Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1960
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 15,956 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 1 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1960. 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. An eventful year in part helped by two significant events. Firstly, in February the deadliest event of the year struck Morocco with over 13,000 deaths. The magnitude of the earthquake was a fairly modest 5.8 but its proximity to Agadir attributed to the high death toll. Secondly, in May a series of large earthquakes rocked central Chile. Part of the sequence was the largest earthquake of all time on May 22. The event reached 9.5 in magnitude and helped spawn a destructive tsunami which affected the Pacific Rim. Aside from this 1960 was active for Peru which had 3 magnitude 7.0+ events. Japan had a magnitude 8.0 in March. Iran had a deadly event in April.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13,100 | 5.8 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | February 29 |
2 | 2,226 | 9.5 | ![]() | XII (Extreme) | 25.0 | May 22 |
3 | 420 | 5.9 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 24 |
4 | 125 | 8.1 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 30.0 | May 21 |
5 | 66 | 7.6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | November 20 |
6 | 63 | 7.5 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 130.0 | January 13 |
7 | 47 | 5.6 | ![]() | ( ) | 33.0 | February 21 |
8 | 24 | 6.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 13.7 | September 22 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9.5 | 2,226 | ![]() | XII (Extreme) | 25.0 | May 22 |
2 | 8.1 | 1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | May 21 |
3 | 8.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 15.0 | March 20 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | May 22 |
= 4 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | June 6 |
5 | 7.6 | 66 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | November 20 |
6 | 7.5 | 63 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 130.0 | January 13 |
7 | 7.4 | 1 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 20.0 | November 1 |
8 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | December 2 |
= 9 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 242.7 | March 8 |
= 9 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 30.0 | November 24 |
= 10 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 65.0 | January 15 |
= 10 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | May 22 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 15.0 | March 23 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | June 20 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 137.3 | July 25 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 107.6 | October 28 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw ![]() 63 deaths |
Total fatalities | 63 |
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 | ||||||
2 [1] | ![]() | 6.2 | 146.2 | ||||
3 [2] | ![]() | 6.2 | 250.0 | ||||
4 [3] [4] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VIII | |||
9 [5] | ![]() | 6.6 | 225.4 | ||||
13 [6] [7] | ![]() | 7.5 | 130.0 | X | 63 people were killed and 200 were injured. Many homes were destroyed. | 63 | 200 |
15 [8] [9] | ![]() | 7.1 | 65.0 | VIII | |||
23 [10] [11] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | V | Beginning of a series. | ||
23 [12] [13] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | |||
23 [14] [15] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
29 [16] | ![]() | 6.1 | 204.0 | ||||
31 [17] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw ![]() 13,100 deaths |
Total fatalities | 13,147 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [18] | ![]() | 5.3 | 0.0 | VI | Some homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | ||
3 [19] | ![]() | 6.4 | 85.0 | ||||
4 [20] [21] | ![]() | 6.6 | 50.0 | V | |||
4 [22] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | ||||
9 [23] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | Foreshock. | |||
9 [24] [25] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | |||
19 [26] | ![]() | 6.4 | 207.9 | ||||
21 [27] | ![]() | 5.6 | 33.0 | 47 people were killed and a further 88 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 47 | 88 | |
24 [28] [29] | ![]() | 6.2 | 50.0 | V | |||
29 [30] [31] [32] | ![]() | 5.8 | 15.0 | IX | 13,100 deaths and 25,000 people were injured in the 1960 Agadir earthquake. Agadir sustained heavy damage. Costs were $120 million (1960 rate). | 13,100 | 25,000 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [33] | ![]() | 6.5 | 132.2 | ||||
5 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.6 | 30.0 | VII | |||
6 [36] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | ||||
8 [37] | ![]() | 7.2 | 242.7 | ||||
9 [38] | ![]() | 6.1 | 116.3 | ||||
13 [39] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | ||||
20 [40] [41] [42] | ![]() | 8.0 | 15.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
21 [43] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
23 [44] [45] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
23 [46] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
27 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | V | |||
28 [49] [50] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | |||
29 [51] [52] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | VI | |||
29 [53] [54] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | |||
31 [55] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.9 Mw ![]() 420 deaths |
Total fatalities | 420 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
5.0–5.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
13 [56] [57] [58] | ![]() | 5.7 | 20.0 | VIII | 29 homes were destroyed. | ||
24 [59] | ![]() | 6.4 | 607.1 | ||||
24 [60] [61] [62] | ![]() | 5.9 | 15.0 | VII | 420 deaths were caused and property damage was extensive with costs of $20 million (1960 rate). | 420 | |
29 [63] [64] | ![]() | 6.7 | 100.0 | VIII | 50 homes were destroyed. | ||
29 [65] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 9.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 9.5 Mw ![]() 2,226 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2,235+ |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 1 |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
11 [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
18 [68] | ![]() | 6.5 | 59.4 | ||||
19 [69] | ![]() | 6.5 | 98.4 | ||||
20 [70] [71] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | V | |||
