Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2011
| |||
Strongest magnitude | 9.1 Mw ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | 9.1 Mw ![]() 19,747 deaths | ||
Total fatalities | 20,925 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 1 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 0 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 18 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 204 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 2271 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 2011. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Smaller events in remote areas will be excluded from the list as they wouldn't have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time. The 9.1 Tōhoku earthquake was the fourth most powerful ever recorded and triggered a massive tsunami (around 20,000 deaths). In a very seismically active year, many earthquakes caused damage in Turkey, New Zealand, Myanmar, India and United States.
Magnitude Ranging Between | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8−9.9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
7−7.9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 19 |
6−6.9 | 126 | 140 | 141 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 | 204 |
5−5.9 | 1171 | 1203 | 1515 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 | 1963 | 2271 |
Total | 1310 | 1358 | 1672 | 1844 | 1865 | 2270 | 1948 | 2057 | 2136 | 2495 |
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 | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19,747 | 9.1 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 29.0 | March 11 |
2 | 604 | 7.1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 7.6 | October 23 |
3 | 185 | 6.3 | ![]() | XI (Extreme) | 5.0 | February 22 |
4 | 151 | 6.9 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | March 24 |
5 | 111 | 6.9 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 19.7 | September 18 |
6 | 38 | 5.6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 5.0 | November 9 |
7 | 26 | 5.5 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | March 10 |
8 | 14 | 6.2 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 20.0 | July 19 |
9 | 10 | 6.7 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 78.0 | September 5 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9.1 | 19,747 | ![]() | March 11 |
2 | 7.9 | 0 | ![]() | March 11 |
3 | 7.7 | 0 | ![]() | March 11 |
4 | 7.6 | 0 | ![]() | July 6 |
5 | 7.4 | 0 | ![]() | October 21 |
6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | March 9 |
6 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | September 15 |
8 | 7.2 | 3 | ![]() | January 18 |
8 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | June 23 |
8 | 7.1 | 604 | ![]() | October 23 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | January 2 |
11 | 7.1 | 4 | ![]() | April 7 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | August 20 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | December 14 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | January 1 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | January 13 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | July 10 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | August 20 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | September 3 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.2 Mw ![]() 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [1] | ![]() | 7.0 | 583.6 | V | — | — | — |
2 [2] | ![]() | 7.2 | 24.0 | VII | This was an aftershock to the 2010 Chile earthquake. | — | — |
5 [3] | ![]() | 6.1 | 112.2 | — | — | — | — |
9 [4] | ![]() | 6.5 | 22.0 | V [5] | — | — | — |
9 [6] | ![]() | 6.1 | 18.0 | IV | This was an aftershock to the 6.5 earthquake 7 hours earlier. | — | — |
12 [7] | ![]() | 6.4 | 512.0 | III | — | — | — |
13 [8] | ![]() | 7.0 | 9.0 | V | — | — | — |
17 [9] | ![]() | 6.0 | 36.0 | IV | — | — | — |
18 [10] | ![]() | 7.2 | 68.0 | VII | The 2011 Dalbandin earthquake damaged 200 homes near the epicentre. One person was killed by falling debris, and two others died from heart attacks in Quetta. This was the strongest in the country since the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. | 3 | — |
24 [11] | ![]() | 6.0 | 110.0 | V | — | — | — |
26 [12] | ![]() | 6.1 | 23.0 | V | — | — | — |
27 [13] | ![]() | 6.2 | 10.0 | VII | This was an aftershock of the 2010 Hosseinabad earthquake. | — | — |
29 [14] | ![]() | 6.2 | 15.0 | — | — | — | — |
31 [15] | ![]() | 6.0 | 76.0 | V | — | — | — |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 185 deaths |
Total fatalities | 186 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 17 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4 [16] | ![]() | 6.2 | 85.0 | VI | One person was killed and several buildings and bridges were damaged in Monywa, Myanmar. Some damage was also reported in Assam, India. | 1 | — |
7 [17] | ![]() | 6.4 | 415.0 | III | — | — | — |
10 [18] | ![]() | 6.6 | 525.0 | IV | — | — | — |
11 [19] | ![]() | 6.9 | 26.0 | VII | A tsunami up to 0.3 m (0.98 ft) was observed off the coast of Chile. This was an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake. | — | — |
12 [20] | ![]() | 6.1 | 16.0 | VII | It is also an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake. | — | — |
15 [21] | ![]() | 6.1 | 16.2 | VII | — | — | — |
20 [22] | ![]() | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | — | — | — |
21 [23] | ![]() | 6.5 | 558.1 | — | — | — | — |
21 [24] | ![]() | 6.1 | 5.9 | XI | The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters in New Zealand's history. 185 people were killed, and 2,000 people were injured. This was also an aftershock of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake . | 185 | 2,000 |
Note: The 2010 Maule Earthquake's aftershocks have not been included due to cluttering.
