Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1963
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 1,488 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1963. 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. A fairly active year with 17 events reaching above magnitude 7.0. The intensity of the events was stronger with 2 measuring above magnitude 8. Both events came within 3 weeks of each other. The strongest of 1963 was in the Kuril Islands, Russia and was magnitude 8.5. Macedonia had by far the most of the 1,488 fatalities. A fairly modest magnitude 6.0 event in July resulted in 1,070 deaths and substantial destruction. Libya had one of the worst events in its history in February. Again a fairly moderate magnitude 5.6 ended up with 300 deaths in the area.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,070 | 6.0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | July 26 |
2 | 375 | 5.6 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | February 21 |
3 | 100 | 6.0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | March 24 |
4 | 15 | 7.2 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | February 13 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.5 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | October 13 |
2 | 8.1 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 65.0 | November 4 |
3 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 28.2 | October 20 |
4 | 7.7 | 0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 550.0 | August 15 |
= 5 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 590.7 | November 9 |
= 5 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 55.0 | December 18 |
6 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 186.6 | February 26 |
7 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | September 15 |
8 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 10.0 | March 26 |
= 9 | 7.2 | 15 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | February 13 |
= 9 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 15.0 | March 16 |
= 9 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 45.0 | September 17 |
= 10 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | April 16 |
= 10 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 30.0 | April 16 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | III (Weak) | 570.0 | August 25 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 37.5 | October 12 |
= 11 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | I (Not felt) | 661.5 | December 15 |
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 | 7 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] | ![]() | 6.4 | 74.8 | ||||
2 [2] [3] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
5 [4] [5] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | |||
24 [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | IV | |||
28 [8] [9] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | |||
28 [10] [11] | ![]() | 6.6 | 35.0 | V | |||
31 [12] | ![]() | 6.7 | 50.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.6 Mw ![]() 300 deaths |
Total fatalities | 315 |
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 | ||||||
5 [13] [14] | ![]() | 6.4 | 25.0 | VII | |||
6 [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
13 [17] [18] [19] | ![]() | 7.2 | 30.0 | VII | The 1963 Su-ao earthquake left 15 people dead and another 18 were injured. Some homes were destroyed. | 15 | 18 |
13 [20] [21] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.0 | VI | |||
14 [22] [23] | ![]() | 6.6 | 220.0 | IV | |||
14 [24] [25] | ![]() | 6.1 | 64.7 | VI | |||
21 [26] [27] [28] | ![]() | 5.6 | 25.0 | VI | 300 people were killed and a further 375 were injured in the 1963 Marj earthquake. Many homes were damaged or destroyed. Costs reached $5 million (1963 rate). | 300 | 375 |
26 [29] [30] | ![]() | 7.5 | 186.6 | VI | |||
27 [31] [32] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 100 deaths |
Total fatalities | 100 |
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 | ||||||
4 [33] [34] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | |||
4 [35] [36] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | V | |||
10 [37] [38] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
16 [39] | ![]() | 7.2 | 15.0 | ||||
24 [40] [41] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | |||
24 [42] [43] [44] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | 100 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 100 | |
26 [45] | ![]() | 7.3 | 10.0 | ||||
26 [46] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
26 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | |||
28 [49] [50] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | VII | |||
31 [51] | ![]() | 6.6 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
31 [52] [53] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [54] [55] | ![]() | 6.1 | 59.4 | V | |||
10 [56] [57] | ![]() | 6.0 | 70.0 | V | |||
13 [58] [59] | ![]() | 6.5 | 119.8 | V | |||
13 [60] [61] | ![]() | 6.1 | 46.9 | VI | |||
