Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1962
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 12,332 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1962. 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. The year was characterized by fairly moderate activity. The largest of 10 magnitude 7.0 + earthquakes measured 7.5 and struck Fiji. Iran had the deadliest event with over 12,000 deaths in September. Apart from this there was few other deaths from earthquakes. Colombia had the most with 47 in July.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12,225 | 7.0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 1 |
2 | 47 | 6.5 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 64.0 | July 30 |
3 | 16 | 6.2 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 20.0 | August 21 |
4 | 15 | 6.1 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 26.4 | March 18 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 390.0 | May 21 |
= 2 | 7.3 | 0 | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | I (Not felt) | 10.0 | March 17 |
= 2 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 28.0 | April 12 |
= 3 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | July 26 |
= 3 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 588.7 | December 9 |
= 4 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | February 14 |
= 4 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 60.0 | April 23 |
= 4 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 30.2 | May 15 |
= 5 | 7.0 | 4 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | May 11 |
= 5 | 7.0 | 12,225 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 1 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 5 |
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 | ||||||
4 [1] [2] | ![]() | 6.2 | 50.0 | VI | |||
5 [3] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.1 | ||||
7 [4] [5] [6] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | In the first of the 1962 Makarska earthquakes, 4 people were killed and some damage was caused. A few days later another event struck in an example of a doublet earthquake. | 4 | |
8 [7] [8] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.6 | VII | |||
9 [9] [10] | ![]() | 6.0 | 49.0 | V | |||
11 [11] [12] [13] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | IX | In the second of the 1962 Makarska earthquakes, 2 people died and 2,290 homes collapsed. | 1 | |
25 [14] | ![]() | 6.0 | 45.0 | ||||
26 [15] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
3 [16] [17] | ![]() | 6.3 | 23.0 | VI | |||
14 [18] [19] [20] | ![]() | 7.1 | 30.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | ||
20 [21] [22] | ![]() | 6.1 | 50.7 | V | |||
20 [23] [24] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
27 [25] [26] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 15 deaths |
Total fatalities | 16 |
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 [27] | ![]() | 6.9 | 635.0 | ||||
11 [28] [29] | ![]() | 6.3 | 44.6 | V | |||
12 [30] [31] [32] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
17 [33] | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 7.3 | 10.0 | ||||
18 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
18 [36] [37] [38] | ![]() | 6.1 | 26.4 | VII | 15 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 15 | |
18 [39] [40] [41] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VIII | 1 person was killed and another 2 were injured. 1,200 homes were destroyed. | 1 | 2 |
19 [42] | ![]() | 6.0 | 145.3 | ||||
22 [43] [44] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | VIII | |||
24 [45] | ![]() | 6.0 | 117.8 | ||||
26 [46] [47] | ![]() | 6.2 | 30.9 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw ![]() 9 deaths |
Total fatalities | 15 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [48] [49] [50] | ![]() | 5.8 | 15.0 | VII | 5 people were killed and some damage was reported. | 5 | |
10 [51] [52] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | V | |||
12 [53] [54] | ![]() | 7.3 | 28.0 | VI | |||
18 [55] [56] [57] | ![]() | 6.4 | 49.4 | V | 9 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 9 | |
19 [58] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | ||||
20 [59] [60] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | VI | |||
23 [61] [62] | ![]() | 6.0 | 0.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. Unknown depth. | ||
23 [63] [64] | ![]() | 7.1 | 60.0 | VII | |||
30 [65] [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 1 | 101+ |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 7 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [68] [69] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | VI | |||
10 [70] [71] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
11 [72] [73] [74] | ![]() | 7.0 | 25.0 | VIII | 4 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some homes were destroyed. | 4 | 101+ |
15 [75] [76] | ![]() | 7.1 | 30.2 | VII | |||
19 [77] [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII | Large aftershock of previous event from May 11. 3 people were killed and 16 were injured in this event. Some homes collapsed. | 3 | 16 |
21 [80] [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.6 | 17.0 | VIII | A few homes were damaged or destroyed. | ||
21 [83] | ![]() | 7.5 | 390.0 | ||||
22 [84] | ![]() | 6.6 | 114.4 | ||||
22 [85] [86] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | |||
31 [87] | ![]() | 6.6 | 269.1 |
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 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
11 [88] [89] [90] | ![]() | 5.9 | 15.0 | VII | Major property damage was caused with costs being $40 million (1962 rate). | ||
23 [91] | ![]() | 6.5 | 23.0 | ||||
24 [92] [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | 2,550 homes were destroyed. | ||
25 [95] [96] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | V | |||
28 [97] [98] | ![]() | 6.2 | 8.9 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 47 deaths |
Total fatalities | 47 |
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 | ||||||
2 [99] | ![]() | 6.2 | 104.3 | ||||
6 [100] [101] | ![]() | 6.7 | 216.2 | IV | |||
17 [102] [103] | ![]() | 6.0 | 49.9 | V | |||
25 [104] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | ||||
26 [105] [106] [107] | ![]() | 7.2 | 25.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
30 [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | VII | |||
30 [110] [111] [112] | ![]() | 6.5 | 64.0 | VI | 47 people were killed and 300 were injured. Major damage was caused. | 47 | 300 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 16 deaths |
Total fatalities | 17 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [113] [114] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VII | |||
3 [115] [116] | ![]() | 6.8 | 124.8 | VII | |||
11 [117] [118] | ![]() | 6.5 | 128.8 | V | |||
17 [119] [120] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | V | |||
19 [121] [122] [123] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.2 | VIII | Some homes were destroyed. | ||
21 [124] [125] [126] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | The 1962 Irpinia earthquake killed at least 16 people and caused damage. | 16 | |
26 [127] [128] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
28 [129] [130] | ![]() | 6.1 | 110.2 | 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1 | ||
30 [131] [132] [133] | ![]() | 5.9 | 10.0 | VII | Some damage was caused in the 1962 Cache Valley earthquake. Damage costs were $1 million (1962 rate). |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw ![]() 12,225 deaths |
Total fatalities | 12,225 |
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 [134] [135] [136] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | IX | The 1962 Buin Zahra earthquake left 12,225 people dead and another 2,776 injured. Major property damage was caused with costs of $30 million (1962 rate). 21,310 homes were destroyed. | 12,225 | 2,776 |
10 [137] | ![]() | 6.5 | 630.6 | ||||
12 [138] [139] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
18 [140] [141] | ![]() | 6.8 | 30.0 | V | |||
22 [142] [143] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | |||
24 [144] [145] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.0 | IV | |||
29 [146] | ![]() | 6.4 | 573.0 |
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 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [147] | ![]() | 6.3 | 60.0 | ||||
6 [148] [149] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
6 [150] [151] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
8 [152] [153] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 6.2 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [154] [155] [156] | ![]() | 5.7 | 15.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
16 [157] [158] | ![]() | 6.2 | 27.0 | VII | |||
29 [159] [160] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [161] | ![]() | 6.6 | 431.2 | ||||
8 [162] | ![]() | 6.2 | 39.4 | ||||
9 [163] | ![]() | 7.2 | 588.7 | ||||
17 [164] [165] [166] | ![]() | 5.7 | 20.0 | VII | A few homes collapsed. | ||
21 [167] | ![]() | 6.2 | 55.0 | ||||
21 [168] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.6 | Series. | |||
21 [169] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | Series. | |||
22 [170] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.3 | Series. | |||
26 [171] | ![]() | 6.7 | 22.8 | ||||
29 [172] [173] | ![]() | 6.2 | 50.0 | VI |