Strongest magnitude | 9.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 9.1 Mw ![]() |
Total fatalities | 19,924 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 1 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 68 |
5.0–5.9 | 633 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [25] | ![]() | 6.6 | 87.7 | IV | — | — | — |
9 [26] | ![]() | 7.3 | 32.0 | VI | The March 2011 Sanriku earthquake was a foreshock of the 9.1 earthquake 2 days later. | — | — |
10 [27] | ![]() | 5.5 | 10.0 | VII | The 2011 Yunnan earthquake damaged 12,000 homes, left 26 people dead and 313 injured. | 26 | 313 |
11 [28] | ![]() | 9.1 | 29.0 | XI [29] | The 2011 Tohoku earthquake was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan, and is the fourth largest earthquake in recorded history, a tsunami up to 40.5 m (133 ft) high caused 19,745 deaths with 6,242 people injured, and 2,556 people missing. In Jayapura, Indonesia, one person was killed with another person killed in the U.S. State of California. | 19,747 | 6,434 |
11 [30] | ![]() | 7.9 | 42.6 | VIII | These were aftershocks of the 9.1 earthquake earlier that day. | — | — |
11 [31] | ![]() | 7.7 | 18.6 | IV | — | — | |
24 [32] | ![]() | 6.9 | 8.0 | X [29] | The 2011 Tarlay earthquake caused major destruction in Shan State, killing 151 people and injuring 212 others. | 151 | 212 |
Note: Aftershocks of the Japan earthquake have not been included unless they are above magnitude 7 or lead to casualties.
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw ![]() 7 deaths |
Total fatalities | 12 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 18 |
5.0–5.9 | 159 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [33] | ![]() | 6.0 | 59.9 | VI | — | — | — |
3 [34] | ![]() | 6.7 | 14.0 | V | One person died of a heart attack in Cilacap. [35] | 1 | — |
7 [36] | ![]() | 6.6 | 166.2 | VI | — | — | — |
7 [37] | ![]() | 7.1 | 42.0 | VIII | The April 2011 Miyagi earthquake caused further structural damage in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures. Four people died and 141 were injured. | 4 | 141 |
11 [38] | ![]() | 6.6 | 11.0 | VIII | The April 2011 Fukushima earthquake caused little structural damage, but killed seven people and injured ten others. Mostly from landslides. | 7 | 10 |
23 [39] | ![]() | 6.8 | 79.0 | VI | — | — | — |
24 [40] | ![]() | 6.1 | 8.0 | VIII | Fourteen people were injured, 38 houses and a school were destroyed in the South Konawe-Kendari area. [41] | — | 14 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.1 Mw ![]() 9 deaths |
Total fatalities | 11 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 179 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
10 [42] | ![]() | 6.8 | 11.0 | V | — | — | — |
11 [43] | ![]() | 5.1 | 1.0 | VI | The 2011 Lorca earthquake caused significant localized damage and panic among locals, leaving many displaced from their homes. Nine people were killed and 403 others were injured. | 9 | 403 |
19 [44] | ![]() | 5.8 | 7.0 | VII | After the 2011 Kütahya earthquake , many locals panicked and power was lost to most of Simav, and some buildings sustained damage. An elderly woman in İnegöl suffered a heart-attack and died in the immediate aftermath of the tremor, while in Simav, one person was killed after being struck by a concrete block. 122 others were injured. [45] | 2 | 122 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.9 Mw ![]() 1 death 5.0 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
5.0–5.9 | 161 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
8 [46] | ![]() | 5.1 | 21.1 | VI | In Dabancheng, fifty houses were damaged and landslides occurred. At least eight people were injured. | — | 8 |
13 [47] | ![]() | 5.9 | 6.1 | VIII | The June 2011 Christchurch earthquake , being a strong aftershock of the February event, caused further damage to buildings, power outages, liquefaction and rockfalls. One elderly person died after falling in panic, and 46 others were injured, two seriously. [48] [49] | 1 | 46 |
16 [50] | ![]() | 6.4 | 16.0 | VIII | — | — | — |
