Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2004
| |||
Strongest magnitude | ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | ![]() 227,898 deaths | ||
Total fatalities | 228,755 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 1 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 1 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 16 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 145 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 1519 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 2004. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they resulted in significant damage or casualties, or were notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. The year 2004 had the most major earthquakes since 1999. In total, there were 16 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes this year, 6 of them were in Indonesia. The vast majority of the earthquake deaths in 2004 were caused by the magnitude 9.1–9.3 earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra in December. Most of the deaths were caused by a devastating tsunami that spread across the Indian Ocean. There were several other deadly and destructive earthquakes, including Morocco's largest earthquake until 2023, which caused 628 deaths. Japan was hit by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake, which caused 68 deaths and $28 billion in damage, making it the sixth costliest earthquake in history.
Magnitude Ranging Between | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8−9.9 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
7−7.9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 18 |
6−6.9 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 | 204 | 129 | 125 | 144 | 124 |
5−5.9 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 | 1963 | 2271 | 1412 | 1402 | 1577 | 1413 |
Total | 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.
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9.1 | 227,898 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | 26 December |
2 | 6.4 | 631 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 12.2 | 24 February |
3 | 6.6 | 68 | ![]() | IX (Violent) | 13.0 | 23 October |
4 | 7.0 | 37 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 16.6 | February 5 |
5 | 6.3 | 35 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 20.0 | May 28 |
6 | 7.1 | 32 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 24.0 | 26 November |
7 | 5.5 | 24 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 11.0 | 14 February |
8 | 7.5 | 23 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | 11 November |
9 | 5.1 | 18 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 5.0 | 2 July |
Rank [1] | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 9.1 | 227,898 | ![]() | 30.0 | 26 December |
2. | 8.1 | 0 | ![]() | 10.0 | 23 December |
3. | 7.5 | 23 | ![]() | 10.0 | 11 November |
4. | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | 10.0 | 5 September |
5. | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | 582.1 | 25 July |
5. | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | 10.0 | 7 February |
7. | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | 15.0 | 15 November |
7. | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | 39.2 | 26 December |
9. | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | 14.0 | 5 September |
9. | 7.1 | 32 | ![]() | 10.0 | 26 November |
9. | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | 10.0 | 23 November |
9. | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | 565.5 | 15 July |
9. | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | 22.0 | 3 January |
14. | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | 39.0 | 29 November |
14. | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | 35.0 | 10 October |
14. | 7.0 | 37 | ![]() | 16.6 | 6 February |
![]() |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw ![]() 631 deaths |
Total fatalities | 671 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
Strongest magnitude | 2 events reached 6.2 Mw |
---|---|
Deadliest | 3.8 Mw ![]() 6 deaths |
Total fatalities | 16 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 19 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw ![]() 35 deaths |
Total fatalities | 38 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
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 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.1 Mw ![]() 18 deaths |
Total fatalities | 23 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.4 Mw ![]() 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 6 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw, ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw ![]() 7.0 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw ![]() 68 deaths |
Total fatalities | 68 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.1 Mw, ![]() 32 deaths |
Total fatalities | 64 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 5 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
Strongest magnitude | 9.1 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 9.1 Mw, ![]() |
Total fatalities | 227,898 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 2 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 21 |
The 2011 Kütahya earthquake struck near a populous region of western Turkey at 23:15 EEST (20:15 UTC) on 19 May with a moment magnitude of 5.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII. With an epicenter just to the east of Simav, it occurred at an estimated depth of 9.1 kilometers (5.7 mi), resulting in strong shaking in much of Kütahya.
On 17 March 2019, an earthquake measuring Mw 5.6 struck the island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a landslide, killing six and injuring nearly 200 others.
The 2019 Cotabato earthquakes were an earthquake swarm which struck the province of Cotabato on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines in October 2019. Three of these earthquakes were above 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale with a Mercalli intensity of VIII. More than 40 people have been reported dead or missing and nearly 800 were injured as a result of these events.
The 1995 Menglian earthquake or 1995 Myanmar–China earthquake occurred on 12 July at 05:46:43 local time in the Myanmar–China border region. The earthquake had an epicenter on the Myanmar side of the border, located in the mountainous region of Shan State. It registered 7.3 on the Chinese surface-wave magnitude scale (Ms ) and 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale (Mw ). With a maximum Mercalli intensity assigned at VIII, it killed 11 people and left another 136 injured. Over 100,000 homes in both countries were destroyed and 42,000 seriously damaged. Some damage to structures were also reported in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Thailand. The low death toll from this earthquake was attributed to an early warning issued prior to it happening. Precursor events including foreshocks and some seismic anomalies led to an evacuation of the area before the mainshock struck. It is thought to be one of the few successfully predicted earthquakes in history.
On 19 September 2022, a moment magnitude 7.6–7.7 earthquake struck between the Mexican states of Michoacán and Colima at 13:05:06 local time. The earthquake had a depth of 26.9 km (16.7 mi), resulting in a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. The USGS reported the epicentre was 35 km (22 mi) southwest of the town of Aquila. Two people were killed and at least 35 others were injured across several states. A magnitude 6.8 aftershock struck on 22 September, causing three more deaths.
On December 20, 2022, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Ferndale, California in Humboldt County, United States at 10:34:25 UTC, or 2:34 a.m. PST.