Strongest magnitude | Peru, Ayacucho Region, (Magnitude 8.1) August 24 |
---|---|
Deadliest | Turkey, Samsun Province, (Magnitude 7.0) December 20 1,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,489 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
This is a list of earthquakes in 1942. 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. This year saw an average number of magnitude 7.0+ events. The dominant event this year in terms of deaths was in December in Turkey with 1,000 of the 1,489 deaths for the year. Other deadly events occurred elsewhere in Turkey. Ecuador, China and Albania had earthquakes causing dozens of deaths. An unusually large quake struck the Southwest Indian Ridge in November with a magnitude of 8.0. Spreading ridges usually have smaller magnitude events.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,000 | 7.0 | Turkey, Samsun Province | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | December 20 |
2 | 200 | 7.8 | Ecuador, Manabí Province | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | May 14 |
3 | 90 | 6.3 | China, Yunnan Province | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | January 31 |
4 | 51 | 6.0 | China, Inner Mongolia | VIII (Severe) | 0.0 | July 8 |
5 | 43 | 6.0 | Albania, Dibër County | X (Extreme) | 33.0 | August 27 |
6 | 38 | 7.7 | Guatemala, off the west coast of Guatemala | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | August 6 |
7 | 30 | 8.1 | Peru, Ayacucho Region | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | August 24 |
8 | 17 | 0.0 | Turkey, Çorum Province | VIII (Severe) | 0.0 | November 21 |
9 | 16 | 6.1 | Turkey, Balıkesir Province | VIII (Severe) | 0.0 | November 15 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.1 | 30 | Peru, Ayacucho Region | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | August 24 |
2 | 8.0 | 0 | Southwest Indian Ridge | ( ) | 10.0 | November 10 |
3 | 7.8 | 200 | Ecuador, Manabí Province | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | May 14 |
4 | 7.7 | 38 | Guatemala, off the west coast of Guatemala | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | August 6 |
5 | 7.5 | 0 | Empire of Japan, south of Minahasa Peninsula, Dutch East Indies | ( ) | 100.0 | May 28 |
= 6 | 7.4 | 0 | Empire of Japan, west of Mindoro, Philippines | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 8 |
= 6 | 7.4 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands | ( ) | 65.0 | November 26 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Empire of Japan, Papua (province), Dutch East Indies | VII (Very strong) | 17.5 | January 27 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Empire of Japan, Mindanao, Philippines | VI (Strong) | 35.0 | October 20 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | ( ) | 10.0 | November 28 |
8 | 7.1 | 0 | New Hebrides | ( ) | 110.0 | January 29 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | ( ) | 15.0 | June 14 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Zealand Wellington Region, North Island | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | June 24 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Free France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | ( ) | 130.0 | September 14 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 1,000 | Turkey, Samsun Province | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | December 20 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Dutch East Indies |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw China 90 deaths |
Total fatalities | 90 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [1] | Peru, Amazonas Region | 6.0 | 110.0 | ||||
27 [2] [3] | Dutch East Indies, Papua (province) | 7.2 | 17.5 | VII | |||
29 [4] | New Hebrides | 7.1 | 110.0 | ||||
31 [5] [6] | China, Yunnan Province | 6.3 | 35.0 | VIII | 90 people were killed and at least 1,001 were injured. Many homes collapsed. | 90 | 1,001+ |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw British Solomon Islands |
---|---|
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 | ||||||
16 [7] | British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands | 6.9 | 135.0 | ||||
21 [8] [9] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 35.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw Japan |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [10] | Japan, eastern Sea of Japan | 6.9 | 240.0 | ||||
21 [11] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.8 | 25.0 | ||||
22 [12] | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.0 | 210.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw Philippines |
---|---|
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 [13] [14] | Philippines, west of Mindoro | 7.4 | 15.0 | VII | |||
11 [15] | Guatemala, Quetzaltenango Department | 6.5 | 140.0 | ||||
20 [16] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 350.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw Ecuador |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.8 Mw Ecuador 200 deaths |
Total fatalities | 200 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [17] | Venezuela, Anzoátegui | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
14 [18] [19] | Ecuador, Manabí Province | 7.8 | 20.0 | IX | The 1942 Ecuador earthquake killed 200 people. Property damage costs were $2.5 million (1942 rate) and many homes were destroyed. | 200 | |
22 [20] | Colombia, Cundinamarca Department | 5.8 | 130.0 | Some property damage was reported. | |||
24 [21] | Dutch East Indies, northern Sumatra | 6.8 | 60.0 | ||||
28 [22] | Dutch East Indies, south of Minahasa Peninsula | 7.5 | 100.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