20 [51] | ![]() | 5.0 | 39.0 | IV | Moderate damage occurred in Baoshan and four people were injured. | — | 4 |
22 [52] | ![]() | 6.7 | 33.0 | VI | This was possibly an aftershock of the March 2011 event. | — | — |
24 [53] | ![]() | 7.3 | 52.0 | VI | In Nikolski, a tsunami with heights of 10 cm (0.33 ft) was observed. | — | — |
24 [54] | ![]() | 3.5 | 10.0 | III | In Port-au-Prince, seven people were injured in a crowd-crush caused by panicking crowds. | — | 7 |
26 [55] | ![]() | 5.3 | 29.3 | V | Ten houses collapsed and over 90% of others were damaged near the epicentre. | — | — |
26 [56] | ![]() | 6.3 | 17.0 | VII | — | — | — |
29 [57] | ![]() | 5.0 | 10.0 | V | In Nagano, one person was crushed to death by a falling bookshelf, [58] and seventeen others were injured, fourteen of them seriously. [59] | 1 | 17 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.1 Mw ![]() 14 deaths |
Total fatalities | 14 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 17 |
5.0–5.9 | 205 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6 [60] | ![]() | 7.6 | 17.0 | VII | A tsunami was observed with heights of 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in Raoul Island. [61] | — | — |
10 [62] | ![]() | 7.0 | 23.0 | V | It was an aftershock of the event on March 11. | — | — |
11 [63] | ![]() | 6.4 | 19.0 | VI | — | — | — |
19 [64] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VIII | The 2011 Fergana Valley earthquake caused fifteen injuries, as many as 650 houses to collapse or sustain severe damage and rockfalls in Kyrgyzstan. [65] [66] However, in Uzbekistan, over 800 homes were damaged and thirteen people were killed, [65] while another person died due to panic in Tajikistan. [67] | 14 | 101 |
20 [68] | ![]() | 6.0 | 21.0 | VI | — | — | — |
25 [69] | ![]() | 6.3 | 10.0 | VI | — | — | — |
29 [70] | ![]() | 6.7 | 532.0 | — | — | — | — |
31 [71] | ![]() | 6.6 | 10.0 | VI | — | — | — |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 146 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
11 [72] | ![]() | 5.6 | 10.0 | VII | At least 21 people were injured and moderate damage was reported in Kashgar. | — | 21 |
20 [73] | ![]() | 7.2 | 32.0 | VI | — | — | — |
20 [74] | ![]() | 6.5 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock of the 7.2 earthquake 18 minutes prior. | — | — |
20 [75] | ![]() | 7.1 | 28.0 | VI | Aftershock of the 7.2 earthquake an hour prior. | — | — |
23 [76] | ![]() | 5.3 | 4.0 | VII | The 2011 Colorado earthquake caused damage in Segundo, Cokedale, Valdez and Trinidad. Rockslides occurred on State Highway 12. | — | — |
23 [77] | ![]() | 5.8 | 6.0 | VIII | The 2011 Virginia earthquake was felt by more people than any other quake in U.S. history, with tremors also being felt in Canada. [78] Several people were injured and damage was reported in the states of Virginia, the capital Washington D.C., [79] Delaware, [80] Maryland, [81] West Virginia, [82] Pennsylvania, [83] New Jersey, [84] and New York. [85] | — | Several |
24 [86] | ![]() | 7.0 | 147.0 | VI | — | — | — |
30 [87] | ![]() | 6.9 | 469.8 | III | — | — | — |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.9 Mw ![]() 111 deaths |
Total fatalities | 125 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 16 |
5.0–5.9 | 121 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2 [88] | ![]() | 6.9 | 32.0 | I | A tsunami with a wave height of 6 cm (0.20 ft) was recorded at Atka. | — | — |
2 [89] | ![]() | 6.7 | 578.9 | III | — | — | — |
3 [90] | ![]() | 7.0 | 185.1 | V | — | — | — |
5 [91] | ![]() | 6.7 | 91.0 | VI | The 2011 Aceh earthquake killed ten people and caused damage in Singkil. | 10 | — |
7 [92] | ![]() | 4.3 | 10.0 | V | One person was injured and some minor damage occurred in the Delhi area. | — | 1 |
9 [93] | ![]() | 6.4 | 22.0 | VII | — | — | — |
15 [94] | ![]() | 7.3 | 644.6 | II | — | — | — |
16 [95] | ![]() | 6.7 | 30.0 | V | Aftershock of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. | — | — |
