In Br English, the word 'recent' makes it more likely that you should use the perfect. I think some speakers of Am English might be happy with the simple past in that case - perhaps we could wait for a Transatlantic view.
Some of those sentences would be unacceptable in Br English:
The recent earthquakes killed over 230,000 people [STRIKE]each year[/STRIKE]. :-? (You can't have 'recent' and 'each year'. In fact, if you use 'each year' the simple present would be better: 'Each year, earthquakes kill over 230,000 people.' But you could have this:
Earthquakes killed over 230,000 people every year in the past decade - although some Br English speakers would hold that even in this case only the present perfect is OK.)
The recent earthquakes killed over 230,000 people[STRIKE] one day before[/STRIKE].:cross:
The recent earthquakes killed over 230,000 people [STRIKE]in 2003[/STRIKE].:-? Perhaps you could use "- in 2003, that is" as a way of explaining why you didn't use the present perfect after 'recent'.
The recent earthquakes killed over 230,000 people in 2010.:cross: You're right to be doubtful about this one; you would probably need to start with "So far, in 2010, ..." and then go on to use a present perfect.
In short, bhaisahab's answer was OK as far as Br English goes. I only mentioned the simple past because the subject of your post suggested to me that you weren't sure about needing a present perfect here. And some speakers of Am English, in other threads, have said they'd use the simple past.
b