The phrase "devastating quake" means a very powerful and destructive earthquake that causes severe damage and destruction to buildings, infrastructure, and can harm people and their possessions. Full definition
Once, long ago, a powerful northern kingdom ruled the island, uniting the four shores, but a series of devastating quakes destroyed the kingdom, and cast its cities into ruin. (unioncombine.com)
In terms of what it did to the earth itself, it was literally one of the largest, most devastating quakes in recorded history. (fieryfoodscentral.com)
In studying the past few devastating quakes, such as the 2011 9.0 that hit Japan twice... (alhambrapartners.com)