Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1956
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 910 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 0 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 11 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 104 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 7 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1956. 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. Again a fairly active year. 11 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were recorded with the largest of those striking Greece in the summer. The event in Greece measured 7.7 and was one of the largest ever to affect the country. In all earthquakes in 1956 resulted in 910 fatalities. Iran had the deadliest event of the year with 347 deaths in October. Spain, Burma, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Greece and India also suffered from deadly events.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 347 | 6.4 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | October 31 |
2 | 156 | 6.0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | July 21 |
3 | 148 | 5.3 | ![]() | ( ) | 15.0 | March 16 |
4 | 100 | 7.3 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | June 9 |
5 | 56 | 7.7 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | July 9 |
6 | 51 | 5.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | November 2 |
7 | 38 | 6.8 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 34.3 | July 16 |
8 | 12 | 5.0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 6.3 | April 19 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.7 | 56 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | July 9 |
2 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 419.1 | May 23 |
3 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 66.1 | September 29 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 484.1 | February 18 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 100 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | June 9 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 100.4 | October 11 |
5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 136.8 | July 18 |
6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | October 24 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 35.0 | January 10 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | January 16 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 198.0 | December 27 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw ![]() 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] | ![]() | 6.5 | 170.0 | ||||
8 [2] [3] [4] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | At least 101 people were injured and major property damage was caused. | 101+ | |
8 [5] [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.6 | 51.5 | VII | At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1+ | |
9 [8] | ![]() | 6.5 | 610.0 | ||||
10 [9] | ![]() | 7.0 | 35.0 | ||||
11 [10] | ![]() | 6.2 | 180.0 | ||||
12 [11] [12] [13] | ![]() | 5.8 | 15.0 | VII | The 1956 Budapest earthquake struck the eastern suburbs of the city. 2 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 2 | |
14 [14] | ![]() | 6.0 | 46.5 | ||||
16 [15] [16] [17] | ![]() | 7.0 | 20.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | ||
18 [18] [19] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
21 [20] | ![]() | 6.1 | 60.0 | ||||
23 [21] | ![]() | 6.6 | 75.1 | ||||
28 [22] [23] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | VI | |||
30 [24] [25] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | V | |||
31 [26] | ![]() | 6.9 | 400.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [27] | ![]() | 6.7 | 370.1 | ||||
1 [28] | ![]() | 6.2 | 225.0 | ||||
4 [29] | ![]() | 6.2 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
9 [30] [31] | ![]() | 6.8 | 6.0 | VIII | |||
9 [32] [33] | ![]() | 6.2 | 6.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | ||
10 [34] | ![]() | 6.1 | 38.5 | ||||
12 [35] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.7 | ||||
13 [36] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [37] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [38] [39] | ![]() | 6.4 | 6.0 | rowspan="2"| Southeast of previous weeks events. Doublet earthquake. | |||
15 [40] [41] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
18 [42] | ![]() | 7.3 | 484.1 | ||||
19 [43] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
20 [44] [45] [46] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | 4 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 4 | |
29 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.2 | 52.7 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.3 Mw ![]() 148 deaths |
Total fatalities | 148 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [49] | ![]() | 5.3 | 0.0 | VII | Some structural damage was caused. Unknown depth. | ||
3 [50] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
5 [51] [52] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | |||
5 [53] [54] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | |||
13 [55] [56] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | V | |||
16 [57] [58] | ![]() | 5.3 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| 148 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1956 Chim earthquake. Doublet earthquake with 2 events eleven minutes apart. | 148 | ||
16 [59] [60] | ![]() | 5.5 | 15.0 | VII | |||
19 [61] [62] | ![]() | 6.1 | 50.3 | V | |||
22 [63] | ![]() | 6.5 | 86.3 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.0 Mw ![]() 7 deaths |
Total fatalities | 7 |
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 | ||||||
2 [64] [65] | ![]() | 6.3 | 29.9 | VI | |||
4 [66] | ![]() | 6.5 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
