List of earthquakes in 1945

Earthquakes in 1945

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1945 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	India, off the coast of Pakistan (Magnitude 8.1) November 27
Deadliest	India, off the coast of Pakistan (Magnitude 8.1) November 27 4,000 deaths
Total fatalities	6,337
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
←  1944 1946  →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1945. 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 last year of World War II was dominated by two events which caused the vast bulk of the death toll. In January, over 2,300 were killed by a large magnitude 6.6 quake in Japan. In November, a magnitude 8.1 quake caused a devastating tsunami leading to 4,000 deaths in Pakistan. In terms of large events, most activity occurred in the western Pacific Ocean. Japan, New Guinea, and the southwest Pacific Islands saw several events with a magnitude over 7.0.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	4,000	8.1	India, off the coast of Pakistan	X (Extreme)	15.0	November 27
2	2,306	6.6	Empire of Japan, Aichi Prefecture, Honshu	VII (Very strong)	10.0	January 12
3	17	6.2	Republic of China (1912-1949), Hebei Province	VIII (Severe)	35.0	September 23

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.1	4,000	India, off the coast of Pakistan	X (Extreme)	15.0	November 27
2	7.8	0	Australia, West New Britain Province, New Guinea	( )	85.0	December 28
3	7.5	0	New Zealand, off the south coast of South Island, New Zealand	( )	20.0	September 1
= 4	7.2	0	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	( )	20.0	February 1
= 4	7.2	2	Empire of Japan, off the northeast coast of Honshu	VII (Very strong)	58.7	February 10
= 4	7.2	0	Empire of Japan, Volcano Islands	( )	15.0	February 26
= 4	7.2	0	Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	( )	50.0	March 11
= 5	7.1	0	USA, Northern Mariana Islands	( )	138.5	July 15
= 5	7.1	0	Chile, Santiago Metropolitan Region	( )	91.9	September 13
= 6	7.0	0	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	( )	20.0	February 1
= 6	7.0	0	Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia	VI (Strong)	35.0	April 15
= 6	7.0	0	Panama, Chiriqui Province	( )	80.0	June 3
= 6	7.0	0	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	( )	100.0	June 22
= 6	7.0	0	Australia, Bismarck Sea, New Guinea	( )	50.0	September 22
= 6	7.0	0	Fiji	( )	592.3	November 26

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw   Empire of Japan
Deadliest	6.6 Mw   Empire of Japan 2,306 deaths
Total fatalities	2,306
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
1 [1]	Canada, Baffin Bay	6.5	35.0
12 [2] [3] [4]	Empire of Japan, Aichi Prefecture, Honshu	6.6	10.0	VII	The 1945 Mikawa earthquake left 2,306 people dead and 896 injured. 7,221 homes were destroyed.	2,306	896
22 [5]	Dominican Republic, Espaillat Province	6.0	35.0

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw 3 events
Deadliest	7.2 Mw   Empire of Japan 2 deaths
Total fatalities	2
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	4
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1 [6]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	7.0	20.0	rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake.
1 [7]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	7.2	20.0
10 [8] [9] [10]	Empire of Japan, off the northeast coast of Honshu	7.2	58.7	VII	A tsunami was generated. 2 people were killed and 2 homes were destroyed.	2
14 [11] [12]	United States, southern Idaho	6.0	10.0	VI
18 [13]	Empire of Japan, off the northeast coast of Honshu	6.4	22.5		Aftershock.
26 [14]	Empire of Japan, Volcano Islands	7.2	15.0

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw   Empire of Japan
Deadliest	6.0 Mw   Uganda 5 deaths
Total fatalities	5
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
11 [15]	Empire of Japan, southeast of Mindanao, Philippines	6.8	100.0
11 [16]	Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.2	50.0
17 [17]	Colombia, off the west coast of	6.8	15.0
18 [18] [19]	Uganda, Central Region, Uganda	6.0	35.0	IX	5 people were killed and some damage was caused.	5

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw   Soviet Union
Total fatalities	0
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
15 [20] [21]	Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia	7.0	35.0	VI
15 [22]	Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia	6.8	35.0		Aftershock.
19 [23]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.5	35.0
21 [24]	Mexico, State of Mexico	6.5	100.0
22 [25]	Empire of Japan, Celebes Sea	6.8	565.0
23 [26]	Australia, East New Britain Province, New Guinea	6.8	160.0

May

May

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw   Empire of 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
9 [27]	Empire of Japan, western Banda Sea, Dutch East Indies	6.8	550.0
19 [28] [29]	United States, off the coast of northern California	6.4	10.0	V
31 [30]	Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.6	50.0

June

June

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	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [31]	Panama, Chiriqui Province	7.0	80.0
4 [32] [33]	India, Uttarakhand	6.4	15.0	VII
22 [34]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	7.0	100.0
22 [35] [36]	India, Himachal Pradesh	6.5	20.0	VI
27 [37] [38]	Mexico, Gulf of California	6.7	10.0	VI

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw   United States
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 [39]	Colombia, Cauca Department	6.5	100.0
15 [40]	United States, Northern Mariana Islands	7.1	138.5
23 [41] [42]	Empire of Japan, northern Sumatra, Dutch East Indies	6.7	15.0	VII

