Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1933
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 13,368 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1933. 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. The biggest event of the year was the great Japan earthquake which struck early in March. A little over a week later saw southern California's deadliest earthquake to date, and a major shock in southern Sumatra left over 780 dead. China had the deadliest event in August with over 9,300 deaths.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9,300 | 7.3 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | August 25 |
2 | 3,022 | 8.4 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | March 2 |
3 | 7.6 | 788 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | June 25 |
4 | 200 | 5.0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 0.0 | September 20 |
5 | 181+ | 6.4 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | April 23 |
6 | 120 | 6.4 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 6.0 | March 11 |
7 | 10 | 5.6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 26 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.4 | 3,022 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | March 2 |
2 | 7.6 | 788 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | June 25 |
3 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 35.0 | August 28 |
4 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | November 20 |
5 | 7.3 | 9,300 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | August 25 |
= 6 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 35.0 | February 23 |
= 6 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 30.0 | June 18 |
= 7 | 7.1 | 0 | Southwest Indian Ridge | ( ) | 10.0 | January 21 |
= 7 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 600.0 | September 6 |
= 8 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 135.0 | January 1 |
= 8 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 205.0 | October 25 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw Southwest Indian Ridge |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] | ![]() | 7.0 | 135.0 | ||||
4 [2] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.0 | ||||
7 [3] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
8 [4] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
9 [5] | ![]() | 6.5 | 230.0 | ||||
15 [6] | ![]() | 6.2 | 140.0 | ||||
18 [7] | ![]() | 6.5 | 570.0 | ||||
21 [8] | Southwest Indian Ridge | 7.1 | 10.0 | ||||
24 [9] | ![]() | 6.2 | 90.0 | ||||
27 [10] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
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 | ||||||
13 [11] | ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | ||||
19 [12] | ![]() | 6.5 | 60.0 | ||||
23 [13] | ![]() | 7.2 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.4 Mw ![]() 3,022 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3,142 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [14] [15] [16] | ![]() | 8.4 | 15.0 | The 1933 Sanriku earthquake caused the destruction of many homes. A tsunami was triggered and caused 3,022 deaths. 6,000 homes were destroyed. | 3,022 | ||
2 [17] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [18] | ![]() | 6.5 | 120.0 | ||||
3 [19] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [20] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [21] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
8 [22] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
11 [23] [24] | ![]() | 6.4 | 6.0 | IX | The 1933 Long Beach earthquake caused 120 deaths and extensive property damage. Costs were around $40 million (1933 rate). Many schools were damaged which led to changes in building codes. | 120 | |
11 [25] | ![]() | 6.8 | 480.0 | ||||
17 [26] | ![]() | 6.6 | 35.0 | ||||
17 [27] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
18 [28] | ![]() | 6.5 | 170.0 | ||||
23 [29] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw ![]() 181+ deaths |
Total fatalities | 181+ |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [30] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
9 [31] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
9 [32] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
16 [33] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
19 [34] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
23 [35] [36] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | X | The 1933 Kos earthquake killed at least 181 people, destroyed many homes on Kos and damaged buildings on nearby islands. Minor damage to buildings in Turkey. [37] | 181+ | |
23 [38] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
27 [39] | ![]() | 6.8 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [40] | ![]() | 6.5 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. | |||
8 [41] | ![]() | 6.7 | 30.0 | ||||
11 [42] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | ||||
21 [43] | ![]() | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
21 [44] | ![]() | 6.2 | 180.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.6 Mw ![]() 788 deaths |
Total fatalities | 788 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [45] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
3 [46] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
4 [47] | ![]() | 6.0 | 120.0 | ||||
6 [48] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
7 [49] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
10 [50] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
11 [51] | ![]() | 6.5 | 80.0 | ||||
13 [52] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | Foreshock. | |||
13 [53] | ![]() | 6.3 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. | |||
18 [54] | ![]() | 7.2 | 30.0 | ||||
19 [55] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Aftershock. Depth unknown. | |||
21 [56] | ![]() | 6.5 | 80.0 | ||||
24 [57] [58] | ![]() | 7.6 | 20.0 | IX | The 1933 Sumatra earthquake killed at least 788 people and caused extensive damage. [59] | 788 | 650 |
25 [60] | ![]() | 6.1 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
9 [61] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
9 [62] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
10 [63] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
10 [64] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
13 [65] | ![]() | 6.0 | 100.0 | ||||
13 [66] | ![]() | 6.2 | 70.0 | ||||
19 [67] | ![]() | 6.0 | 100.0 | ||||
22 [68] | ![]() | 6.9 | 30.0 | ||||
23 [69] | ![]() | 6.0 | 80.0 | ||||
24 [70] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | ||||
30 [71] | ![]() | 6.5 | 160.0 | ||||
31 [72] | ![]() | 6.0 | 80.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw ![]() 9,300 deaths |
Total fatalities | 9,300 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [73] | ![]() | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
9 [74] | ![]() | 6.2 | 170.0 | ||||
11 [75] | ![]() ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | ||||
20 [76] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | ||||
25 [77] [78] | ![]() | 7.3 | 15.0 | X | The 1933 Diexi earthquake caused major destruction. 9,300 people were killed and scores of homes were destroyed. | 9,300 | |
25 [79] | ![]() | 6.5 | 720.0 | ||||
28 [80] | ![]() | 7.5 | 35.0 | ||||
29 [81] | ![]() | 6.5 | 650.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.0 Mw ![]() 200 deaths |
Total fatalities | 210 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [82] | ![]() | 6.8 | 425.0 | ||||
6 [83] | ![]() | 7.1 | 600.0 | ||||
7 [84] | ![]() | 6.2 | 150.0 | ||||
9 [85] | ![]() | 6.2 | 590.0 | ||||
20 [86] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | VI | 200 people were killed in the moderate event. Landslides destroyed 30 homes. Depth unknown. | 200 | |
20 [87] | ![]() | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
21 [88] | ![]() | 6.2 | 50.0 | ||||
21 [89] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
24 [90] | ![]() | 6.4 | 55.0 | ||||
25 [91] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
25 [92] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | ||||
26 [93] [94] | ![]() | 5.6 | 15.0 | IX | 10 people died and some damage was reported. | 10 | |
27 [95] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
30 [96] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [97] | ![]() | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
2 [98] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | ||||
3 [99] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [100] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [101] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
5 [102] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
12 [103] | ![]() | 6.2 | 100.0 | ||||
17 [104] | ![]() | 6.5 | 130.0 | ||||
25 [105] | ![]() | 7.0 | 205.0 | ||||
27 [106] | ![]() | 6.0 | 420.0 | ||||
30 [107] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [108] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
14 [109] | ![]() | 6.5 | 110.0 | ||||
20 [110] | ![]() | 7.4 | 10.0 | 1933 Baffin Bay earthquake. | |||
21 [111] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
22 [112] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
23 [113] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
28 [114] [115] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | 4 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 4 | ||
29 [116] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [117] | ![]() | 6.5 | 140.0 | ||||
4 [118] | ![]() | 6.8 | 305.0 | ||||
12 [119] [120] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | Minor damage was caused. | |||
13 [121] | ![]() | 6.6 | 20.0 | ||||
14 [122] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.0 | ||||
21 [123] | ![]() | 6.2 | 120.0 |