Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1968
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 12,081 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1968. 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. There was a large resurgence in activity in 1968. 22 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes struck various parts of the planet. The largest of these was a magnitude 8.2 event in Japan in May. Large aftershocks struck the area following the mainshock. New Zealand and Indonesia had some upheaval during the year. The high activity contributed to over 12,000 deaths across the world. The vast majority of this total was caused by a destructive event in Iran in August with nearly 10,500 deaths. Events in the Philippines, Italy and Indonesia also had significant fatalities.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10,488 | 7.1 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 10.0 | August 31 |
2 | 700 | 6.2 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | September 1 |
3 | 270 | 7.6 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | August 1 |
4 | 216 | 6.4 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | January 15 |
5 | 200 | 7.2 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | August 14 |
6 | 52 | 8.2 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 29.9 | May 16 |
7 | 38 | 5.3 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 34.0 | April 29 |
8 | 24 | 6.3 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | September 3 |
= 9 | 20 | 7.2 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | February 19 |
= 9 | 20 | 6.0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 124.8 | September 25 |
10 | 18 | 7.3 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | August 2 |
11 | 15 | 6.8 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | June 19 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.2 | 52 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 29.9 | May 16 |
2 | 7.9 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | May 16 |
= 3 | 7.6 | 270 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | August 1 |
= 3 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 23.0 | August 10 |
= 4 | 7.5 | 1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 34.2 | April 1 |
= 4 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 45.0 | May 28 |
5 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 36.9 | January 29 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 30.0 | February 12 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 45.0 | July 25 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 18 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | August 2 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 543.1 | August 18 |
= 6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 500.0 | October 7 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 20 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | February 19 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 3 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | May 24 |
= 7 | 7.2 | 200 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | August 14 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | February 26 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 10,488 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | August 31 |
= 8 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 50.0 | September 26 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 55.0 | May 20 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 28.3 | May 20 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 32.1 | June 12 |
= 9 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | October 23 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw ![]() 216 deaths |
Total fatalities | 224 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [1] | ![]() | 4.6 | 5.0 | Despite being a moderate magnitude there was some property damage. Costs were $2 million (1968 rate). | |||
6 [2] [3] | ![]() | 6.4 | 30.0 | VI | |||
13 [4] [5] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | IV | |||
15 [6] [7] [8] | ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | X | 216 people were killed and 563 were injured in the 1968 Belice earthquake. Extensive destruction was caused in the area with costs reported at $320 million (1968 rate). | 216 | 563 |
19 [9] [10] | ![]() | 6.7 | 27.5 | V | |||
25 [11] | ![]() | 5.1 | 33.0 | 8 people were killed and 55 more were injured. Some damage was reported. Aftershock. | 8 | 55 | |
26 [12] [13] | ![]() | 6.8 | 30.6 | VI | |||
29 [14] [15] | ![]() | 7.4 | 36.9 | VII | |||
29 [16] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.2 Mw ![]() 20 deaths |
Total fatalities | 24 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [17] | ![]() | 6.6 | 23.5 | Aftershock. | |||
12 [18] [19] [20] | ![]() | 7.3 | 30.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | ||
19 [21] [22] [23] | ![]() | 7.2 | 15.0 | X | The 1968 Aegean Sea earthquake killed 20 people and injured 18 more. 500 homes were destroyed and 1,951 were damaged. Costs were $600,000 (1968 rate). | 20 | 18 |
21 [24] [25] [26] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | VII | During the 1968 Ebino earthquake, 3 people were killed and some damage was reported. | 3 | |
25 [27] | ![]() | 4.9 | 0.0 | VIII | 1 person was killed and 4 were hurt. 100 homes collapsed. | 1 | 4 |
26 [28] [29] | ![]() | 7.1 | 25.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 4.6 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
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 | ||||||
5 [30] [31] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.0 | V | |||
5 [32] [33] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
7 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.3 | 45.0 | V | |||
11 [36] | ![]() | 6.4 | 109.1 | ||||
20 [37] | ![]() | 4.6 | 33.0 | 1 person was killed and another was injured. Some property damage was caused. | 1 | 1 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.3 Mw ![]() 38 deaths |
Total fatalities | 39 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [38] [39] [40] [41] | ![]() | 7.5 | 34.2 | VIII | 1 person was killed and 22 were injured in the 1968 Hyuga-nada earthquake. Some homes were destroyed in both the earthquake and a subsequent tsunami. | 1 | 22 |
1 [42] [43] | ![]() | 6.8 | 30.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
9 [44] [45] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | IX | Some damage was caused by the 1968 Borrego Mountain earthquake. | ||
26 [46] | ![]() | 6.2 | 30.0 | ||||
26 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.1 | 30.0 | VI | |||
29 [49] | ![]() | 5.3 | 34.0 | VII | 38 people were killed and 100 were injured. 1,000 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $1 million (1968 rate). | 38 | 100 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.2 Mw ![]() 52 deaths |
