Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1977
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 3,107 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 1 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 10 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 75 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 1,693 | ||
4.0–4.9 | 2,395 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1977. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Events in remote areas will not be listed but included in statistics and maps. Countries are entered on the lists in order of their status in this particular year. 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. Not a particularly busy year as far as the number of magnitude 7.0+ events with 11 being recorded. The largest event struck Indonesia in August and measured magnitude 8.3. The Solomon Islands were affected by a series of magnitude 7.5 events in April. Several events caused significant numbers of fatalities especially in Iran which had 3 earthquakes throughout the year with a combined death toll of around 1,120 people. The deadliest earthquake occurred in Romania in March and was the worst in the country's history. 1,641 people were killed in this event.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,641 | 7.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 94.0 | March 4 |
2 | 584 | 5.8 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 31.0 | December 19 |
3 | 366 | 5.9 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 41.0 | April 6 |
4 | 189 | 8.3 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | August 19 |
5 | 167 | 6.9 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 29.0 | March 21 |
6 | 70 | 7.4 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 13.0 | November 23 |
7 | 34 | 6.7 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 20 |
8 | 30 | 5.2 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 21.0 | March 25 |
9 | 18 | 7.5 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 21 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.3 | 189 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | August 19 |
2 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | April 2 |
= 3 | 7.5 | 1,641 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 94.0 | March 4 |
= 3 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 19.0 | April 20 |
= 3 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 20 |
= 3 | 7.5 | 18 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | April 21 |
4 | 7.4 | 70 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 13.0 | November 23 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | July 29 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | III (Weak) | 33.0 | October 10 |
6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 33.0 | August 26 |
7 | 7.0 | 1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 37.0 | March 18 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
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 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 131 |
4.0–4.9 | 184 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] [2] | ![]() | 6.3 | 27.0 | VII | |||
2 [3] [4] | ![]() | 6.3 | 19.0 | V | |||
6 [5] [6] | ![]() | 6.6 | 33.0 | VII | |||
17 [7] [8] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | |||
18 [9] [10] | ![]() | 6.0 | 50.0 | VI | |||
26 [11] [12] [13] | ![]() | 5.2 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
31 [14] [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. |
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 |
5.0–5.9 | 96 |
4.0–4.9 | 152 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [17] | ![]() | 6.0 | 549.0 | ||||
19 [18] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw ![]() 1,641 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,839 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 132 |
4.0–4.9 | 229 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [19] [20] | ![]() | 6.1 | 52.0 | VI | |||
4 [21] [22] [23] | ![]() | 7.5 | 94.0 | VIII | Deadliest event of 1977. The 1977 Vrancea earthquake caused major destruction despite being fairly deep. 1,641 people were killed and 10,500 were injured. This was the deadliest earthquake in Romanian history. Bucharest suffered major property damage with costs reaching $2 billion (1977 rate). | 1,641 | 10,500 |
8 [24] [25] [26] | ![]() | 6.0 | 22.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | ||
18 [27] [28] [29] | ![]() | 7.0 | 37.0 | VIII | 1 person was killed and another 9 were injured. 14 homes were destroyed and 22 more were damaged. Costs were $100,000 (1977 rate). | 1 | 9 |
21 [30] [31] [32] | ![]() | 6.9 | 29.0 | VIII | During the 1977 Khurgu earthquake , 167 people were killed and another 556 were injured. Major damage was reported. | 167 | 556 |
23 [33] [34] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | |||
23 [35] | ![]() | 6.0 | 2.0 | Aftershock of previous event. | |||
25 [36] [37] [38] | ![]() | 5.2 | 21.0 | V | 30 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 30 | |
26 [39] [40] | ![]() | 6.0 | 38.0 | IV |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.9 Mw ![]() 366 deaths |
Total fatalities | 418 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 156 |
4.0–4.9 | 234 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [41] [42] | ![]() | 6.2 | 29.0 | VII | Aftershock of March 21 event. | ||
