Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1946
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 6,373 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1946. 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. Several great shocks affected the planet in 1946. The largest was one of the most significant in human terms. The quake itself was a magnitude 8.6 striking on April 1 in Alaska resulting in a tsunami mainly affecting Hawaii. The consequence of this apart from many deaths was the foundation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. This organisation has helped to substantially reduce the death toll of tsunamis in the Pacific, although there have been a few exceptions, including the 2011 Japan event. Japan itself was heavily affected in 1946 by a large quake hitting in December, causing 1,362 deaths. The Dominican Republic was another nation that suffered great destruction in August. Turkey, Peru, and Turkmenistan all saw earthquakes causing many deaths. There were 21 events measuring above 7.0 and three exceeding a magnitude of 8.0.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,790 | 7.5 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
2 | 1,400 | 6.8 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | November 10 |
3 | 1,362 | 8.3 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
4 | 840 | 6.0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | May 31 |
5 | 400 | 6.9 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 37.9 | November 4 |
6 | 264 | 6.0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | February 12 |
7 | 167 | 8.6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
8 | 75 | 7.0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
9 | 58 | 6.6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | December 4 |
10 | 12 | 5.6 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 60.0 | February 21 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.6 | 167 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
2 | 8.3 | 1,362 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
3 | 8.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | September 12 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | September 12 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 50.0 | September 29 |
= 5 | 7.5 | 1,790 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
= 5 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | November 2 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | May 8 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | June 23 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 95.0 | January 17 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 573.6 | August 28 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 110.0 | September 23 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 109.9 | June 7 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 117.8 | July 11 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 35.0 | January 20 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 175.4 | July 9 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 75 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 84.1 | August 21 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 588.4 | September 26 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 50.0 | October 4 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | November 1 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [1] | ![]() | 6.0 | 210.0 | ||||
5 [2] [3] | ![]() | 6.9 | 35.0 | VI | |||
11 [4] [5] | ![]() | 6.8 | 581.2 | II | |||
12 [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.6 | 20.0 | IV | |||
17 [8] | ![]() | 7.2 | 95.0 | ||||
20 [9] | ![]() | 7.0 | 35.0 | ||||
25 [10] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | VIII | The 1946 Valais earthquake killed three people in Switzerland, and one in France. [11] | 4 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 264 deaths |
Total fatalities | 279 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [12] | ![]() | 6.8 | 160.0 | ||||
10 [13] [14] | ![]() | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. Magnitude and depth unknown. | 3 | |
12 [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | IX | 264 deaths were reported as well as major damage. | 264 | |
21 [17] [18] | ![]() | 5.6 | 60.0 | VIII | 12 people were killed. | 12 | |
22 [19] | ![]() | 6.0 | 170.0 | ||||
27 [20] | ![]() | 6.0 | 270.0 |
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 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
15 [21] [22] | ![]() | 6.3 | 6.0 | VIII | |||
25 [23] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
26 [24] [25] | ![]() | 6.8 | 45.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 8.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.6 Mw ![]() 167 deaths |