6 [67] | ![]() | 6.6 | 214.2 | ||||
7 [68] | ![]() | 6.9 | 346.9 | ||||
10 [69] | ![]() | 6.6 | 129.8 | ||||
18 [70] | ![]() | 6.1 | 45.0 | ||||
19 [71] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | The 1956 Atarfe-Albolote earthquake killed 7 people and caused major damage. | 7 | ||
22 [72] [73] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | |||
23 [74] [75] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | IV |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [76] | ![]() | 6.6 | 66.0 | ||||
13 [77] [78] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | |||
19 [79] [80] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
22 [81] | ![]() | 6.3 | 45.0 | ||||
22 [82] | ![]() | 6.2 | 506.0 | ||||
23 [83] [84] | ![]() | 7.6 | 419.1 | IV | |||
26 [85] | ![]() | 6.5 | 615.0 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw ![]() 100 deaths |
Total fatalities | 100 |
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 | ||||||
9 [86] [87] | ![]() | 6.6 | 23.5 | VII | |||
9 [88] [89] [90] | ![]() | 7.3 | 25.0 | VII | 100 people were killed. | 100 | |
23 [91] [92] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | VI | |||
24 [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | IV | |||
29 [95] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 156 deaths |
Total fatalities | 250 |
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 | ||||||
3 [96] | ![]() | 6.1 | 215.7 | ||||
4 [97] [98] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | |||
9 [99] [100] [101] [102] | ![]() | 7.7 | 20.0 | IX | The 1956 Amorgos earthquake which was one of the strongest in Greek history caused 53 deaths and major damage. A tsunami resulted in a further 3 deaths. | 56 | |
9 [103] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
9 [104] [105] | ![]() | 6.2 | 55.0 | VI | |||
12 [106] | ![]() | 6.2 | 90.0 | ||||
16 [107] [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.8 | 34.3 | VII | 38 people were killed and some damage was caused in the 1956 Sagaing earthquake. | 38 | |
17 [110] [111] | ![]() | 6.8 | 450.8 | III | |||
18 [112] | ![]() | 7.2 | 136.8 | ||||
19 [113] [114] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | |||
21 [115] [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | IX | The 1956 Anjar earthquake left 156 people dead and major damage. | 156 | |
22 [118] | ![]() | 6.1 | 96.8 | ||||
30 [119] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
9 [122] | ![]() | 6.5 | 288.2 | ||||
12 [123] [124] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.0 | VI | |||
15 [125] | ![]() | 6.4 | 297.3 | ||||
15 [126] | ![]() | 6.3 | 170.0 | ||||
19 [127] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | VII | A few homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | ||
23 [128] [129] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
11 [130] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | ||||
11 [131] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
15 [132] | ![]() | 6.8 | 94.8 | ||||
16 [133] [134] | ![]() | 6.5 | 10.0 | VIII | |||
17 [135] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
19 [136] | ![]() | 6.1 | 114.9 | ||||
29 [137] [138] | ![]() | 7.5 | 66.1 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw ![]() 347 deaths |
Total fatalities | 347 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [139] | ![]() | 6.5 | 97.3 | ||||
8 [140] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | ||||
10 [141] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | ||||
11 [142] [143] | ![]() | 7.3 | 100.4 | VII | |||
12 [144] [145] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | V | |||
12 [146] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | ||||
13 [147] | ![]() | 6.1 | 100.0 | ||||
19 [148] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | ||||
22 [149] [150] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | |||
23 [151] [152] | ![]() | 6.7 | 90.4 | VI | |||
24 [153] [154] | ![]() | 7.1 | 35.0 | VII | 1956 Nicaragua earthquake. | ||
25 [155] [156] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
26 [157] [158] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | V | |||
28 [159] [160] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | |||
31 [161] [162] [163] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VII | 347 people were killed and major damage was reported. | 347 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.5 Mw ![]() 51+ deaths |
Total fatalities | 51+ |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [164] [165] [166] | ![]() | 5.5 | 15.0 | VIII | At least 51 people were killed. | 51+ | |
9 [167] | ![]() | 6.4 | 148.9 | ||||
10 [168] | ![]() | 6.0 | 70.0 | ||||
10 [169] [170] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
16 [171] [172] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | |||
21 [173] | ![]() | 6.1 | 41.0 | ||||
25 [174] [175] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | V |
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 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [176] | ![]() | 6.0 | 13.6 | ||||
4 [177] | ![]() | 6.0 | 89.4 | ||||
8 [178] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | ||||
15 [179] | ![]() | 6.1 | 151.3 | ||||
16 [180] [181] | ![]() | 6.0 | 32.8 | VI | |||
18 [182] [183] | ![]() | 6.8 | 44.9 | VII | |||
21 [184] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
21 [185] [186] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
22 [187] [188] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VI | |||
23 [189] | ![]() | 6.5 | 90.0 | ||||
26 [190] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | Unknown depth. | |||
27 [191] | ![]() | 7.0 | 198.0 | ||||
28 [192] [193] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | |||
31 [194] | ![]() | 5.0 | 0.0 | VI | Some homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. |