Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1954
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 1,295 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1954. 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 year was characterized by a lack of large events. The largest event of magnitude 7.8 occurred in Spain, albeit a rare event for the area, there were no deaths due to its depth. A significant quake struck Nevada in December. With a magnitude of 7.3, this was one of the largest in the state's history. Total lives lost in the year amounted to 1,295. The vast majority of these came from Algeria, which suffered one of its worst disasters in September.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,243 | 6.7 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | September 9 |
2 | 31 | 6.7 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | April 30 |
3 | 13 | 6.6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | July 2 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 626.2 | March 29 |
2 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 183.9 | March 21 |
3 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | December 16 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | February 1 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 10.0 | April 29 |
5 | 7.1 | 0 | Owen fracture zone | ( ) | 15.0 | March 31 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | February 11 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 540.5 | February 20 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 120.0 | February 22 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 256.6 | September 17 |
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 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] [2] | ![]() | 6.2 | 60.0 | V | |||
12 [3] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | Beginning of a series of events. | |||
12 [4] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
13 [5] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | ||||
28 [6] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 6 deaths |
Total fatalities | 6 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [7] | ![]() | 7.2 | 15.0 | ||||
5 [8] [9] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | VI | |||
5 [10] [11] | ![]() | 6.2 | 117.5 | 6 people were killed. Damage costs were around $17 million (1954 rate). | 6 | ||
11 [12] [13] [14] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.0 | X | Many homes were destroyed. | ||
19 [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
19 [17] [18] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | VI | |||
19 [19] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | ||||
19 [20] | ![]() | 6.0 | 85.0 | ||||
20 [21] | ![]() | 7.0 | 540.5 | ||||
22 [22] | ![]() | 7.0 | 120.0 | ||||
23 [23] [24] | ![]() ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VI | Border region between the two countries. | ||
28 [25] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||
28 [26] | ![]() | 5.4 | 4.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused in the 1954 Adelaide earthquake. This was one of the strongest events in the area. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [27] [28] | ![]() | 6.8 | 15.0 | VII | |||
3 [29] [30] | ![]() | 6.3 | 56.0 | V | |||
6 [31] | ![]() | 6.5 | 530.6 | ||||
9 [32] | ![]() | 6.3 | 27.5 | ||||
17 [33] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth | |||
19 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.4 | 6.0 | VIII | |||
21 [36] [37] | ![]() | 7.4 | 183.9 | Some damage was caused. | |||
29 [38] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | ||||
29 [39] [40] [41] | ![]() | 7.8 | 626.2 | IV | Some damage was reported. | ||
30 [42] [43] | ![]() | 6.0 | 9.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
30 [44] [45] | ![]() | 6.5 | 9.0 | VIII | |||
31 [46] | Owen fracture zone | 7.1 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 31 deaths |
Total fatalities | 31 |
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 | ||||||
1 [47] | ![]() | 6.0 | 100.0 | ||||
4 [48] [49] | ![]() | 6.0 | 56.0 | IV | |||
11 [50] [51] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
17 [52] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | ||||
26 [53] | ![]() | 6.3 | 65.0 | ||||
29 [54] [55] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
29 [56] [57] | ![]() | 7.2 | 10.0 | VII | |||
30 [58] [59] [60] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | X | The 1954 Sofades earthquake 31 people were killed and 717 were injured. 13,356 homes were damaged or destroyed. Costs were $3.15 million (1954 rate). | 31 | 717 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [61] [62] | ![]() | 6.0 | 141.3 | IV | |||
5 [63] [64] | ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | VI | |||
5 [65] | ![]() | 6.0 | 46.4 | ||||
13 [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.3 | 62.4 | VI | |||
13 [68] | ![]() | 6.0 | 80.0 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [69] | ![]() | 6.6 | 245.1 | ||||
19 [70] [71] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
31 [72] | ![]() | 6.5 | 150.0 |
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 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [73] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
