Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1988
| |||
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() | ||
Total fatalities | 26,759 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 1988. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury, or damage. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap or the National Geophysical Data Center. Earthquake activity in 1988 was relatively low, with only 11 major events and none of magnitude 8.0+ occurring. Nevertheless, extremely destructive events took place in Burma, Nepal, China and Armenia. Burma saw two deadly earthquakes just a few months apart with the latter (on the Chinese border) claiming the lives of nearly a thousand. The Armenia earthquake in December was the deadliest earthquake in this year, with more than 25,000 deaths recorded. Early this year, Australia was also struck by an unusual series of strong earthquakes.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25,000 − 50,000 | 6.8 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 5.4 | December 7 |
2 | 938 | 7.7 | ![]() ![]() | X (Extreme) | 17.8 | November 6 |
3 | 709 | 6.9 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 57.4 | August 20 |
4 | 74 | 4.3 (explosion) | ![]() | - ( ) | − | September 9 |
5 | 33 | 7.3 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 90.5 | August 6 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
= 1 | 7.8 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 10.0 | March 6 |
= 2 | 7.7 | 938 | ![]() ![]() | X (Extreme) | 17.8 | November 6 |
= 3 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 34.0 | August 10 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 33 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 90.5 | August 6 |
= 4 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 24.9 | February 2 |
= 5 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 36.9 | February 5 |
= 6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | - ( ) | 35.2 | October 8 |
= 6 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | - ( ) | 33.1 | April 12 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 27.7 | July 25 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | - ( ) | 16.6 | July 23 |
= 7 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | January 19 |
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 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [1] | ![]() | 6.0 | 117.1 | IV | - | - | |
3 [2] | ![]() | 5.2 | 14.3 | VI | 16 livestock killed and more than 10,000 homes collapsed. | - | 60 |
9 [3] [4] | ![]() | 5.9 | 24.0 | VII | Damage to properties reported in Tirana and the surrounding villages. | - | - |
12 [5] | ![]() | 6.6 | 14.8 | - | - | - | |
15 [6] | ![]() | 6.4 | 213.7 | - | - | - | |
19 [7] | ![]() | 7.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | |
21 [8] | ![]() | 6.2 | 44.2 | - | - | - | |
22 [9] | ![]() | 6.3 | 5.0 | VII | The first in a series of triplet earthquakes known as the 1988 Tennant Creek earthquakes . | - | - |
22 [10] | ![]() | 6.3 | 5.0 | VIII | Second Tennant Creek earthquake mainshock. | - | - |
22 [11] [12] | ![]() | 6.7 | 5.0 | IX | The largest earthquake in Australia ever recorded and the largest of the Tennant Creek earthquake sequence. Damaged pipelines were reported and a hospital was damaged. Total damage amounted to $2.5 million. [13] | ||
29 [14] | ![]() | 6.0 | 106.2 | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.9 Mw ![]() |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
5 [15] | ![]() | 7.2 | 36.9 | VII | Second mainshock, caused some damages in Taltal. [16] A tsunami of 10 cm was reported. [17] | - | - |
5 [18] | ![]() | 6.5 | 30.7 | VI | Aftershock of the 7.2 earthquake nearly five hours later. | - | - |
6 [19] [20] | ![]() | 5.9 | 33.0 | VI | Damage reported in Sylhel. Felt throughout the country, and in Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, India. | 2 | 100 |
6 [21] | ![]() | 6.2 | 38.5 | - | - | - | |
6 [22] | ![]() | 6.5 | 285.2 | - | - | - | |
6 [23] | ![]() | 6.2 | 125.5 | - | - | - | |
7 [24] | ![]() | 6.4 | 134.0 | V | - | - | |
7 [25] | ![]() | 6.4 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
13 [26] | ![]() | 6.1 | - | - | Nuclear explosion | - | - |
16 [27] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
20 [28] | ![]() | 6.5 | 314.5 | IV | - | - | |
22 [29] | ![]() | 6.7 | 70.3 | VII | - | - | |
24 [30] | ![]() | 7.3 | 24.9 | VII | - | - | |
26 [31] | Southwest Indian Ridge | 6.8 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
29 [32] | ![]() | 6.9 | 33.0 | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [33] | ![]() | 7.8 | 10.0 | V | It is the largest earthquake of the year. Damage to the vessels Exxon North Slope, Exxon Boston and Exxon New Orleans amounted to some US$5,000. A tsunami of 38 cm was recorded. | - | - |
6 [34] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | - | Aftershock | - | - |
10 [35] | ![]() | 6.7 | 56.2 | VI | - | - | |
10 [36] | ![]() | 6.6 | 623.0 | - | - | - | |
11 [37] | ![]() | 6.0 | 22.5 | VI | - | - | |
18 [38] | Bismarck Sea | 6.2 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
21 [39] | Laptev Sea | 6.5 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
23 [40] | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 6.2 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
25 [41] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
30 [42] | ![]() | 5.9 | 32.9 | VI | Some damage reported | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [43] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
4 [44] | ![]() | 6.1 | 0.0 | - | Nuclear explosion | - | - |
4 [45] | ![]() | 6.0 | 39.3 | V | - | - | |
8 [46] | ![]() | 6.4 | 32.3 | - | - | - | |
8 [47] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | - | Aftershock | - | - |
12 [48] | ![]() | 7.1 | 33.1 | VII | - | - | |
13 [49] | ![]() | 6.2 | 16.1 | V | Aftershock | - | - |
17 [50] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
25 [51] | ![]() | 6.3 | 44.3 | V | - | - |
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 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [52] | ![]() | 6.2 | 137.9 | - | - | - | |
3 [53] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.8 | - | - | - | |
4 [54] | ![]() | 6.1 | 0.0 | - | Nuclear explosion | - | - |
4 [55] | ![]() | 6.4 | 122.5 | - | - | - | |
5 [56] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | - | - | - | - |
5 [57] | ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | - | Aftershock | - | - |
6 [58] | ![]() | 6.6 | 86.7 | VI | - | - | |
6 [59] | ![]() | 6.0 | 72.3 | V | - | - | |
20 [60] | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 6.1 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
21 [61] | ![]() | 6.1 | 42.1 | VI | - | - | |
22 [62] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | - | - | - | |
30 [63] | ![]() | 6.9 | 86.3 | VI | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.2 Mw ![]() |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3 [64] | ![]() | 6.7 | 82.7 | VI | - | - | |
5 [65] | ![]() | 6.5 | 110.2 | V | - | - | |
11 [66] | ![]() | 6.3 | 35.7 | - | - | ||
12 [67] | ![]() | 6.5 | 14.4 | VI | - | - | |
18 [68] | ![]() | 6.7 | 10.0 | VI | - | - | |
19 [69] [70] | ![]() | 6.2 | 16.7 | VII | Damage was reported during the 1988 Mindoro earthquake. | 2 | 4 |
24 [71] | ![]() | 5.7 | 53.4 | V | Some damage reported in Laoag. | - | - |
27 [72] | ![]() | 6.0 | 65.7 | - | - | - | |
28 [73] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.9 Mw ![]() |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [74] | ![]() | 6.3 | 142.7 | IV | - | - | |
3 [75] | ![]() | 6.6 | 14.6 | - | - | - | |
5 [76] [77] [78] | ![]() | 6.8 | 53.4 | VI | Some damage was reported. Triggered a tsunami. | - | - |
6 [79] | ![]() | 6.3 | 30.1 | - | - | - | |
11 [80] | ![]() | 6.0 | 66.9 | - | - | - | |
18 [81] | ![]() | 6.0 | 23.2 | - | - | - | |
19 [82] | ![]() | 6.4 | 137.0 | - | - | - | |
20 [83] [84] | ![]() | 5.9 | 50.8 | V | Landslides blocked a highway between Hua-lien and Su-hua. | 1 | 1 |
23 [85] | ![]() | 6.6 | 18.5 | - | - | - | |
23 [86] | ![]() | 7.0 | 16.6 | - | - | - | |
25 [87] | ![]() | 7.0 | 27.7 | VI | - | - | |
27 [88] | ![]() | 6.7 | 171.6 | IV | - | - | |
27 [89] | ![]() | 6.0 | 176.8 | - | Aftershock | - | - |
28 [90] | ![]() | 6.2 | 279.3 | - | - | - | |
31 [91] | ![]() | 6.6 | 55.5 | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.9 Mw ![]() ![]() |
Total fatalities | 746-1,131 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [92] | ![]() | 7.3 | 90.5 | Although the 1988 Myanmar–India earthquake had an epicenter in Burma, much of the devastation was in neighboring India and Bangladesh. A seiche occurred in a river which capsized a ferry, killing three and leaving 30 injured or missing. This earthquake was felt in Nepal and the Soviet Union. | 33 | 30 | |
