Strongest magnitude | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska (Magnitude 8.6) April 1 |
---|---|
Deadliest | Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay (Magnitude 7.5) August 4 1,790 deaths |
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. In general, 1946 was a busy year, with 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 | Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
2 | 1,400 | 6.8 | Peru, Ancash Region | XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | November 10 |
3 | 1,362 | 8.3 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
4 | 840 | 6.0 | Turkey, Erzurum Province | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | May 31 |
5 | 400 | 6.9 | Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan | VII (Very strong) | 37.9 | November 4 |
6 | 264 | 6.0 | France, Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | February 12 |
7 | 167 | 8.6 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
8 | 75 | 7.0 | Dominican Republic, off the northern coast | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
9 | 58 | 6.6 | Taiwan, north of Taiwan | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | December 4 |
10 | 12 | 5.6 | Turkey, Konya Province | VIII (Severe) | 60.0 | February 21 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.6 | 167 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
2 | 8.3 | 1,362 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
3 | 8.0 | 0 | Burma, Sagaing Region | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | September 12 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | Burma, Sagaing Region | ( ) | 15.0 | September 12 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), New Guinea | VI (Strong) | 50.0 | September 29 |
= 5 | 7.5 | 1,790 | Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
= 5 | 7.5 | 0 | Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | November 2 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Indonesia, Mentawai Islands | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | May 8 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Canada, Vancouver Island | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | June 23 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea | ( ) | 95.0 | January 17 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | ( ) | 573.6 | August 28 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea | ( ) | 110.0 | September 23 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | Mexico, Oaxaca | ( ) | 109.9 | June 7 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | Mexico, Veracruz | ( ) | 117.8 | July 11 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | ( ) | 35.0 | January 20 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | ( ) | 175.4 | July 9 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 75 | Dominican Republic, off the northern coast | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Fiji, south of | ( ) | 84.1 | August 21 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Fiji, south of | ( ) | 588.4 | September 26 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | ( ) | 50.0 | October 4 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | November 1 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Australia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Switzerland 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] | Guatemala, Quiche Department | 6.0 | 210.0 | ||||
5 [2] [3] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.9 | 35.0 | VI | |||
11 [4] [5] | Republic of China (1912-1949), Heilongjiang Province | 6.8 | 581.2 | II | |||
12 [6] [7] | United States, Gulf of Alaska | 6.6 | 20.0 | IV | |||
17 [8] | Australia, Morobe Province, New Guinea | 7.2 | 95.0 | ||||
20 [9] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.0 | 35.0 | ||||
25 [10] | Switzerland, Canton of Bern | 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 United States |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw France 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] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.8 | 160.0 | ||||
10 [13] [14] | Iran, South Khorasan Province | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. Magnitude and depth unknown. | 3 | |
12 [15] [16] | France, Bordj Bou Arreridj Province, Algeria | 6.0 | 35.0 | IX | 264 deaths were reported as well as major damage. | 264 | |
21 [17] [18] | Turkey, Konya Province | 5.6 | 60.0 | VIII | 12 people were killed. | 12 | |
22 [19] | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.0 | 170.0 | ||||
27 [20] | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 6.0 | 270.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
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] | United States, central California | 6.3 | 6.0 | VIII | |||
25 [23] | Cuba, southeast of | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
26 [24] [25] | Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 6.8 | 45.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 8.6 Mw United States |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.6 Mw United States 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] | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | 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] | Greece, southwest of Crete | 6.0 | 100.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Turkey 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] | Australia, New Ireland (island), New Guinea | 6.9 | 35.0 | VII | |||
8 [33] [34] | Indonesia, Mentawai Islands | 7.3 | 35.0 | VII | |||
21 [35] [36] | France, east of Martinique | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | |||
31 [37] [38] | Turkey, Erzurum Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | VIII | 840 people were killed. | 840 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw Canada |
---|---|
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] | Taiwan, east of | 6.3 | 15.0 | V | |||
7 [41] | Mexico, Oaxaca | 7.1 | 109.9 | ||||
15 [42] [43] | Indonesia, Ceram Sea | 6.4 | 15.0 | V | |||
23 [44] [45] [46] | Canada, Vancouver Island | 7.3 | 30.0 | VII | 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake. Some property damage was caused. | ||
24 [47] | Honduras, Copan Department | 6.0 | 260.0 | ||||
24 [48] | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 160.0 | ||||
26 [49] | Guatemala, Sacatepequez Department | 6.5 | 90.0 | ||||
26 [50] [51] | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | |||
28 [52] | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw Mexico |