10 [23] [24] | Philippines, Mindanao | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
14 [25] | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 7.0 | 15.0 | ||||
15 [26] | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.8 | 285.0 | ||||
18 [27] | Federated States of Micronesia | 6.8 | 15.0 | ||||
20 [28] | Mexico, Michoacán | 6.8 | 100.0 | ||||
21 [29] | Greece, Dodecanese | 6.2 | 130.0 | ||||
24 [30] [31] | New Zealand, Wellington Region, North Island | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes. | ||
29 [32] | Chile, Valparaíso Region | 6.9 | 95.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Republic of China (1912-1949) 51+ deaths |
Total fatalities | 51+ |
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 | ||||||
7 [33] | Fiji | 6.8 | 430.0 | ||||
8 [34] [35] | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.8 | 35.0 | VII | |||
8 [36] | Republic of China (1912-1949), Inner Mongolia | 6.0 | 0.0 | VIII | At least 51 people were killed, another 51 were injured and some homes were destroyed. | 51+ | 51+ |
25 [37] [38] | Empire of Japan, off the west coast of Samar, Philippines | 6.4 | 55.0 | VI | |||
29 [39] [40] | Empire of Japan, Ceram Sea, Dutch East Indies | 6.7 | 35.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 8.1 Mw Peru |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Albanian Kingdom (1939-43) 43 deaths |
Total fatalities | 111 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [41] [42] | New Zealand, Wellington Region, North Island | 6.8 | 35.0 | VI | 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes. | ||
6 [43] [44] | Guatemala, off the west coast of | 7.7 | 35.0 | VII | 38 people were killed and major damage was caused due to the 1942 Guatemala earthquake. | 38 | |
8 [45] | Guatemala, Suchitepéquez Department | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
24 [46] [47] [48] | Peru, Ayacucho Region | 8.1 | 30.0 | IX | The 1942 Peru earthquake caused the deaths of 30 people. 25 more were injured and many homes collapsed. | 30 | 25 |
27 [49] | Albanian Kingdom (1939-43), Dibër County | 6.0 | 33.0 | X | 43 people were killed and 110 injuries were reported. Many homes were destroyed. | 43 | 110 |
29 [50] | Fiji, south of | 6.8 | 570.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Free France |
---|---|
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 | ||||||
9 [51] | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.9 | 80.0 | ||||
14 [52] | Free France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 7.0 | 130.0 | ||||
24 [53] [54] | Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Taiwan | 6.3 | 10.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Empire of Japan |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
9 [55] | Tanganyika, Ruvuma Region | 6.8 | 60.0 | ||||
20 [56] [57] | Empire of Japan, Mindanao, Philippines | 7.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
21 [58] [59] [60] | United States, southern California | 6.6 | 6.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | ||
26 [61] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.6 | 35.0 | ||||
28 [62] | Mexico, off the coast of Oaxaca | 6.2 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.0 Mw Southwest Indian Ridge |
---|---|
Deadliest | 0.0 Mw Turkey 17 deaths |
Total fatalities | 33 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [63] | Peru, San Martin Region | 6.8 | 130.0 | ||||
7 [64] | Empire of Japan, Flores, Dutch East Indies | 6.8 | 80.0 | ||||
10 [65] | Southwest Indian Ridge | 8.0 | 10.0 | This was one of the largest events to strike an ocean spreading ridge. | |||
12 [66] [67] [68] | Mexico, Oaxaca | 6.1 | 60.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
15 [69] | Turkey, Balıkesir Province | 6.1 | 0.0 | VIII | 16 people were killed and some damage was caused. Unknown depth. | 16 | |
15 [70] [71] | Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.7 | 15.0 | V | |||
21 [72] | Turkey, Çorum Province | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | 17 people were killed and some damage was caused. Unknown depth and magnitude. | 17 | |
26 [73] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.4 | 65.0 | ||||
28 [74] | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 7.2 | 10.0 | ||||
30 [75] | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 6.5 | 590.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Turkey |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw Turkey 1,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,004 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [76] | Turkey, Çorum Province | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | 4 people were killed and major damage was caused. Magnitude and depth unknown. | 4 | |
5 [77] | United States, Cook Inlet, Alaska | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
11 [78] | Turkey, Amasya Province | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | Major damage was reported. Magnitude and depth unknown. | ||
19 [79] | Empire of Japan, Izu Islands, Japan | 6.7 | 20.0 | ||||
20 [80] [81] [82] | Turkey, Samsun Province | 7.0 | 10.0 | VII | The 1942 Niksar–Erbaa earthquake caused around 1,000 deaths. Major damage was caused. | 1,000 | |
22 [83] | Tonga | 6.8 | 15.0 | ||||
26 [84] | Colombia, Córdoba Department | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
29 [85] | Independent State of Croatia, Split-Dalmatia County | 6.0 | 15.0 | X |
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from events too weak to be detectable except by sensitive instrumentation, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities and number of scientific studies.
