Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1980
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 10,326 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 0 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 6 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 90 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 1,311 | ||
4.0–4.9 | 3,410 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1980. 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. Although activity was once again below average, 1980 had several deadly events which helped the overall number of deaths surpass 10,000. The largest of just 6 magnitude 7.0+ events measured 7.9 and struck the Solomon Islands in July. The last quarter of the year had the bulk of the deaths. Algeria had its largest earthquake in October. The magnitude 7.3 event caused 5,000 deaths. A fortnight later Mexico suffered 300 lost lives. At the end of November southern Italy was struck by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake which led to nearly 4,700 deaths. Other areas experiencing deaths were Portugal and Nepal.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5,000 | 7.3 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | October 10 |
2 | 4,689 | 6.9 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | November 23 |
3 | 300 | 6.4 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 72.0 | October 24 |
4 | 200 | 6.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 18.0 | July 29 |
5 | 69 | 6.7 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | January 1 |
6 | 26 | 5.8 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | December 19 |
7 | 15 | 5.2 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 25.0 | August 23 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.7 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | July 17 |
2 | 7.5 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | July 8 |
3 | 7.3 | 5,000 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | October 10 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 33.0 | October 25 |
= 4 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 19.0 | November 8 |
5 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 44.0 | February 23 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 69 deaths |
Total fatalities | 69 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 126 |
4.0–4.9 | 260 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] [2] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | VIII | The 1980 Azores Islands earthquake resulted in 69 deaths and 600 injuries. $5 million (1980 rate) in property damage was reported. | 69 | 600 |
2 [3] | ![]() | 6.0 | 63.0 | VII | |||
24 [4] [5] | ![]() | 5.8 | 11.0 | VIII | The 1980 Livermore earthquake left 50 people injured and caused major damage. Damage reached $11.5 million (1980 rate). The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in particular was impacted by the shaking. | 50 |
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 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 117 |
4.0–4.9 | 262 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [6] | ![]() | 6.5 | 10.0 | VI | |||
13 [7] | ![]() | 6.1 | 63.0 | V | |||
22 [8] | ![]() | 6.2 | 33.0 | VIII | |||
23 [9] | ![]() | 7.0 | 44.0 | VII | |||
27 [10] | ![]() | 6.6 | 53.0 | VI | |||
29 [11] | ![]() | 6.1 | 104.0 | IV |
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 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 111 |
4.0–4.9 | 365 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [12] | ![]() | 6.7 | 38.0 | ||||
24 [13] | ![]() | 6.9 | 33.0 | VI | |||
31 [14] | ![]() | 6.3 | 43.0 | VI |
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 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 105 |
4.0–4.9 | 358 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
13 [15] | ![]() | 6.7 | 79.0 | ||||
16 [16] [17] | ![]() | 5.8 | 84.0 | V | Some damage was caused. |
Strongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 105 |
4.0–4.9 | 398 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [18] | ![]() | 6.2 | 46.0 | VII | |||
12 [19] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VII | |||
14 [20] [21] | ![]() | 4.5 | 24.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | ||
18 [22] [23] | ![]() | 5.3 | 105.0 | IV | Some damage was reported. | ||
18 [24] | ![]() | 5.7 | 1.5 | VI | This event served as the catalyst for the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. For weeks prior to this minor eruptions and earthquakes rattled the area. The catastrophic explosion which caused the destruction of the surrounding area occurred seconds after this earthquake. | ||
18 [25] [26] | ![]() | 5.8 | 9.0 | VIII | 30 people were injured and some damage was reported. Costs were $5 million (1980 rate). | 30 | |
25 [27] [28] | ![]() | 6.1 | 6.8 | VIII | First in a series of large events over the coming days to affect the area. 7 people were injured and some damage was reported. Costs reached $1.5 million (1980 rate). | 7 | |
25 [29] | ![]() | 6.0 | 6.7 | VII | |||
25 [30] | ![]() | 6.1 | 11.9 | VII | |||
26 [31] | ![]() | 6.1 | 114.0 | V | |||
27 [32] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | ||||
27 [33] | ![]() | 6.2 | 13.8 | VII |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 139 |
4.0–4.9 | 280 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
9 [34] [35] | ![]() | 6.3 | 6.0 | IX | 1 death was caused as well as 100 injuries. Some damage was reported. | 1 | 100 |
9 [36] | ![]() | 6.0 | 19.0 | IV | Foreshock to June 18 event. | ||
18 [37] | ![]() | 6.0 | 61.0 | VII | Foreshock of June 25 event. | ||
18 [38] | ![]() | 6.5 | 43.0 | ||||
18 [39] | ![]() | 6.8 | 54.0 | VI | |||
25 [40] | ![]() | 6.5 | 49.0 | VI | |||
29 [41] [42] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | 7 people were hurt and some damage was caused. | 7 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 200 deaths |
Total fatalities | 203 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 123 |
