Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1983
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 2,608 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 0 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 14 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 125 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 1,664 | ||
4.0–4.9 | 3,517 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1983. 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.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,342 | 6.8 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 11.6 | October 30 |
2 | 663 | 6.3 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 11.3 | December 22 |
3 | 350 | 5.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 22.2 | March 31 |
4 | 104 | 7.4 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 23.7 | May 26 |
5 | 34 | 5.7 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 19.0 | November 6 |
6 | 30 | 5.2 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 33.0 | March 25 |
7 | 26 | 7.4 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 214.5 | December 30 |
8 | 16 | 6.5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 28.8 | August 17 |
9 | 12 | 4.7 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 24.4 | February 25 |
10 | 10 | 7.0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 104.2 | April 12 |
10 | 10 | 6.4 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 26.0 | December 22 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 88.8 | March 18 |
2 | 7.4 | 104 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 23.7 | May 26 |
2 | 7.4 | 5 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 14.8 | October 4 |
2 | 7.4 | 26 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 214.5 | December 30 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 178.5 | November 24 |
5 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | November 30 |
7 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 24.0 | October 22 |
8 | 7.1 | 6 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 37.0 | April 3 |
8 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 62.6 | August 17 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 14.3 | January 17 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | ( ) | 238.0 | January 26 |
10 | 7.0 | 10 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 104.2 | April 12 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 64.0 | April 18 |
10 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 67.1 | December 2 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
![]() |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw 2 events reached this magnitude |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 155 |
4.0–4.9 | 382 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] | ![]() | 6.3 | 172.0 | ||||
8 [2] | ![]() | 6.4 | 33.0 | ||||
16 [3] [4] | ![]() | 6.7 | 234.9 | IV | Some damage was caused to communications systems. | ||
17 [5] [6] | ![]() | 7.0 | 14.3 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | ||
24 [7] [8] | ![]() | 6.3 | 56.8 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
24 [9] [10] | ![]() | 6.8 | 78.0 | VI | |||
26 [11] | ![]() | 7.0 | 238.0 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 4.7 Mw ![]() 12 deaths |
Total fatalities | 12 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 115 |
4.0–4.9 | 279 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
12 [12] [13] | ![]() | 6.3 | 51.0 | IV | |||
13 [14] [15] [16] | ![]() | 6.2 | 16.1 | VIII | 2 injuries were reported as well as damage. | 2 | |
13 [17] [18] | ![]() | 5.7 | 105.0 | IV | 1 person was injured and minor damage was reported. | 1 | |
14 [19] [20] | ![]() | 6.5 | 47.0 | V | |||
20 [21] [22] | ![]() | 6.4 | 60.5 | IV | |||
25 [23] [24] [25] | ![]() | 4.7 | 24.4 | VII | 12 people died after suffering heart attacks. Some damage was reported with costs reaching $500,000 (1983 rate). | 12 | |
25 [26] [27] | ![]() | 6.9 | 146.0 | VI | Minor damage was caused. | ||
26 [28] [29] | ![]() | 5.3 | 49.2 | VII | Major damage was caused. | ||
27 [30] [31] | ![]() | 5.9 | 78.3 | V | 11 people were injured. | 11 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.5 Mw ![]() 350 deaths |
Total fatalities | 381 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 119 |
4.0–4.9 | 321 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [32] [33] | ![]() | 5.9 | 82.4 | IV | 10 people were injured whilst evacuating buildings. | 10 | |
10 [34] | ![]() | 6.2 | 33.0 | ||||
12 [35] [36] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | Foreshock to following event. | ||
12 [37] [38] [39] | ![]() | 6.7 | 16.9 | VI | Some damage was reported. A tsunami was observed locally. | ||
15 [40] [41] | ![]() | 5.3 | 43.2 | IV | 1 person was killed and 2 were injured. Some damage was reported. | 1 | 2 |
15 [42] [43] | ![]() | 6.7 | 41.0 | IV | |||
18 [44] [45] [46] | ![]() | 7.6 | 88.8 | VII | Property damage and landslides were caused by the shaking. A tsunami was observed in the area. | ||