August

August

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw   New Hebrides
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1 [43] [44]	Empire of Japan, off the east coast of Taiwan	6.3	14.0	V
2 [45]	Canada, northern Haida Gwaii	6.2	35.0
8 [46]	India, Andaman Islands	6.4	20.0
14 [47]	Japan, Ryukyu Islands	6.5	15.0
21 [48]	Peru, Pasco Region	6.8	117.3
28 [49]	Japan, off the south coast of Honshu	6.7	100.0
29 [50] [51]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.9	20.0	VI

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw   New Zealand
Deadliest	6.2 Mw   Republic of China (1912-1949) 17 deaths
Total fatalities	17
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	3
6.0–6.9	6

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1 [52]	New Zealand, off the south coast of South Island	7.5	20.0
2 [53]	eastern Mediterranean Sea	6.5	80.0
5 [54] [55]	Australia, south of New Ireland (island), New Guinea	6.6	45.0	VI
7 [56]	Romania, Vrancea County	6.5	100.0
12 [57] [58]	France, Sangha Department (Republic of the Congo)	6.0	35.0	VIII	Some damage was caused.
13 [59]	Chile, Santiago Metropolitan Region	7.1	91.9
19 [60]	Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido	6.6	65.0
22 [61]	Australia, Bismarck Sea, New Guinea	7.0	50.0
23 [62] [63]	Republic of China (1912-1949), Hebei Province	6.2	35.0	VIII	17 people were killed and 30 were injured. Some homes were destroyed.	17	30

October

October

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw 2 events
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
7 [64]	El Salvador, off coast of	6.1	25.0
9 [65] [66]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.6	60.0	VI
11 [67]	Mexico, Guerrero	6.5	90.0
16 [68] [69]	Indonesia, Molucca Sea	6.5	55.0	VI
27 [70]	Guatemala, Quiche Department	6.8	200.0
28 [71]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.8	183.6

November

November

Strongest magnitude	8.1 Mw   India
Deadliest	8.1 Mw   India 4,000 deaths
Total fatalities	4,000
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [72]	United States, east of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.8	50.0
26 [73]	Fiji	7.0	592.3
27 [74] [75] [76] [77]	India, off the coast of Pakistan	8.1	15.0	X	The 1945 Balochistan earthquake caused over 4,000 deaths mainly due to a tsunami. $25 million (1945 rate) in property damage was reported.	4,000

December

December

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw   Australia
Deadliest	0.0 Mw   Turkey 7 deaths
Total fatalities	7
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
8 [78] [79]	Australia, West New Britain Province, New Guinea	6.7	55.0	VI
9 [80]	Romania, Buzau County	6.0	100.0
21 [81]	Turkey, Denizli Province	0.0	0.0	VIII	7 deaths were caused and some damage was caused. Magnitude and depth unknown.	7
23 [82]	Venezuela,   Trinidad and Tobago, Columbus Channel	6.5	100.0
27 [83] [84]	Australia, West New Britain Province, New Guinea	6.7	55.0	VI	Foreshock.
28 [85]	Australia, West New Britain Province, New Guinea	7.8	85.0

References

1. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 1, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
2. "M 6.6 - near the south coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. January 12, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
3. "M 6.6 - near the south coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. January 12, 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
4. "Significant Earthquake: JAPAN: HONSHU: S". National Geophysical Data Center. January 12, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
5. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 22, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
6. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 1, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
7. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 1, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
8. "M 7.2 - Hokkaido, Japan region". United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
9. "M 7.2 - Hokkaido, Japan region". United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
10. "Tsunami Event: SANRIKU". National Geophysical Data Center. February 10, 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
11. "M 6.0 - southern Idaho". United States Geological Survey. February 14, 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
12. "M 6.0 - southern Idaho". United States Geological Survey. February 14, 1945. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
13. "M 6.4 - off the east coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. February 18, 1945. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
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31. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 3, 1945. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
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34. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 22, 1945. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
35. "M 6.5 - Himachal Pradesh, India". United States Geological Survey. June 22, 1945. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
36. "M 6.5 - Himachal Pradesh, India". United States Geological Survey. June 22, 1945. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
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39. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 9, 1945. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
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43. "M 6.3 - Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. August 1, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
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45. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 2, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
46. "M 6.4 - Andaman Islands, India region". United States Geological Survey. August 8, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
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48. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 21, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
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50. "M 6.9 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. August 29, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
51. "M 6.9 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. August 29, 1945. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
52. "M 7.5 - off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand". United States Geological Survey. September 1, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
53. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 2, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
54. "M 6.6 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. September 5, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
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56. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 7, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
57. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 12, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
58. "Significant Earthquake: CAMEROON: CONGO; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC". National Geophysical Data Center. September 12, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
59. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 13, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
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61. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 22, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
62. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 23, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
63. "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: HEBEI PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. September 23, 1945. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
64. "M 6.1 - off the coast of El Salvador". United States Geological Survey. October 7, 1945. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
65. "M 6.6 - Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. October 9, 1945. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
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68. "M 6.5 - Sulawesi, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. October 16, 1945. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
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73. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 26, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
74. "M 8.1 - off the coast of Pakistan". United States Geological Survey. November 27, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
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76. "Significant Earthquake: PAKISTAN: MAKRAN COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. November 27, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
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80. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 9, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
81. "Significant Earthquake: TURKEY: DENIZLI, BURDUR". National Geophysical Data Center. December 21, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
82. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 23, 1945. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
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