List of earthquakes in 1915

Earthquakes in 1915

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1915 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Russia, Kuril Islands May 1 (Magnitude 7.8)
Deadliest	Italy, Avezzano, January 13 (Magnitude 6.7) 29,978 deaths
Total fatalities	30,155+
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
←  1914 1916  →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1915. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. Events which occurred in remote areas will be excluded from the list as they wouldn't have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time. In January a major earthquake struck Italy causing 30,000 deaths. There were also many earthquakes in Japan and the Kuril Islands during this year.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	29,978	6.7	Italy, Abruzzo	XI (Extreme)	15.0	January 13
2	170	6.5	Bhutan, India, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh border	IX (Violent)	15.0	December 3

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	7.8	0	Russia, Kuril Islands	( )	30.0	May 1
2	7.4	0	El Salvador, Chalatenango Department	( )	80.0	September 7
= 3	7.3	0	Vanuatu	( )	200.0	January 5
= 3	7.3	0	Japan, southwestern Ryukyu Islands	( )	150.0	January 5
= 3	7.3	0	Japan, southwestern Ryukyu Islands	( )	20.0	February 28
= 3	7.3	0	Bolivia, Oruro Department	( )	160.0	June 6
= 3	7.3	0	Russia, off the east coast of Kamchatka	X (Extreme)	20.0	July 31
4	7.2	0	Japan, Hokkaido	( )	35.0	March 17
= 5	7.1	0	Fiji	( )	600.0	February 25
= 5	7.1	0	Russia, east of the Kuril Islands	( )	0.0	August 6
= 5	7.1	0	Mexico, border of Baja California and Sonora	( )	0.0	November 21
= 6	7.0	0	Japan, Izu Islands	( )	200.0	October 8
= 6	7.0	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	( )	30.0	November 1
= 6	7.0	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	( )	35.0	November 1
= 6	7.0	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	( )	35.0	November 18

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw 2 events
Deadliest	6.7 Mw   Italy 29,978 deaths
Total fatalities	29,978
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
5 [1]	New Hebrides	7.3	200.0
5 [2]	Japan, southwest Ryukyu Islands	7.3	150.0
13 [3] [4]	Italy, Abruzzo	6.7	15.0	XI	The 1915 Avezzano earthquake caused major damage to the region. In total around 29,978 people were killed. Costs of damage were $60 million (1915 rate).	29,978

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw   Japan
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	0

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
25 [5]	Fiji	7.1	600.0
28 [6]	Japan, southwest Ryukyu Islands	7.3	20.0

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw   Japan
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
8 [7]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.8	0.0		Depth unknown.
12 [8]	Philippines, eastern Masbate Island	6.6	40.0
17 [9]	Japan, south of Hokkaido	7.2	35.0

April

April

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw   Brazil
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
23 [10]	Brazil, Amazonas (Brazilian state)	6.9	650.0
30 [11]	Mongolia, Bayankhongor Province	6.5	35.0

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw   Russia
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1 [12]	Russia, Kuril Islands	7.8	30.0
8 [13]	Mozambique Channel	6.6	0.0		Depth unknown.
21 [14]	Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Lakes (state)	6.6	35.0

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw   Bolivia
Deadliest	6.3 Mw   United States 6 deaths
Total fatalities	6
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
4 [15]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.7	35.0
6 [16]	Bolivia, Oruro Department	7.3	160.0
23 [17] [18]	United States, Imperial Valley, California	6.1	0.0	rowspan="2"|The 1915 Imperial Valley earthquakes are an example of a doublet earthquake. Both events were within an hour of each other. 6 people were killed and damage costs of $900,000 (1915 rate) were reported. Depth unknown.	6
23 [19] [20]	United States, Imperial Valley, California	6.3	0.0
27 [21]	Russia, Kuril Islands	6.5	35.0

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw   Russia
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7 [22]	Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea	6.0	300.0
31 [23] [24]	Russia, off the east coast of Kamchatka	7.3	20.0	X

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw   Russia
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
6 [25]	Russia, east of the Kuril Islands	7.1	0.0		Depth unknown.
7 [26]	Greece, Ionian Sea	6.7	14.0	IX	Major damage was caused. Many homes were destroyed or damaged.
12 [27]	Dutch East Indies, Sulawesi	6.6	60.0
12 [28]	India, Nicobar Islands	6.2	35.0

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw   El Salvador
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7 [29]	El Salvador, Chalatenango Department	7.4	80.0
11 [30]	Philippines, Celebes Sea	6.6	600.0
23 [31]	Italian Eritrea, Southern Region (Eritrea)	6.2	10.0		1915 Asmara earthquake.