20 [47] [48] | ![]() | 6.4 | 80.1 | VI | Aftershock of March 18 event. | ||
21 [49] [50] | ![]() | 6.7 | 68.0 | VI | |||
23 [51] [52] [53] | ![]() | 6.4 | 19.1 | VII | 7 people were injured. 160 homes sustained damage. Aftershock of January 17 event. | 7 | |
25 [54] [55] [56] | ![]() | 5.2 | 33.0 | IV | 30 people were killed and 61 were hurt. Many homes were damaged with costs reaching $5 million (1983 rate). | 30 | 61 |
31 [57] [58] [59] | ![]() | 5.5 | 22.2 | VIII | Despite the moderate magnitude the 1983 Popayan earthquake caused major destruction in the area. Up to 350 people died and 1,200 were injured. $410.9 million (1983 rate) worth of damage was caused. | 350 | 1,200 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.1 Mw ![]() 6 deaths |
Total fatalities | 6 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [60] | ![]() | 7.1 | 37.0 | VII | 5 people died from heart attacks, another was killed from a collapsed building and 4 people were injured. | 6 | 4 |
4 [61] | ![]() | 6.9 | 78.5 | VII | Some damage in Banda Aceh | - | - |
4 [62] | ![]() | 6.5 | 51.0 | V | - | - | - |
8 [63] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
12 [64] | ![]() | 7.0 | 104.2 | VII | - | - | - |
18 [65] | ![]() | 7.0 | 64.0 | VII | - | - | - |
24 [66] | ![]() | 6.4 | 12.4 | VII | - | - | - |
30 [67] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.4 | V | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.4 Mw ![]() 104 deaths |
Total fatalities | 104 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [68] | ![]() | 6.7 | 9.6 | VIII | The 1983 Coalinga earthquake destroyed an 8-story building in Coalinga, 94 people were injured. | - | 94 |
10 [69] | ![]() | 6.5 | 112.4 | VI | - | - | - |
10 [70] | ![]() | 6.7 | 71.6 | VI | - | - | - |
15 [71] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
26 [72] | ![]() | 7.4 | 23.7 | VII | The 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake was One of the largest earthquakes in 1983, 104 people were killed and 324 were injured. | 104 | 324 |
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 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [73] | ![]() | 6.6 | 179.6 | II | - | - | - |
9 [74] | ![]() | 6.3 | 28.0 | V | This Was an Aftershock to the 7.8 earthquake on May 26. | - | - |
21 [75] | ![]() | 6.7 | 9.9 | V | An aftershock to the 7.8 earthquake on May 26, some damage was caused and a 1.0 m (3 ft 3 in) high tsunami was observed. | - | - |
21 [76] | ![]() | 6.4 | 36.9 | V | - | - | - |
24 [77] | ![]() | 6.3 | 18.4 | VII | – | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 5 deaths |
Total fatalities | 7 |
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 | ||||||
3 [78] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | VII | 2 people were killed and 60 were injured. | 2 | 60 |
5 [79] | ![]() | 6.5 | 33.0 | III | - | - | - |
5 [80] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | IX | The 1983 Biga earthquake Killed 5 People and Injured 26 More. | 5 | 26 |
11 [81] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | IV | - | - | - |
12 [82] | ![]() | 6.6 | 37.0 | VI | Some Damage Occurred in Valdez | - | - |
24 [83] | ![]() | 6.2 | 180.4 | IV | - | - | - |
24 [84] | ![]() | 6.4 | 48.1 | VI | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 16 deaths |
Total fatalities | 16 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [85] | ![]() | 6.8 | 2.4 | VII | Some Damage Occurred to Buildings | - | - |
17 [86] | ![]() | 7.1 | 62.6 | VII | - | - | - |
17 [87] | ![]() | 6.5 | 28.8 | VIII | 16 people were killed and 47 people were injured. | 16 | 47 |
25 [88] | ![]() | 6.5 | 126.4 | V | One Person was Injured and Some Landslides Occurred. | - | 1 |
30 [89] | ![]() | 6.1 | 38.7 | IV | - | - | - |
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 | 4 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 [90] | ![]() | 6.4 | 45.0 | VI | Some Damage Occurred in Anchorage. | - | - |
12 [91] | ![]() | 6.2 | 208.8 | IV | Some Damage Occurred in Kashmir, Pakistan. | - | - |
15 [92] | ![]() | 6.3 | 115.2 | V | - | - | - |
17 [93] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | IV | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 1,342 deaths |
Total fatalities | 1,349 |
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 | ||||||
4 [94] | ![]() | 7.4 | 14.8 | VIII | At least 5 people were killed, and 24 people were injured. | 5 | 24 |
6 [95] | ![]() | 6.0 | 1.0 | II | This earthquake was caused by an Underground nuclear explosion | - | - |
15 [96] | ![]() | 6.5 | 7.4 | VI | - | - | - |
16 [97] | ![]() | 6.5 | 40.1 | VII | At least 17 buildings had collapsed in the epicentral area. | - | - |
22 | ![]() | 7.2 | 24.0 | VI | - | - | - |
28 [98] | ![]() | 6.9 | 10.0 | IX | The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Idaho, 2 people were killed with an equal amount injured. | 2 | 2 |
30 [99] | ![]() | 6.8 | 11.6 | IX | The 1983 Erzurum earthquake completely destroyed 50 villages in Erzurum and Kars, 1,342 people were Killed and 534 people were injured. | 1,342 | 534 |
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.