Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1955
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 504 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1955. 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 somewhat a year of contrast. The number of magnitude 7.0+ quakes was up on the previous year. The largest quake only reached 7.5 in magnitude. The death toll during the year was relatively low with most of the 504 deaths coming in the Philippines in March. Four-hundred died in the quake which struck Mindanao. Other deadly events struck most notably China and Egypt.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 400 | 7.4 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | March 31 |
2 | 39 | 7.1 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 10.0 | April 14 |
3 | 22 | 6.2 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 63.7 | September 12 |
4 | 12 | 6.0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 15.0 | February 18 |
5 | 10 | 5.8 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 15.0 | September 1 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | February 27 |
2 | 7.4 | 400 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | March 31 |
3 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | October 10 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 59.2 | March 18 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 558.9 | May 30 |
5 | 7.1 | 39 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 10.0 | April 14 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | January 5 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 100.0 | March 14 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | southern Indian Ocean | ( ) | 20.0 | March 22 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 1 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 19 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.3 | May 17 |
= 6 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 179.2 | August 16 |
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 | 9 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [1] [2] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | V | |||
5 [3] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | ||||
5 [4] [5] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
5 [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | VI | |||
6 [8] [9] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
8 [10] | ![]() | 6.6 | 62.7 | ||||
13 [11] | ![]() | 6.8 | 17.6 | ||||
13 [12] | ![]() | 6.5 | 40.0 | Aftershock. | |||
28 [13] [14] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VII | |||
31 [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 12 deaths |
Total fatalities | 12 |
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 | ||||||
1 [17] [18] | ![]() | 6.0 | 55.0 | V | |||
15 [19] [20] | ![]() | 6.2 | 65.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
15 [21] [22] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | |||
18 [23] [24] [25] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | 12 people were killed and more than 100 were hurt. Some damage was caused. | 12 | 100+ |
27 [26] | ![]() | 7.5 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.4 Mw ![]() 400 deaths |
Total fatalities | 400 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [27] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | ||||
6 [28] [29] | ![]() | 6.1 | 38.3 | ||||
6 [30] [31] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
6 [32] [33] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
6 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.3 | 124.9 | V | |||
14 [36] | ![]() | 7.0 | 100.0 | ||||
18 [37] [38] | ![]() | 7.2 | 59.2 | VII | |||
22 [39] [40] | ![]() | 6.0 | 60.0 | V | |||
22 [41] | southern Indian Ocean | 7.0 | 20.0 | ||||
28 [42] | ![]() | 6.3 | 51.0 | ||||
31 [43] [44] [45] | ![]() | 7.4 | 35.0 | VIII | During the 1955 Lanao earthquake, 400 people were killed and property damage costs were $5 million (1955 rate). | 400 | |
31 [46] [47] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.1 Mw ![]() 39 deaths |
Total fatalities | 55 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 16 |
5.0–5.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [48] [49] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | VI | |||
4 [50] [51] [52] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Some damage was reported. | ||
5 [53] [54] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | VI | |||
5 [55] [56] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
10 [57] [58] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
13 [59] [60] [61] | ![]() | 5.6 | 25.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
14 [62] [63] [64] | ![]() | 7.1 | 10.0 | IX | 39 people were killed and 113 were injured in the 1955 Zheduotang earthquake. 500 homes were destroyed. | 39 | 113 |
15 [65] [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.9 | 20.0 | rowspan="2"| Some homes were destroyed. Doublet earthquake. | |||
15 [68] [69] | ![]() | 6.9 | 20.0 | VII | |||
17 [70] | ![]() | 6.5 | 28.5 | ||||
19 [71] [72] [73] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | X | 8 people were killed and 149 were injured. 459 homes were destroyed and 8,352 were damaged. | 8 | 149 |
19 [74] [75] [76] [77] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | 1 person drowned due to a tsunami hitting the coast. A few homes were destroyed. | 1 | |
