BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhuanet) -- An earthquake measuring 8.5 on the Richter scale struck about midnight Monday off Indonesia's west coast, killing at least 300 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the Indian Ocean.

    Following is a chronology of major earthquakes around the world in 2003 and 2004:

    2003:

    Feb. 24 -- A quake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale left 268 people dead and caused huge property damage in Jiashi and Bachu counties of China's western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    May 1 -- At least 167 were killed and over 500 others injured when a quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Turkey's eastern province of Bingol.

    May 21 -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale struck northern Algeria, killing almost 2,300 people and injuring more than 10,000.

    May 26 -- A quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted northeastern Japan, injuring 118.

    May 27 -- An earthquake, measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale, rocked the southern Philippine island of Sulu.

    Sept. 22 -- An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale shook the central part of Myanmar, causing damage to houses, bridges and some ancient pagodas.

    Sept. 26 -- A total of 591 people were injured when an offshore earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale, followed by a series of aftershocks, hit Japan's northern Hokkaido Prefecture.

    Dec. 22 -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 rocked the southern and central parts of California, the United States, killing three and injuring 50 others.

    Dec. 26 -- An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked the ancient city of Bam in Kerman province of southeastern Iran, killing over 30,000 people and injuring 50,000 others.

    2004:

    Feb. 6 -- A strong quake in Papua province of Indonesia killed 37 and injured about 600 hundred others. The quake measured at 6.9on the Richter scale.

    April 6 -- An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale jolted northern Pakistan, injuring at least five people.

    May 28 -- A quake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit northern and central Iran, leaving at least 23 people dead and some 100 others injured.

    Sept. 7 -- A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook Argentina's Catamarca city, leaving one dead.

    Oct. 10 -- An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale jolted Nicaraga.

    Oct. 15 -- A quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted eastern Taiwan island of China, leaving two people injured.

    Oct. 23 -- An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook north Japan's Niigata Prefecture. At least 38 people died in a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks.

    Nov. 17 -- At least 27 people were killed in an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale on the Indonesian island of Alor.

    Nov. 20 -- An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Costa Rica, killing five people.

    Nov. 23 -- A quake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and no casualties were reported.

    Nov. 26 -- A strong quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale in the Indonesian province of Papua left at least 17 people dead and 75 others injured.

    Dec. 14 -- A quake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit parts of northern and western Hokkaido, Japan's main northern island, injuring one people and causing minor damage.

    Dec. 24 -- Australian scientist registered an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale 400 km off the Macquarie Island of Australia, and no casualties were reported.

    Dec. 26 -- A powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra, causing over 174,302 casualties in Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. The quake triggered tidal waves. China's State Seismological Bureau said the quake measured 8.7 on the Richter scale. Enditem