2 [43] [44] [45] | ![]() | 7.6 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage was reported. | ||
6 [46] [47] [48] | ![]() | 5.9 | 41.0 | IX | The 1977 Naghan earthquake killed at least 366 people and left a further 200 injured. Some damage was caused. | 366 | 200 |
20 [49] [50] [51] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | VII | Beginning of a series of large and destructive earthquakes in a period of several hours. 12 people died and a further 22 were missing in the first event. Major damage was caused. A mild tsunami was observed. | 34 | |
20 [52] [53] [54] | ![]() | 7.5 | 19.0 | IX [55] | Some damage was caused. | ||
20 [56] [57] [58] | ![]() | 7.5 | 33.0 | VIII | Suspected injuries and damage were reported. | 1+ | |
21 [59] [60] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | |||
21 [61] [62] [63] | ![]() | 7.5 | 33.0 | VII | Final of the mainshocks in the series. A further 18 people were killed and 1 person was injured. Major damage was caused. | 18 | 1 |
21 [64] [65] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
22 [66] [67] | ![]() | 6.0 | 51.0 | V | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.4 Mw ![]() 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 1 |
5.0–5.9 | 128 |
4.0–4.9 | 211 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
26 [68] [69] [70] | ![]() | 5.4 | 37.0 | V | 3 people were killed and 9 were injured. Heavy damage was reported. | 3 | 9 |
30 [71] [72] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | IV |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 115 |
4.0–4.9 | 224 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
22 [73] [74] [75] | ![]() | 6.8 | 65.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and 5 were injured in the 1977 Tonga earthquake. $1.2 million (1977 rate) of property damage was caused. | 1 | 5 |
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 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 116 |
4.0–4.9 | 184 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
16 [76] [77] | ![]() | 4.6 | 6.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
21 [78] [79] | ![]() | 6.9 | 33.0 | VII | |||
29 [80] [81] | ![]() | 7.2 | 33.0 | VI |
Strongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.3 Mw ![]() 189 deaths |
Total fatalities | 192 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 180 |
4.0–4.9 | 212 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
19 [82] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | Foreshock of 1977 Sumba earthquake. | |||
19 [83] [84] [85] [86] | ![]() | 8.3 | 25.0 | VI | Largest event of 1977. The 1977 Sumba earthquake caused some damage. A large tsunami led to 189 deaths and 75 injuries. Damage costs of $1.2 million (1977 rate). Many aftershocks followed. | 189 | 75 |
26 [87] | ![]() | 7.1 | 33.0 | ||||
27 [88] [89] | ![]() | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII | |||
29 [90] [91] | ![]() | 6.2 | 12.0 | V | |||
31 [92] [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.4 | 33.0 | VII | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 3 |
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 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 141 |
4.0–4.9 | 192 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [95] [96] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | VI | |||
4 [97] [98] | ![]() | 6.4 | 34.0 | II | First of a series of large events in the area. | ||
4 [99] [100] | ![]() | 6.4 | 31.0 | II | |||
4 [101] [102] | ![]() | 6.6 | 8.0 | II | |||
12 [103] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | ||||
13 [104] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 |
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 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 184 |
4.0–4.9 | 208 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
10 [105] [106] | ![]() | 7.2 | 33.0 | III | |||
22 [107] | ![]() | 6.1 | 614.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.4 Mw ![]() 70 deaths |
Total fatalities | 70 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 160 |
4.0–4.9 | 186 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [108] [109] [110] | ![]() | 5.2 | 6.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
4 [111] [112] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | VI | |||
9 [113] [114] [115] | ![]() | 4.9 | 33.0 | IV | Some damage was caused. | ||
18 [116] [117] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | VIII | |||
23 [118] [119] [120] | ![]() | 7.4 | 13.0 | X | 70 people were killed and 300 were injured in the 1977 San Juan earthquake. Extensive property damage was caused with costs of $80 million (1977 rate). | 70 | 300 |
23 [121] [122] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
24 [123] [124] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
24 [125] [126] | ![]() | 6.3 | 23.0 | VII | Aftershock. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw ![]() 584 deaths |
Total fatalities | 584 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 154 |
4.0–4.9 | 179 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
19 [127] [128] [129] | ![]() | 5.8 | 31.0 | VIII | During the 1977 Bob–Tangol earthquake, 584 people were killed and 1,000 were injured. Major damage was caused. | 584 | 1,000 |
28 [130] [131] | Red Sea | 6.6 | 33.0 | VIII |