Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2012
| |||
Strongest magnitude | 8.6 Mw ![]() | ||
---|---|---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw ![]() 304 deaths | ||
Total fatalities | 826 | ||
Number by magnitude | |||
9.0+ | 0 | ||
8.0–8.9 | 2 | ||
7.0–7.9 | 15 | ||
6.0–6.9 | 129 | ||
5.0–5.9 | 1,412 | ||
This is a list of earthquakes in 2012. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Two huge 8 magnitude earthquakes (8.6 and 8.2) struck Indonesia in April, but caused little damage, and no tsunami. The deadliest quake occurred in Iran, while other destructive tremors were observed in Guatemala, Philippines, or China.
Magnitude Ranging Between | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8−9.9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
7−7.9 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 15 |
6−6.9 | 140 | 141 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 | 204 | 129 |
5−5.9 | 1203 | 1515 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 | 1963 | 2271 | 1412 |
Total | 1358 | 1672 | 1844 | 1865 | 2270 | 1948 | 2057 | 2136 | 2495 | 1558 |
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 | 306 | 6.4 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 9.9 | August 11 |
2 | 139 | 7.4 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 41.6 | November 7 |
3 | 113 | 6.7 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | February 6 |
4 | 81 | 5.6 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 9.9 | September 7 |
5 | 75 | 5.7 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 15.0 | June 11 |
6 | 38 | 6.8 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 9.8 | November 11 |
7 | 27 | 5.8 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 9.0 | May 29 |
8 | 10 | 8.6 | ![]() | VII (Very strong) | 22.9 | April 11 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Intensity | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.6 | 10 | ![]() | VII (Very Strong) | 20.0 | April 11 |
2 | 8.2 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 25.1 | April 11 |
3 | 7.8 | 1 [1] | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 14.0 | October 28 |
4 | 7.7 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 625.9 | August 14 |
5 | 7.6 | 1 | ![]() | VII (Very Strong) | 28.0 | August 31 |
5 | 7.6 | 2 | ![]() | X (Extreme) | 35.0 | September 5 |
7 | 7.4 | 2 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 20.0 | March 20 |
7 | 7.4 | 139 | ![]() | VII (Very Strong) | 24.0 | November 7 |
9 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | II (Weak) | 28.0 | August 27 |
9 | 7.3 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 170.0 | September 30 |
9 | 7.3 | 3 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 31.0 | December 7 |
12 | 7.2 | 0 | ![]() | IV (Light) | 19.0 | January 11 |
13 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 23.0 | February 2 |
13 | 7.1 | 1 | ![]() | VIII (Severe) | 40.7 | March 25 |
13 | 7.1 | 0 | ![]() | V (Moderate) | 155.0 | December 10 |
16 | 7.0 | 0 | ![]() | VI (Strong) | 13.0 | April 12 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.5 Mw ![]() 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 163 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [2] | ![]() | 6.8 | 365.3 | V | - | - | - |
5 [3] | ![]() | 5.5 | 39.8 | V | One person died of a heart attack [4] and minor damage in Santo Domingo. [5] | 1 | - |
9 [6] | ![]() | 6.4 | 28.0 | VI | - | - | - |
10 [7] | ![]() | 7.2 | 19.0 | IV | Foreshock of the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes. | - | - |
15 [8] | ![]() | 6.6 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - |
19 [9] | ![]() | 5.1 | 8.3 | VI | At least 238 people injured and minor damage in Razavi Khorasan province. | - | 238 |
21 [10] | ![]() | 6.2 | 45.0 | VI | - | - | - |
23 [11] | ![]() | 6.1 | 20.0 | VI | - | - | - |
27 [12] | ![]() | 5.2 | 36.3 | IV | One person injured in Tokyo. [13] | - | 1 |
30 [14] | ![]() | 6.4 | 43.0 | VI | At least 119 people injured and several buildings damaged in Ica. [15] | - | 119 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.7 Mw ![]() 113 deaths |
Total fatalities | 113 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 174 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1 [16] | ![]() | 5.4 | 80.3 | V | The roofs of some houses collapsed in Bengkulu. [17] | - | - |
2 [18] | ![]() | 7.1 | 23.0 | V | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 116 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.6 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 11 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 2 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 17 |
5.0–5.9 | 165 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 29 |
Number by magnitude | |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 99 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw,![]() ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 79 |
Number by magnitude | |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 88 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 98 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 313 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 112 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 83 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 111 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
5.0–5.9 | 103 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 177 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 85 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw, ![]() |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 12 |
Number by magnitude | |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 98 |
The 2006 Kamchatka earthquake occurred on April 21, 2006 at 12:25 PM local time. This shock had a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The hypocenter was located near the coast of Koryak Autonomous Okrug at an estimated depth of 22 km, as reported by the International Seismological Centre. This event caused damage in three villages and was followed by a number of large aftershocks. Two M6.6 earthquakes struck on April 29 at 16:58 UTC and again on May 22 at 11:12 UTC. These earthquakes caused no deaths; however, 40 people were reported injured.
The March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes occurred near the northern end of Lake Singkarak in Sumatra, Indonesia, on March 6. The first shock in this earthquake doublet struck with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and the second shock that arrived two hours later had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong).
The 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes struck in northern Afghanistan during the month of March. At least 166 people were killed with a very large and intermediate-depth mainshock on March 3. Three weeks later, at least 1,200 were killed during a moderate but shallow event that had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII. The M7.4 and M6.1 reverse events were focused in the Hindu Kush mountain range area.
A potent magnitude 6.6 Mw intraplate aftershock occurred at 17:16 JST (08:16 UTC) on 11 April, in the Hamadōri region of Fukushima, Japan. With a shallow focus of 13 km (8.1 mi), the earthquake was centred inland about 36 km (22 mi) west of Iwaki, causing widespread strong to locally severe shaking. It was one of many aftershocks to follow the 11 March Tōhoku earthquake, and the strongest to have its epicentre located inland.
The 2012 Guerrero–Oaxaca earthquake struck southern Mexico with a moment magnitude of 7.4 at 12:02 local time on Tuesday, 20 March. Its epicenter was near Ometepec, in the border between the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. With a shallow focus of 20 km, the earthquake caused strong shaking over a large area along the Oaxaca–Guerrero border and the adjacent Pacific coastline. Significant tremors were felt in areas up to several hundred kilometers away, including Mexico City and also in Guatemala. Two people were killed and over 30,000 houses were damaged or destroyed.
The 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes were magnitude 8.6 and 8.2 Mw undersea earthquakes that struck near the Indonesian province of Aceh on 11 April at 15:38 local time. Initially, authorities feared that the initial earthquake would cause a tsunami and warnings were issued across the Indian Ocean; however, these warnings were subsequently cancelled. These were unusually strong intraplate earthquakes and the largest strike-slip earthquake ever recorded.
The 2016 Sumatra earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck on 2 March 2016 in the Indian Ocean, approximately 800 kilometers southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia. Tsunami warnings were issued for Indonesia and Australia, but were withdrawn two hours later. There were no deaths directly related to the earthquake.
An earthquake, measuring 6.2 ± 0.016 on the moment magnitude scale, hit Central Italy on 24 August 2016 at 03:36:32 CEST. Its epicentre was close to Accumoli, with its hypocentre at a depth of 4 ± 1 km, approximately 75 km (47 mi) southeast of Perugia and 45 km (28 mi) north of L'Aquila, in an area near the borders of the Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche regions. As of 15 November 2016, 299 people had been killed.