Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1969
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 4,024 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1969. 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. Activity generally was slightly below average with 14 events reaching magnitude 7 or greater. In August, the largest event of the year struck the Kuril Islands, Russia measuring 8.2. Other large events struck offshore Portugal and Indonesia. The Americas had no events above magnitude 7 which is an uncommon occurrence. Of the 4,000 deaths from earthquakes two events dominated. Southeastern China had an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 in July which contributed 4,024 of the total. Indonesia had the bulk of the rest of the death toll.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3,000 | 5.7 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 20.0 | July 25 |
2 | 664 | 7.0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | February 23 |
3 | 150 | 6.6 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 10.0 | October 1 |
4 | 53 | 6.7 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | March 28 |
5 | 50 | 5.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | January 3 |
6 | 40 | 6.2 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 10.0 | March 29 |
7 | 25 | 7.8 | Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault | VII (Very strong) | 10.0 | February 28 |
8 | 14 | 6.1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | October 26 |
9 | 12 | 6.3 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 29 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.2 | 0 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | August 11 |
2 | 7.8 | 25 | Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault | VII (Very strong) | 10.0 | February 28 |
= 3 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 60.0 | January 30 |
= 3 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | November 21 |
4 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 35.0 | November 22 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 660.0 | February 10 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 430.5 | February 11 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 20.0 | December 25 |
= 6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 112.9 | January 19 |
= 6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 27.5 | August 14 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 60.0 | January 5 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 244.7 | January 19 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 664 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 15.0 | February 23 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 38.6 | April 21 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.5 Mw ![]() 50 deaths |
Total fatalities | 50 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [1] [2] [3] | ![]() | 5.5 | 10.0 | VIII | 50 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 50 | |
6 [4] [5] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | V | |||
14 [6] [7] | ![]() | 6.4 | 25.0 | VI | |||
19 [8] [9] | ![]() | 7.0 | 244.7 | VI | |||
19 [10] [11] | ![]() | 7.1 | 112.9 | VII | |||
24 [12] | ![]() | 6.7 | 593.5 | ||||
26 [13] [14] | ![]() | 6.1 | 31.3 | V | |||
27 [15] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | ||||
30 [16] [17] | ![]() | 7.6 | 60.0 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.0 Mw ![]() 664 deaths |
Total fatalities | 693 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [18] [19] | ![]() | 6.8 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
4 [20] [21] | ![]() | 6.1 | 45.0 | V | |||
4 [22] [23] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | IV | |||
10 [24] | ![]() | 7.2 | 660.0 | ||||
11 [25] [26] [27] | ![]() | 6.1 | 13.3 | VIII | 4 people were killed and at least 1 person was injured. Many homes were destroyed. | 4 | 1+ |
11 [28] [29] | ![]() | 7.2 | 430.5 | IV | |||
23 [30] [31] [32] [33] | ![]() | 7.0 | 15.0 | VIII | 64 people were killed in the 1969 Sulawesi earthquake. A further 600 died in a tsunami which flooded the area. 97 people were injured. 1,287 homes were destroyed. | 664 | 97 |
28 [34] [35] [36] | Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault | 7.8 | 10.0 | VII | The 1969 Portugal earthquake struck far offshore in the Atlantic Ocean but caused some damage on land. 25 people were killed and another 80 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 25 | 80 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 53 deaths |
Total fatalities | 95 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [37] [38] | ![]() | 6.2 | 205.6 | IV | |||
9 [39] [40] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VII | |||
19 [41] | ![]() | 6.5 | 168.5 | ||||
20 [42] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | ||||
21 [43] [44] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | VI | |||
23 [45] [46] [47] | ![]() | 5.9 | 15.0 | VIII | Foreshock to event on March 28. Extensive damage was caused. | ||
25 [48] [49] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | Foreshock to event on March 28. | ||
27 [50] [51] | ![]() | 6.6 | 50.0 | V | Aftershock of January 30 event. | ||
28 [52] [53] [54] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | VIII | 53 people were killed and extensive damage was caused by the 1969 Alaşehir earthquake. | 53 | |
29 [55] [56] [57] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | rowspan="2"| 40 people died and a further 160 were injured by the 1969 Sardo earthquakes . Many homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $320,000 (1969 rate). Doublet earthquake. | 40 | 160 | |
29 [58] [59] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | VIII | |||
31 [60] [61] [62] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | VIII | 2 people were killed and 16 were injured in the 1969 Sharm El Sheikh earthquake. 107 homes were destroyed. | 2 | 16 |
