Strongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw, Chile |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.8 Mw, Nepal 8,964 deaths [1] |
Total fatalities | 9,661 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 18 |
6.0–6.9 | 124 |
5.0–5.9 | 1,413 |
4.0–4.9 | 13,239 |
This is a list of earthquakes in 2015. 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 (Coordinated Universal Time) time. This year was dominated by the earthquake in Nepal in April, with around 9,000 deaths. Another deadly event struck Afghanistan, while the strongest quake (8.3) took place in Chile, like in 2014. Malaysia was struck by a 6.0 earthquake which killed 18 climbers including Singaporean students. It is marked as the deadliest in the country.
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 | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | Depth (km) | MMI | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8,964 [1] | 7.8 | Nepal, Gorkha | 8.2 | X (Extreme) | April 25 |
2 | 399 [2] | 7.5 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan | 231.0 | VII (Very strong) | October 26 |
3 | 218 [1] | 7.3 | Nepal, Dolakha | 15.0 | VII (Very strong) | May 12 |
4 | 18 [3] | 6.0 | Malaysia, Sabah | 10.0 | VI (Strong) | June 4 |
5 | 14 [4] | 8.3 | Chile, Coquimbo offshore | 22.4 | IX (Violent) | September 16 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Depth (km) | MMI | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.3 | 14 | Chile, Coquimbo offshore | 22.4 | IX (Violent) | September 16 |
2 | 7.8 | 8,964 | Nepal, Gorkha | 8.2 | X (Extreme) | April 25 |
2 | 7.8 | 0 | Japan, offshore Bonin Islands | 677.6 | VI (Strong) | May 30 |
4 | 7.6 | 0 | Peru, Madre De Dios | 600.6 | V (Moderate) | November 24 |
4 | 7.6 | 0 | Peru, Madre De Dios | 611.7 | IV (Light) | November 24 |
6 | 7.5 | 0 | Papua New Guinea, New Britain offshore | 41.0 | VII (Very Strong) | March 29 |
6 | 7.5 | 0 | Papua New Guinea, New Britain | 55.0 | VIII (Severe) | May 5 |
6 | 7.5 | 399 | Afghanistan, Badakshan | 231.0 | VII (Very Strong) | October 26 |
9 | 7.3 | 218 | Nepal, Dolakha | 15.0 | VII (Very Strong) | May 12 |
10 | 7.2 | 2 [5] | Tajikistan, Gorno-Badakhshan | 26.0 | VII (Very Strong) | December 7 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 16.7 | I (Not Felt) | February 13 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Papua New Guinea, Bougainville offshore | 23.2 | VI (Strong) | May 7 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo offshore | 127.0 | VI (Strong) | October 20 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Southeast Indian Ridge | 10.0 | I (Not Felt) | December 4 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, offshore Flores | 552.1 | VI (Strong) | February 27 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10.0 | I (Not Felt) | June 17 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands offshore | 10.0 | VI (Strong) | July 18 |
15 | 7.0 | 1 [6] | Indonesia, Papua | 48.0 | VII (Very Strong) | July 27 |
15 | 7.0 | 0 | Chile, Coquimbo | 28.4 | VII (Very Strong) | September 16 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw, Vanuatu |
---|---|
Deadliest | 3.0 Mw, Dominican Republic 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
5.0–5.9 | 117 |
4.0–4.9 | 1055 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw, Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
---|---|
Deadliest | 3.7 Mw Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 4 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
5.0–5.9 | 110 |
4.0–4.9 | 970 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw, Papua New Guinea |
---|---|
Deadliest | 4.6 Mw China 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
5.0–5.9 | 100 |
4.0–4.9 | 1010 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw, Nepal |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.8 Mw, Nepal 8,964 deaths |
Total fatalities | 8,966 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 96 |
4.0–4.9 | 1047 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.8 Mw, Japan |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.3 Mw, Nepal 218 deaths |
Total fatalities | 224 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
6.0–6.9 | 17 |
5.0–5.9 | 155 |
4.0–4.9 | 1376 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw, Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw, Malaysia 18 deaths |
Total fatalities | 18 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
5.0–5.9 | 93 |
4.0–4.9 | 1013 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw, Solomon Islands 7.0 Mw, Indonesia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.4 Mw, China 3 deaths 5.1 Mw, Pakistan 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 8 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
5.0–5.9 | 126 |
4.0–4.9 | 1150 |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw, Solomon Islands |
---|---|
Deadliest | 5.8 Mw, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 deaths |
Total fatalities | 3 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
5.0–5.9 | 110 |
4.0–4.9 | 1059 |
Strongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw, Chile |
---|---|
Deadliest | 8.3 Mw, Chile 14 deaths |
Total fatalities | 15 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 22 |
5.0–5.9 | 180 |
4.0–4.9 | 1608 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw, Afghanistan |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw, Afghanistan 399 deaths |
Total fatalities | 402 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
5.0–5.9 | 85 |
4.0–4.9 | 1136 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.6 Mw, Peru Two events |
---|---|
Deadliest | Three events each resulted in 2 deaths |
Total fatalities | 9 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
5.0–5.9 | 136 |
4.0–4.9 | 1204 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw, Tajikistan |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.3 Mw, Afghanistan 4 deaths |
Total fatalities | 8 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
5.0–5.9 | 105 |
4.0–4.9 | 608 |
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February at 03:34:12 local time, having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It was felt strongly in six Chilean regions that together make up about 80 percent of the country's population. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the cities experiencing the strongest shaking—VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale (MM)—were Concepción, Arauco, and Coronel. According to Chile's Seismological Service, Concepción experienced the strongest shaking at MM IX (Violent). The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at MM VII or MM VIII. Tremors were felt in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru. It is the largest earthquake to hit Chile since the 1960 Valdivia earthquake.
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 2013 Seddon earthquake measured 6.5 on the Mww scale and was centred in New Zealand's Cook Strait, around 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the town of Seddon in Marlborough. The earthquake struck at 5:09 pm on Sunday 21 July 2013 at a depth of 13 kilometres (8 mi), according to GeoNet. The United States Geological Survey also measured the quake at 6.5, at a depth of 17 kilometres (11 mi). The quake caused moderate damage in the wider Marlborough area and Wellington, the nation's capital city 55 kilometres (34 mi) north of the epicentre. Only minor injuries were reported. Several aftershocks occurred during 21–29 July.
The 2014 Iquique earthquake struck off the coast of Chile on 1 April, with a moment magnitude of 8.2, at 20:46 local time. The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 95 kilometres (59 mi) northwest of Iquique. The mainshock was preceded by a number of moderate to large shocks and was followed by a large number of moderate to very large aftershocks, including a M7.7 event on 3 April. The megathrust earthquake triggered a tsunami of up to 2.11 metres (6.9 ft) that hit Iquique at 21:05 local time. Similar-sized tsunamis were also reported to have hit the coasts of Pisagua and Arica.
The 2015 Illapel earthquake occurred 46 km (29 mi) offshore from Illapel on September 16 at 19:54:32 Chile Standard Time (22:54:32 UTC), with a moment magnitude of 8.3–8.4. The initial quake lasted between three and five minutes; it was followed by several aftershocks greater than magnitude six and two that exceeded 7.0 moment magnitude. The Chilean government reported 15 deaths, 6 missing and thousands of people affected. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a man died from a stroke while he was evacuating a building.
The Valparaíso earthquake of April 2017 was a strong earthquake that shook the cities of Valparaíso and Santiago on Monday, April 24, 2017, at 18:38 local time. Its epicenter was located off the coast of the Valparaíso Region and had a magnitude of 6.9 Mw. On the scale of Mercalli, the earthquake reached an intensity of VII.
An earthquake occurred off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021, at 10:15 p.m. local time. The large megathrust earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A tsunami warning was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but later cancelled. The mainshock was followed by a number of aftershocks, including three that were of magnitude 5.9, 6.1 and 6.9 respectively.
The 2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes were a pair of powerful earthquakes, followed by many strong aftershocks which struck along the South Sandwich Trench in August 2021. The quakes measured 7.5 and 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale, according to the United States Geological Survey. The mainshock is tied with another event in 1929 as the largest earthquake ever recorded in the South Atlantic region, and is tied with the 2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake as the second largest earthquake of 2021.
The quake was also felt by residents of southern Kazakhstan – in the city of Shymkent and as far as Taraz, 1,000 kilometers north of the epicenter.