October

October

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw   Japan
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [32] [33]	United States, north central Nevada	6.8	10.0	X	The 1915 Pleasant Valley earthquake caused some damage.
8 [34]	Japan, Izu Islands	7.0	200.0
11 [35]	United States, north of Puerto Rico	6.6	0.0		Depth unknown.
12 [36]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.8	35.0

November

November

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw   Mexico
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	4
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1 [37] [38]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.0	30.0		Some damage was reported.
1 [39]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.7	35.0		Aftershock.
1 [40]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.0	35.0
6 [41]	Dutch East Indies, Biak	6.0	0.0		Depth unknown.
18 [42]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.0	35.0
18 [43]	Philippines, off the west coast of Luzon	6.4	0.0	VIII	A few homes were damaged. Depth unknown.
21 [44]	Mexico, border of Baja California and Sonora	7.1	0.0		Depth unknown.

December

December

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw   Honduras
Deadliest	6.5 Mw Bhutan, India 170 deaths
Total fatalities	171+
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [45] [46]	Bhutan, India, border of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh	6.5	15.0	IX	170 deaths were caused and many homes were destroyed.	170
6 [47]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.5	35.0		Aftershock.
17 [48]	China, Xinjiang Province	6.5	20.0
29 [49]	Honduras, Ocotepeque Department	6.6	0.0		At least 1 person was killed and many homes were destroyed. Depth unknown.	1+

References

1. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 5, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
2. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 5, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
3. "M 6.7 - central Italy". United States Geological Survey. January 13, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
4. "Significant Earthquake: ITALY: MARSICA, AVEZZANO, ABRUZZI". National Geophysical Data Center. January 13, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
5. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 25, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
6. "M 7.3 - southwestern Ryukyu Islands, Japan". United States Geological Survey. February 28, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
7. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 8, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
8. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 12, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
9. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 12, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
10. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 23, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
11. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. April 30, 1915. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
12. "M 7.8 - Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. May 1, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
13. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 8, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
14. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. May 21, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
15. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
16. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 6, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
17. "Imperial Valley Earthquake". Southern California Earthquake Data Center. June 23, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
18. "Significant Earthquake: CALIFORNIA: EL CENTRO". National Geophysical Data Center. June 23, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
19. "Imperial Valley Earthquake". Southern California Earthquake Data Center. June 23, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
20. "Significant Earthquake: CALIFORNIA: EL CENTRO". National Geophysical Data Center. June 23, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
21. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 27, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
22. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 7, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
23. "M 7.3 - near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia". United States Geological Survey. July 31, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
24. "Significant Earthquake: RUSSIA: OFF KAMCHATKA". National Geophysical Data Center. July 31, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
25. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 6, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
26. "Significant Earthquake: GREECE: KEFALLONIA ISLAND, ITHACA ISLAND". National Geophysical Data Center. August 7, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
27. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 12, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
28. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 12, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
29. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 7, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
30. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 11, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
31. "M 6.2 - Eritrea-Ethiopia border region". United States Geological Survey. September 23, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
32. "M 6.8 - Nevada". United States Geological Survey. October 3, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
33. "Significant Earthquake: NEVADA: PLEASANT VALLEY". National Geophysical Data Center. October 3, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
34. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 8, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
35. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 11, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
36. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 12, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
37. "M 7.0 - off the east coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
38. "Significant Earthquake: JAPAN: NEAR E COAST HONSHU". National Geophysical Data Center. November 1, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
39. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
40. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
41. "Significant Earthquake: INDONESIA: NW. IRIAN JAYA". National Geophysical Data Center. November 6, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
42. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 18, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
43. "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: W. LUZON ISLAND". National Geophysical Data Center. November 18, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
44. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 21, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
45. "M 6.5 - Bhutan". United States Geological Survey. December 3, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
46. "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: TIBET (XIZANG PROVINCE)". National Geophysical Data Center. December 3, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
47. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 6, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
48. "M 6.5 - Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border region". United States Geological Survey. December 17, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
49. "Significant Earthquake: EL SALVADOR: AHUACHAPAN,ATACO,APANECA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 29, 1915. Retrieved November 29, 2015.