31 [63] | ![]() | 6.7 | 398.1 |
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 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [64] [65] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | VIII | |||
16 [66] | ![]() | 6.5 | 25.0 | ||||
16 [67] [68] | ![]() | 6.2 | 100.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Both events 23 seconds apart. | |||
16 [69] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
21 [70] [71] | ![]() | 7.0 | 38.6 | VII | |||
26 [72] [73] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Two events around 4 minutes apart. | |||
26 [74] [75] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VII |
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 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [76] [77] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | V | |||
14 [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.9 | 28.3 | V | |||
15 [80] | ![]() | 6.0 | 34.8 | ||||
21 [81] [82] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
26 [83] [84] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.0 | V |
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 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
12 [85] | ![]() | 6.1 | 22.4 | ||||
17 [86] | ![]() | 6.5 | 202.6 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.7 Mw ![]() 3,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3,000 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
18 [87] [88] [89] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | VI | Major damage was caused by the 1969 Bohai earthquake. Many homes were destroyed. | ||
19 [90] [91] | ![]() | 6.4 | 56.7 | VI | |||
24 [92] [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | XI | Major damage was caused. | ||
25 [95] [96] [97] | ![]() | 5.7 | 20.0 | VIII | Deadliest event of 1969. The 1969 Yangjiang earthquake caused major destruction in the area despite being a relatively moderate magnitude. 3,000 people were killed. 10,762 homes were destroyed. | 3,000 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [98] [99] | ![]() | 6.9 | 26.9 | VII | |||
8 [100] | ![]() | 6.6 | 176.1 | ||||
11 [101] | ![]() | 4.7 | 33.0 | VII | 4 people were injured and some damage was reported. | 4 | |
11 [102] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | Foreshock. | |||
11 [103] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | Foreshock. This came a minute after the previous event. | |||
11 [104] [105] [106] | ![]() | 8.2 | 25.0 | Largest event of 1969. This came just seconds after the last event. Some damage was caused. Many aftershocks followed. To prevent cluttering only events above 6.5 will be included in the article. | |||
11 [107] [108] | ![]() | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock of August 5 event. | ||
12 [109] | ![]() | 6.8 | 30.0 | Aftershock. | |||
12 [110] | ![]() | 6.8 | 29.3 | Aftershock. | |||
12 [111] | ![]() | 6.8 | 19.3 | Aftershock. | |||
14 [112] [113] | ![]() | 7.1 | 27.5 | V | Aftershock. | ||
17 [114] [115] | ![]() | 6.5 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Events only 2 minutes apart. | |||
17 [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.7 | 15.0 | VI | |||
18 [118] | ![]() | 6.0 | 20.0 | Aftershock. | |||
19 [119] | ![]() | 6.6 | 26.7 | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw ![]() 12 deaths |
Total fatalities | 12 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.2 | 25.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
6 [122] [123] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | |||
9 [124] [125] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | VII | |||
12 [126] | ![]() | 6.7 | 34.2 | ||||
14 [127] [128] [129] | ![]() | 5.8 | 30.0 | VII | 10 homes were destroyed. | ||
17 [130] [131] | ![]() | 6.0 | 35.0 | IV | |||
22 [132] [133] | ![]() | 6.0 | 30.0 | VI | |||
29 [134] [135] [136] | ![]() | 6.3 | 15.0 | IX | 12 people were killed in the 1969 Tulbagh earthquake. Extensive property damage was caused with costs being $24 million (1969 rate). | 12 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw 2 events |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 150 deaths |
Total fatalities | 174 |
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 | ||||||
1 [137] [138] [139] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | XI | 150 people were killed. Property damage costs were $5 million (1969 rate). | 150 | |
1 [140] [141] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
2 [142] [143] [144] | ![]() | 4.8 | 10.0 | VIII | The 1969 Santa Rosa earthquakes caused 1 death and property damage. Costs were $8 million (1969 rate). | 1 | |
17 [145] [146] | ![]() | 6.3 | 135.0 | VI | |||
26 [147] [148] [149] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| In the 1969 Banja Luka earthquake 23 people were killed in total. 14 in the first event and 9 in the second. Extensive property damage was caused. Costs were $50 million (1969 rate). Doublet earthquake. | 14 | ||
27 [150] [151] [152] | ![]() | 6.1 | 15.0 | IX | 9 | ||
31 [153] [154] | ![]() | 6.6 | 30.0 | IV |
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 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [155] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | ||||
5 [156] [157] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | V | |||
7 [158] [159] | ![]() | 6.6 | 75.0 | VI | |||
21 [160] [161] | ![]() | 7.6 | 25.0 | VI | |||
22 [162] [163] [164] | ![]() | 7.4 | 35.0 | X | Some damage was caused. | ||
24 [165] [166] | ![]() | 6.1 | 115.1 | IV | |||
26 [167] [168] | ![]() | 6.0 | 25.0 | V |
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 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
10 [169] [170] | ![]() | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | |||
18 [171] [172] | ![]() | 6.3 | 345.0 | III | |||
25 [173] [174] [175] | ![]() | 7.2 | 20.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
31 [176] [177] | ![]() | 6.3 | 25.0 | V |