21 [72] [73] [74] | ![]() | 8.1 | 25.0 | VIII | The 1960 Concepción earthquakes were large foreshocks to the 1960 Valdivia earthquake. At least 1 person died in this event and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. To prevent cluttering only aftershocks above M 6.5 will be listed. | 1+ | 101+ |
21 [75] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | Foreshock. | |||
22 [76] [77] | ![]() | 7.1 | 25.0 | VII | Foreshock. | ||
22 [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII | Foreshock. | ||
22 [80] [81] | ![]() | 7.8 | 25.0 | X | Foreshock. | ||
22 [82] [83] [84] [85] | ![]() | 9.5 | 25.0 | XII | The 1960 Valdivia earthquake was the largest event recorded by a seismograph. Chile was left with major destruction from the earthquake and a large tsunami which swept across the Pacific. 2.226 people were killed and 3,000 were injured. 58,622 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $1 billion (1960 rate). Only aftershocks above magnitude 6.5 will be listed to prevent cluttering. | 2,226 | 3,000 |
23 [86] [87] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
23 [88] | ![]() | 6.9 | 20.0 | Aftershock. | |||
24 [89] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
24 [90] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | Not an aftershock of the 1960 Valdivia earthquake. | |||
25 [91] | ![]() | 6.7 | 20.0 | Aftershock. | |||
26 [92] [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | VIII | 8 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 8 | |
26 [95] | ![]() | 6.9 | 0.0 | Aftershock. Depth unknown. | |||
31 [96] [97] | ![]() | 6.2 | 30.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
2 [98] [99] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VII | |||
6 [100] [101] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
6 [102] [103] | ![]() | 7.8 | 15.0 | VIII | Aftershock of 1960 Valdivia earthquake. | ||
9 [104] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | ||||
10 [105] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | ||||
10 [106] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | ||||
11 [107] | ![]() | 6.2 | 287.2 | ||||
11 [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.6 | 30.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
11 [110] [111] | ![]() | 6.6 | 30.0 | VIII | |||
15 [112] [113] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VI | |||
20 [114] [115] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.0 | VIII | Aftershock of 1960 Valdivia earthquake. | ||
20 [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.9 | 25.0 | IX | Aftershock of 1960 Valdivia earthquake. |
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 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [118] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
6 [119] | ![]() | 6.6 | 205.1 | ||||
10 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | |||
13 [122] | ![]() | 6.9 | 130.7 | ||||
14 [123] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | ||||
18 [124] [125] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | |||
20 [126] | ![]() | 6.0 | 65.0 | ||||
25 [127] [128] | ![]() | 6.5 | 20.0 | V | Foreshock. | ||
25 [129] | ![]() | 7.0 | 137.3 | ||||
29 [130] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | ||||
29 [131] [132] | ![]() | 6.8 | 53.4 | VI | |||
31 [133] [134] | ![]() | 6.7 | 25.0 | VIII |
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 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [135] | ![]() | 6.5 | 82.1 | ||||
4 [136] | ![]() | 6.5 | 18.6 | ||||
13 [137] [138] | ![]() | 6.7 | 25.0 | V | Aftershock of 1960 Valdivia earthquake. | ||
20 [139] | ![]() | 6.0 | 75.0 | ||||
24 [140] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | ||||
27 [141] | ![]() | 6.1 | 170.9 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 24 deaths |
Total fatalities | 24 |
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 | ||||||
1 [142] [143] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
1 [144] [145] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | VI | |||
2 [146] [147] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | |||
3 [148] [149] | ![]() | 6.4 | 423.4 | III | |||
19 [150] [151] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
22 [152] [153] [154] | ![]() | 6.5 | 13.7 | VIII | 24 people were killed and many homes were damaged. | 24 | |
22 [155] [156] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | ||
29 [157] | ![]() | 6.6 | 419.5 |
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 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [158] [159] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | VI | |||
8 [160] [161] | ![]() | 6.8 | 607.5 | II | |||
9 [162] | ![]() | 6.2 | 89.2 | ||||
13 [163] [164] | ![]() | 6.4 | 36.2 | VI | |||
14 [165] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.7 | ||||
22 [166] [167] | ![]() | 6.3 | 65.0 | VI | |||
28 [168] | ![]() | 7.0 | 107.6 | ||||
28 [169] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | ||||
30 [170] [171] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
30 [172] | ![]() | 6.8 | 95.0 | ||||
31 [173] | ![]() | 6.9 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.6 Mw ![]() 66 deaths |
Total fatalities | 67+ |
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 | ||||||
1 [174] [175] [176] | ![]() | 7.4 | 20.0 | V | Aftershock of 1960 Valdivia earthquake. At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1+ | |
2 [177] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
5 [178] [179] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VI | |||
6 [180] [181] | ![]() | 6.2 | 33.9 | VI | |||
9 [182] [183] [184] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | IX | Many homes were destroyed. | ||
9 [185] [186] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
10 [187] | ![]() | 6.8 | 100.0 | ||||
13 [188] | ![]() | 6.8 | 22.1 | ||||
20 [189] [190] [191] | ![]() | 7.6 | 15.0 | IX | A tsunami was triggered by the November 1960 Peru earthquake. 66 people were killed and another 2 were injured. Damage costs were $550,000 (1960 rate). | 66 | 2 |
23 [192] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | Foreshock. | |||
24 [193] [194] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | |||
24 [195] | ![]() | 7.2 | 30.0 |
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 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [196] [197] | ![]() | 7.3 | 35.0 | VIII | |||
2 [198] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
3 [199] [200] | ![]() | 6.8 | 20.0 | VIII | |||
6 [201] [202] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | |||
6 [203] [204] | ![]() | 6.1 | 49.6 | VI | This happened at exactly the same time as the previous event. | ||
11 [205] [206] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | VI | |||
14 [207] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | ||||
22 [208] | ![]() | 6.1 | 423.5 |