Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1953
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 2,621 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1953. 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 was a fairly active year. There were no great quakes above magnitude 8.0+ as experienced in previous years. Magnitude 7.0+ quakes numbered 11 in all. Japan led the way in magnitude terms. Other large quakes struck Chile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Turkey. The quakes with the most human casualties were in Turkey, Iran and Greece with the vast majority of the death toll coming from these events.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,070 | 7.3 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | March 18 |
2 | 970 | 6.6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | February 12 |
3 | 476 | 6.8 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | August 12 |
4 | 40 | 6.3 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 20.0 | September 10 |
5 | 37 | 5.5 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 35.0 | June 18 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.9 | 1 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 25.0 | November 25 |
2 | 7.5 | 9 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 66.0 | May 6 |
= 3 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | April 23 |
= 3 | 7.4 | 3 | ![]() | ( ) | 106.0 | December 7 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 1,070 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | March 18 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 128.8 | March 19 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | December 12 |
5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 236.2 | July 2 |
6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 35.0 | November 4 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 21.3 | January 5 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 350.0 | July 4 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [1] | ![]() | 7.0 | 21.3 | ||||
5 [2] | ![]() | 6.8 | 49.2 | ||||
7 [3] [4] | ![]() | 6.4 | 55.2 | VI | |||
11 [5] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
12 [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.6 | 54.2 | V | |||
19 [8] [9] | ![]() | 6.1 | 44.2 | IV | |||
20 [10] | ![]() | 6.5 | 70.0 | ||||
25 [11] [12] [13] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | 2 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 2 | |
30 [14] | ![]() | 6.5 | 93.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 970 deaths |
Total fatalities | 970 |
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 | ||||||
6 [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.6 | 45.1 | V | |||
12 [17] [18] [19] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | VII | 970 people were killed in the 1953 Torud earthquake. | 970 | |
14 [20] | ![]() | 6.2 | 80.0 | ||||
14 [21] | ![]() | 6.5 | 75.0 | ||||
26 [22] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw ![]() 1,070 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,070 |
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 | ||||||
3 [23] | ![]() | 6.6 | 35.0 | ||||
4 [24] | ![]() | 6.2 | 581.3 | ||||
5 [25] | ![]() | 6.3 | 52.0 | ||||
5 [26] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.0 | ||||
14 [27] [28] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
18 [29] [30] [31] | ![]() | 7.3 | 10.0 | VIII | The 1953 Yenice-Gonen earthquake resulted in 1,070 deaths. Property damage costs were $3.57 million (1953 rate). | 1,070 | |
19 [32] [33] | ![]() | 7.3 | 128.8 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | |||
1 [36] [37] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | |||
2 [38] [39] | ![]() | 6.2 | 55.0 | V | |||
4 [40] [41] | ![]() | 6.3 | 28.4 | IV | |||
5 [42] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
6 [43] | ![]() | 6.3 | 63.3 | ||||
14 [44] | ![]() | 6.5 | 617.6 | ||||
17 [45] [46] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | |||
23 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | VII | |||
23 [49] [50] [51] | ![]() | 7.4 | 35.0 | VII | A tsunami was generated. Damage was minor with costs of $13,000 (1953 rate) being reported. | ||
29 [52] [53] | ![]() | 6.2 | 19.0 | VI | |||
30 [54] | ![]() | 6.6 | 45.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw ![]() 9 deaths |
Total fatalities | 9 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [55] [56] [57] | ![]() | 5.6 | 35.0 | VII | Some homes were destroyed. | ||
6 [58] [59] [60] | ![]() | 7.5 | 66.0 | X | 9 people were killed and 26 were injured in the 1953 Concepción earthquake. Major damage was caused with costs reaching $500 million (1953 rate). | 9 | 26 |
20 [61] | ![]() | 6.7 | 115.0 | ||||
26 [62] [63] | ![]() | 6.2 | 49.3 | V | |||
31 [64] [65] | ![]() | 6.6 | 16.7 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.5 Mw ![]() 37 deaths |
Total fatalities | 37 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
10 [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | IV | |||
15 [68] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||
16 [69] | ![]() | 6.5 | 113.9 | ||||
18 [70] [71] [72] | ![]() | 5.5 | 35.0 | V | 37 people were killed. Some damage was caused. | 37 | |
18 [73] [74] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | |||
23 [75] [76] | ![]() | 6.1 | 48.4 | V | |||
25 [77] [78] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | |||