6 [74] [75] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | VII | |||
7 [76] | ![]() | 6.6 | 448.5 | ||||
12 [77] | ![]() | 6.5 | 569.0 | ||||
15 [78] | ![]() | 6.5 | 119.9 | ||||
17 [79] | ![]() | 5.3 | 0.0 | VI | A few homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | ||
21 [80] | ![]() | 6.6 | 113.0 | ||||
30 [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VIII |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 13 deaths |
Total fatalities | 13 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [83] [84] [85] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | IX | 13 people were killed and 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 13 | 101 |
3 [86] [87] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
3 [88] [89] | ![]() | 6.8 | 60.0 | VII | |||
6 [90] | ![]() | 6.5 | 19.1 | ||||
6 [91] [92] [93] | ![]() | 6.8 | 0.0 | VIII | A few people were injured. Some damage was reported. This was the start of several large earthquakes in Nevada over the remainder of the year. Depth unknown. | 10+ | |
6 [94] [95] | ![]() | 6.2 | 0.0 | VII | Aftershock. Depth unknown. | ||
13 [96] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
18 [97] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
18 [98] [99] | ![]() | 6.3 | 55.0 | V | |||
23 [100] [101] | ![]() | 6.1 | 38.3 | VI | |||
26 [102] [103] | ![]() | 6.3 | 55.0 | VI | |||
31 [104] [105] [106] | ![]() | 6.9 | 25.0 | VII | 542 homes were destroyed. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.0 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [107] [108] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | V | |||
5 [109] [110] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | |||
18 [111] | ![]() | 6.7 | 156.8 | ||||
20 [112] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | 1 person was killed and some damage was reported. Unknown depth. | 1 | ||
24 [113] [114] | ![]() | 6.6 | 0.0 | IX | Further damage in the area affected by another large event in early July. Depth unknown. | ||
30 [115] | ![]() | 6.0 | 57.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 1,243 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,243 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [116] | ![]() | 6.6 | 135.0 | ||||
4 [117] [118] | ![]() | 6.4 | 47.9 | VI | |||
4 [119] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
6 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.3 | 60.0 | VI | |||
9 [122] [123] [124] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | XI | The 1954 Chlef earthquake caused one of the worst disasters to affect the country. 1,243 people were killed and another 5,000 injured. 20,000 homes were destroyed with damage costs reaching $6 million (1954 rate). | 1,243 | 5,000 |
10 [125] [126] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
13 [127] | ![]() | 6.5 | 178.0 | ||||
14 [128] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
15 [129] | ![]() | 6.7 | 564.6 | ||||
17 [130] | ![]() | 7.0 | 256.6 | ||||
20 [131] [132] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | |||
23 [133] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||
27 [134] [135] | ![]() | 6.0 | 60.1 | V |
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 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [136] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | Foreshock. | |||
3 [137] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
3 [138] [139] | ![]() | 6.4 | 61.5 | VIII | |||
4 [140] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [141] [142] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
17 [143] [144] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VI | |||
21 [145] [146] | ![]() | 6.1 | 66.0 | V | |||
24 [147] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | VII | Some homes were damaged and others were destroyed. Unknown depth. |
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 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [148] [149] [150] | ![]() | 6.7 | 20.0 | VIII | Some homes were damaged. | ||
12 [151] [152] | ![]() | 6.1 | 6.0 | VIII | |||
15 [153] | ![]() | 6.7 | 189.0 | ||||
18 [154] [155] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | |||
23 [156] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
25 [157] [158] | ![]() | 6.8 | 10.0 | V | |||
25 [159] | ![]() | 6.5 | 643.5 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
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 | ||||||
3 [160] [161] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
4 [162] [163] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | V | |||
4 [164] [165] | ![]() | 6.1 | 49.0 | VI | |||
16 [166] [167] | ![]() | 7.3 | 15.0 | XII | 1954 Nevada earthquake. This was one of the largest events in the state. Some damage was reported. Many aftershocks followed. | ||
16 [168] [169] | ![]() | 6.9 | 15.0 | X | Large aftershock. | ||
19 [170] | ![]() | 6.6 | 247.3 | ||||
21 [171] [172] | ![]() | 6.5 | 0.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and several were injured. Damage was caused with costs being around $2.1 million (1954 rate). Depth unknown. | 1 | 10+ |
28 [173] [174] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI |