List of earthquakes in 2002

Earthquakes in 2002

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2002 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	7.9 Mw Alaska
Deadliest	6.1 Mw Afghanistan 2,000 deaths
Total fatalities	2,693 [1]
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	13
6.0–6.9	127
5.0–5.9	1201
←  2001 2003  →

This is a list of earthquakes in 2002. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time.

Compared to other years

Number of Earthquakes Worldwide for 1999–2009

[ Worldwide ]

Magnitude Ranging Between	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
8−9.9	0	1	1	0	1	2	1	2	4	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1
7−7.9	18	14	15	13	14	14	10	9	13	12	16	21	19	15	17	11	18
6−6.9	118	145	121	126	140	141	140	142	178	168	144	151	204	129	125	144	124
5−5.9	1057	1335	1215	1171	1203	1515	1693	1712	2074	1768	1896	1963	2271	1412	1402	1577	1413
Total	1193	1495	1352	1310	1358	1672	1844	1865	2270	1948	2057	2136	2495	1558	1546	1733	1556

Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time. USGS's Website has more information.

For exact dates and live earthquakes please visit USGS's Global Earthquake Search Page and Real-time Earthquake Map or EMSC's Real-time Seismicity.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	2,000 [2]	6.1	Afghanistan, Hindu Kush	VII (Very strong)	8.0	March 25
2	261	6.5	Iran, Qazvin	VIII (Severe)	10.0	June 22
3	166	7.4	Afghanistan, Hindu Kush	VII (Very strong)	226.0	March 3
4	50	5.9	Afghanistan, Hindu Kush	VII (Very strong)	10.0	April 12
5	44	6.5	Turkey, Afyon	VIII (Severe)	5.0	February 3
6	36	5.3	Papua New Guinea, Morobe	IV (Light)	10.0	April 1
7	29	5.9	Italy, Molise	VIII (Severe)	10.0	October 31
8	23	6.3	Pakistan, Baltistan	VI (Strong)	33.0	November 20
9	15	7.5	Philippines, Mindanao	IX (Violent)	31.0	March 5
10	17	5.4	Pakistan, Balochistan	V (Moderate)	33.0	November 1

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	7.9	0	United States, Alaska	IX (Violent)	4.9	November 3
2	7.8	0	Fiji Islands	III (Weak)	580.0	August 19
3	7.7	0	Fiji Islands	III (Weak)	675.0	August 19
4	7.6	6	Papua New Guinea, East Sepik	IX (Violent)	13.0	September 8
5	7.6	8	Indonesia, Papua	VIII (Severe)	10.0	October 10
6	7.5	15	Philippines, Mindanao	IX (Violent)	31.0	March 5
7	7.4	166	Hindu Kush, Afghanistan	VII (Very strong)	226.0	March 3
8	7.4	3	Indonesia, Sumatra	VII (Very strong)	30.0	November 2
9	7.3	0	China, Heilongjiang	II (Weak)	566.0	June 2
10	7.3	0	Russia, Kuril Islands	III (Weak)	459.0	November 17
11	7.2	0	Vanuatu	X (Extreme)	21.0	January 2
12	7.1	5	Taiwan, Hualien	VII (Very strong)	32.0	March 31
13	7.1	0	Guam	IV (Light)	85.0	April 26

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

By month

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw   Vanuatu
Deadliest	4.7 Mw Democratic Republic of the Congo 7 Deaths
Total fatalities	13
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	15

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, on January 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). ^[3]
• A magnitude 6.3 struck Mindanao, on January 1 at a depth of 138.1 km (85.8 mi). ^[4]
• A magnitude 6.2 struck Fiji islands, on January 2 at a depth of 665.8 km (413.7 mi). ^[5]
• A magnitude 7.2 struck Vanuatu, on January 2 at a depth of 21.0 km (13.0 mi). ^[6]
• A magnitude 6.2 struck Hindu Kush, on January 3 at a depth of 129.3 km (80.3 mi). ^[7]
• A magnitude 6.6 struck Vanuatu, on January 3 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). ^[8]
• A magnitude 5.3 struck Tajikistan, on January 9 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi). Killing 3 people ^[9]
• A magnitude 6.7 struck near the north coast of New Guinea, on January 10 at a depth of 11.0 km (6.8 mi), Killing 1 Person. ^[10]
• A magnitude 6.4 struck New Britain, on January 13 at a depth of 43.6 km (27.1 mi). ^[11]
• A magnitude 6.0 struck Vanuatu, on January 13 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). ^[12]
• A magnitude 6.1 struck Sunda Strait, on January 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). ^[13]
• A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Lac Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 15 January. 7 people were killed.
• A magnitude 6.2 Earthquake struck Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on January 15 at a depth of 41.1 km (25.5 mi).
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Chiapas, Mexico on January 16 at a depth of 80.2 km (49.8 mi).
• A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Manisa, Turkey on January 21 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). One person was killed in Izmir. ^[14]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck The Aegean Sea on January 22 at a depth of 88.0 km (54.7 mi). One person died from a heart attack in Turkey.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck The Kuril Islands on January 28 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Hihifo, Tonga on January 28 at a depth of 33.1 km (20.6 mi).
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on January 30 at a depth of 17.0 km (10.6 mi).

February

February

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw   Papua New Guinea
Deadliest	6.5 Mw, Turkey 44 deaths
Total fatalities	44
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Afyon, Turkey on February 3 at a depth of 5.0 km (3.1 mi), 44 people were killed and 318 people were injured.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Çay, Turkey on February 3 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on February 5 at a depth of 39.0 km (24.2 mi).
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Easter Island on February 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland on February 20 at a depth of 1.0 km (0.6 mi). Minor damage occurred in Polkowice, and three people were injured. ^[15]

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw   Philippines
Deadliest	6.1 Mw Afghanistan 2,000 deaths
Total fatalities	2,186
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	3
6.0–6.9	2

• A Magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Jurm, Afghanistan on March 3 at a depth of 225.6 km (140.2 mi), 166 people were killed.
• A Magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines on March 5 at a depth of 31.0 km (19.3 mi). 15 people were killed and 100 were injured.
• A Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake struck Jurm, Afghanistan on March 25 at a depth of 8.0 km (5.0 mi). 2,000 people were killed and over 3,000 were injured. ^[2]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Calama, Chile on March 28 at a depth of 125.1 km (77.7 mi), Some Landslides Blocked Roads.
• A Magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Hualien City, Taiwan on March 31 at a depth of 32.8 km (20.4 mi), 5 people were killed and a 20 cm tsunami was observed in The Ryuku Islands, Japan.

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw   Guam
Deadliest	5.9 Mw Afghanistan 50 deaths
Total fatalities	96
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

• A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck New Britain, Papua New Guinea on April 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 36 people were killed in a landslide.
• A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Hindu Kush, Afghanistan on April 12 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 50 people were killed.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Nuxco, Mexico on April 18 at a depth of 24.9 km (15.5 mi).
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Atacama, Chile on April 18 at a depth of 62.0 km (38.5 mi), 19 people were injured and 2,424 were left homeless.
• A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck New York, United States on April 20 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi) km. Shaking was widely felt in the northeast and substantial damage was recorded.
• A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Kosovo on April 24 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). ^[16] One person was killed and sixty were injured in Kosovo.
• A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Kermanshah, Iran on April 24 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi). Two people were killed and 56 were injured, with ten villages completely destroyed. ^[17]
• A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Tbilisi, Georgia on April 25 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Seven people were killed and 52 were injured. ^[18]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Guam on April 26 at a depth of 85.7 km (53.3 mi), 5 People were injured.

May

May

Strongest magnitude	6.4 Mw   Alaska
Deadliest	5.5 Mw   Tanzania 2 deaths
Total fatalities	3
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	5

• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Neiafu, Tonga on May 8 at a depth of 130.8 km (81.3 mi).
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Yilan, Taiwan on May 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). One person was killed and another was injured.
• A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Tanzania on May 18 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Two people were killed and 690 houses were destroyed. ^[19]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck King Cove, Alaska on May 25 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Arauco, Argentina on May 28 at a depth of 22.2 km (13.8 mi), 27 People were injured.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Hualien City, Taiwan on May 28 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw   China
Deadliest	6.5 Mw   Iran 261 deaths
Total fatalities	261
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	5

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Fais, Micronesia on June 10 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).
• A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck north of Tokyo, Japan on June 14 at a depth of 51.7 km (32.1 mi). One person was injured and train services were disrupted in Tokyo. ^[20]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Costa Rica on June 16 at a depth of 35.0 km (21.7 mi).
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sola, Vanuatu on June 17 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Monte Patria, Chile on June 18 at a depth of 54.0 km (33.6 mi), Three houses were destroyed.
• A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Rangpur, Bangladesh on June 20 at a depth of 39.8 km (24.7 mi). 55 people were injured and damage occurred in Saidpur. ^[21]
• A Magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Abhar, Iran on June 22 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 261 people were killed and 1,500 People were injured.
• A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Kairouan, Tunisia on June 24 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Twelve people suffered injuries, and many houses were damaged in Kairouan. ^[22]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Heilongjiang, China on June 28 at a depth of 566.0 km (351.7 mi). ^[23]

July

July

Strongest magnitude	6.5 Mw   Panama
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	2

• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Madang, Papua New Guinea on July 3 at a depth of 31.2 km (19.4 mi).
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck The Panama-Costa Rica Border on July 31 At a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 11 People were injured.

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw   Fiji
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	2

• A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Sichuan, China on August 8 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi). Eight houses were destroyed and 66 damaged in Rulong. ^[24]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck The Northern Mariana Islands on August 14 at a depth of 30.0 km (18.6 mi).
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi, Indonesia on August 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 48 people were injured.
• A magnitude 7.8 Earthquake struck Fiji on August 19 At a depth of 580.0 km (360.4 mi).
• A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Fiji on August 19 At a depth of 675.4 km (419.7 mi). It is considered a doublet of the 7.8 earthquake 7 minutes warlier.
• A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Cairo, Egypt on August 24 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). At least 44 houses were damaged in Cairo. ^[25]

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw Papua New Guinea
Deadliest	7.6 Mw Papua New Guinea 6 deaths
Total fatalities	10
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck The Gulf of Aden on September 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Santa Flavia, Italy on September 6 at a depth of 5.0 km (3.1 mi), 2 People Died From Heart Attacks.
• A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck East Sepik, Papua New Guinea on September 8 at a depth of 13.0 km (8.1 mi), 6 people were killed and 70 More were injured.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Bombooflat, India on September 21 at a depth of 21.0 km (13.0 mi), 2 people were killed.
• A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom , with its epicentre being in Dudley, on September 22 at a depth of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). One person suffered injuries and minor damage occurred in Dudley. The earthquake was felt as far as Cardiff, Wales. ^[26]

October

October

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw   Indonesia
Deadliest	6.0 Mw   Italy 29 deaths
Total fatalities	39
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	6

• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on October 3 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Papua, Indonesia on October 10 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi), 8 people were killed and a 5 m (16 ft) High Tsunami Was Formed.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Tarauacá, Brazil on October 12 At a depth of 534.3 km (332.0 mi).
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Wallis and Futuna on October 13 At a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck The Pacific-Antarctic Ridge on October 18 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo on October 24 at a depth of 11.0 km (6.8 mi). Two people were killed and moderate damage occurred throughout Congo and Rwanda. ^[27]
• A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck Sicily, Italy on October 29 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Nine people were injured and dozens of buildings were damaged in Santa Venerina. ^[28]
• A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Molise, Italy on October 31 at a depth of 22.0 km (13.7 mi), 29 people were killed, including 26 students when their school collapsed.

