Japan Earthquake fifth largest earthquake since 1900

In this photo released by Nexco East Japan, a worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito, Ibaraki. (Nexco East Japan via Kyodo News/AP)

The earthquake that hit the northeast coast of Japan early Friday morning was the fifth largest recorded earthquake since 1900. The United States Geographical Survey has recorded earthquake magnitudes since 1900. It has not yet updated its list of the world's worst earthquakes to reflect the latest one in Japan. As the quake has a magnitude of 8.9, it would make it the fifth largest on the list.

Here is the full list of the top 15:

• Chile , 1960 05 22, 9.5 magnitude

• Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1964 9.2 magnitude

• Northern Sumatra, 2004 9.1 magnitude

• Kamchatka, 1952 9.0 magnitude

• Japan, 2011: 8.9 magnitude

• Chile, 2010 8.8 magnitude

• Ecuador, 1906 8.8 magnitude

• Alaska, 1965 8.7 magnitude

• Northern Sumatra, 2005 8.6 magnitude

• Assam and Tibet, 1950 8.6 magnitude

• Andreanof Islands, Alaska, 1957 8.6 magnitude

• Southern Sumatra, 2007 8.5 magnitude

• Banda Sea, Indonesia, 1938 8.5 magnitude

• Kamchatka, 1923 8.5 magnitude

• Chile and Argentina, 1922 8.5