Total fatalities | 167 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [26] [27] [28] [29] | ![]() | 8.6 | 15.0 | VII | This was one of the largest events of all time. The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake caused a large tsunami that resulted in major destruction on Hawaii. 167 people were killed and property damage was $26 million (1946 rate). The disaster prompted the formation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. | 167 | |
5 [30] | ![]() | 6.0 | 100.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 840 deaths |
Total fatalities | 840 |
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 [31] [32] | ![]() | 6.9 | 35.0 | VII | |||
8 [33] [34] | ![]() | 7.3 | 35.0 | VII | |||
21 [35] [36] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | |||
31 [37] [38] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | VIII | 840 people were killed. | 840 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [39] [40] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | V | |||
7 [41] | ![]() | 7.1 | 109.9 | ||||
15 [42] [43] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | V | |||
23 [44] [45] [46] | ![]() | 7.3 | 30.0 | VII | 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake. Some property damage was caused. | ||
24 [47] | ![]() | 6.0 | 260.0 | ||||
24 [48] | ![]() | 6.5 | 160.0 | ||||
26 [49] | ![]() | 6.5 | 90.0 | ||||
26 [50] [51] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | |||
28 [52] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
9 [53] | ![]() | 7.0 | 175.4 | ||||
11 [54] | ![]() | 7.1 | 117.8 | ||||
12 [55] | ![]() | 6.8 | 100.0 | ||||
26 [56] [57] | ![]() | 6.3 | 63.5 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw ![]() 1,790 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,867 |
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 | ||||||
2 [58] [59] [60] | ![]() | 6.9 | 39.2 | VII | 2 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 2 | |
4 [61] [62] [63] [64] | ![]() | 7.5 | 15.0 | VII | The 1946 Dominican Republic earthquake was one of the worst disasters to hit the country. The earthquake caused few deaths however a major tsunami left 1,790 people dead. Many homes were destroyed. | 1,790 | |
8 [65] [66] [67] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | This was a large aftershock of the previous event. 75 further deaths were caused by a tsunami. | 75 | |
11 [68] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||
21 [69] | ![]() | 7.0 | 84.1 | ||||
28 [70] | ![]() | 7.2 | 573.6 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
12 [71] [72] | ![]() | 8.0 | 15.0 | VII | 1946 Sagaing Earthquake | ||
12 [73] | ![]() | 7.8 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
23 [74] | ![]() | 7.2 | 110.0 | ||||
26 [75] | ![]() | 7.0 | 588.4 | ||||
29 [76] [77] | ![]() | 7.8 | 50.0 | VI | |||
30 [78] [79] [80] | ![]() | 6.1 | 53.0 | VII | Many homes were damaged. |
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 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.5 | 38.2 | VI | |||
2 [83] | ![]() | 6.3 | 34.3 | Aftershock. | |||
4 [84] | ![]() | 7.0 | 50.0 | ||||
8 [85] | ![]() | 6.8 | 620.0 | ||||
13 [86] | ![]() | 6.0 | 200.0 | ||||
22 [87] | ![]() | 6.8 | 200.7 | ||||
25 [88] | ![]() | 6.5 | 140.0 | ||||
30 [89] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 1,400 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,800 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [90] [91] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
2 [92] [93] [94] | ![]() | 7.5 | 25.0 | X | The 1946 Chatkal earthquake caused some damages to Central Asia. | ||
4 [95] [96] [97] | ![]() | 6.9 | 37.9 | VII | 400 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 400 | |
6 [98] [99] | ![]() | 6.4 | 25.0 | VII | |||
10 [100] | ![]() | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
10 [101] [102] [103] | ![]() | 6.8 | 15.0 | XI | 1,400 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1946 Ancash earthquake. | 1,400 | |
12 [104] | ![]() | 6.9 | 15.0 | ||||
17 [105] | ![]() | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
28 [106] | ![]() | 6.9 | 265.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.3 Mw ![]() 1,362 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,420 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [107] [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | IX | The 1946 Hsinhua earthquake left 58 people dead and 384 injured. 700 homes were destroyed. | 58 | 384 |
17 [110] | ![]() | 6.5 | 580.0 | ||||
19 [111] | ![]() | 6.8 | 98.0 | ||||
20 [112] [113] [114] [115] | ![]() | 8.3 | 15.0 | VII | The 1946 Nankai earthquake was one of the largest quakes to hit Japan. The south coast is vulnerable to Nankai megathrust earthquakes. 1,362 people were killed and 2,600 were injured. 36,000 homes were destroyed. A tsunami washed the shoreline contributing to the devastation with wave heights around 20 feet. | 1,362 | 2,600 |
21 [116] | ![]() | 6.9 | 20.0 | ||||
25 [117] | ![]() | 6.5 | 90.0 |