26 [79] [80] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.5 | 53.4 | VI | |||
2 [83] [84] | ![]() | 7.2 | 236.2 | V | |||
4 [85] | ![]() | 7.0 | 350.0 | ||||
6 [86] [87] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | |||
7 [88] | ![]() | 6.6 | 238.6 | ||||
9 [89] [90] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | |||
12 [91] [92] | ![]() | 6.3 | 28.0 | VI | |||
20 [93] | ![]() | 6.5 | 102.7 | ||||
21 [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 37.3 | ||||
22 [95] [96] | ![]() | 6.4 | 58.1 | VI | |||
26 [97] | ![]() | 6.7 | 190.4 | ||||
29 [98] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | ||||
31 [99] [100] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 476 deaths |
Total fatalities | 476 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
9 [101] | ![]() | 6.2 | 117.2 | ||||
9 [102] [103] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
11 [104] [105] [106] | ![]() | 6.5 | 10.0 | IX | Foreshock. | ||
12 [107] [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.8 | 10.0 | X | The 1953 Ionian earthquake was the largest of a series of events which caused major destruction in the area. 476 people were killed and 2,412 were injured. 27,773 homes were destroyed. Property damage costs were $100 million (1953 rate). | 476 | 2,412 |
12 [110] [111] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
12 [112] [113] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
12 [114] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | ||||
13 [115] | ![]() | 6.6 | 111.8 | ||||
17 [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | |||
25 [118] [119] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | |||
27 [120] | ![]() | 6.0 | 169.9 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw ![]() 40 deaths |
Total fatalities | 47 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [121] [122] | ![]() | 6.9 | 56.3 | VII | |||
4 [123] [124] | ![]() | 6.3 | 36.6 | VI | |||
5 [125] [126] | ![]() | 6.1 | 50.7 | V | |||
7 [127] [128] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | |||
10 [129] [130] [131] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | X | The 1953 Paphos earthquake killed 40 people and 100 were left injured. 500 homes were destroyed. | 40 | 100 |
14 [132] [133] [134] [135] | ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | VII | The 1953 Suva earthquake was a rare deadly event in Fiji. This event was near to the capitol which contributed to the destruction. A tsunami was generated which caused much of the 7 deaths and 12 injuries. Some homes were destroyed. | 7 | 12 |
17 [136] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | ||||
23 [137] [138] | ![]() | 6.6 | 55.2 | V | |||
29 [139] | ![]() | 6.9 | 310.8 | ||||
30 [140] [141] | ![]() | 6.8 | 10.0 | V |
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 | 9 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [142] [143] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | |||
6 [144] | ![]() | 6.6 | 20.0 | ||||
8 [145] [146] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | Foreshock. | ||
11 [147] [148] | ![]() | 6.6 | 49.8 | V | |||
11 [149] [150] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.0 | VI | |||
13 [151] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
14 [152] | ![]() | 6.9 | 113.2 | ||||
21 [153] [154] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Aftershock of August event. | ||
27 [155] | ![]() | 6.8 | 271.9 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.9 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [156] [157] | ![]() | 7.1 | 35.0 | VI | |||
7 [158] [159] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | |||
9 [160] [161] | ![]() | 6.4 | 33.3 | IV | |||
10 [162] [163] | ![]() | 6.6 | 56.7 | VI | |||
13 [164] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | Aftershock. | |||
17 [165] [166] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | V | |||
25 [167] [168] [169] [170] | ![]() | 7.9 | 25.0 | V | 1 person was killed and some damage was reported. A small tsunami was reported which destroyed some boats. | 1 | |
26 [171] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | Aftershock. | |||
26 [172] | ![]() | 6.7 | 25.0 | Aftershock. | |||
27 [173] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
29 [174] [175] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | |||
30 [176] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw ![]() 6 deaths |
Total fatalities | 9 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [177] | ![]() | 6.8 | 233.4 | ||||
1 [178] | ![]() | 6.9 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
1 [179] | ![]() | 6.5 | 499.4 | ||||
2 [180] [181] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | VII | |||
3 [182] [183] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.0 | VII | |||
7 [184] [185] | ![]() | 7.2 | 106.0 | 3 people were killed and damage costs were around $7.3 million (1953 rate). | 3 | ||
7 [186] [187] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | IV | |||
12 [188] [189] [190] | ![]() | 7.3 | 25.0 | IX | The 1953 Tumbes earthquake resulted in 6 deaths and 20 injuries. 200 homes were destroyed. | 6 | 20 |
20 [191] [192] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | |||
22 [193] [194] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | IV | |||
24 [195] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | Foreshock. | |||
25 [196] [197] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | V |