6 [93] [94] | ![]() | 6.1 | 25.1 | - | - | ||
6 [95] | ![]() | 6.3 | 195.0 | - | - | ||
10 [96] | ![]() | 7.6 | 34.0 | Earthquake generated a tsunami which killed one and destroyed homes in 13 villages. [97] | 1 | - | |
10 [98] | ![]() | 6.6 | 39.8 | VI | Aftershock | - | - |
10 [99] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
10 [100] | ![]() | 6.8 | 124.8 | VI | - | - | |
11 [101] | Mauritius - Reunion region | 6.2 | 10.0 | - | - | - | |
11 [102] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | VII | Some damage reported. | 1 | - |
14 [103] | Sea of Okhotsk | 6.1 | 644.8 | - | - | - | |
14 [104] | ![]() | 6.7 | 32.5 | VI | - | - | |
15 [105] | ![]() | 6.1 | 52.0 | V | - | - | |
17 [106] | ![]() | 6.0 | 27.1 | V | - | - | |
17 | ![]() | 6.1 | 38.5 | VI | Aftershock | - | - |
20 [107] | ![]() | 6.9 | 57.4 | VIII | The 1988 Nepal earthquake killed between 706 and 1,091 people on both sides of the Nepal-India border. The damage cost was about $131.5 million. A seiche in the Jamuna River killed 2 and left many missing. | 706-1,091 | Many |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | Landslide ![]() |
Total fatalities | 74 |
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 | ||||||
6 [108] | ![]() | 4.3 | 0.0 | The Kaiapit Landslide occurred on the Saruwaged Range where 1.3 billion m3 of debris flowed through two river valleys, killing 74 people. The landslide was registered on a seismograph. [109] | 74 | ||
7 [110] | ![]() | 6.7 | 485.1 | ||||
14 [111] | ![]() | 6.1 | 0.0 | Nuclear explosion | |||
14 [112] | ![]() | 6.0 | 122.6 | ||||
15 [113] | ![]() | 6.2 | 170.2 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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 | ||||||
1 [114] | southern East Pacific Rise | 6.3 | 10.0 | ||||
4 [115] | ![]() | 6.1 | 28.5 | ||||
8 [116] | ![]() | 7.1 | 35.2 | ||||
10 [117] | ![]() | 6.3 | 27.7 | ||||
16 [118] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.0 | V |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw ![]() ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.7 Mw ![]() ![]() |
Total fatalities | 942 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [119] | ![]() | 6.3 | 33.0 | ||||
3 [120] [121] | ![]() | 6.6 | 68.5 | VII | About 100 buildings damaged. Landslides and damage to roads. Felt in El Salvador, and Mexico. | 5 | |
3 [122] [123] | ![]() | 6.0 | 33.3 | V | Minor damage at Catano, Puerto Rico. | ||
5 [124] | ![]() | 6.2 | 7.6 | IX | |||
5 [125] | ![]() | 6.2 | 42.3 | ||||
6 [126] | ![]() ![]() | 7.7 | 17.8 | IX-X | The 1988 Lancang earthquake is the largest and deadliest earthquake in Yunnan since 1970. Heavy damage and casualties were reported in Lancang and Mangliang county where over 200,000 buildings were destroyed. The earthquake could be felt in Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Total cost of damage is around US$270 million. | 938 | 3,900 |
6 [127] | ![]() ![]() | 6.4 | 10.0 | VIII | Aftershock | ||
7 [128] | ![]() | 6.8 | 21.8 | ||||
7 [129] | Molucca Sea | 6.0 | 65.7 | ||||
10 [130] | ![]() | 4.6 | 10.0 | IV | Damage in Qinzhou and Fangcheng. | 71 | |
14 [131] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | ||||
17 [132] | ![]() | 6.6 | 19.3 | VII | Damage in Catarman. | 29 | |
18 [133] | ![]() | 6.6 | 61.0 | VI | |||
20 [134] | southeast Indian Ridge | 6.1 | 10.0 | ||||
25 [135] | southeast Indian Ridge | 6.3 | 10.0 | ||||
25 [136] | ![]() | 5.9 | 28.9 | VII | 1988 Saguenay earthquake | ||
30 [137] | ![]() ![]() | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | Several people injured and unconfirmed reports of nearly 10 people killed. [138] |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 25,000 deaths |
Total fatalities | 25,000 |
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 | ||||||
5 [139] | ![]() | 6.4 | 40.1 | ||||
7 [140] | ![]() | 6.8 | 5.4 | X | The 1988 Armenian earthquake was the deadliest earthquake of 1988. With an epicenter in what is now Armenia, it seriously damaged and destroyed thousands of homes and public infrastructures, killing at least 25,000 and injuring 31,000. | 25,000 | 31,000 |
8 [141] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | ||||
12 [142] | ![]() | 6.0 | 10.0 | ||||
23 [143] | ![]() | 6.4 | 30.7 | ||||
24 [144] | ![]() | 6.1 | 193.6 |
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.