4.0–4.9 | 299 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [43] [44] | ![]() | 7.5 | 33.0 | VII | Foreshock to July 17 event. Some damage was caused. | ||
9 [45] [46] | ![]() | 6.4 | 14.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. 1 person was killed and at least 101 were injured. $5 million (1980 rate) in damage was reported. | 1 | 101 | |
9 [47] | ![]() | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | |||
9 [48] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | Aftershock. | |||
11 [49] [50] | ![]() | 5.2 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | ||
12 [51] | ![]() | 4.0 | 10.0 | Aftershock of July 9 events. 1 person was killed and 17 were injured. Damage costs were $5 million (1980 rate). | 1 | 17 | |
14 [52] | ![]() | 6.6 | 49.0 | ||||
16 [53] | ![]() | 6.5 | 84.0 | VIII | |||
17 [54] | ![]() | 7.7 | 33.0 | VI | Largest event in 1980. | ||
19 [55] | ![]() | 6.1 | 110.0 | IV | |||
22 [56] [57] | ![]() | 5.4 | 62.0 | IV | 1 person died and major damage was reported. | 1 | |
27 [58] [59] | ![]() | 5.0 | 10.0 | VI | Largest event in Kentucky's history. 2 people were injured and some property damage was caused. Costs reached $1 million (1980 rate). | 2 | |
29 [60] | ![]() | 6.7 | 48.0 | VI | Aftershock of July 17 event. | ||
29 [61] [62] | ![]() | 6.5 | 18.0 | VIII | 200 people died and at least 101 were injured during the 1980 Nepal earthquake . Major property damage was caused with costs of $245 million (1980 rate). | 200 | 101 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.2 Mw ![]() 15 deaths |
Total fatalities | 26 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 92 |
4.0–4.9 | 230 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [63] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | Different location to previous events. | ||
9 [64] [65] | ![]() | 6.4 | 22.0 | VII | 2 deaths were caused by the 1980 Honduras earthquake. At least 101 injuries were caused. Some damage was caused. | 2 | 101 |
18 [66] [67] | ![]() | 5.6 | 55.0 | V | 8 people were killed and 100 were injured. $5 million (1980 rate) in damage was caused. | 8 | 100 |
23 [68] [69] | ![]() | 5.2 | 25.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake with both events 14 minutes apart. At least 16 people were killed in total. 40 people were injured. Many homes were destroyed. | 16 | 40 | |
23 [70] [71] | ![]() | 5.2 | 33.0 | IV |
Strongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw ![]() 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 86 |
4.0–4.9 | 180 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
14 [72] | ![]() | 6.2 | 0.0 | Nuclear test. | |||
24 [73] [74] | ![]() | 6.0 | 73.0 | VI | 2 people were killed and 73 were hurt. Costs of $1 million (1980 rate) in damage was reported. | 2 | 73 |
26 [75] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | VI | |||
28 [76] | ![]() | 6.0 | 68.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw ![]() 5,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 5,300 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
5.0–5.9 | 111 |
4.0–4.9 | 293 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [77] [78] | ![]() | 5.6 | 32.0 | VI | Some damage was reported. | ||
9 [79] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | ||||
10 [80] [81] | ![]() | 7.3 | 10.0 | X | Deadliest event in 1980. The 1980 El Asnam earthquake was the largest event in Algerian history. 5,000 people died and over 9,000 were injured. Catastrophic property damage was caused. 25,000 homes were destroyed. Damage costs reached $5.2 billion (1980 rate). | 5,000 | 9,000 |
10 [82] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | VII | Aftershock. | ||
24 [83] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | Foreshock of October 25 event. | |||
24 [84] [85] | ![]() | 6.4 | 72.0 | IX | 300 people were killed in the 1980 Oaxaca earthquake. At least 101 people were injured. $5 million (1980 rate) in damage costs were reported. | 300 | 101 |
25 [86] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | Foreshock of later event. | |||
25 [87] | ![]() | 7.2 | 33.0 | ||||
25 [88] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | Aftershock. | |||
26 [89] | ![]() | 6.1 | 48.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.9 Mw ![]() 4,689 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4,696 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 109 |
4.0–4.9 | 268 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [90] [91] | ![]() | 7.2 | 19.0 | VIII | The 1980 Eureka earthquake caused 6 injuries and $2 million (1980 rate) in property damage. | 6 | |
12 [92] [93] | ![]() | 4.9 | 71.0 | III | 7 deaths were caused as well as $1 million (1980 rate) in damage. | 7 | |
19 [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 17.0 | VIII | |||
23 [95] [96] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | X | The 1980 Irpinia earthquake devastated southern Italy. 4,689 people were killed and 7,700 were injured. $20 billion (1980 rate) in property damage was caused. | 4,689 | 7,700 |
26 [97] [98] | ![]() | 5.0 | 40.0 | IV | 36 people were hurt. 30 homes were destroyed. | 36 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw ![]() 26 deaths |
Total fatalities | 29 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 104 |
4.0–4.9 | 222 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
11 [99] | ![]() | 6.1 | 80.0 | V | |||
17 [100] | ![]() | 6.8 | 10.0 | ||||
19 [101] [102] | ![]() | 5.8 | 33.0 | VIII | 26 people were killed. Property damage was reported with costs reaching $5 million (1980 rate). | 26 | |
19 [103] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | ||||
22 [104] [105] | ![]() | 5.5 | 41.0 | VII | Aftershock of December 19 event. 3 people died and 139 were injured. $1 million (1980 rate) in further property damage was caused. | 3 | 139 |
31 [106] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 |
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities, and number of scientific studies.