Total fatalities | 55 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 5 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
14 [50] [51] | ![]() | 6.7 | 160.1 | V | |||
16 [52] [53] [54] [55] | ![]() | 8.2 | 29.9 | VIII | 52 people were killed and 330 were injured in the 1968 Tokachi earthquake. A tsunami was generated which contributed to the destruction. 1,218 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $131 million (1968 rate). A large number of aftershocks followed. To prevent cluttering only those measuring above magnitude 6.5 will be listed. | 52 | 330 |
16 [56] [57] | ![]() | 7.9 | 25.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
16 [58] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | Aftershock. | |||
16 [59] | ![]() | 6.5 | 43.0 | Aftershock. | |||
19 [60] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | South of the aftershock sequence from May 16 event. | |||
20 [61] | ![]() | 7.0 | 55.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
20 [62] | ![]() | 6.9 | 50.0 | ||||
20 [63] | ![]() | 7.0 | 28.3 | ||||
23 [64] [65] [66] | ![]() | 7.2 | 20.0 | IX | The 1968 Inangahua earthquake caused 3 deaths and $3 million (1968 rate) worth of damage. | 3 | |
24 [67] | ![]() | 6.6 | 27.6 | Aftershock. | |||
28 [68] [69] | ![]() | 7.5 | 45.0 | VIII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 15 deaths |
Total fatalities | 15 |
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 | ||||||
7 [70] [71] | ![]() | 6.7 | 35.0 | VII | |||
7 [72] [73] | ![]() | 6.2 | 38.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
12 [74] [75] | ![]() | 7.0 | 32.1 | VI | Aftershock of May 16 event. | ||
19 [76] [77] [78] | ![]() | 6.8 | 15.0 | VII | 15 people were killed and some property damage was caused. Costs were $100,000 (1968 rate). | 15 |
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 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [79] [80] | ![]() | 6.1 | 60.6 | VI | |||
2 [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.4 | 57.9 | VI | |||
2 [83] [84] | ![]() | 6.0 | 45.0 | V | |||
5 [85] [86] | ![]() | 6.3 | 47.0 | IV | |||
25 [87] [88] [89] | ![]() | 7.3 | 45.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
29 [90] [91] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | V | |||
30 [92] [93] | ![]() | 6.5 | 31.8 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.1 Mw ![]() 10,488 deaths |
Total fatalities | 10,976 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 6 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 0 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [94] [95] [96] [97] | ![]() | 7.6 | 25.0 | IX | The 1968 Casiguran earthquake caused 270 deaths and 261 injuries. Some homes were destroyed and many were damaged. Costs were around $8 million (1968 rate). A tsunami was generated which left 1 person dead. | 270 | 261 |
2 [98] [99] [100] | ![]() | 7.3 | 25.0 | VIII | 18 people were killed. Property damage was $2.4 million (1968 rate). | 18 | |
3 [101] [102] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | VI | |||
3 [103] [104] | ![]() | 6.4 | 25.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
4 [105] [106] | ![]() | 6.1 | 100.0 | IV | |||
5 [107] [108] | ![]() | 6.8 | 45.7 | VII | |||
10 [109] [110] [111] | ![]() | 7.6 | 23.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | ||
10 [112] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [113] [114] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | VI | |||
14 [115] [116] [117] | ![]() | 7.2 | 20.0 | IX | 200 people were killed and 58 were injured in a tsunami triggered by the 1968 Sulawesi earthquake. 800 homes were destroyed. | 200 | 58 |
18 [118] [119] | ![]() | 7.3 | 543.1 | III | |||
21 [120] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
23 [121] | ![]() | 6.3 | 533.6 | ||||
28 [122] [123] | ![]() | 6.4 | 20.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
31 [124] [125] [126] | ![]() | 7.1 | 10.0 | X | The 1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes caused major destruction in northeast Iran. 10,488 people were killed and over 17,000 were injured. 12,000 homes were destroyed. $35 million (1968 rate) of costs were reported. | 10,488 | 17,000 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() 700 deaths |
Total fatalities | 747 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [127] [128] [129] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | This was a strong aftershock of the 1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes. 700 additional deaths were caused and 1,500 homes were destroyed. | 700 | |
3 [130] [131] [132] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VIII | 24 people were killed and 200 were injured. 2,000 homes damaged or destroyed. | 24 | 200 |
8 [133] [134] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.0 | VI | |||
9 [135] [136] | ![]() | 6.1 | 142.3 | IV | |||
14 [137] [138] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | VII | |||
16 [139] [140] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | VII | |||
16 [141] [142] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
20 [143] [144] [145] | ![]() | 6.5 | 103.4 | IX | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 3 | |
21 [146] [147] | ![]() | 6.7 | 58.3 | VI | |||
25 [148] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
25 [149] [150] [151] | ![]() | 6.0 | 124.8 | IV | 20 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 20 | |
26 [152] | ![]() | 7.1 | 50.0 | ||||
27 [153] [154] | ![]() | 6.4 | 15.0 | VIII | |||
28 [155] [156] | ![]() | 6.1 | 65.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [157] | ![]() | 7.3 | 500.0 | ||||
7 [158] [159] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | |||
10 [160] [161] | ![]() | 6.1 | 48.9 | V | |||
14 [162] [163] [164] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | IX | The 1968 Meckering earthquake caused property damage with costs reaching $2.2 million (1968 rate). | ||
20 [165] [166] | ![]() | 6.2 | 22.5 | V | |||
23 [167] [168] [169] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | ||
24 [170] | ![]() | 6.3 | 45.0 | ||||
29 [171] [172] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | VIII |
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 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [173] | ![]() | 6.5 | 597.0 | ||||
17 [174] | ![]() | 6.1 | 175.7 | ||||
22 [175] [176] | ![]() | 6.1 | 35.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [177] [178] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VI | |||
5 [179] [180] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | VIII | |||
7 [181] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
17 [182] [183] | ![]() | 6.3 | 109.6 | V | |||
19 [184] [185] | ![]() | 6.0 | 44.1 | V |