19 [96] | ![]() | 6.9 | 50.0 | VIII | The 2011 Sikkim earthquake caused widespread damage in several countries in south and central Asia. At least 97 people were killed and many buildings collapsed in the Indian states of Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal, while six people were killed in Nepal. [97] Seven additional fatalities occurred in Tibet, China, while minor damage was reported in Bhutan and Bangladesh. | 111 | — |
19 [98] | ![]() | 5.6 | 9.0 | VII | Three people were killed by landslides, another person was killed by a wall collapse and 40 others were injured in Guatemala City. [99] At least 11 houses were destroyed and 400 others were damaged. [99] | 4 | 40 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.1 Mw ![]() 604 deaths |
Total fatalities | 608 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 122 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
7 | ![]() | 2.4 | — | — | One person was killed by falling rocks while mountain climbing. [100] | 1 | — |
13 [101] | ![]() | 6.1 | 39.0 | V | At least 43 people were injured in southern Bali. | — | 43 |
14 [102] | ![]() | 6.5 | 37.0 | VI | — | — | — |
14 [103] | ![]() | 6.0 | 12.0 | VIII | Some minor damage and power outages were reported near the epicenter. [104] | — | — |
18 [105] | ![]() | 6.1 | 26.0 | VI | — | — | — |
20 [106] | ![]() | 5.1 | 10.0 | VII | Over 3,000 buildings were damaged and 34 people were injured. | — | 34 |
21 [107] | ![]() | 7.4 | 33.0 | III | — | — | — |
23 [108] | ![]() | 7.1 | 18.0 | VIII | At least 604 people were killed, 4,152 others were injured, 40,000 were displaced, 5,739 buildings collapsed and 4,882 others were damaged in the 2011 Van earthquake . Telecommunications, electricity and water services were disrupted. Surface faulting and liquefaction were also observed. | 604 | 4,152 |
28 [109] | ![]() | 6.9 | 24.0 | VIII | One person died, 103 others were injured and 134 buildings were destroyed at Ica. | 1 | 103 |
29 [110] | ![]() | 3.5 | 10.0 | III | One person died after falling from a bridge and another died from a heart attack in the epicentral area. | 2 | — |
29 [111] | ![]() | 4.0 | 3.0 | IV | Some minor damage and landslides occurred near Quito. | – | — |
31 [112] | ![]() | 5.0 | 39.5 | II | Some barns collapsed and roof tiles fell from older houses in Qingchuan County. [113] | — | — |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.6 Mw ![]() 38 deaths |
Total fatalities | 38 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 135 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [114] | ![]() | 5.6 | 28.0 | VI | At least 2,453 houses collapsed, 66,000 others were damaged, about 148,500 people were affected and 1,101 livestock were killed in Xinjiang. [115] | — | — |
6 [116] | ![]() | 5.7 | 5.2 | VIII | Due to the 2011 Oklahoma earthquake , two people were injured, 14 homes were destroyed and many others were damaged in the epicentral area. Parts of US Highway 62 between Meeker and Prague buckled by shaking along pre-existing cracks. | — | 2 |
8 [117] | ![]() | 4.8 | 5.0 | VI | Aftershock of the 2011 Oklahoma earthquake. Some additional homes were damaged. | — | — |
8 [118] | ![]() | 6.9 | 224.9 | V | — | — | — |
9 [119] | ![]() | 5.6 | 5.0 | VII | Aftershock of the 2011 Van earthquake. Some additional buildings collapsed in Van, killing 38 people and injuring 260 others. | 38 | 260 |
14 [120] | ![]() | 6.3 | 17.0 | VII | — | — | — |
22 [121] | ![]() | 6.6 | 549.9 | III | — | — | — |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.5 Mw ![]() 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 106 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [122] | ![]() | 4.9 | 31.5 | IV | At least 300 homes in Kashgar sustained moderate damage. | — | — |
11 [123] | ![]() | 6.5 | 59.0 | VII | At least three people were killed, ten were injured, many homes were damaged and landslides occurred in the 2011 Zumpango earthquake . | 3 | 10 |
14 [124] | ![]() | 7.1 | 135.0 | VI | — | — | — |
23 [125] | ![]() | 5.8 | 9.7 | VIII | Sixty people were injured, a few buildings were damaged and cracks and potholes appeared in roads in the Christchurch area. | — | 60 |
26 [126] | ![]() | 6.6 | 15.0 | VII | Many buildings were damaged and 1,600 people were evacuated in the epicentral area. | — | — |