent 2015 Nepal Earthquake said to have occurred on 26th April in fact happened on 25 April. However, continued aftershocks occurred throughout Nepal within 15–20 minute intervals, with one shock reaching a magnitude of 6.7 on 26 April at 12:54:08 NST. Like mentioned in the story, we did not find any earthquake in Portugal that took place on 26 Jan 1951. However, on the same date, but in the year 1531, an earthquake occurred in Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal. The Mentawai Tsunami mentioned to have taken place on 26 October 2010 actually took place on 25th of October. The localized tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands was the result of 7.7 moment magnitude earthquake that occurred off the western coast of Sumatra on 25 October 2010.

Repetition of Incidents

The China Earthquake in 1976, the Taiwan Earthquake in 2010 and the Japan Earthquake on 26 Feb 2010 have been repeated 3 times in the story. The 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 and the Nepal earthquake of 2015 are repeated 2 times, giving an (false) impression of increase in ‘coincidence’ levels, because readers do not generally check the repetition closely.

To conclude, the story is just a small set of ‘coincidences’ taken from a vast list of natural tragedies that occurred around the world over centuries on the date 26th. Considering the incorrect dates mentioned in some cases, and the repetition of incidents, the claim that it is an amazing or scary coincidence, that it is a reminder from God to humans is a certain hoax!