16 [62] [63] | ![]() | 7.1 | 30.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
16 [64] [65] | ![]() | 7.1 | 30.0 | VI | |||
19 [66] [67] [68] | ![]() | 6.7 | 20.0 | VIII | A few homes were damaged or destroyed. | ||
23 [69] [70] [71] | ![]() | 5.8 | 30.0 | VII | Some homes were destroyed. | ||
27 [72] [73] | ![]() | 6.0 | 28.8 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
30 [74] [75] | ![]() | 6.3 | 60.0 | V | Aftershock. |
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 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [76] [77] | ![]() | 6.8 | 142.9 | VI | |||
8 [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.2 | 46.5 | V | |||
9 [80] [81] [82] | ![]() | 5.6 | 50.0 | V | Some damage was caused. | ||
10 [83] [84] | ![]() | 6.6 | 20.0 | VI | |||
12 [85] [86] | ![]() | 6.0 | 36.6 | IV | |||
18 [87] [88] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
19 [89] [90] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VII | |||
20 [91] | ![]() | 6.8 | 65.0 | ||||
22 [92] | ![]() | 6.9 | 30.0 | ||||
26 [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | 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 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [95] [96] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | VI | |||
7 [97] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | ||||
19 [98] [99] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | |||
21 [100] [101] [102] | ![]() | 5.9 | 35.0 | VII | Some damage was reported. | ||
24 [103] [104] | ![]() | 6.3 | 45.0 | VII | |||
26 [105] | ![]() | 6.0 | 95.0 | ||||
28 [106] | ![]() | 6.9 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 1,070 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,070 |
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 [107] | ![]() | 6.8 | 181.3 | ||||
9 [108] [109] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | |||
16 [110] [111] | ![]() | 6.4 | 30.0 | VII | |||
19 [112] | Ligurian Sea | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
19 [113] | Ligurian Sea | 6.1 | 15.0 | This came a minute after the last event. | |||
26 [114] [115] [116] | ![]() | 6.0 | 15.0 | X | This event struck directly under Skopje. 1,070 people were killed and 3,300 were injured. Extensive damage was caused with costs being $1 billion (1963 rate). | 1,070 | 3,300 |
29 [117] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
30 [118] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [119] [120] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | |||
15 [121] [122] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | IV | |||
15 [123] [124] [125] | ![]() | 7.7 | 550.0 | IV | Some damage was reported. | ||
17 [126] [127] | ![]() | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | |||
25 [128] [129] | ![]() | 7.0 | 570.0 | III | |||
29 [130] [131] [132] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | 1 person died and 40 homes were destroyed. | 1 | |
29 [133] | ![]() | 6.6 | 25.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 2 events caused 1 death each. |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
9 [134] [135] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | |||
15 [136] [137] | ![]() | 7.4 | 35.0 | IX | A large event followed a couple of days later. This is an example of a doublet earthquake. | ||
17 [138] [139] | ![]() | 6.0 | 68.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
17 [140] [141] | ![]() | 7.2 | 45.0 | VIII | |||
18 [142] [143] [144] | ![]() | 6.2 | 30.0 | VI | 1 person was killed and at least 51 were injured. 7 homes were destroyed and 163 were damaged. | 1 | 51+ |
24 [145] [146] [147] | ![]() | 6.9 | 64.1 | VII | 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [148] [149] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | |||
12 [150] [151] | ![]() | 7.0 | 37.5 | V | Foreshock. | ||
13 [152] [153] [154] | ![]() | 8.5 | 35.0 | IX | The 1963 Kuril Islands earthquake caused some property damage. A tsunami was observed. | ||
15 [155] [156] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
16 [157] [158] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | |||
20 [159] [160] | ![]() | 7.8 | 28.2 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
31 [161] | ![]() | 6.3 | 16.5 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [162] [163] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | |||
4 [164] [165] [166] | ![]() | 8.1 | 65.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | ||
6 [167] [168] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | |||
9 [169] | ![]() | 7.6 | 590.7 | ||||
10 [170] | ![]() | 6.3 | 593.9 | Aftershock. | |||
10 [171] | ![]() | 6.5 | 21.2 | Aftershock. | |||
18 [172] [173] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VII | |||
23 [174] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [175] [176] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | |||
15 [177] | ![]() | 7.0 | 661.5 | ||||
16 [178] [179] [180] | ![]() | 6.5 | 45.0 | VI | Some homes were damaged. | ||
18 [181] [182] | ![]() | 7.6 | 55.0 | VIII |