---|---|
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] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.0 | 175.4 | ||||
11 [54] | Mexico, Veracruz | 7.1 | 117.8 | ||||
12 [55] | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.8 | 100.0 | ||||
26 [56] [57] | Chile, off coast of Tarapaca Region | 6.3 | 63.5 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw Dominican Republic |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw Dominican Republic 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] | Chile, Atacama Region | 6.9 | 39.2 | VII | 2 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 2 | |
4 [61] [62] [63] [64] | Dominican Republic, Samana Bay | 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] | Dominican Republic, north coast | 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] | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||
21 [69] | Fiji, south of | 7.0 | 84.1 | ||||
28 [70] | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 7.2 | 573.6 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.0 Mw Burma |
---|---|
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] | Burma, Sagaing Region | 8.0 | 15.0 | VII | 1946 Sagaing Earthquake | ||
12 [73] | Burma, Sagaing Region | 7.8 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
23 [74] | Australia, Morobe Province, New Guinea | 7.2 | 110.0 | ||||
26 [75] | Fiji, south of | 7.0 | 588.4 | ||||
29 [76] [77] | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), New Guinea | 7.8 | 50.0 | VI | |||
30 [78] [79] [80] | Peru, Ica Region | 6.1 | 53.0 | VII | Many homes were damaged. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Dominican Republic |
---|---|
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] | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 38.2 | VI | |||
2 [83] | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.3 | 34.3 | Aftershock. | |||
4 [84] | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | 7.0 | 50.0 | ||||
8 [85] | Fiji, south of | 6.8 | 620.0 | ||||
13 [86] | Bolivia, Potosi Department | 6.0 | 200.0 | ||||
22 [87] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.8 | 200.7 | ||||
25 [88] | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 140.0 | ||||
30 [89] | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | 6.5 | 30.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw Soviet Union |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw Peru 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] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 7.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
2 [92] [93] [94] | Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan | 7.5 | 25.0 | X | The 1946 Chatkal earthquake caused some damages to Central Asia. | ||
4 [95] [96] [97] | Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan | 6.9 | 37.9 | VII | 400 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 400 | |
6 [98] [99] | India, Leh | 6.4 | 25.0 | VII | |||
10 [100] | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
10 [101] [102] [103] | Peru, Ancash Region | 6.8 | 15.0 | XI | 1,400 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1946 Ancash earthquake. | 1,400 | |
12 [104] | Tonga | 6.9 | 15.0 | ||||
17 [105] | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
28 [106] | Tonga | 6.9 | 265.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw Japan |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.3 Mw Japan 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] | Taiwan, north of | 6.6 | 25.0 | IX | The 1946 Hsinhua earthquake left 58 people dead and 384 injured. 700 homes were destroyed. | 58 | 384 |
17 [110] | Fiji | 6.5 | 580.0 | ||||
19 [111] | Taiwan, east of | 6.8 | 98.0 | ||||
20 [112] [113] [114] [115] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 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] | Soviet Union, east of Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.9 | 20.0 | ||||
25 [117] | United States, Rat Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 90.0 |
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, 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 1946 Nankai earthquake was a great earthquake in Nankaidō, Japan. It occurred on December 21, 1946, at 04:19 JST. The earthquake measured between 8.1 and 8.4 on the moment magnitude scale, and was felt from Northern Honshū to Kyūshū. It occurred almost two years after the 1944 Tōnankai earthquake, which ruptured the adjacent part of the Nankai megathrust.
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.
The 1931 Fuyun earthquake (富蕴地震) occurred on August 10 at 21:18 UTC. The epicenter was near Fuyun County of northern Xinjiang, China. It was a Mw 8.0 earthquake and had a surface rupture of 171 km with a maximal horizontal displacement of 14 m along the Koktokay-Ertai fault zone (可可托海-二台断裂带). The Koktokay-Ertai fault has a slip rate of 4±2 mm per year. The rupture of this earthquake was caused by right-lateral strike-slip movement with normal component. The rupture is well preserved and becomes one of the main features of the Koktokay National Geopark (可可托海国家地质公园) located in Koktokay.
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 2006 Mozambique earthquake occurred at 22:19 UTC on 22 February. It had a magnitude of 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale and caused 4 deaths and 36 injuries. The epicenter was near Machaze in Manica Province of southern Mozambique, just north of the Save River. It was the largest historical earthquake in Mozambique and the first earthquake in southern Africa to have an identified surface rupture.
The 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake occurred on August 15 at 12:18 UTC near the Moro Gulf coast of Mindanao. It had a magnitude of 8.3 on the moment magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a tsunami of up to 7 m in height and the combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami led to the deaths of 52 people.
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 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.
On November 14, 1986, a strong earthquake with a recorded magnitude of 7.4 struck Hualien City in Taiwan. The earthquake killed 15 people and injured 44. Landslides occurred along a highway between Su'ao and Hualien. The Taiwan–Guam and Taiwan–Okinawa undersea telecommunication cables were damaged. The earthquake triggered a tsunami with a maximum height of 0.3 m. The tsunami sank 10 fishing boats in Hualien and Yilan and was attributed to six injuries.