The 1868 Hayward earthquake occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States on October 21. With an estimated moment magnitude of 6.3–6.7 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), it was the most recent large earthquake to occur on the Hayward Fault Zone. It caused significant damage and a number of deaths throughout the region, and was known as the "Great San Francisco earthquake" prior to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
This list of 20th-century earthquakes is a list of earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above that occurred in the 20th century. Sone smaller events which nevertheless had a significant impact are also included. After 1900 most earthquakes have some degree of instrumental records and this means that the locations and magnitudes are more reliable than for earlier events.
Striking southern Italy on 8 September, the 1905 Calabria earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). The first major earthquake of the 20th century, it severely damaged parts of Lipari, Messina Province and a large area between Cosenza and Nicotera and killed between 557 and 2,500 people.
The 1293 Kamakura earthquake in Japan occurred at about 06:00 local time on 27 May 1293. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.1–7.5 and triggered a tsunami. The estimated death toll was 23,024. It occurred during the Kamakura period, and the city of Kamakura was seriously damaged.
The 1935 Helena earthquake occurred at 22:48:02 MDT on October 18 in Montana, with an epicenter near Helena. It had a magnitude of 6.2 on the surface wave magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The temblor on that date was the largest of a series of earthquakes that also included a large aftershock on October 31 of magnitude 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII. Two people died in the mainshock and two others died as a result of the October 31 aftershock. Property damage was over $4 million.
The 1976 Sabah earthquake occurred at 10:56 am on 26 July near Lahad Datu in the eastern portion of Sabah, Malaysia. The moment magnitude 6.3 earthquake is one of the strongest in Malaysia to be recorded by seismic instruments. It had a focal mechanism corresponding to strike-slip faulting. While slightly larger than the 2015 Sabah earthquake, the 1976 event caused less extensive damage, in the form of cracks on several buildings and ground cracks.
The 1981 Golbaf earthquake occurred on June 11 at 10:54:25 local time with a moment magnitude of 6.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII+ (Severe). Total damage was considered moderate and amounted to $5 million in financial losses, with many injured, and 1,400–3,000 killed.
The 2004 Baladeh earthquake occurred on May 28 in northern Iran. This dip-slip earthquake had a moment magnitude of 6.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Total deaths for the event amounted to 35, with 278–400 injured, and $15.4 million in damage.
During April 1819, the area around Copiapó in northern Chile was struck by a sequence of earthquakes over a period of several days. The largest of these earthquakes occurred on 11 April at about 15:00 local time, with an estimated magnitude of Mw 8.5. The other two events, on 3 April between 08:00 and 09:00 local time and on 4 April at 16:00 local time, are interpreted as foreshocks to the mainshock on 11 April. The mainshock triggered a tsunami that affected 800 km of coastline and was also recorded at Hawaii. The city of Copiapó was devastated.
On 29 November, at 14:10 UTC, a magnitude 7.7 Mw earthquake struck off the southern coast of Taliabu Island Regency in North Maluku, Indonesia. At least 41 people were killed on the nearby islands and a tsunami was triggered. Several hundred homes, buildings and offices were damaged or destroyed.
The 1941 Hyūga-nada earthquake occurred off the coast of Kyushu, Japan at 19:02 local time on November 19. The earthquake measured 8.0 Mw and had a depth of 35 km (22 mi). A JMA seismic intensity of 5 was observed in Miyazaki City and Nobeoka City in Miyazaki Prefecture, and Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture. Due to the earthquake, a tsunami with a maximum wave height of 1.2 m was observed in Kyushu and Shikoku. The tsunami washed away many ships. Twenty-seven homes were destroyed and two people were killed. In Miyazaki, Ōita and Kagoshima prefectures, telephone services were disrupted. Subsidence by 8 cm (3.1 in) was recorded at Hyūga, Miyazaki. At Nobeoka, stone walls and embankments were damaged while roads cracked. It was felt as far as central Honshu.