November

November

Strongest magnitude	7.9 Mw Alaska
Deadliest	6.3 Mw Pakistan 23 deaths
Total fatalities	44
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	3
6.0–6.9	1

• A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Baltistan, Pakistan on November 1 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi), 17 people were killed
• A Magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Sumatra, Indonesia on November 2 at a depth of 30.0 km (18.6 mi), 3 people were killed. This was a foreshock of The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
• A Magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Alaska on November 3 at a depth of 4.9 km (3.0 mi), This Was The Largest earthquake in The US Since The 1965 Rat Islands earthquake.
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck The Kuril Islands on November 17 at a depth of 459.1 km (285.3 mi).
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Baltistan, Pakistan on November 20 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi), 23 people were killed.
• A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Merelava, Vanuatu on November 27 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi). Three people were injured and a hundred buildings were damaged on Merelava. ^[29]

December

December

Strongest magnitude	6.7 Mw Papua New Guinea
Deadliest	5.6 Mw   China 2 deaths
Total fatalities	2
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	2

• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck New Ireland, Papua New Guinea on December 12 at a depth of 34.0 km (21.1 mi).
• A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Gansu, China on December 14 at a depth of 22.0 km (13.7 mi). Two people were killed, and 13,380 houses were damaged in Yumen. ^[30]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Tabina, Philippines on December 23 At a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).
• A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Kermanshah, Iran at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi). Fifteen people were injured and around 3,000 homes damaged in Kermanshah. ^[31]

References

1. "NCEI Global Historical Hazard Database".
2. "Around 2,000 feared dead in Afghan earthquakes". Yahoo! News . Archived from the original on 17 April 2002.
3. "M6.0 - Pacific-Antarctic Ridge". United States Geological Survey. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
4. "M6.3 - Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
5. "M6.2 - Fiji". United States Geological Survey. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
6. "M7.2 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
7. "M6.2 - Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
8. "M6.6 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
9. "M5.3 - Tajikistan". United States Geological Survey. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
10. "M6.7 - near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
11. "M6.4 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
12. "M6.0 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
13. "M6.1 - Sunda Strait, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
14. "M 4.6 - 6 km SSW of Gölmarmara, Turkey". earthquake.usgs.gov.
15. "M 4.9 - 6 km N of Polkowice, Poland". earthquake.usgs.gov.
16. "M 5.7 - 2 km S of Gjilan, Kosovo". earthquake.usgs.gov.
17. "M 5.4 - 23 km SW of Sonqor, Iran". earthquake.usgs.gov.
18. "M 4.8 - Georgia-Armenia border region". earthquake.usgs.gov.
19. "M 5.5 - 25 km ENE of Malya, Tanzania". earthquake.usgs.gov.
20. "M 4.9 - 9 km SSW of Yōki, Japan". earthquake.usgs.gov.
21. "M 4.5 - 8 km NNE of Saidpur, Bangladesh". earthquake.usgs.gov.
22. "M 5.2 - 15 km SW of Sbikha, Tunisia". earthquake.usgs.gov.
23. "M 7.3 - 50 km SW of Dongning, China". earthquake.usgs.gov.
24. "M 5.3 - 219 km WNW of Kangding, China". earthquake.usgs.gov.
25. "M 4.4 - 4 km ESE of Al Kh?nkah, Egypt". earthquake.usgs.gov.
26. "M 4.8 - 2 km ESE of Wombourn, United Kingdom". earthquake.usgs.gov.
27. "M 6.2 - 34 km SW of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo". earthquake.usgs.gov.
28. "M 4.3 - 7 km ESE of Carruba, Italy". earthquake.usgs.gov.
29. "M 5.9 - 74 km SSE of Sola, Vanuatu". earthquake.usgs.gov.
30. "M 5.6 - 27 km WSW of Laojunmiao, China". earthquake.usgs.gov.
31. "M 5.2 - 24 km SSW of Sonqor, Iran". earthquake.usgs.gov.