20 [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
20 [80] [81] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
21 [82] [83] [84] | ![]() | 5.9 | 15.0 | X | 7 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 7 | |
22 [85] | ![]() | 6.5 | 114.9 | ||||
24 [86] [87] [88] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | A few homes were destroyed. | ||
26 [89] [90] | ![]() | 6.1 | 50.0 | V | |||
28 [91] [92] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | IV | |||
30 [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | 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 | 9 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [95] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | ||||
11 [96] [97] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | |||
11 [98] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
14 [99] | ![]() | 6.7 | 487.0 | ||||
17 [100] [101] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.3 | VII | |||
26 [102] [103] | ![]() | 6.3 | 40.0 | VI | |||
28 [104] | ![]() | 6.5 | 179.4 | ||||
30 [105] | ![]() | 7.2 | 558.9 | ||||
30 [106] [107] | ![]() | 6.3 | 55.0 | VI | |||
31 [108] | ![]() | 6.8 | 155.0 | ||||
31 [109] | ![]() | 6.0 | 95.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
2 [110] | ![]() | 6.7 | 20.0 | ||||
4 [111] | ![]() | 6.2 | 36.5 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | |||
4 [112] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | ||||
5 [113] [114] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
7 [115] [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | 4,524 homes were destroyed. | ||
14 [118] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
14 [119] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | ||||
17 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.2 | 30.0 | V | |||
20 [122] | ![]() | 6.7 | 30.4 | ||||
27 [123] [124] | ![]() ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4 |
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 | ||||||
6 [125] [126] | ![]() | 6.2 | 52.1 | V | |||
10 [127] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | ||||
16 [128] [129] [130] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | IX | 4 people were killed and major damage was reported. | 4 | |
20 [131] [132] [133] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | Substantial damage was reported. | ||
21 [134] | ![]() | 6.8 | 88.6 | ||||
23 [135] [136] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | V | |||
23 [137] [138] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | |||
24 [139] [140] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | V | |||
27 [141] [142] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
28 [143] [144] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII |
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 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [145] | ![]() | 6.7 | 360.2 | ||||
16 [146] | ![]() | 7.0 | 179.2 | ||||
21 [147] [148] | ![]() | 6.7 | 41.3 | VI | |||
28 [149] [150] | ![]() | 6.7 | 44.8 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 22 deaths |
Total fatalities | 33 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [151] [152] [153] | ![]() | 5.8 | 15.0 | VI | 10 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 10 | |
3 [154] [155] | ![]() | 6.4 | 44.1 | VI | |||
3 [156] | ![]() | 6.5 | 294.1 | ||||
4 [157] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
8 [158] [159] | ![]() | 6.3 | 50.0 | V | |||
9 [160] [161] | ![]() | 6.0 | 40.6 | IV | |||
11 [162] [163] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VI | |||
12 [164] [165] [166] | ![]() | 6.2 | 63.7 | IV | 22 people were killed and 12 were injured in the 1955 Alexandria earthquake. Major damage was caused in the area. | 22 | 12 |
13 [167] | ![]() | 6.0 | 55.0 | ||||
21 [168] [169] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
22 [170] [171] | ![]() | 6.6 | 45.0 | V | |||
23 [172] [173] [174] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | IX | At least 1 person was killed and 15,000 homes were destroyed. | 1 | |
24 [175] [176] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | |||
25 [177] | ![]() | 6.6 | 91.8 | ||||
26 [178] | ![]() | 6.7 | 202.8 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [179] [180] [181] | ![]() | 5.9 | 15.0 | VII | A few homes were destroyed. | ||
6 [182] | ![]() | 6.5 | 167.3 | ||||
9 [183] [184] | ![]() | 6.1 | 50.0 | V | Foreshock. | ||
10 [185] [186] | ![]() | 7.3 | 20.0 | VII | |||
13 [187] [188] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
21 [189] [190] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | |||
24 [191] | ![]() | 6.5 | 362.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [192] | ![]() | 6.5 | 112.0 | ||||
10 [193] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | ||||
17 [194] [195] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.8 | VII | |||
23 [196] [197] | ![]() | 6.7 | 53.3 | VI |
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 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [198] [199] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
7 [200] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | ||||
14 [201] [202] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
19 [203] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 |